Imagery For Our Children

Spring is a time of new beginnings: flowers blooming and seeds blossoming into lush plants that we’ve nurtured and cultivated. Spring can also be a time of renewal for our children—to open their hearts, to share their hopes, and to expand their dreams. We can guide our children toward their right path by helping them connect with their own inner seeds: of peace, of joy, of love. We can teach them how to heal the hurts of their personal dark winters—in the present, and from the past—and we can support our children in developing their potential. The most potent technique that I have found in my 25 years of practice is for children to empower themselves with the healing power of imagery.

The impact of positive images while in a relaxed state is tremendous. After one group session using the magic garden and healing pond imagery illustrated below, three boys were relieved of the pain of their stomachache, headache and canker sore, respectively. During another group, an adolescent girl with a pounding headache eliminated her pain without medication. Later, she successfully taught the simple imagery technique to her friends at school.

To inspire you to start using imagery right away with the kids you work or live with, here are three brief, guided imageries. First, use “a rainbow light” to help them reach a very deep relaxed state; second, bring in “a magic garden” to help them grow inner seeds; and third, make use of “a healing pond” to heal their physical and emotional hurts. These can be used separately or together, based on your goals with the children. An animal friend (or wizard) is used as a guide and helper, which serves as a valuable tool to access unconscious wisdom. “Gifts” are used as unique ways to receive power and assistance. For example, one 8-year-old girl received the gift of a spiral-moving rainbow to heal her chronic stomach pains, along with rainbow glasses to see her world in a more positive light. Another child received the gift of a golden heart to help him heal the physical effects of the heartbreaking pain he experienced during his parents’ divorce.

If you choose to use the following imageries, you may discover that your kids feel healthier and happier, while learning to expand their own healing capabilities. You’ll be surprised at what wise answers their inner guides offer, what gifts they receive, and what awareness they develop that can be applied to their everyday world.

Use your most soothing, slow voice, with soft music in the background if possible, and read or paraphrase the following. Take your time; there’s no need to rush.

A Relaxing Rainbow

Allow your eyes to gently close and focus on your breathing. We’re letting all our troubles float away, in beautiful rainbow balloons. Imagine a beautiful, colored rainbow floating above your head. The purples and the blues, the greens and the yellows, the oranges and the reds. Maybe some gold and silver. Notice what colors your special rainbow is…and as you breathe, this beautiful rainbow grows larger and larger. It starts to gently wash over you, to help you relax…and to go inside and find that special, calm place that waits for you each day.

You might now suggest the child relax each part of his or her body as the rainbow light moves through it. And then…

As you breathe, you are totally safe in the rainbow light. Totally safe, totally protected…and very, very comfortable.

Creating Your Magic Garden

You find yourself surrounded by the rainbow light as you walk on a special path. There are beautiful rainbow flowers around you. Birds are singing. In front of you is a large, stunning gate. It is a gate that leads you to your own magic garden. And there is a key to open this magnificent gate. It’s found under a rock. Notice whether your key is gold or silver or copper. The key has your initials carved in it, so you know this is your gate, and your key. And now, one of your special animal friends now appears from behind the rock. It is an animal friend that is very wise and very loving, and is here to help you build and grow your magic garden. At this point have the child enter the gate and create their magic garden. You may suggest any plants, trees, flowers, fruits or other features.

Anything you want, you can plant in this magic garden. You may even plant seeds of peace, and seeds of joy and happiness… and of calmness… or any other qualities you would like to increase or bring in your life. This is your own space. This is a very magical time.

Discovering the Healing Pond

For the healing pond, you can adjust the message depending if the child has physical or emotional hurts, or if your focus is on building his or her capabilities.

There’s a part of this garden that has a wonderful healing pond. So you go over to it…and this, too, is a magical place. As you step in the water…which is the perfect temperature for you…there is a beautiful, long rock, with soft, fluffy moss on it, so you can lie with your head out of the water, where you’re totally comfortable. And as you lie in the healing waters, they wash over you, and soothe your body, and soothe your feelings. And any pains or tightness melts away. It’s a wonderful place to be as your garden grows. Your little animal friend has helped prepare some magic healing herbal tea for you. When you drink it, any sadness or hurts inside your body disappear and melt away. And all the goodness, and all the health, and all the joy that you deserve now appears.

The Blossoming of the Garden

And when you are ready, step out of the healing pond and dry off. Your garden has turned into the most magnificent, magical place that you can imagine. See what you have created. The beauty. The magnificence. Everything…. How incredible and important you are for being able to plant seeds that grow to be so tall and healthy, just like you are growing. Know that when you take the time to plant seeds…and take the time to care for them… wonderful things can grow.

The Wisdom of the Animal Friend

Your special animal friend points out that there is one very precious flower that is calling to you. You can lean down near the flower and smell it…. It smells wonderful. Notice what color it is…and how big it is…and its special shape. The flower seems to be talking to you, and it tells you something very important for you to know now in your life. To help your own magic grow within yourself. To help all the seeds within you, and all your goodness, come out. And when you look inside this flower, there is a beautiful gift that springs up toward you. Something to help you remember your own special growth, and to know how wonderfully you’re doing.

The Return

Now you can lead the child back out of the garden with the suggestion that they can return when they want.

When you’re ready, you’ll come back here…slowly. Feeling your body…. Feeling refreshed and remembering all good things. Remembering that wonderful, magic garden…and all the things you grew, and saw, and heard, and felt. Remembering everything….

If you are assisting a group, you have the option to work interactively with individuals after the guided section. This allows you to receive their feedback and provides them with an opportunity to further generate their own ideas, delve deeper into their imagery, or help clarify any questions or concerns with your guidance. If you have been working with one child alone all along, feel free to interact with them throughout their imagery once you are sure they are quite relaxed.

At the conclusion, you may permit the children to continue to rest. Or, you may suggest that they draw any images that have come up during the session and share their experiences. Pictures can reveal what words do not, and the very process of drawing is often cathartic. Sharing with the group is supportive for each other, and helps you as the leader notice any areas that still need to be addressed.

It is not necessary to have the perfect script, or years of experience for facility with this work. What is important is your sincerity, your respect for the children, and perhaps most significant, your encouragement of these kids to touch their natural inner light of love and healing, and bring it forth.

Originally published in Alternative Journal of Nursing, March 2006, Issue 10.