"I want you to take a moment for me, and just relax. Perhaps you could picture yourself resting in a forest grove, in the early autumn when the leaves are beginning to change. You can imagine the vivid reds of the maple leaves, the rich oranges of the oaks and poplars, the soft golden colors of the elms, and here and there a tree or two whose leaves still bear the bright green of summer. Their branches wave ever so slightly in the breeze; you can feel just a hint of that breeze, whisking away the last of the summer heat and leaving you cool and refreshed as you lay back on the soft, springy grass and enjoy the view. It's very easy to relax while you imagine that, isn't it?
"And the grass is so soft under your body, and it's quiet and still here; the wildlife is already preparing for winter, heading south or digging in for that long, slow, lazy sleep until spring comes, and so we have the forest all to ourselves. The sun is low in the horizon, now; afternoon comes quicker in the fall, and the light has already taken on that special, drowsy quality that comes late in the day. It's a perfect light for watching the fall foliage and just letting your thoughts wander.
"The breeze stirs the branches again, making them sway back and forth, rippling across the leaves as it brushes the canopy of the forest like a gentle caress. It's easy, so very easy to relax and imagine the beautiful colors, all of the distinct and separate leaves blending into a kaleidoscope of vivid light. You might want to let your eyes unfocus a little, just relax those tiny muscles and let the whole picture blur into a golden dance as you watch.
"And it strikes you, as you watch the leaves swaying back and forth, back and forth, how the trees in this forest grove are just a little bit like you. They're starting to relax, leaving their green colors behind them as they prepare for their own sleep. And it seems to be such a wonderful thing for them, doesn't it? Don't they look so beautiful now, as they let go of that bright green wakefulness and change into their drowsy, dreamy autumn colors? It's as though by letting themselves sleep, by letting their leaves change and float away, they've discovered something brilliant and wonderful about themselves.
"That thought sounds so wonderful to you, as you rest and relax even further here with me. Perhaps you're beginning to wonder what brilliant, wonderful things lie inside you, and how nice it will be to discover them as you let your own thoughts change like the leaves in autumn. You can imagine each thought in your head as being like one of the leaves on the tree, slowly beginning to change and letting you unveil a new self as you relax deeper and float towards a gentle, easy sleep.
"Or perhaps you're still a little worried. Perhaps you're afraid to let go of the way things are, wanting to cling tightly to every thought you have, the bad as well as the good. Sometimes it's hard to change, even for the better. Don't be afraid. That's what I'm here for, to help you and guide you. Here in the forest, together, I can help you see that change is natural. The trees don't try to fight it when it's time to cast off their summer colors and embrace the autumn. The change just creeps up on them, without their even trying. Before they know it, they're lost in the warm oranges and reds and yellows, ready to sleep that long, dreamy sleep. They listen to nature, and it's perfectly easy for them to do what nature says. There's no fear when you're just doing what comes naturally, is there?
"Of course there isn't. And now that you know that, it's perfectly natural to let me take each one of the thoughts in your mind, and slowly and carefully shade them towards dreamy sleep. You can imagine the green of your mind changing now under my guidance--perhaps your sleepy mind is bright yellow...or perhaps you see it fading to warm orange...or maybe you see it slowly fade into a dark, rich red...it's entirely up to you, really. All those colors are an expression of who you are, and of who you're letting yourself become when you relax and give up control to me. All you need to do is become the person you truly are, deep down. It feels so good to relax, uncovering your deepest self, your true self, as you sink into my words and let that natural, inevitable change just...happen.