Danny: 0:15

Have you ever wanted to discover a hidden city carved into red stone, where every wall tells a story and the silence feels as old as time? Well, you can with your imagination. I'm Danny Clark and this is Minute to Meditate, a podcast where we take a deep breath, explore amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites and find a little peace along the way. Today we're traveling to Petra, an ancient city tucked into the desert mountains of Jordan. At the heart of Petra stands the treasury, a towering building carved right into the rock. Its pink stone shines in the sunlight like a secret, slowly waking up. And stick around after the meditation to learn a little more about this amazing location.

Natasha: 1:12

Welcome explorers. Are you ready to journey through a canyon where the walls glow like firelight, every step echoes softly and the past whispers around every corner echoes softly and the past whispers around every corner. Let's find a cozy spot to sit or lie down, Wiggle your toes like pebbles shifting beneath your feet, Stretch your arms like shadows reaching along stone walls and gently close your eyes. Let's take a deep breath in and slowly let it out. Let your breath slow down, Let your body grow still, like a secret waiting to be discovered. We're headed to the entrance to a narrow canyon called the Sik. Tall rock walls rise up around you, smooth and glowing with shades of rose, amber and deep red. They twist and curve like waves frozen in stone. Your footsteps are soft on the sandy path. Bird song echoes high above and the air smells like warm earth and desert flowers. You follow the path deeper and deeper, the light above you growing smaller, the stone around you growing quieter. You place one hand on the canyon wall and notice it's warm, solid and still. And just ahead something begins to appear Between the cliffs. A sliver of pink light catches your eye. You take a few more steps and there it is the treasury, A temple carved into the stone itself, tall and detailed, like a palace built for the sky. Its columns are perfectly still. Its door is wide and dark, like it's holding a secret. You stand in and slowly let it out. Let yourself feel the wonder, Let your heart slow to match the rhythm of the desert.

Natasha: 4:56

You find a spot near the base of the treasury and sit on a smooth stone ledge. The canyon is calm. The wind moves through it like a sigh. You close your eyes and imagine all the people who stood here before you thousands of years Travelers, artists, dreamers, builders. They left something beautiful behind and now it's yours to hold for a moment. Breathe in and gently breathe out. Let the stillness of the stone become your stillness. Let the silence of Pet stone become your stillness. Let the silence of Petra become your peace. Now take one more deep breath in and gently let it go. Let the canyon fade, let the treasury rest. Wiggle your fingers like desert winds across the sand, Stretch your arms like sunbeams through a canyon wall and, when you're ready, gently open your eyes. You did it. You just visited Petra with nothing more but your breath and your imagination. And whenever you need a place to feel brave, calm and full of wonder. This ancient treasure will be waiting for you.

Danny: 7:10

Ancient treasure will be waiting for you. Well, I hope you enjoyed your visit to Petra, but before we go, here are some fascinating things to know about this magnificent location. Let's start with the color. Did you know that Petra is called the Rose City? That's because the stone is pink and red, like a giant sunset frozen in the cliff. When the sun shines on it, the walls seem to glow like magic.

Danny: 7:40

A long time ago, petra wasn't just for exploring. It was a busy city for trading. People come from places like Egypt, greece and Arabia to trade spices, silk and even gold. Imagine camels carrying big baskets of treasure right through these narrow canyons. Speaking of narrow, the path of Petra the sick is also about one mile long. Sometimes it's so skinny that just one camel can fit through. Can you imagine walking through there and then seeing the treasury appear like a secret surprise? And guess what? The treasury wasn't actually used to keep treasure. Nope, it was a tomb for a king carved right into the cliff. But people loved imagining stories about hidden gold inside.

Danny: 8:27

There are over 800 tombs, temples and caves carved into the cliffs of Petra. Some are up high, some are hidden low, and they all hold stories from a time long ago. And here's something super cool. Petra was a secret place for a long, long time. It was only found again by a European explorer in 1812. That's over 200 years ago. So when you imagine walking through Petra, you're seeing something that was once lost to the world. And Petra is UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the new seven wonders of the world, protected so that its magic and mystery can be shared for many, many years to come. Thanks for joining me today on Minute to Meditate. Until next time, keep exploring, keep dreaming and remember you carry the magic of the world in your heart.