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Slowly you grow roots that seek the earth. If you are ready let your
consciousness follow the roots through your body to the earth. Before
planting your roots into the earth ask permission. If permission from the
earth is given proceed, when ready, to push your roots into it, while letting
your consciousness become these roots. Let your consciousness dwell in the
deep roots for a few breaths before returning to the growing seed at your
belly.
When you return to the growing seed you feel that branches and leaves
have grown up through your body. When ready, move your consciousness
up through the branches. Dwell in the flexible yet unyielding branches for a
few breaths. When ready, move your consciousness into the sun-dappled
leaves. Dwell there for a few breaths before returning to your belly, which is
now the trunk of the tree.
Now in your very centre, feel the natural flow of your tree self (from deep
roots to leaf tip and back). Dwell in this being of wholeness for a few
breaths. When ready, envision your human self, returning your
consciousness back to its natural place. Slowly move your limbs before
getting up.
Choose a place on the landscape that calls to you (if you have visited a
sacred site, you might like to choose that, especially if it is close enough to
visit again). Visit this site three times, over a period of however long you
choose. Meditate there and try to "interface" with the energy and spirit of the
place by merging with the peace of the land.
Go into nature, sit down cross-legged with your hands resting on your
knees or thighs. When comfortable begin your meditation breath to centre
yourself and come to a place of rest. Once centred move your breath into
what is called "fire breath" or "bellows breath" only if your health condition
allows. This is done by taking fast paced, shallow breaths. Do this for three
minutes (this is an estimate, adjust the time to fit your needs).
When you are finished with the fire breath begin taking long and deep
breaths for another three minutes. If your health condition does not
allow for the fire breath simply use the meditation breath.
Slowly let your consciousness drift down your spine and into the land
(similar to the grounding as a tree exercise). Dwell in the land for some
breaths before returning your consciousness to your body.
Beginning with the full moon of November (if you start this exercise in a
different month, just count moons down to the line you are on; i.e.:
November = line 1, December = line 2, January = line 3, etc. Keep in mind
blue moon months; some months have 2 full moons in them so that month
gets 2 lines [one for each full moon]) and every full moon after, until you are
back full circle, go outside under the moon (or sit by a window in moonlight)
and meditate on the energies of that month. Try to enter a state of peace,
and send your consciousness out into your environment to feel the energy.
Introduction: This meditation exercise is like the Full Moon one and is
also spread out over a period of 13 lunar months. The dates for the new
moon will be posted in the calendar on the Grove of Dana College. The lines
of meditation are ones created by willow mist.
Beginning with the new moon of November (if you start this exercise in a
different month, just count moons down to the line you are on; i.e.:
November = line 1, December = line 2, January = line 3, etc. Keep in mind
blue moon months; some months have 2 full moons in them, thus also 2
new moons, so that month gets 2 lines [one for each new moon]) and every
new moon after, until you are back full circle, go outside under the moon (or
sit in a dark room) and meditate on the energies of that month. Try to enter
a state of peace, and send your consciousness out into your environment to
feel the energy.
Preferably this exercise is done outside (at sunset on the Winter Solstice
if possible) in the sunlight. Position yourself facing the sun, but not looking
directly at it. Begin with the meditation breath and focus on the coming
darkness and cold against your skin. Slowly take this energy into yourself,
letting it seep into the core of your body. Let the energy dwell within you for
a few breaths, then attempt to move the energy to different areas of your
body. Take your time with this and direct the energy with calm nudges and
let it return to your core. When you feel you have explored the darkness and
cold for long enough let the energy pass back out of your body in any
direction it chooses.
Pick a place where you feel comfortable, safe, and welcomed by the
energies/spirits of that place. Close your eyes and begin your meditative
breath. Listen to your surroundings. When you feel you are ready in your
mind build an ancient looking forest. Once the forest is build in your mind,
and you can build it as simple or complex as you like, envision a mist slowly
rolling out of the trees and wrapping around you like a blanket. When all
you can see is the mist, in your mind take a step forward when ready.
Once you step forward the mist parts and takes you into a straw and
wood hut, or an ancient looking smithy. You see a woman working over the
fire—this is Brighid. Watch quietly what she is doing. When she finishes
her work she comes over to you and sits down. If she does not at first speak
to you, ask her questions about Imbolc. Let her guide you as she shows you
the energies, and answers of your questions.
At any time you wish to stop or end the meditation simply envision the
mist wrapping around you like a blanket and take a step back. Before
opening your eyes listen to your surroundings allowing you to come fully
back to yourself.
Pick a place where you feel comfortable, safe, and welcomed by the
energies/spirits of that place. Close your eyes and begin your meditative
breath. Listen to your surroundings. When you feel you are ready in your
mind build an ancient looking forest. Once the forest is build in your mind,
and you can build it as simple or complex as you like, envision a mist slowly
rolling out of the trees and wrapping around you like a blanket. When all
you can see is the mist, in your mind take a step forward when ready.
Once you step forward the mist parts and takes you to an open hilltop.
Below there is a village and the light in each home is being put out, one by
one. After the last bit of light goes out in the last home and you can no
longer see or smell smoke, someone behind you moves in the growing dark.
Do not be afraid, you know this person has been patiently watching with
you. He strikes a spark and a small new flame grows steadily into a bonfire.
As he lights a second bonfire, a knowing comes to you that this is Bel
lighting the Beltaine fires. His task done and the villagers have arrived and
begun the festivities. Take a seat next to Bel, ask him questions or start a
conversation with him. Let him show you about the energies of this day and
guide you for a time.
At any time you wish to stop or end the meditation simply envision the
mist wrapping around you like a blanket and take a step back. Before
opening your eyes listen to your surroundings allowing you to come fully
back to yourself.
Pick a place where you feel comfortable, safe, and welcomed by the
energies/spirits of that place. Close your eyes and begin your meditative
breath. Listen to your surroundings. When you feel you are ready in your
mind build an ancient looking forest. Once the forest is build in your mind,
and you can build it as simple or complex as you like, envision a mist slowly
rolling out of the trees and wrapping around you like a blanket. When all
you can see is the mist, in your mind take a step forward when ready.
Once you step forward the mist parts and takes you to a field being
harvested by hand. One of the harvesters finishes tying a bundle and sets it
to stand upright. Wiping his forehead he takes a beaker of water from a near
by bucket and drinks deep. As he drinks, his eyes laugh kindly as you
realise this is none other than Lugh himself. Help Lugh harvest the field as
he guides you to show your own personal harvest and your sacrifices. Ask
him questions from time to time when you have them.
At any time you wish to stop or end the meditation simply envision the
mist wrapping around you like a blanket and take a step back. Before
opening your eyes listen to your surroundings allowing you to come fully
back to yourself.
Before you begin this meditation, take a bath or shower. Make sure you
are relaxed but alert. Find a quiet place to sit where you will be comfortable
and undisturbed. If you would like to play music or nature sounds to help
you relax, then that is fine, as long as you can still concentrate on the
meditation. An alternative would be to record the meditation before hand to
play back.
Sit or lie in a comfortable position and let your eyelids gently close.
Breathe through the nose and follow your breath down into your lungs and
then allow it to go further and settle in your lower stomach. Exhale slowly.
Keep breathing in this way until your mind can stay in your stomach region
(Dan tien) while your breath is released. Keep the breathing slow, quiet and
regular.
Soon the mist thins and you enter a clearing where a large fire is
burning brightly. The mist surrounds the clearing on all sides but the sky
above is clear and strangely there is a full moon. You stand with your back
to the fire watching the mist and soon your patience is rewarded. People
begin to arrive. You recognise some. Perhaps they are parents or
grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters. Greet the ones you
recognise warmly. Soon the clearing is quite full, many people laughing
talking, hugging each other. You realise that everyone you can see is related
to you. These are your ancestors, and tonight at Samhain in this place
betwixt and between they are gathered together.
You look around at the many faces, the different styles of clothing. What
knowledge can you gain from what is worn? Make a mental note. Can you
see yourself in any one here? Does anyone catch your eye or interest you
strongly? Let your heart guide you to one of your ancestors. Walk up to them
and greet them warmly and politely. Have you got a question to ask? Ask it.
When you are ready to leave walk to the mist and pass back through.
Wherever you leave the clearing you will find yourself in the meadow once
more. All is quiet after the noisy clearing and you sit for a while in quiet
meditation of all that you have seen or learnt. Gradually become aware of
your breathing again, and spend a few minutes coming back to your body.
Open your eyes and sit quietly in contemplation. Then take up your journal
and write. May your ancestors bless you with love.
2. You can close your eyes, or keep them open, as you feel most
comfortable with (it may be easier to concentrate with eyes closed if you are
not very experienced with meditation yet).
6.Now picture that you are standing outside. In front of you are stairs
going down, they would appear to be old stone stairs that have been there for
a long time, although they are in good condition. Slowly go down these
stairs, one by one. These stairs can be short or long, depending on how deep
you need to travel to reach your inner self. Simply take the stairs as they
come.
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7.When you have reached the end of the stairs, you find another door.
This door can be any shape or size that comes to you in your meditation.
Slowly open this door, and walk through it.
8.Beyond this door you will find what appears to be a cave. It can be of
any shape, dark or light coming through holes.
9.As you walk through this cave, pay attention to how you experience it.
Is it warm in there, or cold? Is the ground soft or hard under your feet? Is
the air damp?
10.Walk through the maze of corridors in the cave, and choose which
way to go. Choose the way you feel is right to enter. Keep walking as long
as you feel the need to. You can also stop anywhere in the cave, touch the
walls of stone, or any-thing else you feel is appropriate at that moment.
11.Having found your way through the maze, you find yourself at an
underground river. You can hear the flowing of the clear water. Stand still
at the edge of the water, and when you are ready, jump into it.
12.Swim into the stream of water as if you are a fish. You trans-form
into a fish, and you can breath there like a fish would. Pay attention to how
you experience it: is the water warm or cold, is the river going fast or slow?
Is there light shining into the water? How big is the river and how much
space do you have to swim? How deep does the water go? Are you a
particular fish? Are there other fish there?
13.Swim as long as you feel you need to. When you are ready to come
above the water, you see rays of sunshine piercing into the river, and you
follow them as you swim up to the surface.
14.You reach above water, and as you do so, you transform into a bird
of your choosing. Aim for the sky as you spread your wings and fly around.
Pay attention to how you experience this as well. Is the sky clear? Are there
clouds, and are they dark or white ones, and how big are they? Is it raining
or snowing? How much wind is there, and does it go in the direction you
want to fly, or the opposite direction? Does the air feel warm or cold to you?
How high do you want to fly?
15.Fly whichever way in the sky you like, and as high as you like.
Below you can see beautiful landscapes of nature, forests, rivers and
mountains. Search for a beautiful place to land, and when you feel you are
ready, fly downwards toward it.
16.When you are closer to the land, search for a hole in the ground. It
would be big enough to fly through for you.
18. When you find the door, walk toward it and open it slowly.
19. Beyond the door, you will find the same stairs again that you
descended at the beginning of the meditation.
21.When you have reached the final step of the stairs, you can open
your eyes again (if you closed them) and slowly return from your state of
meditation.
Go out into nature if possible (indoors will work fine, but it is always
preferable to work outdoors). Sit down cross-legged with your hands resting
on your knees or thighs. Take three deep breaths to center yourself and
come to a place of rest. Once centred move your breath into what is called
"fire breath" or "bellows breath" only if your health condition allows. This
is done by taking fast paced shallow breaths. Do this for three minutes (this
is an estimate, adjust the time to fit your needs).
When you are finished with the fire breath begin taking long and deep
breaths for another three minutes, (If your health condition does not
allow for the fire breath simply use the meditation breath.) or until you
feel yourself settling into the peace of the land. Allow the Dana energy to
slowly rise up your spine, surrounding and filling you.
Do this every day for at least a week and write a journal entry reflecting
on your experiences.
Fire
Light a candle, or if possible a fire. Sit in front of it, close your eyes, and
take three deep breaths. Take a few moments to orient the power of fire.
Open your eyes and look into the flame. Put your hands in front of it,
receiving the gifts of its warmth. Feel both its creative and destructive
aspects. Feel its ability to give life through its warmth, but also its ability to
destroy in its flames.
Now turn inward, and feel the fires of your own life. The warmth and
heat of your body, which sustains your life. Feel your constant bodily and
spiritual connection to this element. Mentally reach out to fire in its many
forms, and give it gratitude.
Air
*Take precaution that you do not choose a place near any obstacles
that could come loose in the wind (and could cause bodily harm). Also
do not go out if there is an advisory warning due to the sever wind
speeds.
Go outside on a windy day. Take a few moments to close your eyes, feel
the wind caressing your face. Orient to the air, an element that we could not
survive for more than a few moments without. Feel both its creative and
destructive aspects. Feel its ability to allow us to breath, giving us life. Feel
its ability to destroy in the destructive powers of hurricanes and tornados.
Turn inward now to your own breath. Feel the rhythmic motion of your
lungs, contracting and expanding. Feel your constant bodily and spiritual
connection to this element. Mentally reach out and give gratitude to the air.
Earth
When you feel you have finished, give yourself time to come round
fully, before standing up.