Grove Meditation-- revised (a Two Powers meditation)
Here is a revised version of the two powers meditation I posted a while ago. The theme is a little different, and I added a second part for reversing the flow at the end of a rite.
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Grove Mediation
1. Establishing the Connection (for the beginning of a rite)
Close your eyes. Begin with the sensations of your physical body. Take a few slow, deep breaths. Notice the sensations of the floor beneath you, and the temperature of the air around you. Now, using your inner vision, find yourself in a grove of trees. Your back is against a tree. Hear the sounds of the forest, and the rustle of the wind. Breathe the air. Notice the scents of nature.
Now turn your attention to the tree at your back. Feel its bark pressing against you. What kind of tree is it? Feel yourself somehow connected to this tree. Let your senses flow into it. You can feel the rootedness of the tree. Explore that feeling. Feel its roots deep in the dark, mineral-rich soil. Feel the roots reaching down to the cool, nourishing waters below. Recognize how you too, in your own way, are rooted in and sustained by the earth.
Next, feel the branches of the tree reaching toward the sky. Explore that feeling. Feel the light of the sun, moon, and stars. Feel the sensations of air, wind, and weather. Feel the nourishment of the sky. Recognize how you too, in your own way, are nourished and sustained by the sky.
Now, recall the natural relationships between you and the tree, how the oxygen it produces sustains you, and the carbon dioxide you produce sustains it. Notice these products contributing to a balanced environment, both locally in the grove and beyond into the atmosphere. Remember also the physical products that fall from your bodies to enrich the soil: bark, leaves, hair, and skin... Take a moment to feel the interchange of nourishment moving throughout the grove.
Finally, bring your attention to the place where your physical body is. Feel the life and nourishment flowing in this place. Take a few deep, sustaining breaths. When you are ready, open your eyes.
2. Re-affirming the Connection (for the conclusion of a rite)
Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths, and be with the sensations and energies that have been cultivated here in this place.
Then, using your inner vision, once again find yourself in the grove of trees. See, hear, and feel the trees around you.
Now, bring your attention to the ambience of the grove. Does the place feel the same as before? Has there been a change, or an affirmation of what was before? Is your attention called to any animal, plant, stone, or other presence? Take a moment to be with the grove.
When you are ready, find the tree you connected with before. Place your back against its bark, and re-affirm your connection. Let the tree flow into you. It can feel all that you feel. Let it explore the sensations and energies within you.
You can still feel the tree's rootedness in the earth, just as before. Let your sensations flow down through its roots into the earth.
You can also feel the tree's branches soaring toward the sky, just as before. Let your sensations flow up through its branches into the sky.
Recall the life and nourishment flowing through the cosmos. Let your sensations and energies flow out to all beings. Then, feel the vitality of energy returning to you.
Finally, let your senses return to your physical body. Feel the floor beneath you, and the air around you. Notice if anything feels different or re-affirmed. When you are ready, open your eyes.
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Grove Mediation
1. Establishing the Connection (for the beginning of a rite)
Close your eyes. Begin with the sensations of your physical body. Take a few slow, deep breaths. Notice the sensations of the floor beneath you, and the temperature of the air around you. Now, using your inner vision, find yourself in a grove of trees. Your back is against a tree. Hear the sounds of the forest, and the rustle of the wind. Breathe the air. Notice the scents of nature.
Now turn your attention to the tree at your back. Feel its bark pressing against you. What kind of tree is it? Feel yourself somehow connected to this tree. Let your senses flow into it. You can feel the rootedness of the tree. Explore that feeling. Feel its roots deep in the dark, mineral-rich soil. Feel the roots reaching down to the cool, nourishing waters below. Recognize how you too, in your own way, are rooted in and sustained by the earth.
Next, feel the branches of the tree reaching toward the sky. Explore that feeling. Feel the light of the sun, moon, and stars. Feel the sensations of air, wind, and weather. Feel the nourishment of the sky. Recognize how you too, in your own way, are nourished and sustained by the sky.
Now, recall the natural relationships between you and the tree, how the oxygen it produces sustains you, and the carbon dioxide you produce sustains it. Notice these products contributing to a balanced environment, both locally in the grove and beyond into the atmosphere. Remember also the physical products that fall from your bodies to enrich the soil: bark, leaves, hair, and skin... Take a moment to feel the interchange of nourishment moving throughout the grove.
Finally, bring your attention to the place where your physical body is. Feel the life and nourishment flowing in this place. Take a few deep, sustaining breaths. When you are ready, open your eyes.
2. Re-affirming the Connection (for the conclusion of a rite)
Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths, and be with the sensations and energies that have been cultivated here in this place.
Then, using your inner vision, once again find yourself in the grove of trees. See, hear, and feel the trees around you.
Now, bring your attention to the ambience of the grove. Does the place feel the same as before? Has there been a change, or an affirmation of what was before? Is your attention called to any animal, plant, stone, or other presence? Take a moment to be with the grove.
When you are ready, find the tree you connected with before. Place your back against its bark, and re-affirm your connection. Let the tree flow into you. It can feel all that you feel. Let it explore the sensations and energies within you.
You can still feel the tree's rootedness in the earth, just as before. Let your sensations flow down through its roots into the earth.
You can also feel the tree's branches soaring toward the sky, just as before. Let your sensations flow up through its branches into the sky.
Recall the life and nourishment flowing through the cosmos. Let your sensations and energies flow out to all beings. Then, feel the vitality of energy returning to you.
Finally, let your senses return to your physical body. Feel the floor beneath you, and the air around you. Notice if anything feels different or re-affirmed. When you are ready, open your eyes.