Ooh, first [official] post! <fangirl-isms stop at this point. all further fangirl-isms should proceed to their designated fanlisting>
Alike the Druid Way, I am also relatively new to the practice of meditating. Before today, the only meditative practice I have engaged in was Jeff Lilly’s wonderful Guide Meditation , which was always very successful (although that is a story I intend to cover in my next post). The reason for this is, in part, the fact I find it rather difficult to successfuly set aside the time or even just managing to find a proper relaxing atmosphere. I am hoping that as winter well and truly hits us and the nights become darker creating a peaceful environment will be much easier.
Today however, I was presented with a rare chance. I was walking along a gravel path, which was surrounded by green belts (and, far to the south/my left, a series of huge fields). It wasn’t especially quiet, nor was it especially noisy. As I was walking along, I came across a large greenbelt with a series of young trees. There was a cool and gentle breeze in the air, which worked well with the somewhat hotter weather to make for a nice day. On the edge of the belt, there was a wooden bench (which I believe to have been made using evironmentally friendly methods like reforestation judging by a plaque on it’s ‘legs’). Not needing to go anywhere in a hurry, I elected to sit on the bench. From my bag I took a little food to eat as I sat there, admiring the simple yet brilliant beauty of nature around me.
Once I was done, a thought entered into my mind: this would make for an ideal place to try my hand at a simple unguided meditation for the first time. So, rising from the bench, I made my way into the trees. Their leaves overlapped in such a manner that they created a shaded area between them. There were four in all, each positioned in such a way that they appeared to make a circle around that area of ground. I walked slowly to the centre of this circle, and there I sat down. I crossed my legs in a typical fashion and allowed my arms to settle at the first comfortable position. Then, closing my eyes, I slowed my breathing ever so slightly to make it easier to focus. Gradually, I relaxed my body as best I could and slipped slowly into a peaceful state. I listened to the sounds of nature around me: the trees rustling in the wind, the birds chirping cheerfuly away to one another as they delivered a message in their own tongue, insects humming and buzzing in nearby. At the same time, I found myself suddenly stripping away all of the noises I did not desire to hear: people talking, nearby traffic and the like. I did not stop hearing them, rather I stopped understanding them. Those sounds were no longer important, they were merely unimportant background noise from a world so far away from the one I was in at that moment. After ten or so minutes, I brought myself back to the world, opening my eyes and slowly coming to my feet. I took a deep breath and found myself completely refreshed emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally.
It is truly amazing how powerful such a truly simple practice can make you feel. There was no circle casting involved, no prayer, no chant, nothing but sitting down and opening myself to the world around me. No grand philosphical or spiritual idea was pulled from it. Instead, it just rejuvenated me and made me feel much more appreciative of the world around me. After I had risen, I took an apple from my bag and left it in the circle as an expression of thanks to nature, the God and the Goddess for the experience. I hope now, even if I cannot repeat it outside regularly, to perform this simple meditation daily.
Peter, I found your blog through your trackback to this post. I knew your blog postings would be beautiful! This is a really inspiring read, and extremely vivid.
I read your Introduction as well — thank you for your kind words! I thought it was fantastic the way you wove the picture at the top of your blog into the mini-story there. Who was that old man?? I think I have seen him in some of my own meditations… And I have an idea that Tolkien “saw” him, too.
By the way, I personally know a couple of druids in the Liverpool area, both of whom are in my druid Order and are fantastic fellows. Maybe you know them already — Damian Carr and Craig Melia. Let me know if you are interested in an introduction. (If not, or not yet, no worries — the public druid path is not for everyone.)
Firstly, I’m sorry for the delay in approving the comment Jeff, I’ve been ill for a few weeks and unable to do much at all (which is also why I didn’t tell you about the blog).
And thank you for your compliments. I’ll be posting again soon, possibly tonight. And I’m glad you mentioned Tolkien there, as I intend to bring him into a future post when I think of what exactly to say. There is a great deal to be learned from him, especially in his works.
And as to the two Druids, I do not know any yet. I would not be interested in a face-to-face meeting right now (I’m somewhat of an introverted individual and like to build a relationship with someone from the internet before meeting them), but I would be interested in communciating with them. I’d greatly appreciate any contact details you could give me for them, namely e-mail. I believe you have my e-mail.
Again, thank you for your compliments. I’m especially glad you liked the story I created. I did not decide on a name or story untill I selected this theme and layout. I for one think the image is very appropiate for this path, with the veil clouding the way and the bridge being symbolic of the gradual shift from an old way to a new one.