WHAT IS THE FOREST?
The
forest is both a physical and metaphysical place. You need to
spend times outdoors, if possible ina real forest, but if not,
then you can create your own sacred forest, complete with God/dess
and Elementals.
In fact the world being the busy place it is, many prefer the
privacy and safety of their own forest glade.
CREATING YOUR FOREST
If
you have a garden, make it your forest; be creative. You need a
certain number of tall shrubs, trees or large plants, like rubber
plants. Try to create walkways, small secluded niches, glades,
even if possble a pond or stream or small fountain!remember the
plains-a stony patio type area, with perhaps imaginative use of
atones can create an effective ambiance.
No garden? Try to work inside your house/apartmant. Again bring
in greenery, leafy and aromatic if possible. Create a spacious
area as your plains. Use lighting and even music to inspire you,
and walk the pathways in your imagination. Pictures of forests,
and also of flat plainslands are helpful when focusing.
THE PLAINS
These
are not prairies of deserts, rather flatish, fertile farmlands,
rolling out as far as the eye can see, the sky seeming very low,
the clouds brooding and close enough to touch, the land varying
shades of blues, greens and in autumn yellow and purple. Or you
may prefer to imagine the vast peat bogs and marshes, very
prehistoric in appearance, that make up the Burren in COnnaught
or perhaps like Salisbury Plains. The key here is space but with
a vast skyline, brooding clouds or sunshine breaking through, or
the opposite, big blue cloudless summer skies.
EVEN LESS SPACE
People have
found they could manage with a small area and a large imagination.
The trick is to have a very strong image in your head and to be
practised at meditations. Personalise your space, think of it as
a forest or a plain and really feel its physical characterisics.
THE GOD/DESS AND LOCAL SPIRITS AND ELEMENTALS
If you
travel to a natural forest, remember there are inhabitants there
whom you must respect, and who hold knowledge that you seek. If
you create your own area, no matter how small you must dedicate
it to some deity, and their attendants or invite any who wish to
inhabit it, to do so. If you use your garden bear in mind that
there are probably those already there.
Before
attempting a spell, or divination it is necessary to meditate and
attune oneself to the forest or plain or indeed seashore or
island. If you can at least sometimes actually visit these places
it will make a great difference to your work. Below is a sample
meditation for The Forest, and simple charms and spells. Next
month we will work on the Plains.
(For Seashore/Islands see next page)
MEDITATION
You are
travelling the homeland itself, walking through the forests and
across the plains. At present you are walking along a forest
path, through a leafy glade/ The path is carpeted with
pineneedles and a spine of grass tufts runs along its centre.To
either side are trees and undergrowth,; the air is heavy with the
scent of flowers and the drone of bees and insects. Occasionally
a small bird or animal rustles amoungst the ferns and heathers or
calls in the distance. The day is warm but with a slight cooling
breeze. The path meanders along, twisting and turning, leading
you further and further into the depths of the forest. You notice
a tiny spring running alongside the forest path, turning the
pebbles into colourful gems and staining the sandcoloured path
dark brown. You pause for a moment letting the breeze caress your
face; you are feeling warmed and drowsy and lulled by the forest
sounds and smells; the scent of wild garlic and hedgerose; the
humming of bees and insects; the solitary call of the birds and
the rustling of the dormice.
ASLEEP IN THE FOREST
Today
you have chosen to sleep in the forest, a liitle rest to refresh
you before you continue on your journey. With your bundle under
your head and your cloak beneath you, you close your eyes and
relax. At peae with yourself, physically and mentally relaxed,
you are at one with the rythyn of the forest.
CHARMS
If you wish
to take a souvenir of the forest ask permission of the local
spirits or elementals first
A pine cone, stone (especially with a natural hole in it) flower,
fern etc all can be carried forward with you on your journey, to
keep the spirit of the place with you. If you find a feather,
consider it a gift from the god/dess and carry it with you.
Remember to thank the Sky and the birds for this gift. Before
leaving your resting place, or any place from which you have
taken a charm or the forest itself, remember to thank the god/dess
& spitits of the place.
Never use the forest for rituals unless you have carried out a
great deal of preparation first.
Other charms:
In your
home, to symbolise the journey and to bring the spirit of the
Forest into the home, gather ferns and pinecones and build a fire
of them. Take the ashes and place in a silk pouch, and nail it
above the fromt door. Burn pines or pineresin at any time to
invoke the forest. Use essential oils of flowers to create the
correct atmosphere.
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