The Bridge Between Heaven and Earth
It’s Wednesday afternoon, and I’m taking a moment to breathe after a full day. Wednesdays start earlier than normal for me. They’re the day I get up to bring a local weekly newspaper to stores in NH and VT. It’s a fantastic side job, where I get to listen to my music as I cruise around the scenic beauty that I live in. It’s a bit of a long day, though. Today that job was followed up with a house clearing and various errands. Now, here I am at home, taking a moment to listen. The wind builds around us, threatening a storm later tonight. The sound of the wind in the trees remind me of the ocean lapping the shore. The air is warm and heavy with the oncoming storm. I love it.
As I stare out at the swaying trees, it reminds me of a younger me walking through those woods. I was almost an adult, and I was listening to the wind in the trees that day as well. I was trying to find common ground between the energies that I felt. I remember recognizing the presence of the Divine in the way that I experienced in church. I could also feel the wild power of the forest around me. At that point, they seemed so dissimilar. I felt that I had to choose between one or the other and I hated it.
I think that I struggled with that for a while as I tried to find my path. I tried to walk both worlds, or tried to find common ground. It took me a bit to realize that the common ground was within my reach the entire time… The common ground was me.
Not just me, of course. All of us. Each of us has the ability to be the alchemical vessel where the Earth meets the Heavens to create something entirely new. Our bodies and our minds are in between spots. They are where spirit meets matter, the point where consciousnesses can interact.
Earlier this week, I met with a client and tried to do some work where he connected to above and below. I had him lean against a tree to find the energetic pattern. This is something that you, too, can do. I’ve seen different versions of this exercise, one being from the Druid Revival tradition that I was practicing. It goes something like this.
If you’re looking for a little help in this practice, find an older tree that you like. Check with it and see how it feels to you. If it feels good and friendly, put your back to the tree trunk. If there isn’t a tree handy, no problem. The tree is just a suggestion that could act as an energetic map. Do a standing meditation for a few minutes, taking deep, long breaths with pauses in between. Once you are feeling calm, clear, and centered, visualize a light at your center. Breathe into that light. Be present with it. When you are ready, imagine it unfurling like a seed. A shoot of light goes up your center as a root of light goes down. With each breath, let this inner light tree grow. Take the time you need. As the tree grows, it’s branches leaf out and extend above you. The roots spread out from your feet, reaching deep into the earth. Feel (or imagine) nature about you. Feel the sunlight and wind in your branches. Feel the soil beneath you. Feel the heartbeat of the planet.
As you breathe in, imagine the golden sunlight trickling down your leaves all through you to your roots. As you breathe out, imagine the soil and nutrients coming up from the Earth in the form of a silvery light. At each pause, see the lights mingling inside of you, mixing together to strengthen that white light at your center. Feel yourself as a bridge between Heaven and Earth, surrounded by the elements of nature. Once you feel that the exercise has been enough, release the image and bring your awareness back the beautiful world around you.
Play around with this exercise. If you try it, let me know how it went for you.
On a side note, I hope that you all had a beautiful Autumnal Equinox. Mine was celebrated with a small group at my friend Maya’s stone circle. We sat about a fire as we held a small ceremony about release and balance. We also ate some delicious food. Maybe a simple way to celebrate, but it was perfect. I look forward to continuing the work of creating tradition to accompany the wheel of the year.
Wishing you all a happy Fall
The Green Mountain Mage