Post by artanaro on Jan 3, 2006 18:58:02 GMT -5
"Visit a location, a woodland or forest, where trees have grown naturally, rather than a garden or park where they have been planted by humans. Take with you a notebook and a pen and a packet of mixed herbs(obtainable from any supermarket)
You will notice after even a few minutes of walking among the trees that you experience a feeling of relaxation and a clarity of mind. This is not just due to an increase in oxygenation but because of a prevalence of Life-force energy in the natural environment.
Pause to consider the affinity you have with trees. You each take nourishment from the Earth and from the light and air above and around you. You each circulate energy throughout your entire physical structure.
Then allow yourself to be drawn to a particular tree, for then you will be provided with the qualities you need at that moment. Appreciate the tree's shape and the beauty of its form. Talk to it and tell it how beautiful it is. If you find that idea ludicrous and even embarassing, remember that the tree is alive, and although it does not have physical ears like you it does have a spirit-a vital essence - which is contactable by your Spirit. The real communication takes place spiritually and telepathically. Just express you feelings mentally if that makes you feel more comfortable.
Then move closer to the tree and hold its trunk between your hands. Close your eyes and focus your attention on the soles of your feet. Visualize each foot putting down roots into the ground, like the tree, descending deeply to where subterannean springs can be tapped into to nourish and sustain you. Sense the connection. Experience it.
Breathe in slowly and as you do so experience energy being drawn up from beneath your feet and rising like sap through your legs, into your torso, up through your chest and into your throat and head and reaching a point just above the crown. Pause for a few seconds as you hold your breath and feel that energy being suspended there.
As you breath out slowly, experience that energy jetting out from that point above the crown of your head like a fountain and cascading around your entire body like a gentle waterfall.
Visualize the 'water' as amber light invigorating your entire being and forming a pool by your feet before being absorbed into the ground as you pause before the next in-breath.
Repeat this sequence as you breathe up more of that energy. 'See' globules of light cascading around you and penetrating through you before being absorbed into the ground to be filtered and purified.
Continue this sequence of inhaling, pausing, exhaling, and pausing until you feel invigorated.
Open you eyes and with you hands still grasping the tree trunk ask the tree to give you a personal teaching. Now, sit and with your back supported against the tree trunk and await the tree's response. You may do some healing visualizations at this time for the tree if it is damaged. Send out healing energy, either in the form of a violet flame, green flame, blue flame, golden light, amber light, etc. whatever is best for you. You may also call upon Yavanna in this matter or Orome. Your experience will be unique, it will be your own, these are only suggestions.
When you have finished, get up, stretch your limbs and move around for a while so you are grounded back into ordinary reality. Before departing, thank the tree for its help and sprinkle the mixed herbs around the base of the tree as a token of your appreciation. The 'Give-Away' is an important principle in shamanic activity for it demonstrates recognition of the necessity for an equal exchange of energies in order that balance and harmony are maintained. It teaches us the need to give as well as to receive, for giving and receiving are of equal importance.
In doing this, you will find yourself getting closer to Nature, and thereby getting closer to the Source that we sometimes call Eru Iluvatar, or the Great Spirit. Getting close to Nature is like getting close to a person you admire or respect. It simply requires spending time with them."
(Most of the wording was taken from Rune Power by Kenneth Meadows cuz I liked the way he worded it, though changed to reflect a method used by the elves...)
I resonate highly with this method and I feel it is a very close method to the elven method, though the elves did most of the connecting part on their own naturally with minimal need for visualization, and thus would see all of the above as plainly obvious not even needing mention. But we , in our conditioning have forgotten. This is a method of remembering how.
Namarie
Artanaro
You will notice after even a few minutes of walking among the trees that you experience a feeling of relaxation and a clarity of mind. This is not just due to an increase in oxygenation but because of a prevalence of Life-force energy in the natural environment.
Pause to consider the affinity you have with trees. You each take nourishment from the Earth and from the light and air above and around you. You each circulate energy throughout your entire physical structure.
Then allow yourself to be drawn to a particular tree, for then you will be provided with the qualities you need at that moment. Appreciate the tree's shape and the beauty of its form. Talk to it and tell it how beautiful it is. If you find that idea ludicrous and even embarassing, remember that the tree is alive, and although it does not have physical ears like you it does have a spirit-a vital essence - which is contactable by your Spirit. The real communication takes place spiritually and telepathically. Just express you feelings mentally if that makes you feel more comfortable.
Then move closer to the tree and hold its trunk between your hands. Close your eyes and focus your attention on the soles of your feet. Visualize each foot putting down roots into the ground, like the tree, descending deeply to where subterannean springs can be tapped into to nourish and sustain you. Sense the connection. Experience it.
Breathe in slowly and as you do so experience energy being drawn up from beneath your feet and rising like sap through your legs, into your torso, up through your chest and into your throat and head and reaching a point just above the crown. Pause for a few seconds as you hold your breath and feel that energy being suspended there.
As you breath out slowly, experience that energy jetting out from that point above the crown of your head like a fountain and cascading around your entire body like a gentle waterfall.
Visualize the 'water' as amber light invigorating your entire being and forming a pool by your feet before being absorbed into the ground as you pause before the next in-breath.
Repeat this sequence as you breathe up more of that energy. 'See' globules of light cascading around you and penetrating through you before being absorbed into the ground to be filtered and purified.
Continue this sequence of inhaling, pausing, exhaling, and pausing until you feel invigorated.
Open you eyes and with you hands still grasping the tree trunk ask the tree to give you a personal teaching. Now, sit and with your back supported against the tree trunk and await the tree's response. You may do some healing visualizations at this time for the tree if it is damaged. Send out healing energy, either in the form of a violet flame, green flame, blue flame, golden light, amber light, etc. whatever is best for you. You may also call upon Yavanna in this matter or Orome. Your experience will be unique, it will be your own, these are only suggestions.
When you have finished, get up, stretch your limbs and move around for a while so you are grounded back into ordinary reality. Before departing, thank the tree for its help and sprinkle the mixed herbs around the base of the tree as a token of your appreciation. The 'Give-Away' is an important principle in shamanic activity for it demonstrates recognition of the necessity for an equal exchange of energies in order that balance and harmony are maintained. It teaches us the need to give as well as to receive, for giving and receiving are of equal importance.
In doing this, you will find yourself getting closer to Nature, and thereby getting closer to the Source that we sometimes call Eru Iluvatar, or the Great Spirit. Getting close to Nature is like getting close to a person you admire or respect. It simply requires spending time with them."
(Most of the wording was taken from Rune Power by Kenneth Meadows cuz I liked the way he worded it, though changed to reflect a method used by the elves...)
I resonate highly with this method and I feel it is a very close method to the elven method, though the elves did most of the connecting part on their own naturally with minimal need for visualization, and thus would see all of the above as plainly obvious not even needing mention. But we , in our conditioning have forgotten. This is a method of remembering how.
Namarie
Artanaro