YOUR INNERSANCTUARY MEDITATION for Candlemas/Groundhog’s Day Feb. 2, 2010
AHA! FACTOR: The ancient Celts, Germans and Scandinavians celebrated Feb. 2 as the day in which the hibernating animals began to wake from their deep Winter’s sleep. It was the time in which omens were read to plan for sowing, breeding and harvesting. In their altered state these earthy denizens, who had just come up to the surface, were believed to be foretellers of the planting season’s upcoming weather. The groundhog, (in German tradition, the badger) often builds her set or burrow close to human dwellings and is one of the first hibernators to arrive. When she peeks her nose out to get a sense of the weather, “if she sees snow, she walks abroad. If she sees sun, she draws back in her hole.” This gives rise to the Scottish proverb: Should Candlemas be fair and clear, Ther’ll be twa winters in the year. The deep interdependence and interaction of humans with other creatures in the Cycles of the Seasons is still implicit in this agricultural festival. We can always look to Nature for guidance and direction.
SHAMANIC* GUIDED IMAGING MEDITATION
(*By shamanic we mean that, through imagination, we can call to us or transform into the Guide who will direct us where we need to go to seek appropriate answers)
Begin with the Breathing Exercise from the First Innersanctuary Meditation.
As you gently turn your attention to your breathing, notice that your eyelids are heavy and close very naturally, without effort. Keeping your physical eyes closed, focus upon your Third or Shamanic Visionary Eye at the center of your forehead. You are now in a light altered state.
As you focus your “sight,” you can see on the “screen of your imagination,” that you are seated on a cushion of soft moss in a circle of trees. Just in front of you is a very large, very beautiful old tree. Its roots flow from the trunk, deep into the earth.
As you watch, you see a furry creature, dark brown with bright eyes and small pointed ears perched upon one big root.
Suddenly, she darts into a large hole between the roots. You follow her, knowing that you will be safe and protected in your meditation journey.
As you head down the tunnel you move forward very swiftly. Soon, you can see a light directly ahead of you and you prepare yourself to enter into a magical world.
Out you pop—into the Light! Let yourself take plenty of time to look all around you. Can you feel the TOUCH of air on your skin? Do you SEE any shapes, colors or creatures there waiting for you? Can you HEAR any sounds from nature, voices or speech from anyone or anything around you? Is there any fragrance, any scent or SMELL, which you notice? And, do you have a sense of KNOWING, the feeling of INTUITION as you await special guidance from someone or something?
These are the 5 ways that we may experience a Guided Imaging Meditation. Many of us can activate several of these forms of knowing. No one way is better than the others. Gently look around and experience, in whatever form, the meditation world around you. Take it all in, through as many of your senses as you can.
Now, if you wish, you may ask for general guidance, direction or response to this particular point in your life. Note that you may simply “sense” a response, not in words or sounds or even images, but through your intuition and within your body. This most often comes as a “knowing” of information that helps you see the next step in your life more clearly.
After receiving this information, give thanks. You can always return to this special shamanic location in the future by repeating the journey you have just followed. Now, you will bring your guidance with you as the Groundhog or furry guide leads you back into the tunnel in the earth.
Up and up you swiftly move until you see the light at the surface of the earth. Out you pop, standing up between the large roots at the base of the ancient tree.
You continue to focus on your breathing.
Now, you are in your body in present time and in Ordinary Reality.
You feel both relaxed and recharged. You are ready to take on the rest of your day!
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