Artwork by Peter Pracownik Contemplation and Healing An Air Meditation An Autumn Meditation Egyptian Sun Meditation Releasing Negative Energy Drawing Energy from the Earth An Air Meditation It is dawn. I find myself in a forest filled with Aspen trees. I raise my eyes and look for the sky, but the boughs looming overhead hide it from my view. As I look up, feel the cool breeze of spring brush my face, and hear the sound of the rustling leaves. Blowing, laughing from the east, Eurus brings thoughts of renewal and life. I follow the wind further into the soft shadows of the forest, inhaling deeply the strong scent of the trees. I smell, too, the wafting hints of fragrant incense. I follow where my senses lead me and come to a small clearing circled by burning censers filled with sweet-smelling oils. Toward the east end of the circle is a staff. I walk over to the place and sit on the ground before it. I take the staff into my hands and close my eyes. First come swirling colors of white then yellow then fading darker into lavender. Then, out of the swirling fog of colors come dozens of small, lithe figures who swirl around as if carried on the wind itself. They dance around my head and body, swirling around as if caught in a dance to unheard music. Then, taking my attention from the spirits of the air, I look up to find further figures emerging from the mist. First comes a woman with the beauty of the dawn. As she steps forward, each of the four winds, in turn, hasten from around her and fly, one to each of the four corners of the earth. As she fades, there comes another whose form seems insubstantial, and seems to constitute both the image of a woman and a cow at the same time. I look closely the attempt to solidify one form, but I cannot. As this image fades, I am presented with the forms of two women who immediately remind me of the nighttime sky. One glows with the pale light of the full moon, and her eyes hold the fullness of hidden knowledge. The other, whom also seems to radiate cool starlight, seems to embody the possibilities of many lifetimes. In due course, these figures too fade and I am left with only the mist of the elemental world of air. Suddenly, three male figures issue from the mist. They seem to be three aspects of one man, but each’s attributes differ. The first glows with the light of the moon, seeming to be its protector. The second and third appear almost identical, except that one has a winged helmet and shoes. As I sit and study the sameness and difference of the three, they begin to fade, as does the fog. When the mist clears, I find myself sitting within the circle still clutching the staff in my hands. I place the staff once again on the ground and rise. I thank the element of air, and all it is associated with for sharing with me its wisdom, and leave the circle. Top of page An Autumn Meditation For this meditation, which takes advantage of autumn’s inward-turning energy to help you contemplate life and afterlife, you need an image of the goddess White Tara, plus a suitable incense like nag champa or patchouli. Begin with this invocation: “Tara, star goddess, eternally burning one-fuel our hunger for knowledge, prepare us for release from the merely physical, and ferry us across from the world of delusion to the world of truth. White Tara, bright Tara, we beseech you: Open your eyes to the deeds of our lives and teach us to see beyond death to freedom.” Spend at least 10 minutes meditating on the meaning of life and the infinite possibilities of the afterlife. You may find it helpful to gaze at the goddess image or the smoke, or you may prefer to close your eyes. Afterwards, thank White Tara for her help and let the incense burn out. - By Elizabeth Barrette Top of page Egyptian Sun Meditation For renewing your physical and psychic energies. Count down into alpha. When you’re ready see a bright psychic sun shining about 6 feet over your head. Notice how its golden energy pulsates. See the power of the sun leap out from it, eager to share itself with all living things. In time you’ll notice 6 beams of sunlight that seem directed toward you. You want to connect these beams of light to 6 areas of your body: The 1st beam enters your head and travels to your 3rd Eye, the pineal gland. The 2nd beam enters the throat chakra, the thyroid. The 3rd beam streams through the heart chakra. The 4th beam penetrates the solar plexus, between the rib cage and stomach. Next, raise your hands, palms up, to shoulder level, fingertips pointed outward. Now let the 5th and 6th beams penetrate the center of your palms. When the 6 rays have entered your body feel the rays of sunlight flowing through your blood, your nervous system, up and down your spinal column, to every cell in your body, to every internal organ. Eventually you’ll feel a tingling sensation in your fingertips. It may feel icy or warm. Touch your feet together and cross your hands over your chest. With your eyes still closed, hold the light within you. Bathe in its warm glow, letting it renew your energy for as long as it feels comfortable. Say over and over to yourself, “The sun gives me physical and psychic energy.” Sit in this position for about 10 or 15 minutes and you will feel completely energized in your body, mind, and aura. Top of page Releasing Negative Energy Sit or stand near the center of the house and begin turning in a slow circle, concentrating on which direction the negative energy wishes to go. When you feel the direction, stop there and, using your hands, form an energy ball and shape it into a pipe that goes from the inside of your house to the outside in the direction indicated. Then, invite the negative energy to leave, not in a hostile manner, but in a way that allows it to go of its own volition. After the energy has gone, or mostly gone, smudge the house with sage, paying attention to each door and window. Invite the spirits of House and Home to again come and be there with you. If you know in advance that the person who leaves negative energy there is coming, smudge the doorway he/she will enter through and construct the energy conduit in advance so their negativity will simply leave the moment it arrives. Top of page Drawing Energy from the Earth This exercise is meant to familiarize you with the Earth-body and with the body-earth your physical body. Performing it regularly will help you to realize that the Earth is alive and very responsive to your attentions. 1. Find a comfortable spot where you can lie down. This spot can be anywhere - on the front lawn, the bed, or living room couch. 2. Close your eyes. Relax. Breathe deeply into your belly and exhale fully several times. 3. Become aware of your physical body. Really get into it from your head down to your toes. Now, shift your attention to the Earth directly below you. Let feelings of gratitude and respect for the Earth spirits well up; stretch these sensations down through all the layers of the Earth until you become aware of the Earth's inner molten core. 4. Once you have reached the inner core of the Earth, feel all your fear, anxiety, and negativity drain down into the earth through your spinal column, beginning at the top and ending at the base of the spine. With your attnetion still focused at the base of the spine, begin to draw the pure, vital energy up from the Earth's core. Feel it slowly rise up through the spine until it reaches the top. 5. Open your eyes. - from Crystal Medicine by Marquerite Elsbeth Top of page Angels The Land of Fae