If you haven't got a spiritual teacher (and I suspect this is most of us!) then you could do a whole lot worse than befriend a tree.
In reality there isn't much information written and/or readily available on tree spirits (often mistakenly called dryads - the original meaning of 'dryad' referred to the spirit of an oak tree). This means that most of your work with tree spirits will have to be guided by your intuition. If you were looking for hard and fast instructions, sorry folks!
Befriending a tree will bring a whole new quality to your spirituality and will certainly add your connection to the spirit of the land. Trees are so very different from humanity and there is so, so much that we can learn from them.
How do you find your friend then? Are there any particular trees that seem to reach out to you - either spiritually or literally as you walk past they always seem to brush you with their branches? Is there a particular species that you feel an affinity with? These are good questions when searching for a tree to befriend. If you're lucky you have a tree growing right in your garden and it is already part of the family. If not, there are trees even in the most urban of situations.
I would start off by just showing the tree kindness. Water it during drought. Collect any rubbish that has been left at its base. Sit with the tree and give it time to get to know you - trees don't rush! Slowly you should start to develop a connection with the tree, and then who knows what it will teach you...
Monday, September 6, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Adoption
One of the things I have found most helpful in helping me to feel connected to the land has been to adopt a piece of land. In my opinion this should ideally be somewhere that is neglected, somewhere that is in need of some loving energy.
My adopted land is a very small remnant of woodland that survives the urban sprawl. I get the feeling that it is just a tiny piece and all that is left of what was probably not that long ago a large woodland area.
The path that runs through this tiny wood goes to a new, posh housing estate and to the huge Tesco supermarket. There are no bins along this track, despite the fact that it is heavily used by supermarket pedestrian traffic and as such the trees and the plants are choking on discarded rubbish. The track way is also a favourite dog walking route and unfortunately not many of them (or so it seems) remove their dogs poo. While I don't pick up the dog poo (it might be offensive to me but I don't suppose the trees and the plants mind it much) I make sure that every time I visit that I take a bag along with me and pick up the rubbish that I find, and then recycle what I can of it.
It doesn't take me that long, and the feeling of acceptance I get for it is more than welcome. The feeling of connection that has come from this activity is of a very comforting sort.
I urge you all to adopt a piece of land and show it that humans can and do care. Some of us at least.
My adopted land is a very small remnant of woodland that survives the urban sprawl. I get the feeling that it is just a tiny piece and all that is left of what was probably not that long ago a large woodland area.
The path that runs through this tiny wood goes to a new, posh housing estate and to the huge Tesco supermarket. There are no bins along this track, despite the fact that it is heavily used by supermarket pedestrian traffic and as such the trees and the plants are choking on discarded rubbish. The track way is also a favourite dog walking route and unfortunately not many of them (or so it seems) remove their dogs poo. While I don't pick up the dog poo (it might be offensive to me but I don't suppose the trees and the plants mind it much) I make sure that every time I visit that I take a bag along with me and pick up the rubbish that I find, and then recycle what I can of it.
It doesn't take me that long, and the feeling of acceptance I get for it is more than welcome. The feeling of connection that has come from this activity is of a very comforting sort.
I urge you all to adopt a piece of land and show it that humans can and do care. Some of us at least.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Writing in Runes
When creating a spell, runes can always be a good way to write words out, or use as symbols.
If you're using the runes for their described meanings, then there really is nothing to worry about - as you won't shouldn't be doubling them. But when you're writing a word, how exactly are you supposed to go about it?
Well, first off, go to your list of runes, their meanings and associated letters/sounds.
Depending on the Futhark that you're using, you have several options for vowels. If you're using the Elder Futhark, the letters are pretty straightforward; but if you're using the Anglo-Saxon Futhark - there's more room for variation. There are more runes that are associated with the vowels in that Futhark.
For the sake of simplicity, I'll stick with the Elder Futhark here.
The first rule, is that runes do not double!
Secondly, letter combinations like Th or Ng should use the appropriate rune. You shouldn't be using two runes for those combinations.
Be careful about mixing up "e" and "m". The runes Mann and Eh look similar (Eh actually looks like an 'm') but Mann has an extra line. So make sure you're using the correct rune.
In the Elder Futhark, Wunjo, Jera and Kenaz have multiple letters.
When using Wunjo or Jera for the letter y, think of how it's used. Use Jera for for the more vocal, throaty sound. Giefu/Gebo can also be used for y, and is more along the lines of Wunjo's usage. If you have more than one choice, take the meaning of the word or your final goal into account and see if you can work it out that way. You can also go with your intuition about what's right.
Well, first off, go to your list of runes, their meanings and associated letters/sounds.
Depending on the Futhark that you're using, you have several options for vowels. If you're using the Elder Futhark, the letters are pretty straightforward; but if you're using the Anglo-Saxon Futhark - there's more room for variation. There are more runes that are associated with the vowels in that Futhark.
For the sake of simplicity, I'll stick with the Elder Futhark here.
The first rule, is that runes do not double!
Secondly, letter combinations like Th or Ng should use the appropriate rune. You shouldn't be using two runes for those combinations.
Be careful about mixing up "e" and "m". The runes Mann and Eh look similar (Eh actually looks like an 'm') but Mann has an extra line. So make sure you're using the correct rune.
In the Elder Futhark, Wunjo, Jera and Kenaz have multiple letters.
When using Wunjo or Jera for the letter y, think of how it's used. Use Jera for for the more vocal, throaty sound. Giefu/Gebo can also be used for y, and is more along the lines of Wunjo's usage. If you have more than one choice, take the meaning of the word or your final goal into account and see if you can work it out that way. You can also go with your intuition about what's right.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Letters Home
If you are struggling with feeling your connection to the land I have a simple suggestion for you to incorporate into your own rituals, rites or meditations. Use what ever format suits your personal practise best.
To help draw you closer the the land you can try writing a letter. You might want to write this as you would a formal letter or you might decide to take the same route as me and write a poem. I chose the poem format because I felt the creation in itself was an offering to the land and because the crafting of a poem takes more time and therefore in the crafting of a poem you imbue your words with more meaning. A quick scribble isn't appropriate either way you chose to go forward with it; you need to put real thought into your words and when you write them out you must really feel them - make some effort to make the paper look pretty.
Tell the land that you wish to connect with it and the spirits that live with/within it and tell the land why. Tell the land how much you think of it. In my case I was telling the land spirits about the garden I wanted to create and why, and I was asking for permission and assistance. Be open and be clear in what you are saying.
When you have your final draft and it's all written out lovely (I would suggest handwriting rather than printing from your word processor as something handwritten is more personal and again gives your words more power) you are ready to use it. Begin as you would normally begin your practise, but you must be outside. If you want to make contact with the spirits of the land you must at least show willing! Where you are will obviously effect how you perform any rituals or meditations, but with this side of things you're on your own; do whatever suits you and the circumstance. The aim is to release your words to the land spirits. You might chose to read your words out loud or you may recite them silently. The nest step is to physically release your words. You can do this by either burying your letter in the Earth or by burning the letter in a small heat proof bowl.
After you've done this you must keep your eyes open! If the spirits try to answer you make sure you are listening. Watch for anything that keeps repeating in your life. Maybe a certain animal will keep appearing, either in real life or you'll keep seeing them on the t.v, hearing about them etc. Maybe it will be a word that keeps popping up, or a phrase. It might also be helpful to pay extra attention to your dreams.
Good luck,
Nellie x
To help draw you closer the the land you can try writing a letter. You might want to write this as you would a formal letter or you might decide to take the same route as me and write a poem. I chose the poem format because I felt the creation in itself was an offering to the land and because the crafting of a poem takes more time and therefore in the crafting of a poem you imbue your words with more meaning. A quick scribble isn't appropriate either way you chose to go forward with it; you need to put real thought into your words and when you write them out you must really feel them - make some effort to make the paper look pretty.
Tell the land that you wish to connect with it and the spirits that live with/within it and tell the land why. Tell the land how much you think of it. In my case I was telling the land spirits about the garden I wanted to create and why, and I was asking for permission and assistance. Be open and be clear in what you are saying.
When you have your final draft and it's all written out lovely (I would suggest handwriting rather than printing from your word processor as something handwritten is more personal and again gives your words more power) you are ready to use it. Begin as you would normally begin your practise, but you must be outside. If you want to make contact with the spirits of the land you must at least show willing! Where you are will obviously effect how you perform any rituals or meditations, but with this side of things you're on your own; do whatever suits you and the circumstance. The aim is to release your words to the land spirits. You might chose to read your words out loud or you may recite them silently. The nest step is to physically release your words. You can do this by either burying your letter in the Earth or by burning the letter in a small heat proof bowl.
After you've done this you must keep your eyes open! If the spirits try to answer you make sure you are listening. Watch for anything that keeps repeating in your life. Maybe a certain animal will keep appearing, either in real life or you'll keep seeing them on the t.v, hearing about them etc. Maybe it will be a word that keeps popping up, or a phrase. It might also be helpful to pay extra attention to your dreams.
Good luck,
Nellie x
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