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Article Specs
Article ID: 13590
VoxAcct: 382038
Section: earth
Age Group: Adult
Days Up: 218
Times Read: 1,323
RSS Views: 13,737
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The Stone Goddess
Author: Teresa
Posted: January 31st. 2010
Times Viewed: 1,323
I began my Druid studies in the spring, just as the snows were melting and the trees were beginning to think about their leaves. I read the first chapter and couldn't wait to get started on my journey of 'becoming a druid'. My first mission, as directed by Fearn and Ivan, the founders of The Green Mountain Druid Order, was to go out and explore the nature around my home. So... that is exactly what I did! I have a wonderful nature reserve across the street from me with 600 acres of protected land.
With camera in hand, I began to walk the trails.
At first I was simply enthralled as I got to know the landscape and watched the world wake up from winter. I listened to the chipmunks, photographed woodpecker nests, and waited for leaves and flowers to open up. I enjoyed the much-needed alone time that my hikes offered. I found the power centers and got to know the places where energy vibrated at higher, lighter frequencies. I also found the dense places of heavier energy in the low-lying bogs.
I practiced wide-angle vision and looked for a place to perform ceremony and ritual, all the while asking the forest around me to reveal its knowledge and show me its secrets. What I really wanted most was to come into contact with the goddess of this great space, and I asked for that gift every time I entered the woods.
As I continued to make my presence known and ask for guidance, I began to feel the energy change. The space started to reject me in various, subtle ways. The first thing I noticed was that at certain times of the day, particularly in the early morning, and at specific locations on the trails, I would suddenly find that I had been lured off the path and veered toward the water. Not a particularly safe place to be when the creeks are rushing with still-melting snow from the higher elevations and the ground is unstable due to the saturation of heavy spring rains.
I would be consciously walking along, intent on the path so as not to put myself in a dangerous situation, and suddenly, there I was, more than 10 feet away from the clearly marked trail, looking around in confusion and disbelief, and wondering, "How the heck did I get over here? I was just on the trail." I would work my way back to the trail, and in just a few feet I would be veering off the path once again.
When that did not deter me from continuing my hikes, the woods began to become less subtle. I would feel strand after strand of thin fibers catching me as I navigated my way down the trails. It felt like spider webs across my face and body. When I tried to brush them off, there was nothing there but a tingling on my skin and a creepy feeling in my gut. I started avoiding certain areas of the space altogether and only going in during the mid-afternoon hours. I felt like I was being watched every time I gathered the courage cross the street and brave the now ominous woods.
I persisted with caution until one day, as I walked along the high ridge, I heard a loud, large crashing coming toward me. I could not see anything as I stood frozen in fear, but I completely understood the message... "Get the hell out of here, NOW!"
I ran as fast as I could back to the entrance, my body shaking and my nerves on end. I spent the next few weeks researching why this was happening and what I could do to earn the trust of this space. I was terrified, but determined, knowing that overcoming fear has always been one of my greatest obstacles in finding my power.
Several weeks later, armed with information and encouraged by Ivan, I began once again to enter the nature reserve. This time my intent was not about what I could receive from this space, but what I could give. At first, the space would only allow me to come up to the edge of the entrance in order to present my gifts. I would bring fruit, tea, salt, and composting, as well as toning and healing thoughts. I would also bring a garbage bag and collect any garbage that was left by other visitors.
After a few visits, I was allowed to enter in about 50 feet to where a natural circle of large stones creates a center of power. I sat down on the root of a tree near one of the stones beside the path and spoke to the nature around me. I asked to be a caretaker of the land there and promised that I would be more aware and respectful of the balance I needed to create between this space and myself. I also promised to bring as much healing energy as I could.
The space slowly began to open its gates and allowed me once again to be present on all the trails. I continued my healing work by toning to the trees, performing healing rituals, stirring up energy with the Dance of Life, and giving my gifts of fruit, salt, and substance. I also made sure that every time I entered I collected any garbage I saw no matter how difficult it was to get at. I still felt watched, but instead of instilling fear in its awareness of me, the space now began to offer comfort and protection. I began to feel at peace on the trails and at my ritual spot.
One day, as I sat on my balcony, tired from a long day at work and not feeling particularly well, I was assaulted with the nagging feeling of, "...go to the woods... go to the woods... go to the woods..." I have learned to listen to my instincts in situations of power, and recognizing this as one of those situations, I grabbed my bag, donned my hiking boots, and set out across the road. I planned to spend about 20 minutes or so on the trail -- just enough time, I hoped, to get that persistent nagging to go away.
I had hiked a little way into the woods when I realized that I forgot to put any gifts in my bag. As a form of reconciliation for that oversight, I went to one of my favorite places of power and began to tone. It is a place on the trail where twin trees present what looks like a gateway.
I walked up and stood between the trees, putting one hand on each trunk so as to form a bridge between them and began a repetitive om - awen toning cycle. As I stood there toning I began to feel light-headed and trance like. I silenced my voice and moved into wide-angled vision. As I did this, I noticed something on the far left side of my field of vision begin to bubble up and move from the front of me toward the back. It looked like an air bubble that distorted the space and made it seem somewhat like I was watching a fun-house mirror being transported through the woods. Immediately after it was beyond my field of vision, my right hand and arm began to feel warm and vibrate. This lasted for what I felt was about 30 seconds before it abruptly stopped.
I knew at that point that something had shifted and I was caught up in an alternate reality. I let go of the trees and began to stagger down the path. I came to the place where I had sat on the tree root and asked to be a caretaker of this place. As I stood there on the path, looking at the large stone that lives next to the tree, an image of a woman began to appear on the face of the rock. She had long flowing hair, beautiful facial features, and a ring of garland on her head. I knew I was finally being introduced to the goddess of this space. It was the moment I had been hoping and working toward for months!
I stood there in awe and wonder as a hand appeared over her heart. I took this as an invitation and walked up to the stone. I put my hand over the hand of the goddess and felt her heart beat from my palm all the way up to my elbow. I closed my eyes and stood in the moment, soaking in the beauty, the power, and the magic of it all. It was a gift to me and I was allowed to stay there feeling her presence for as long as I needed. What felt like only a few moments must have been over an hour because when I started to come out of my altered state of consciousness, the sun was almost set.
I rummaged through my bag for something -- anything -- to give to the beautiful goddess who had allowed me to stand in the center of her power and feel her heart. All I had at the bottom of my bag was a coin. I placed it at the base of the stone, gave thanks and gratitude for the profound vision I had just witnessed, and slowly walked out of the woods.
Looking back, I realize how much work was done in order to get to that place, that time, that vision... Work for balance and healing that took months to achieve. About a week after meeting the goddess, I took another walk and paused by the stone in which she had appeared. This time a new face was staring back at me. A male face. The protector of the goddess. It was there not to frighten me, but to remind me that although I had gained the trust of this space, my actions would determine whether or not I would be allowed to keep that trust. He appeared in order to make me aware of the commitment I’d made and to give me the opportunity to renew that promise.
And so, with that in mind, my work in this space continues…
ABOUT...
Teresa
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
Website: http://mysacredgrove.webs.com
Author's Profile: To learn more about Teresa - Click HERE
Other Listings: To view ALL of my listings: Click HERE
Email Teresa... (No, I have NOT opted to receive Pagan Invites! Please do NOT send me anonymous invites to groups, sales and events.)
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