Welcome Sacred One,
For joining me here today,
Being open to continue your soul's journey and for today's magical adventure,
Our journey into the Sacred Forest.
The Sacred Forest is a wondrous and heavenly place and is eagerly awaiting your arrival.
So sit comfortably,
Close your eyes and feel your feet resting firmly on the ground.
Spend a moment feeling deep gratitude build up in your heart.
Feel that gratitude overflowing and pouring down through your body,
Through your torso,
Your pelvis,
Your legs,
Your feet and into the ground below.
For it is the ground that gives us all the sustenance of life and it's the ground that supports us.
It's the ground that gives strength to all.
From the mighty oak with branches reaching high into the canopy and to the little buttercup lifting its yellow head towards the sun.
As you look down you see the little yellow buttercup before you.
You reach down with hands outstretched and gently cup the flower.
The golden yellow is reflected on your hands but it's more than a reflection.
You'll feel the energy of the buttercup seeping in through your skin and into your hands.
As the golden light enters it shimmers and as you look the golden shimmer is now enveloping your hands.
And then your arms,
It's soft warm light travels and now envelopes your body down your legs to your feet and up to the top of your head.
Your whole body is now shimmering with a soft gold.
You can feel its magical tingle and you realize you are feeling not just the energy of the buttercup but of the sacred forest too.
You move your gaze up from the buttercup and look around you.
The shimmering gold,
The essence of the sacred forest has transported you right into the heart of the forest.
You're in a small clearing.
Around you are oak trees of all sizes.
There are small saplings rising up to meet their mighty parents and elders who have weathered many years.
The sun is dappling through their leaves and rustling gently in the breeze.
You feel that breeze fresh and soothing on your cheeks and on your bare skin.
Before you arrived the forest has spent the day drinking in the morning dew and it smells wonderful.
Reflexively you take some deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth.
And on each in breath breathe in its wondrous perfume and each breath out letting the stress of the day simply shimmer away.
Just like the melting of the early morning dew.
You are left filled to the brim with the forest's healing essence.
You feel so grateful to be alive and to be here today.
There's a huge smile forming on your face as you hear a sound coming from behind one of the mighty oaks.
It's a sweet sound of laughter.
From behind the huge trunk skips a dryad.
She is a wood nymph.
Her face is streaked with rivers of wrinkles.
And she appears as old as the tree she was born with and protects.
Her skin is tinged mottled green.
Her hair is a tangle of sticks and leaves.
And her mossy dress hugs her body like it grows from her skin.
She has long limbs reaching like branches.
And she hops with ease onto a large rock in front of you.
Her eyes light up and she speaks for herself and the oak.
We've been waiting for you.
We are so glad you are here.
The wind told us you were coming today.
Then her branch-like arms extend and wrap around you in a comforting hug.
She is flexible but strong like a rope holding a boat to its mooring.
And you feel held and supported.
She releases the hug and now takes your hands.
She looks into your eyes and speaks again.
We understand that being a human spirit can be hard.
You don't always feel the strength of Mother Earth like we do.
It's hard for you to hear the whispers on the wind that soothe us.
And you carry worry like rocks on your back.
But we are here to tell you how brave you are.
Every day and how loved you are by the whole forest.
She reaches into her pocket,
Pulls out a small acorn-sized parcel that now rests in the centre of her palm.
It looks like an entanglement of herbs and roots.
And she offers it to you.
You take the parcel,
Hesitate for a moment.
She gestures for you to eat it.
You take the parcel and put it in your mouth.
It's amazingly tasty and moist and dissolves almost immediately on your tongue.
Immediately you hear the soft song of the wind,
The hum of the trees in gentle conversation,
And the strength of Mother Earth coursing through your veins and bringing strength of body and mind like you haven't felt in years.
She smiles sweetly,
Acknowledging your experience,
And says,
You are welcome here,
Anytime,
Dear one.
Return as often as you desire.
We are all so thankful that you came here today.
She turns to leave,
Jumps down off the rock,
And simply dissolves into the tree behind her.
You know that it is time for you to leave as well.
You turn around and notice the yellow buttercup in the centre of the clearing.
The sun is now shining directly on it.
Its rays create the golden shimmer you saw before,
But now more vibrant than ever.
As you stare at the buttercup,
You feel its golden shimmer overtake you once again,
And your whole body is enveloped in a wonderful golden sparkling light.
You take a breath in and find yourself back in your chair with your feet on the ground.
When you are ready,
Slowly open your eyes and behold the golden shimmer extending and protecting around you.
