Connecting To A Non-Human Element Meditation

One of our core cultural and systemic burdens in a western world is individualism. The element of collective is core to decolonizing our worldview. Collective care, collective unity, & connection to every living being on this planet.

In this meditation, you are invited to connect to a collective Self energy (i.e. the life force in every living being) through an embodied connection to a non-human element (such as trees, waters, mountains, rocks, plants or anything else you feel drawn towards). This is a practice inspired by animism, and is woven from the cultural beliefs in many indigenous communities around the world, especially on turtle island, where I am a settler.

Background music by David Fesliyan & David Renda from Fesliyan Studios.

Transcript

This is a practice that is quite common in many Indigenous cultures around the world, Especially here on Turtle Island. So I'm going to invite you to let yourself settle. I'm going to lead us through a short experiential exercise. And just landing in your body and your seat. Take a moment to see if you can get even 5% more comfortable right now. And close your eyes if it feels available to do so. Take a moment as you settle in to connect to your breath. Just allowing your awareness to drop from your mind into your body into your heart space Give yourself permission to allow whatever comes in during this exercise to be welcomed. Just flowing with curiosity and imagination to whatever wisdom emerges. Call to your awareness a natural element that you feel a strong connection to. There might be a tree that you're drawn towards anytime you pass it. Or a body of water that grounds you anytime you need. Or a mountain that has held your tears and joy, Your fears, Sorrows, Your bliss. Or anything else not mentioned. If you find it, If you're finding it hard to access anything or you don't experience a connection to natural elements in this way, That's okay. There's an invitation to connect to the land that you are currently on. The earth or water that is your home. Take a moment to invite in this natural element and with their consent, You might use your breath to move closer. And slowly to become it. We want to just take a moment to acknowledge if you don't have consent to embody this natural element. That's okay to simply be in connection with it. And you can use the prompts to explore what comes up, Even without embodying the elements. But if you are embodying this element, Take a moment to notice what you notice about yourself in the space. Notice your size. Are you big or small? Are you smooth or jagged? Do you moan, Or are you still? Do you have a temperature or do you feel the temperature around you? What's it like for you in this space? To feel the warmth of the sun. To feel the wind. To feel the rains from the sky. In this place embodying this element. What's it like to experience the world around you? Look around. Notice what you notice. What's different about your limbs? Notice if you experience time in a different way. Notice how from this place you experience pain. And from this place, How do you experience pleasure? How do animals interact with you? How do humans interact with you? Now from this place of embodying this natural element Take yourself in. You in your present day human form. And notice how you feel towards your human self. What do you notice about this human? From this place if it's available to you. Offer yourself some wisdom or guidance or a gift. No pressure if nothing comes. It's okay to just be with yourself. Take in. What it's like to be there in relationship with your human form in this way. Where's your breath? So slowly take a moment to Thank the spirit that you've been embodying. Take your time. You might use your breath to breathe yourself. Slowly back into the present moment. To the room you're in. You might wiggle your fingers or toes or stretch. See if your body wants to move.