Rewilding Your Spirit

As we start our journey, we are at a threshold and a bridge to another world. Here we prepare for our journey and the idea of crossing over that bridge. What is it we are seeking? What may we leave behind as we walk into the wild beyond? To rewild a space is to return its natural, uncultivated state, and it's not so different for humans. Can we return to nature after a long period in our homes? Today's session will be simple but powerful as we return to the wild, in our mind's eye. Or you can listen to this as you walk into nature, whether that be a park, woodland or forest. Any pathway can be your bridge into the wild.

The sentinels of the forest, like temple columns or a great doorway, greet us on our journey into a wild, sacred world. In this tree visualization, we have a chance to greet the trees and seek their ancient wisdom. Simply being amongst trees or visualizing them can calm stress levels and blood pressure. Tree aerosols released into the air can be healing and soothing to humans. And as the trees are far older and larger than us, they can help us move our thoughts and worries into perspective.

Rewilding is a lovely word. We'll look at another special "re" word today: re-enchantment. Our ancient woodlands are full of fairy tales and folklore to spark imaginations and inspire a journey of creative discovery. Let's take a journey into folk and fairytale to re-enchant yourself with the magical potential of the wild. To see the wonder within the wild is an important step into honouring and valuing it. This tale is called the Forest Witch, and it is a favourite of mine.

The wild world is sacred indeed, and in our journey today, we will create a wild temple in our visualization. This session is an invitation to view the natural world in the same sacred way as we might view a cathedral or ancient statue and to remind us to treat it with the same respect and reverence.

We all have roots that run into the earth. We have been on a journey of evolution to arrive at this point in time. This session is a journey of remembering and rooting into the earth as we connect to the global community of the planet and all its inhabitants. This session reminds us of the simple and powerful magic of roots and grounding and what that can mean for people and trees alike.

The natural world looks very different at night, under a cloak of moon and starlight. Dark shadows under the canopy offer protection to animals and birds, and they explore the nocturnal world. Nighttime is an invitation to grow still, quiet, and calm. This special time offers us an opportunity to see the world in a different light, with potential for magic and mystery.

You may want to get up just before dawn or sit in your bed warm and supported. Or simply embrace the image of a new dawn and new day with its glorious potential. Today's journey is one to embrace hope and possibility. In this visualisation, we'll see the colours of the dawn. Hear birds singing. A beautiful new day has come.

The element of water is abundant within the natural world: waterfalls, streams, rain, rivers, and oceans. It is both beautiful and vital to the survival of all living things. The element of water can also offer us ideas for calming and soothing the body and mind. What can we wash away, and how can we flow with the rhythms of life?

When we feel disconnected from the natural world, our senses can help bring us back to the wild. The more you utilize your senses, touching leaves, feeling the breeze, smelling the flowers, the more you can connect to the present moment and space. We can visualize this journey, but I strongly encourage you to take a little time in nature; you may want to stand on grass barefoot, sit in a shady space under a tree, or sit by an open window - whatever is available to you. This journey will help us reconnect to our senses. This meditation also features a 5-minute segment of silence, so that you can fully attune to your natural surroundings, whether that is out in the world or in the mind's eye. These will be your greatest teachers on this journey: the wind, the trees, the sun and the sky. These are truly your most valuable guides!

Drawing on the image of ancient Celtic goddess ’Ellen of the Ways’ as we come to the last day of this meditation journey, we’ll explore the idea of finding our way, waymarkers and guides, that will help support our onward journey from here, as we continue our journey of rewilding our souls and spirits. The antlered Goddess; Elen of the Ways IS one of the most ancient female deities of the British Isles, dating back to the Paleolithic era (with various names lost to time). Elen of the Ways can guide us on ancient paths; find her deep in the heart of the wood, amongst wild places where the deer roam. Look for the flash in the shadows at sunset, the glimpse of an antler. Once you have met her, you’ll be forever changed.