Greetings friends and welcome.
Our meditation today will take us on a journey with Celtic goddess Epona.
Epona is depicted as either a beautiful white horse or the goddess of horses.
I am particularly fond of this goddess,
Not least because in hills nearby to my hometown there are white chalk horses carved into the hillside,
But also in my hometown of Aquis Sullus,
Barbed in the UK.
In this city that was built on ancient healing waters and hot springs,
The city is filled with ancient baths for healing,
For cleansing and for giving offerings and blessings for the goddess.
And one of these ancient baths was made just for horses.
And there are old stone carvings around this structure that suggests that perhaps goddess Epona was also watching over the horses.
In Epona's connection to horses she represents freedom,
Travel,
Transformation,
The ability and power to pass into different realms and over thresholds.
And in our meditation today I will take some time to guide you through a few images,
But also a little time of quiet to have the freedom to allow your own mind to wander and roam like wild horses.
So as always take your time.
Find the place you wish to rest,
Whether that is laying or seated.
Make sure that you are warm and comfortable as we begin to settle through body,
Breath and mind.
Allow the noise and the busyness of the world to fall away as if we are just pressing pause for a few precious minutes.
Allowing the body as we find this place of safety and calm within our restful place.
And allowing the body,
The muscles,
The joints and the bones to be soft as we let go of tension and tightness.
Letting go perhaps of anything we might be holding onto.
So that the body can soften.
The breath can be easeful.
Maybe the mind calms just a little.
With her connection to freedom I often think of Epona at the times of springtime and spring equinox where we are gifted a sense of space and light as the days grow longer.
So perhaps in our mind's eye we will envisage ourselves riding on a white horse,
A calm and gentle animal and we are just walking gently through a field in the springtime sun.
So new shoots of golden corn and spring flowers dance around you.
A few perhaps getting crumpled under hoof and sending up that beautiful springtime scent of earth and sunshine and flowery scent.
From your perch on top of this horse you can see a little further around you.
Perhaps you see past the fields and to trees and hills and mountains.
There is a sense of lightness and joy and connection with this horse.
You may have a sense of goddess Epona perhaps watching over you on this gentle journey.
Perhaps you envisage her riding beside you on her own horse.
Or maybe she is the horse.
Her energy,
Her image,
Her archetype can be embodied in any way that feels right for you.
And as the light and the warmth of the day seems to fill both you and your horse with a sense of light and freedom,
Perhaps the pace quickens a little and we begin to gently trot and canter.
Maybe we even move into a gallop.
Smooth,
Powerful movement.
And perhaps we still run through fields and meadows.
Maybe we are weaving through trees now.
Maybe even perhaps we find ourselves upon a sandy beach running in sunshine and sparkling surf.
You and your horse take a journey through the sunlight,
Through nature as the sights and sounds and smells of the natural world weave around you.
You Laughing and smiling with this sense of total exhilaration,
Your horse begins to gently slow back from gallop to canter to drop and finally a easeful walk.
You find that you have journeyed to a special place.
Wherever we have travelled we now find ourselves on a gentle green hill with a beautiful ancient tree at its peak.
As you reach the shade of the tree you dismount your horse and you both take a little time to rest and take on water and breathe in.
Breathe in the scents and sights of this special place,
So peaceful and calm.
Your horse companion gently nuzzles you with their soft nose.
Like soft velvet.
You thank them for this journey today and for being your companion here.
It is as if an understanding has passed between you.
The beautiful white horse takes their own journey now as they leave you and you see them walking back down the hill.
Maybe they are joined by other horses.
You are filled with a sense of gratitude that you were able to enjoy this special moment with this fleeting beauty,
This wild creature,
This embodiment of strength and power and grace.
But all those beautiful qualities are within you as well and perhaps a little time with the white horses and goddess Epona is just what you needed to remind you.
As you bask here in the springtime sun,
A little change from your journey.
Take time to rest and restore and know that you have the power to take those next steps of your path whatever they may be.
The power of the white horses,
The great goddess,
Are with you always.
Amazing.
And so,
My dear ones,
There is no rush,
But perhaps we take some deep breath.
Take a stretch or a movement of the body as we just begin to bring ourselves back to the room and back to our day.
When you feel ready you can gently open the eyes and I will welcome you back to the world.
I hope that you enjoyed this little journey with the Goddess and the White Horses today.
And I hope to meet with you again soon.
So I wish you farewell for now and thank you for joining me.
Thank you.
