Samhain meditation
A journey in four directions
Begin by noticing the space around you. Do you feel connected to this place? Do you know it’s names, it’s history, it’s nature?
Notice how it feels to be here. Which parts of you are closest to the earth? Think of a place you feel most connected to. It might be your home, or somewhere special to you. Whisper the name of this place to yourself. You might close your eyes and remember how it feels to be there.
Know that everyone you have ever loved and everyone you will ever love took their first and last steps on this earth.
Feel down now, as deeply as you can. Down into loamy soil, to earthworms, mycelia and root networks. Deeper to bedrock, and deeper still to the molten core of this planet, our only home. Feel the heat and power, 2000 miles beneath our bodies. Feel yourself, part of this land, this planet.
Notice the land of your body once more, travel back to the surface and pause for a moment.
Consider now the space above you. Imagine a thread from the top of your head, travelling up, up into the sky above. We are all under the same sky. This sky that holds both sunshine and rain, that deconstructs light to hold rainbows where they meet.
Imagine travelling up 2000 miles. You would find yourself at the edge of this planet’s atmosphere. A threshold of deep, velvety space. Would you travel there if you could?
Almost all the elements in your body were once in a star. We belong with the stars as much as we belong to the earth.
Feel, just for a moment what it is like to hold both of these things in your body. The deep, deep rooting and the star dust soaring. Come back to earth, and pause.
Next, feel into the back of your body. As you breathe deeply, feel the back of your ribs fill up and press into the space behind you. You can rest your hands here, if you like, or lean onto something or someone. Feel how your body can expand behind you.
We are going to travel now back in time. Past yesterday and last week, through all the seasons and one turn of the wheel to this time last year. Visit yourself there. Hold that version of you close. Tell them what they needed to hear.
Think now on those who might be behind us, unseen, those who have gone before. The human and more than human ancestors we share. You might think of one person, or several people. They might be from your direct lineage, or those you have felt a connection to. Whisper their name(s).
For a moment, feel all of those souls at your back. Feel their support, their love, their wisdom and their passion. Bring those things back to your own centre, and pause.
We have explored beneath our feet, above our heads and generations behind us. Now, I wonder, can you start to gently feel into the front of your body? Where is the place on the front of your body that first comes to mind? Can you breathe into that place? Can you soften into it even a little bit more?
Holding the power of the earth beneath you, the magic of the stars above and the presence of our ancestors at your back, can you start to imagine the future worlds?
Can you dream into being those who will call you ancestor? Can you hold them close? What words of encouragement, of apology, of love would you whisper in their ear?
And for yourself - what intention would you like to bring with you into the dark half of the year? Speak it to yourself. Let it travel out in all four directions. Let the earth nurture it in the darkness. Let the stars shine their blessings on it. Let the ancestors hold it. Send it out now, ahead of you, into this new year.
Bring yourself back into this body, this place, this moment. Give thanks for it all.
Go raibh maith agat.
Oh Claire this is gorgeous and I dropped into the space and meditation you created with ease and it was very comforting! Thank you, thank you, thank you. ❤️🌚✨