Water certainly has been on my mind these past few weeks; not only the pleasure of summer boating and swimming here in the Finger Lakes but also the flooding, the severe storms, and the general upheaval of weather.
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Pausing in silence and connecting to our memories through the four elements, especially stones and water is an age- old tradition. When we are still and let the voices of the stones carry us into stories, into our stories and the stories of our family, we are gifted with teachable moments and a sense of ancestral/familial support that is rich and meaningful. By extension, walking through the oldest section of a cemetery or strolling up to a park monument, gives us an opportunity to imagine the lives led by people whose names are carved in their stones- a humbling and moving experience.
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Mother Nature is at work. This time of year, the signs of reawakening life are all around us. Given our recent Covid experience, being outdoors and with Nature brings even more joy and awe. I usually am in Ireland or one of the other Celtic Nations in May. This year I am home being reminded of how spring flowers, bees and green grass brighten spring wherever I am. And I am truly grateful.
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I had never seen a bonfire built so elaborately. The huge mound of were for wooden doors, one in each direction, each with a beautifully painted animal representing that direction. While the fire was awesome, as soon as the painted creatures caught flame, there was a gasp from the crowd and a tear came to my eye- a tear not of sadness but of appreciation, appreciation for the seasons of our lives.
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Our card for the month of April is The Well of Segais from The Celtic Oracle Deck by John Matthews. It represents the element of water and reminds us of the power and critical importance of water. As April showers prevail this month and will grow May flowers, perhaps the card is asking us to take time to be grateful for water, to find ways to protect its purity and stop its waste. There are a number of Irish legends about the Well of Segais. All are meant to remind us that wisdom comes from understanding the interconnectedness of life and honoring the nurturing elements Nature has given us.
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Earth is a word used to label the tiniest bit of dirt and also used as a synonym for the entire planet: micro to macro perspectives. Earth includes the oil, coal, wood, and minerals we extract from it for fuel; the crystals we mine for scientific application, for jewelry and for healing; the plants and trees that make life possible, etc..
Walking the land, grounding ourselves, and allowing the energy of the earth to enter our bodies balances and heals us.
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Learning to ignite or create fire was one of the earliest of skills of developing civilizations. All indigenous peoples have stories of how it was discovered.
Fire brought warm, light and the ability to cook food, forge metal and transmute the other basic elements in a way that seemed magical. Ceremonies were often built around fire.
I invite you to light a candle and spend a few minutes bringing awareness of the element of Fire into your field. Allow all its aspects to speak to you. See, feel and hear what comes to you from the flame.
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In fact, time and time again, the ancient Celts honored the three-fold stages of life that are represented in our every breath: intake, still point, and release. Try it yourself. Take a few breaths, mindful of each stage. On the fourth breath, stop at the still point and rest there for a bit. Notice how centered you are, how present in the moment. As the song said “Find a stillness, let that stillness carry me.”
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As a Pisces, as a lover of the seascapes and the sounds and flow of ocean waves, I have written about, photographed and shared a great deal about water, the element featured in today’s blog. Instead of saying anything more, I invite you to listen to this beautiful story.
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The Celts saw Nature and God as One and saw themselves as One with Nature. The elements brought both calm and storm. Neither was taken for granted, both calm and storm were part of life. Both the inner and outer world were also One. The elements brought messages through the calm and the storm. The individual and community embraced these messages and learned from their experiences. There is such wisdom in such a perspective on life.
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