Still in California…
Today I ventured out at lunch to find something to eat. I settled on noodles from a restaurant next to the hotel I am staying at. After I got my food and stepped out of the restaurant, my attention turned to two little birds in the outside dining area I was passing through. They looked very similar but were obviously different species. Both were small dark brown birds of a similar shape. One had dark eyes and the other white. The second was obviously a type of grackle that we don’t have on the East coast and the other a type of sparrow perhaps.
I processed all of this in an instant. My attention drawn from the world of humanity to the greater Nature all around me. In a few steps I went from work mode to ritual space.
Ritual is the art of stopping and taking a break from the mundane to remember the sacred, to reestablish that all important connection with the Earth and the Divine, the connection that feeds us and gives focus and purpose to our lives.
Learning to shift our consciousness to a ritual mindset is a big part of Druidry. With dedicated practice, we can develop the ability to shift in a breath, in an instant, from the mundane frontal lobe visual world we all live in, into a rich multi-dimensional spiritual one. And it is in this state of mind where we are sufficiently present enough to craft relationships deep enough to open us up to the flow of Awen, divine inspiration.
I mention this because being out in Silicon Valley has made me feel terrible, surrounded by environmental degradation and societal dysfunction has been very trying to say the least. Everyone seems to be focused on image. It is a car culture, a cellphone culture and an appearance culture. People worship money here. And you all know my thoughts about “worship”.
Anyway, amidst this manufactured world everyone lives in, Nature is still trying to express herself. The little birds I saw for a few seconds taught me much.
The birds landed on the top of the back of one of the chairs in the eating area. One of the men sitting at the table immediately, without thought, swiped at them to get them to fly off. It was alarming to me that anyone could be so disconnected to behave in such a manner. He didn’t see anything of value in front of him. He didn’t see the sheer magnificence and beauty of the birds. They fly for gods sake!!
Because I was in ritual space, I knew what the birds were saying to me when they caught my eye.
“Your tribe killed the land. We need food and you won’t even share the crumbs!”
My response, sent out through my nemeton, through my soul to them was simple, “I hear you and acknowledge your plight. Yes, you are right. And I am sorry. I am trying to heal the land. You have my word on that. You are beautiful and I honor your soul and your tribe.”
I write this as an example of what it is to find inspiration in the moment, when we need it. It is a conscious act. Even in the midst of desecration, disconnection, and destruction, we can find inspiration. It isn’t about just being in the beautiful places, reveling in those exquisite moments where we are just in awe of the sheer beauty of Nature. It is about opening our soul for deep relationship. And we can do this is the darkest of places, in moments of sheer horror. In fact, sometimes that is where it is need most. Those birds heard my acknowledgement and I theirs. And both our worlds have changed. From that brief exchange shared soul to soul, Awen flowed. And out of that inspiration is this blog post.
Remember to share the with the Spirits of Place, all those souls that live around you. We have chopped up Nature and disrupted the flow of the plants and animals trying to express their soul truth. We have stressed their tribes. The least we can do is acknowledge them and share the abundance we are experiencing at their expense as they try to live among us. Remember, it is long past where they can get away from us. I am not saying “feed the bears”. I am saying give back to Nature what is due Nature. And listen, really listen. It will change everything.
Blessings of acknowledgment, generosity and sharing,
Snowhawke /|\
