Continuing on from my recent (yesterday) visit to the Ancient Yew tree in North Wales.
It was night time and the stars were out. The day had been cold but in the evening it had mellowed to a comfortable warmth. I had been sitting (looking at the picture above) about the center of the picture and slightly to the left of the trunk for some time happily communing with this marker of times passage. 4000 years! That still impresses me so much.
Many topics filtered in and out of my consciousness as I sat and mused the time away. A few times I wished Gwas was there. It seems natural for me to be out with him rather than on my own. Strange…
Here I was though, wanting to visit with this marvelous tree rather than needing to or being called to – it was a unique experience as on almost all other occasions of me going out on my lonesome it has been in response to some kind of “calling”.
“Odd it is” as Yoda would say, that we need to find some higher purpose and meaning when walking a more spiritual path. In “normal” cases we look for approval from some Guru or from some spiritual text. In less normal cases we look for approval from “the universe”. We wait for a sign or for “when the time is right” In the parlance of a personal development coach (which is what my day job is) this is referred to quite simply as an avoidance tactic (or to put it less mildly an excuse not to do anything).
As my commune continues with the ancient yew, I asked for any guidance as to where I was going and what I should do and when I should do it? You have already seen that the Trickster was at work – see previous post – where I was admonished for deriving meaning from the meaningless. I would like to elaborate on that as there was much more wisdom to go with it.
You are very strange, you do not know what you have inside of you. You walk around asking for help and understanding from rock, branch and water when they can only give to you what you give to them.
This telling of had stopped me in my musing and made me pay attention…What are you saying? That I should be leaving more gifts? Offerings?
Tch, I am a mirror, a reflection, why do you think it is that all who come to me see a different persona, a different feeling, a different experience? Co-creation!
Yes, I know that already. This is a path of co-creation as determined by both off us.
No, it isn’t!
Okaaaayyyyy…???
The path is of “your” creation, I am the world in which you walk it.
Ah…Er…What?
It’s quite simple. Are you dense?
Hmmm Trickster? Yes, I am dense (as per usual) – explain.
You come to me looking for meaning and purpose. I am a reflection…I will reflect back that very question “What is your purpose and meaning?” I cannot give your life meaning, just as much as you cannot give me meaning.
You have meaning inside of you, you cannot ever have no meaning and purpose, should you sit here and do nothing ever again, every breath you take will be as meaningful as if you went out and explored the world, indeed…(smile) if you saved the entire world.
Wow, that is deep to be sure I am going to have to muse on that for – a lifetime.
Let me ask you…What is the meaning of your life?
The commune went totally strange now because, before I could get an answer in, the question was repeated again and again, kind-of hauntingly until it wasn’t even a question or words any more but a deep sound, like a drum beat that, with every beat, dug deeper inside of me. Now that I think back to it, it was like the Earth Song I had heard in Alderley Edge forest. See this post.
I think it was trying to get deep inside of me so that I could feel the “meaning” inside of me, but I fluffed it I fancy because intellectually I understood it – but didn’t get a “feeling” from it.
The beat had also knocked me out of commune and I settled back against a gravestone (ooops) and took in the smell of incense – did I mention I had lit some?
One of the most fantastic things about this old (I assume its old) churchyard is the wonderful backdrop to it. Again if you look at the picture above…Behind the Tree it goes into a slope (which incidentally has power center on it) and then into a graveyard that is sectioned off by a couple of paths.
Walking along this path is a wonderful way in which to garner further insights into any meditation. The use of the dowsing rods with this musing provides mental (questioning) paths to follow. Quite remarkable.
One day Gwas and I will go there during the day and with Gwas’s new camera take some more revealing pictures.
Anyways stay tuned for the final part of this “Yew” post which is tantalisingly entitled – “Spirit Walk” – oooh!
Fin,
Kal
