After reading a wonderful piece by Richard Abbot today it got me thinking about the connection that we have with the land. And how so many people are literally cut off from their roots as a direct result of being disconnected from the land. I am very lucky in the sense that I live by the sea, and there are lots of places that I can get to via a very short car journey. I can be surrounded by woodlands, visit rivers and sacred sites aplenty, within fifteen minutes to three quarters of an hour from where I live.
So far this year I have only managed a couple of barefoot episodes…. the first of those being at Castlerigg for the Equinox and a couple of chilly sea waves over my toes in an effort to keep grounded amid the madness of the world.
So how do we keep grounded and connected with the earth, and listen to the land? The audio above, I recorded during a visit to St Oswalds Church in Penrith, (to retrieve water from the sacred spring under the church) and I took my drum to the waters edge at a beautiful space where the river current flows past the site.
I knew I needed to go and spend time with the river, and that I needed to collect water again from the sacred spring. What I didn’t know was that I could walk straight from the church, across the road, through a field and be right next to the flow of the River Eden. I was glad of the foresight to take my drum, my bells and some offerings for the land guardians and river spirits. It was a necessary pilgrimage to spend time in this sacred space.
There is a story behind this particular church which I would ike to share, that has to do with the conception of the “high priestess’ image from the Initiates Way. She was the very first image that I painted from that deck.
In January 2017 after visiting this same church I had taken water from this holy well. When I was doing the high priestess pathworking for the Initiates Way, and getting ready to start painting the Major Arcana images, I had a cup of water on my altar ,from this well that I drank prior to doing the pathworking. It was interesting that the first image for the Initiates Way emerged not long after this experience, and after hearing a ‘voice’ telling me “at this high altar you shall serve”
22 pathworkings and 78 images later the Initiate’s Way has a life of its own, reaching those who are in need of its wisdom and guidance.
The land here speaks volumes, as does the water. Again I brought home a flask of water from this particular visit to use for creation of new Sculptures.
If you get a quiet moment to listen to the drum journey by the river, you could visualise your own roots coming down through your feet. Connecting you with mother earth and the land beneath your feet. It’s time we all paid more attention, and listen to what the land spirits and mother Earth are trying to tell us.
Wishing you perfect peace, nourishment and introspection, and let Mother Earth hold you in her womb of regeneration. 🥰
*nb If you are making any plans to visit Cumbria this summer, dont forget to call in to the Roman Museum at Maryport and have a silent communion with the Gods and Goddesses who will be on display.
Until next time.
May you tread lightly and in joy.
Love Jade
https://www.esoteric-art.co.uk
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