It is silent as I enter the woods. A single golden leaf spirals silently to the ground, landing at my feet. The air is chill and I pause and take a moment to breathe, to center my being, and fill my lungs with the scents of autumn. I breathe in again and become aware of the earth beneath my feet, feel the breath of the land spiral upward through my legs and fill my body. Silently I send a prayer to the Morrigan and Cernunnos, gods of the dark rich soil, and begin my journey.....
Had an interesting experience while out hiking today. For me hiking is a kind of combination workout (the trails I go on are part of the Appalachian Trail, and trust me going up and down a mountain, even a small one, works up a sweat) and meditative/spiritual experience. I can exercise my body and connect with nature all at once. At times hiking becomes a kind of walking meditate, just as those who meditate while walking the path of a labyrinth. I always begin with a silent prayer. It could be for guidance, to ask the Gods for a sign, or simply to thank them for this day, this moment of being alive. About halfway through the trail I came across a deer. It appeared out of nowhere, one minute I was alone the next the doe was just here. Usually they will run away immediately but this one simply stood watching me. After a few moments I slowly walked further down the path towards the doe. We stood just a few feet apart quietly watching one another. Then above us a crow called out. It flew past us then circles to perch in a tree behind the doe. In that moment I could feel the presence of the Morrigan and Cernunnos fill and radiate through me. There were no divine revelations, no epiphanies, just a beautiful sense of connection. A moment later another hiker came down the trail and the doe startled ran into the brush, and the magick of the moment was broken. While I connect with the divine during ritual it is moments like this that I love the most. To truly live our spirituality, to truly be Seekers, we must learn to find the Gods both during the dance of ritual and when we are dripping sweating on an ordinary autumn day.