Theme 1 : the connection
The Clan Mother of the 1st cycle of the year invites us to question our connection with others… these other beings who share our environment.
I suggest you play the following audio, which explains this 1st theme of the month:
Questions
To take stock of your connection with your environment, here are some questions that I invite you to answer in writing.
- What is your favorite animal?
- Which animal disgusts you the most (or scares you)?
- What is your favorite plant, flower, tree?
- What is your favorite crystal or stone?
- Try to understand why in the 3 results below. What do you like or dislike about their aspects, behaviors, … Can you connect them with certain parts of what you are or would like to be?
- What is your relationship with nature? Do you frequently go to meet it?
- Do you like nature and being in contact with it? What prevents you from being there more (for example, maybe you hate going out in the rain!)?
- Try going out at these specific times (in case of rain or when it is cold) and try to find a certain satisfaction in this experience. Things appear differently in these moments. We can be more alone and perhaps also feel closer, more in touch. Try to find the time you prefer so that these outings are a real pleasure.
Well, it’s easy to guess that the most important exercise this month is to go out!!
So yes, go out, walk, try to observe unknown things… and when you get home, continue learning by referring to books (below you will find a small suggestion of books!) The most important thing this month is to be curious.
Exercises
Study of 3 cases
Take 3 natural beings that you mentioned in the questionnaire and do some research on them.
- What are the environments that allow them to live?
- What do they feed on?
- What is their growth rate (by moulting perhaps?)?
- How do they reproduce?
- Do they have characteristic features (like dolphins which are very playful!)
- How do they communicate with each other?
- Are they gregarious or solitary (this also applies to trees!)
- Do they appear in mythological stories, legends or tales? If so, immerse yourself in one of these tales, the one you prefer, learn it by heart.
Field study
If you are already used to going out, you probably need a more advanced exercise. Here is an idea to learn to see your environment in a new way, which is completely optional (to be seen according to your degree of relationship with the outside, if you still have time… the January circle remains available for life, do not hesitate to come back to it later!)
Mindfulness is a meditative state allowing us to focus on our bodily feelings (and thus to reduce the influence of our thoughts, or even to succeed in completely emptying our minds!) So I suggest you find a moment to go into nature, alone, and to make yourself comfortable (which means that you may need to bring a blanket or find a bench along a path).
Find a being that interests you more than others: it could be a tree, or the presence of a nest… you can also choose to settle near horses (but in this case, favor horses that are in a field, rather than in a box).
Proceed to meditation:
- Think about your breathing
- Then put all your intention on the noises that surround you.
- Each time a thought crosses your mind (there are some all the time, it’s completely normal) come back to your sense of hearing and listen.
- Then ask yourself what this being can teach you in your current life.
For example: the presence of herons can tell us about our hidden majesty… indeed, it is when it takes flight that we can realize its beauty and grandeur. - Note the details of your experience.
- To help you, you can take a tarot deck with you (or an oracle deck, take what you prefer!). Sit down with the chosen being (plant, animal or rock) and draw a card, asking yourself the question: « what do you have to teach me? »
A suggestion of books to learn to connect with nature
To identify the wisdoms of natural beings, you may need supports. Here are some ideas of books that help me in this practice. Indeed, we may need to go through a re-learning in our environment: from the names of plants to their uses!
Recognize :
You can use some very good guides of flowers or animals from books from children to more complexe ones.
Go deeper :
Secrets of crystal healing, L. Bourgaud
The A to Z of essential oils, E. J. Bowles
Plants of Power, A. Savinelli
Animal speak, T. Andrews
Medecine Cards, Jamie Sams !
Reflexions :
Last child in the woods, R. Louv
The hidden life of trees, P. Wohlleben
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