Now that the long, sunny Easter/Eostre weekend is over, let me share one of the highlights of my Full Willow Moon Odyssey with you. A Quest including natural musical gifts of Nightingale Song and Dawn Chorus with a backing track of tinkling water…
4am. Sage smudging indoors to remove negativity and improve clarity. I step away from brash streetlights and between-the-worlds Blackbird song syrup into gentle moonlight and the siren of Nightingale opera – an unexpected bonus. No traffic. No garden machinery. Just pure Nightingale and occasional Owl hoot and Pheasant call. Walking night meditation begins.
The gush and rush of the stream as I near the footpath and turn off the main road. Down a few paces and stand thrilled by the loud clear random notes, chirring and chanting coming from a blackthorn thicket. I break the rules of meditation and get out my phone and record 3-mins of magic for people who aren’t lucky enough to live so close to scruffy countryside.
To listen to Nightingale Song click below.
I move on with the clear full circle of Lady Luna lighting my way past another 3 singing Nightingales. Never experienced so many along one hedge! These birds have travelled 3000 miles to raise their young here and their rich, loud, harsh and sweet notes show that they mean business. I want some of that energy in my life! I duck under a fallen female Willow, forced to bow in humility, then scramble along the bank to reach the sacred-to-me space of Willow seat and flowing water.
So incredibly special to venture out at this liminal time between the worlds of night and day…so deep and exciting.
I float twigs left over from a Willow workshop onto the water taking with them my griefs :: grief at mortality – my mother’s and my own :: grief at a life unlived – all the things I thought I’d do but haven’t yet :: ecological grief – all the devastation being wrought on our beautiful planet and the establishment’s indifference :: personal grief – for the difficulties I have in my life. That I invited as challenges to learn from. They floated away downstream under the moonlight – joining the Great Flow of Life.
Off came my wellies and socks and my big toes dipped into the cold, vibrant, vitalising water. I stepped into the rocky stream and hobbled down to where I could see the descending moon through the scrub. Arms raised to the moon I spoke the simple words:
“Lady Moon of wax and wane :: Bring my wish and take my pain”
Washed my hands in the water for symbolic cleansing. No complicated thoughts or words. Pure flow and mindfulness in the moment. More beautiful sound as the native dawn chorus built to a deafening crescendo backed by the gurgling of water. Of course I recorded that too.
To listen to Dawn Chorus and Water Flow click below.
Some time later, after nebulous willow water dreaming, I stirred and climbed out back to the path in search of moonlight again – growing fainter as the sun rose directly opposite. I stood between setting moon and rising sun and relished the moment of nightday. Returned to Willow and tied my wish-knot in one of her pliable branches. Making visible my wish for a life of flow and all the unknown opportunities that are coming towards me. To be untied later when I notice the change.
Back to the moon to watch her descend and fade into invisibility, large and pale into the morning mist. Returning home with the traffic as the human world awoke, to warmth, hot drink and food, pen and paper.
A magnificent walk to commemorate my intention to flow in truth, warriorhood, health and creativity in communion with others.
A quest that still tingles, that has left me lighter, moving, open. Blessed.
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