Journey to the Grove is a guided meditation (pathworking) which may stand on its own or be used to strengthen the configuration of ritual space while leading us from ordinary consciousness into The Grove.
The guided meditation begins with grounding, centering, and moving into trance through the imagery of a great Tree:
placing your hand on the bark ~
feeling its life ~
finding yourself within the Tree with your hand just inside the bark ~
Our journey moves down through the roots into the deep silence of the Earth to a deep trance state, then back up through the roots into the Light.
Finding yourself standing at the base of a great Living Tree with your hand on the bark, you realize that the Tree has a message for you.
After a pause, we follow the path to a clearing.
Finding yourself before a great Sword, you realize that the Sword has a message for you.
After a pause, we follow the path to a stream.
Finding yourself before a Cup (chalice) in or by the stream, you realize that the Cup has a message for you.
After a pause, we follow the path to a meadow or high place.
Finding yourself before a Standing Stone, you realize that the Stone has a message for you.
After a pause, we realize the path continues between two standing stones, as if through a gate, beyond which a mist obscures its destination.
If you are ready, step forward and follow the path. Otherwise, you may retrace your steps to the Tree and return to the present.
The Living Tree, Cup, Sword, and Standing Stone remain consistent, but the path and imagery are varied as the Priest/ess leading journey sees fit, given time, intention, and participants.
The journey beyond the Stones to The Grove leads us deeper into trance and into the Presence of the Divine in the person of The Lord and Lady who await our coming in The Grove.
With practice and support, we learn to speak and interact with all present, seen and unseen, while maintaining our trance state. Our meditation within The Grove is unscripted and usually profound.
This pathworking builds on the symbols established in the quarter calls claiming Sacred Space and strengthened in the invitations to the Guardians, all geared to open us to the the Presence of God and Goddess. The overall tone is of balance and harmony. The Sword stands opposite the Cup, associated with male and female, active and accepting. The Living Tree stands opposite the Standing Stone, also associated with Earth and the ethereal, the grounded and the ecstatic. The journey itself is a rich teaching meditation but, in the long run, it is merely a prelude to The Grove, wherein The Lord and Lady await.