Week Twelve

I have been very busy this last week.  It is almost the end of the term, so I have been in "Finals Land."  I also have had a lot of pastoral counseling requests when I am at the prison.  The result is that my days are very full, and I have not been blogging enough.  I actually am working on two posts that need more research than I have time to put into it at the moment.

Soooo, I am going to post a quick fall meditation that I wrote and used last night with the Pagan prison group I facilitate.  I love using breath to connect with the elements.  I like to remind the inmates, and myself, that all we need to be Pagan is to present in the moment.  That the Divine and the elements are all around us, and within us, at all times.  After we did this brief meditation we sang the Earth My Body Chant.

Fall Meditation 

Breathe in three deep breathes.

With your next three breathes, breathe in the fall air that smells of damp leaves and moss.  Breathe in the spirit of air and let it fill you with the energy of forgiveness.  

With your next three breathes, breathe in the warmth of the autumn sun that fights to shine through the clouds.  Breathe in the spirit of fire and let it fill you with the energy of determination.  

With your next three breathes, breathe in the wetness of the fall rain showers.  Breathe in the spirit of water and let it fill you with the energy of compassion.  

With your next three breathes, breathe in the aging of the autumn gardens that prepare to slumber through winter.  Breathe in the spirit of earth and let it fill you with the energy of wisdom.  

Breathe three more breathes and with them breathe in the Divine Spirit.  Breathe in the love of the Green Man & Woman, the God & Goddess, the Sun and the Moon.  Breathe in their blessings and ask them to walk with you.  

Blessed Be.  

Week Ten

Last weekend I took my children to the coast for a bit of fun and relaxation.  The wildness of the coastal waters is incredibly soothing to me. Digging my toes into the cold damp sand grounds my energy and quiets my mind.  The multisensory experience of being at the coast is very special to me.  If I had to live in a prison I would miss it desperately.

A few months ago I did a special ocean themed service with the Pagan circle.  The first thing we did was a fun meditation from the book Sandra Kynes Sea Magic: Connecting with the Ocean's Energy.  I read the meditation to them while we listened to a recording of the oceans waves.  The meditation was about how to find your sea fetch, which is basically an ocean themed animal guide.  The interesting thing was that no one saw the type of animal they were expecting.  It lead to some great conversations.

After that we chanted We All Come From The Goddess by Z. Buddapest while holding small seashells.  Although the shells were very small, the inmates found that they could still hear a bit of the ocean if they held them up to their ears.

We all come from the Goddess,

And to her we shall return.

Like a drop of rain,

Flowing to the ocean.

Lastly we talked about the ways that people living in a limited setting such as a prison can connect with the energies of the ocean.  As we chatted we snacked on pieces of roasted and seasoned seaweed.  The inmate’s reaction to the seaweed was pretty amusing.  Some were very hesitant to try it, while others dove right in.  Most of them delighted in having a totally different taste sensation to explore.

Volunteering in a correctional facility has opened my eyes to the simple blessings of my life, and I enjoy being near the ocean more than I ever have before.