REMINDER: Ve is the God of Sacred Places & the Priesthood
I went out while it was still dark to meditate this morning and found myself at Ve's sacred Horgr in the Forest of the Gods & Goddesses. Ve produced two cups of the Asian coconut soup which He knows we both really enjoy as a way to calm me and start to relax in knowing His Holy presence. He didn’t really seem to be in ritual-mode, so to speak. He often pulls me to the grove there with Him for specific rituals or to teach me certain things about the Old Ways. This time, He simply wanted to show me that spending time in Their presence is just as important as learning deep truths (although He would have a deep lesson to share, as well, during this visit). I think, perhaps, Their presence is actually a “Deep Truth” unto itself that can only be experienced or known by spending time with Them, and it is hard to put into words the value of that experience. I feel like I learn even without special rituals or teaching when I am with Them – it is certainly an exchange, or relationship, that helps me desire to be a better person with aspirations to strive toward higher consciousness and service to the planet and Her offspring/ life forms.
Ve had me open my eyes and look at the great oak standing out in the yard down on the right front side of the porch. As it was only about 5 a.m. and still dark, only its shape plus a few specific branches could be made out in the bit of light it reflected from the front porch lamp and my office window light, which I had left on after some study prior to coming out to meditate.
Ve said:
"You seem to have taken the great/ancient oak tree as your totem. See how it stands tall even in the dark, processing inwardly – but more restful than in the presence of the Sun. It must have the natural cycle of light and dark, as many other living things, in order to maintain health and strength. Think of yourself this way as well. There have been great moments and periods of light, contentment, joy, and satisfaction over the past several years, but also those of great darkness, challenge, and personal struggle. The times of intense bright light and goodness shining on us bring us to turn our focus and reach outward towards the light, which helps sustain our life force and being and causes many internal reactions that create health, sustenance, and growth. But the dark also is a necessary time when we repair from the inside out. (I reached out to feel the processes of the tree in the dark, and it actually felt like it was sleeping in the dark, just like humans do. I know its energy feels quite different and more active in the Sun as it is activated to so many other different processes then, just like circadian rhythm for us). Rest is necessary for balance to bring health. The dark provides us the opportunity to rest from reaching outward and rely on the inward processes and nutrients which the light has already helped begin within the deeper inner parts of us – it helps us digest the moments of illumination and storing up of sustenance for just such times as when the light is not so apparent.”
We are now heading into the darker months of the Wheel of the Year, and the Oak will lose its leaves which have provided so much to him by creating food to be stored up to get through the winter and so much more. In two weeks, Autumn Evennight will be celebrated, and this is a good thing to remember personally and with kindred-folk at this time. Autumn is a good time for us, just like the Oak, to begin slowing down and moving to inward processes to allow our metabolisms (so to speak) a rest. Although there is still much life and processing occurring, it is the inner journey that sustains through the darkest times. It is good for us to go within and re-evaluate from the inside out, rather than being too busy with outward reaching schedules and goals to allow the inner life a moment to burn brightly – with inner illumination, warmth and sustenance as a hearth fire in the dark and cold, but also to burn away the dross that no longer serves as we always seek a Higher Path, to become a better person than we were the year before - making sense of the lessons we have learned. This does not mean to forsake our outward duties, but rather to allow a slight shift inward to respect and care for that aspect of life as well, helping to create balance within our beings - a perfect observation for the equinox where we see the astronomical balance of night and day within our own visible world. What lessons and wisdom do we take away from all the experiences stored up once we make time to reflect and integrate them into our being?
I thank Ve for giving me this powerful message! I really had no expectations of which of the Gods and Goddesses might want to teach me something when I first went out to meditate this morning, nor especially did I have any idea what theme or task They might give me. I will attempt to honor this lesson of turning inward to contemplate the lessons to be learned there and how to continue to strive to grow and become a better person, able to help others and be a force for good in the world during this time of great changes and challenges.
Hail, Ve, God of Sacred Places! Thank you for the gift of Your presence and Your wisdom.
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