Trees (Words by Hermann Hesse)

Tree Spirits

Trees are probably the most evolved of all plants. There is a special relationship between trees and humans, as trees produce the oxygen that we need to breathe, while we exhale carbon dioxide which trees thrive on. You could say that our exhalation is their inhalation and vice versa! Trees are multidimensional beings. They have their roots deep down in the earth which signifies their connection to the Underworld. Their trunks and lower branches are in our world, the world of men, which in shamanic terms is called the Middle World. The branches of tall trees reach high in the sky which makes them a bridge into the Upper World. In fact, in many cultures shamans journey into the Upper World by visualising themselves climbing a tall tree to the very top and then flying up into the sky! Trees also connect us to other realms, such as the Faerie Realm, which is in a parallel dimension to ours. The cutting down of forests and trees in our reality gradually destroys the Faerie Realm as well. Tree spirits are only loosely connected with their physical bodies, the actual visible tree. Because they are multidimensional and enjoy great freedom on the astral, and because of their connection to other realms, they can help us in journeying and interdimensional travel. Besides, meditating with a tree can be very relaxing and helps us to get grounded. Trees are great energy converters as well. They can transmute our negative energies and help us heal. This is shown by the very fact that they thrive on our metabolic waste products (carbon dioxide). For this reason we can draw energy from a tree without depleting it simply by giving it some of our unwanted energy in exchange.

Go to the forest with the intention of finding a tree to meditate or journey with. It is important to develop a relationship to the spirits of the forest. When going to a forest for the first time, or if you have not worked with its spirits yet, an introduction is appropriate! On entering the forest speak to the nature spirits and tell them your name. Tell them a little about yourself, your intentions, and the purpose of your visit. Then respectfully ask for permission to proceed. Wait to see whether the spirits of the forests are friendly and allow you to go further in. If not, you may have to win their respect and trust over a period of time. 

Not every forest needs special introduction. Some forests are very public and used to people passing through. However it is a nice thing to do anyway. You can ask the spirits of the forest to guide you to a tree that wants to work with you. Then follow your intuition and walk wherever you are drawn to.


When you have found a suitable tree slowly approach it from a distance of about eight meters. Do this with an attitude of respect, after all the tree can't move away from you and you are coming in its space. With hands stretched out in front of you, palms facing towards the tree walk very slowly until you feel the first layer of the tree's aura. Stop at this point and introduce yourself to the tree. As with all plant communication, I suggest you do this mentally rather than out loud. This is for two reasons: number one: trees and plants do not understand your physical language anyway, but communicate with you telepathically. A well focused thought is more effective than casually spoken words. Secondly, if you keep talking loudly when nobody else is in sight people may judge you as insane! The aura of a tree has seven layers. Four of those are outside the tree, the fifth is in the bark and the last two within the tree. Slowly approach until you have felt four of the seven layers of the tree's aura. Now place your hands upon the tree and feel the fifth layer of its aura. Then commence communication. Tell it why you have come and see whether it is friendly and willing to work with you. Not all trees are friendly, many have been harmed by people and can be distrusting or aloof. Sometimes a tree will just want to be left alone. Respect its wishes and look for another tree then. If the tree is friendly and co-operative ask for permission to sit with it and meditate with it.

It is best to lean with your back against the trunk. This way you can meld and become one with the tree quite easily. I prefer to sit cross-legged because this posture is most conducive to meditation. But on occasion I have just sat with my knees drawn up. The most important thing is that you are comfortable and can stay in one position for a longer time, at least half an hour or for however long it takes. Take a few deep breaths and then slow down your breathing to a rate of maximum 10 breaths per minute, less if you can. Ideal would be two breaths per minute. Once your breath has become slow and rhythmic you can begin your meditation. You may wish to just experience the tree and become one with it. I can't emphasise enough how important it is to wear the right clothes and have the right gear when going to the forest. Having a blanket to sit on or lean against, and warm comfortable clothes that protect from dampness can make all the difference in your meditation. After all you have to be comfortable enough to let go of your body completely. And few Westerners are ascetic enough to do this with poking branches in their back or whilst sitting on sharp stones.

Once you are relaxed enough you may wish to journey. In this case you should mentally ask the tree to help you with journeying. Trees can facilitate journeying. They intensify and deepen the experience by helping one let go of the body and the erroneous idea of the world of matter being real. The Otherworld is actually a lot more real than the every day physical reality we experience through our limited senses. If your journeying skills are generally not very good, you may find that you can go much deeper by journeying with a tree. Trees are also excellent for accessing other dimensions, such as the Faerie Realm. Just tell the tree where you want to go and see what happens. Once you have finished your meditation or journey thank the tree and maybe leave it a gift.  

You may find that over time you develop a very close relationship with the trees you meditate and journey with. It is both interesting and enlightening to meditate with different types of trees, such as with an oak tree, a birch, willow, holly tree and so on. Each tree has a very unique energy. Different trees will teach you different things. You will soon find out which ones resonate most with you.

If you are in need of healing you can ask the tree to heal you while you sit with it. At other times you may be the one who needs to heal the tree! Sometimes the tree wishes you to do something for it in exchange for healing you. Quite often this is about removing some kind of affliction from the tree. For example wire may be wrapped around part of the tree and hinder its growth, and you may have to remove it. Or a log has fallen onto the tree and weighs it down, again you may be asked to remove this. Sometimes wounds on the trunk may have to be dressed so the tree doesn't go to rot. The tree will show you what ails it and what needs to be removed, if anything.

Trees enjoy music (real music, not techno and pop!). Many trees like being sung to, or nice drumming and a circle dance around them. If you can play flute or harp for the tree it would be nice too. However, if you can't keep a tune or rhythm this may not be a good idea! Leaving gifts  by the base of the tree is always acceptable. You will never go wrong as long as you are receptive to the tree's wishes and what it is communicating to you. 

(http://www.sacredserpent.net/tree-spirits.html)

12 signs when Fairies are near you

1. Spheres of Light 

One of the most common ways fairies and other ethereal beings are noticed, is as spheres, flickers or glints of light. It's very common to see it around mushrooms, blooming flowers and springs. People associated with fairies (children of fairies) can watch these lights anytime. You may also notice unexplained movements out of the corner of your eyes.

2. Chilling sounds and music 
Once you've entered the fairy Realm nothing is the same. Soft sounds may greet the strangers who enter the fairy land. Whether it's the sound of various wind instruments - like the flute - or a simple sound - like the welcoming sound of tiny bells - it's absolutely the same. Allegedly, if you ring a bell over a spring or pond you may see the reaction of fairies responding to your invitation.

3. Fairy Rings 
It's long believed that fairies love to sing and dance at night. They usually dance around a circle. Many who stay in forests at nights claim to have heard wonderfully enchanting songs, while later in the morning they find mushroom circles, circles of flowers or trace of footprints of human-sized nymphs dancing known as the Fairy Rings. Many believe that the "Fairy Rings" are the Gateways to the Fairy World. Respect the fairy rings and always ask for permission before entering the Circle.

4. Laughter 
As Fairies are - almost always - described as cheerful creatures, when you are close with these entities it very likely to hear laughter or feel the urge to laugh. The feeling of joy fills your heart and lasts long!

5. Scent of Flowers 
You are walking down a path, or even a road while your nose is filled with an overwhelming scent of flowers like Iris or Violets, or even the scent of the grass like it just rained or maybe it smells like walnuts, apples or grapes. As fairies are often associated with flowers, plants and trees, this could be the work of a playful Fairy sprinkling scented fairy dust to you, blessing you or trying to catch your attention.

6. Deviations of the Air 
The "fairy wings" may cause a light breeze on the area around a fairy. Whether it's actually the wings or the energy shift around the ethereal being does not really matter. Pay attention to the leaves around you. A gentle whirlwind may be a solid proof that a fairy (or fairies) like your company.

7. Animals around you Act Weird 
You notice that you are being followed by birds like ravens, your cat acts weird, staring at something for minutes (with no apparent reason) or play with the air while your dog is nervous or probably bark at something you do not see. As Fairies could be described as the Souls of Nature they can easily cause phenomena like this.

8. Milk or Beer goes bad and candies are missing Your milk has gone bad before its actual expiration date and so does you beers. You may also notice that milk is less as if someone drunk it while you are certain that no one would ever drink from your milk. This could be a sign of a fairy who entered you house. Try to contact them rather than getting angry.

9. Jewellery and shiny objects are missing 

Before you call the police try to look around if you can find them in other places. Fairies love to play with humans in this way. They enjoy "stealing" stuff like this and hide them in different places. It is said that Fairies love all shiny objects and that's what they love to take first. Keys or with fancy keychains is a "fetish" for this wonderful creatures. Be kind to them. They -almost- always return them! :-)

10. A sense of warmth on your skin

The energy of the Fairies - when is in close contact with your aura - can be felt like tiny vibrations of energy on your body, or heat on your skin. You may actually feel the warmth of the beloved creature as a gently tingling or tickling on part of your body.

11. Flowers (and other plants) sprouting from bizarre places 

This is another phenomenon that is often associated with the presence of Fairies. You may notice that from one second to another a flower has bloomed while you could swear that you have not even seen it at all! This is very common when Casting Fairy Witchcraft or a Ritual which invokes Fairies. If this happens in your house it means that you have a winged visitor... or maybe visitors!

12. The Eyes of the Woods 

Have you ever felt that trees are watching you as you walk down the path in a forest? Have you ever felt the presence of something really strange when you are alone and the night-sky is full of dazzling stars? The Trees may - indeed - have eyes of their own, as they are probably inhabited by magical creatures as Fairies (of course it can also be elves, gnomes or other entities). Greet these trees and ask for guidance and protection.

(http://www.magicalrecipesonline.com/2016/01/how-to-spot-fairies-12-signs-when.html)

Archangel Michael

The seventh chakra: Sahaswara

The seventh chakra, Sahaswara, is referred to as the thousand-petal lotus chakra. This is the top chakra of the seven and located at the crown of the head. Sahaswara is our source of enlightenment and spiritual connection to all that is. It is a connection to our higher selves, to every being on the planet, and ultimately the divine energy that creates everything in the universe.

True opening of Sahaswara means the realization that you are pure awareness. You are pure consciousness, undivided, and all expansive. Like a drop in the ocean, you are a part of that ocean that contains and encompasses every aspect of it.

Emerging From the Murky Waters

Is This an Unattainable Beauty?

Asanas, Sounds, Colors, and Gems

The lotus flower is a symbol in both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. It is nurtured, grows, and emerges in muddy waters. It blooms where there is no clarity. The beauty of the lotus is unique to its environment, which appears monotonous and lacks vibrancy.

When you reach the unfurling of the seventh chakra, you emerge through the confines of the physical body, the ego, mind, and intellect. You even push beyond the individual soul that ties you to Samsara, the endless cycle of birth and rebirth. You are freed from the shackles of desire. White light surrounds your body and you appear to stand out in your murky surroundings.

After reading the description of the seventh chakra, it may seem out of reach. You may think, “Well, that sounds nice for monks and gurus, but not for me. I’m just an ordinary person with a normal life.”

While we have the demands of daily living and the busy minds that accompany these demands, reaching enlightenment may not be as far off as it appears. A worthy goal may be to live in a constant state of pure awareness. But how about living with moments of pure awareness? We have all experienced these moments at one time or another. Have you ever felt unconditional love for someone? Have you ever experienced a miracle?

Practicing meditation, prayer, and daily silence are disciplines that lead to increased moments of spiritual connection. In fact, these are the only means by which you will experience the essence of Sahaswara. Just as you would go to school for hours a day and study for exams to obtain a degree, meditation, prayer, and silence are your studies to obtain a spiritual degree.

Once you’ve established a daily practice of these activities that connect you to universal consciousness, you will see expansion of spiritual awareness in your outer world. You will begin to experience unconditional love on a consistent basis. You will be more compassionate, kind, and forgiving, and you will show more humility. Life will no longer be solely about you and your desires. Your life will become more about serving others because when you serve others, you are serving yourself.

While silence is the most powerful and important way to opening the seventh chakra, there are some other practices that support this chakra.

Two Pranayama breathing techniques you can do before meditation include Nadi Shodhana, or alternate nostril breathing, and Kapalabhati, or the skull shining breath.

Inverted yoga asanas such as headstand (Salamba Sirsasana) and down dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) can help stimulate the seventh chakra, as well as any posture that brings the crown of the head to the floor such as fish pose (Matsyasana).

The color for the crown chakra is violet or white and the mantra sound is the universal sound of OM. Gems you can wear or have in your environment to help open and align the seventh chakra are amethyst, selenite, and sugilite.

by: Michelle Fondin, (http://www.chopra.com)

The sixth chakra: Ajna

The sixth chakra, Ajna, is in the area of the third eye, which is found in the space between the eyebrows. It encompasses the pituitary gland, eyes, head, and lower part of the brain. An invisible yet powerful third eye, this is your center of intuition. A spiritual chakra, which means “beyond wisdom,” Ajna leads you to an inner knowledge that will guide you if you let it. An open sixth chakra can enable clairvoyance, telepathy, lucid dreaming, expanded imagination, and visualization.

The Sixth Sense

Feeling Your Way to Intuition

Ask Your Inner Knower for Guidance

How to Balance Ajna

Asanas, Sounds, Colors, and Gems

Your world is experienced through the five senses. Even before you passed through the womb, you heard noises like your mother’s voice and heartbeat, and listened to muffled sounds outside. You experienced touch, taste, and even perceived light. And since the moment of birth, you’ve attributed your experiences to what you perceive through the senses. You’ve learned to trust your senses in what you can taste, smell, touch, see, and hear. While sense perception is great in life experience, it limits you when it comes to expanding your awareness.

At one time, you had to count on your sense of intuition and inner knowing. Before modern technology, we had to rely on signals from the environment and a more primal instinct to guide us. Just like birds can sense when a tsunami might hit, or squirrels know when it’s time to gather food for the winter, humans too have an intuitive sense. We’ve simply lost touch with it as well as our ability to trust in it.

Your physical senses can give you clues as to how to follow your intuition. For example, have you ever had the feeling that a carton of milk was bad? You smell the milk, look at the expiration date that’s still a couple weeks away, and even ask everyone in the house, “Is this milk bad?” Then, not detecting anything concrete, you go ahead and drink it but experience severe stomach pain as a result? That’s because on a very subtle level, your sense of smell detected something wasn’t right and gave you a cue that you doubted.

Here’s another example: you’re making a business deal with someone and everything adds up. The person seems great and honest. But when you shake hands you feel something just isn’t right. When the deal goes through, you find out it was corrupt.

You receive these clues through your senses, but when something isn’t visible you tend to ignore it. The good news is that you can learn to trust these clues and make better decisions based on your intuitive sense. When your decisions turns out right, write them down to reinforce that your intuition guided you in the right direction. Remember that just like the animals in the forest, you too have always had this sixth sense; you simply need to find it again.

You can also use your inner sense to ask for guidance to make the right decisions. Taking into account your mind, intellect, and ego, you are now including your soul in the decision making process. Just as you turned to the third chakra in the area of the solar plexus to guide you with comfort or discomfort, you will pay attention to a hunch or a subtle feeling of moving forward or holding back. If you are conflicted, ask for your sense of intuition to be opened to you in order to help you make the right choice.

Just like any of the spiritual chakras, Ajna is best balanced through meditation. Often, new meditators will report having a tingling feeling in the third eye or equate it to a headache. A tingling or pulsating sensation around the area of the third eye during or after meditation is a sign that you are opening this blocked chakra.

A great Pranayama breathing technique is called Brahmari or the bee breath. Bring both hands to your face. Place the two middle fingers over your eyes. Allow the index fingers to rest on the eyebrow line and the pinky fingers under the cheekbones. Close your ears with your thumbs. Take a deep inhalation and exhale the word AUM with the emphasis on the “M” sound while creating a buzzing sound like a bee. Do this for two minutes or more. You can alleviate tension in the head and it works to open the sixth chakra.

Any yoga Asana where the forehead is pressed down is a good one for the sixth chakra. Try child’s pose (Balasana) with your forehead pressed to the floor or a yoga block. Dolphin pose is another helpful pose when you lift the head up to look toward the floor.

The color for the sixth chakra is indigo and the mantra sound is SHAM.

Gems that help open the Ajna chakra are amethyst, lapis lazuli, and azurite.

by: Michelle Fondin, (http://www.chopra.com)

The fifth chakra: Vishuddha

The fifth chakra, Vishuddha, is the first of the three spiritual chakras. In the area of the throat, it governs the anatomical regions of the thyroid, parathyroid, jaw, neck, mouth, tongue, and larynx. To be open and aligned in the fifth chakra is to speak, listen, and express yourself from a higher form of communication. Faith and understanding combine the essence of the Vishuddha chakra. The element corresponding to the fifth chakra is ether or space, and the sense is hearing.

Determine Your Highest TruthExpress Your TruthSpeak and Listen With CompassionOpen and Align the Vishuddha Chakra

• First, ask yourself, “Is what I am about to say true?”

• If so, proceed to the second gateway and ask, “Is what I am about to say necessary?”

• If the answer is yes, go to the third gateway and ask yourself, “Is what I am about to say kind?” 

Authentic expression is not something that comes easily. There’s a delicate dance between saying what you mean and staying tactful or diplomatic. Often it’s easier to say what the other person may want to hear instead of speaking your truth. Fear of not being accepted, or judgment from the other may hinder your truthful verbal expression. 

Work on the lower chakras will help prepare you for this level of communication. For example, when you align the first and second chakras, it helps with overcoming fear. Opening the third chakra helps you to feel your personal power and have the confidence to express yourself. Knowing what’s in your heart comes when you align the fourth chakra. Then, when it comes to verbalizing your needs, desires, and opinions you’re better able to determine how to be truthful to yourself and others.

If you’re used to being accommodating, rather than saying what you want, you may have to practice out loud to yourself. Affirmations are useful in making what you desire reality. Write down what you might want to express to others. Let’s suppose you’d like to ask your boss if you can work from home two days per week but you haven’t had the courage to ask. Write out the phrase you will say when you are with him. Practice it in front of your mirror.

Maybe you’d like it if your mother-in-law would call before dropping over but you’ve feared confrontation. Write down the request, practice it, and maybe include a couple of responses should she push back on your request.

Dr. David Simon often refers to the following ancient wisdom. He says that there are three gateways you should cross before speaking.

Speaking your highest truth doesn’t mean you’re allowed to be hurtful or critical. The truth from your spiritual essence will come across as kind and compassionate.

Listening is another aspect of the fifth chakra. The highest form of listening includes giving the other person your full attention. This means putting away electronic devices or turning them off and waiting to hear the other person completely before responding.

Chanting, singing, humming, and reading aloud are wonderful ways to open the fifth chakra. In fact, the mantra sound for this chakra is HUM. Two Pranayama exercises that bring heat and stimulate the throat chakra are the Ujjayi breath and the lion’s breath.

In your yoga practice, you can do camel pose (Ustrasana), bridge pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana), shoulder stand (Salamba Sarvangasana), and plow (Halasana). These poses will stimulate the thyroid and parathyroid glands as well as bring energy to the area of the throat.

The color corresponding to the fifth chakra is blue, and gems to balance this chakra are sapphire, blue topaz, lapis lazuli, aquamarine, and turquoise.

by: Michelle Fondin, (http://www.chopra.com)

The fourth Chakra: Anahata

The fourth chakra is at the center of the seven chakras with three below and three above. This is the area where physical and spiritual meet. The fourth chakra, also referred to as the heart chakra, is located at the center of the chest and includes the heart, cardiac plexus, thymus gland, lungs, and breasts. It also rules the lymphatic system. The Sanskrit word for the fourth chakra is Anahata, which means “unstruck” or “unhurt.” The name implies that beneath the hurts and grievances of past experiences lies a pure and spiritual place where no hurt exists.                                      

When your heart chakra is open, you are flowing with love and compassion, you are quick to forgive, and you accept others and yourself. A closed heart chakra can give way to grief, anger, jealousy, fear of betrayal, and hatred toward yourself and others.

Some people choose to live in the place of grievances. They’ve been hurt in the past by parents, siblings, classmates, or loves. Maybe you’ve been there too. It’s impossible to avoid situations where someone may try to hurt you. But you get to choose what to do with that hurt. Some people might try to hurt the other person back. Yet, that is not living from a place of Anahata. The person who inflicts pain on others is coming from a place of fear, ignorance or hatred, all of which represent a closed heart chakra.

Empathy and Compassion Create Openness

Give Love to Receive Love

• Smile at everyone you see daily, even if you don’t feel like smiling. It’s contagious.

• Forgive and move on. Life is too short to hold grudges.

• Give friends, family and co-workers positive affirmations and feedback.

• Try to go one day a week without criticizing anyone or anything, including yourself.

Asanas, Sounds, Colors, and Gems to Balance the Fourth Chakra

When you encounter hurt feelings from your past or present, you can choose to feel them fully and let them go or hold onto them. By letting them go, you’re able to open your heart to new people and new experiences with compassion, love, and understanding. Holding onto hurt harbors negative feelings and cuts you off from opportunities to love and serve. Letting go is as easy as making a choice. Your mind and your ego may tell you otherwise but it’s as simple as choosing to let go and move on.

Walking in another person’s shoes is not easy to do, but can be helpful in fostering a sense of empathy. To help create empathy and compassion, I like to play a game called, “the what if scenarios.” When encountering a person who is being unpleasant or who has treated me poorly in the past, I quickly take my mind through a host of what ifs. For example, ask yourself, “What if that person is just having a bad day?” or “What if that person just lost his job?” “What if she just learned her husband was having an affair?” “What if he was just diagnosed with an illness?” As you create these stories, of which the possibilities are endless, you begin to empathize with the other person and his or her situation. This method takes you away from yourself and self-pity and places compassion onto the other person.

Now, let’s suppose that there’s a family member or close friend who just repeats a pattern of inflicting hurt on a constant basis. You can still offer love and compassion either from a distance or by setting boundaries. In any case, know that when someone chooses to hurt you, it’s almost never about you. It’s about them.

The best way to receive love is to give it. Author and motivational speaker, Leo Buscaglia, used to teach that we should give and receive 12 hugs a day for optimal health. So give hugs and kisses. Other ways you can give love:

Take any opportunity you can to foster love and loving feelings. Love is a currency and whatever you give will come back to you.

Any yoga pose that opens the area of the chest will help to balance the heart chakra. Some poses include camel, standing bow pose, and cow face pose.

The mantra sound corresponding to the fourth chakra is the sound YUM. A special mantra to help expand love and compassion is OM MANI PADME HUM. You can repeat this mantra in meditation to gain greater access to these qualities.

The color is emerald green and the gemstones associated with the heart are emerald, malachite, jade, and rose quartz.

by: Michelle Fondin (http://www.chopra.com)

Athens (2016)