Awen

Awen flowing through the stands.

Red Rise relax

I sat a while by Red Rise Brook this morning, the forest felt so welcoming and calm. Sitting in a sunny spot, the brook gently babbling as it passed, I relaxed and just breathed, melding into the forest. After carrying out a series of Awens, I basked in those moments of aural clarity you enjoy after performing a mantra. I could hear all the forest, above the babbling brook I could hear a myriad of bird calls, some melodic, some excited, so many songs though, in the enclosure beyond two ponies called urgently to one another, whilst in the distant woodland a woodpecker drilled. What a lovely morning for a meditative wander. Geoff's stopped jumping at me when I'm awen-ing now, which is nice, having a hound excitedly launch themselves at you was somewhat distracting from my meditative pursuits. 

Wooden circle

There's a well defined circle created out of fallen branches in Soarley Beeches, the loose leaves, twigs and nut casings in enclosed area have been cleared and what appears to be an arrow, or possibly an 'Awen' symbol created at the centre. It would have taken a while to construct and clear. It's temping to think a ritual of some sort, possibly Druid (it would work for the location, a prominent tree capped knoll), may have taken place right out here in the forest. Or, of course, someone may just have had time on their hands. I suppose your perspective would be defined by colourfully you view the world.

Awen

There are a few quiet spots deep in the woods and away from the well used tracks which traditionally I've used as spots to chill, think or meditate. Places far enough removed from the noises of our modern human world for you to really hear the forest, well, apart from the occasional invasive plane flying overhead. As I've mentioned, although not formally trained (something I'm contemplating changing) I follow a Druidic spiritual path, and have done for over 2 decades. In recent years as our society has continued to take the wrong path, spiralling into a hate filled space for intolerance, racists, bigots and extremists, I've become mired in insecurities and fear, which as Yoda rightly predicted led me to anger, and I've increasingly sought rebalance and solace in my spiritual leanings. I've delved deeper, meditated more, and sought a path through the madness of now. To be honest I've stumbled many times (and continue to stumble), consumed with  anxiety and stalked by the black dog unleashed by insecurity and social marginalization born of government policy and media stigmatization.  Just to sit in these isolated natural places is a refreshing tonic, a blessed relief. In Druidism 'Awen' is the term given to the flow of inspiration, wherever than may originate from, it's used as a chant similarly to the eastern 'Om' in Druid ceremonies, or when meditating. Used to doing it during ritual, for many years I shied away from using it when meditating out alone, cowed by perceived social norms. Not so much now days.  Sat today in the shade of a young tree, by the side of a babbling brook, I slowly chanted the Awen, stretching the three syllables into one extended sound, I did three sets of three.  The sound fills your head and senses, resonating through you, and when you stop, man, it's magical, it's as if you've cleared all the clutter that stifles connection, and you hear the forest and all its life with new clarity. The forest is turned up to 11. You're really connected as we should be, as you're meant to be. Wonderful stuff, and so simple to achieve, a connection which only grows more profound the more you practice. You can feel the weights of modern life ebbing away, a taste of freedom in our increasingly claustrophobic world.