A Lesson In The Green Connection: A TFE Production
This weekend, we had the opportunity to have an in person class with our amazing mentor on the subject of "Green and Local". We trekked out to our favorite state park (seriously, it's huge) and got down to some witchy work with the local green energies. We brought some personal offerings to use on our journey, open hearts, and open minds. Oh and did I mention journals? Yeah what's a witch without her writing tools. This witch had to write everything down or risk the chance of forgetting all about it in five minutes.
It was a beautiful day and there was a sense of quiet waiting in the deep shade of the ancient trees. Now, looking back at my notes, I can find some humor in my scribbled musing that humans, as a species, had become such loud and lumbering creatures. So intent on their own pursuits that they are blind to the world around them. It was an experience to watch people barrel by on the trails, their whole world closed up inside their heads, and to wander among them completely open to the energies around us that others took no notice of. Many of us humans go through the world blind and deaf to the subtler beings, spirits, and emerges around them. They are asleep, so too was I before my feet found this path all those years ago.
-Silver
I think we all found a sense of profound peace when we reached the end of our trail. We had begun this hike open to what the forest had to teach us that day. The world around us has so much to say if we can open up long enough to listen. It's easy to forget to go into the green places and just be. No cell phones, music, talking, or jumbled thoughts. To be at peace both inside and out, in that place where you are open and ready to receive what the world has to tell you.
-Silver
It was a much needed and deeply moving experience in these woods. I had yet to explore this part of the park and it was absolutely beautiful. Warner parks take up 3000+ acres and there is no shortage of serene natural areas and trails to explore. The trails lead through rolling hills and outcroppings of rock, which can quickly separate you from other groups as you enter into each little valley. Though we were accompanied by many people enjoying the Labor Day weekend it was still quite easy to get lost in the quiet of the forest. The central location of the park to the local members of the Forests Edge makes this park one that is visited often by the group. Generally, TFE public rituals are held here and we frequently find ourselves drawn to this park for workings.
-Ayda
We saw plenty of wildlife on our walk and was met with an abundance of butterflies. I was amazing how many there were and we were delighted as they frequently landed on us. I saw a blue tailed anole and an interesting and very large stick bug about the length of my hand. and of course the not so wild puppies and dogs that people were walking were just too cute.
The whole reason of this trip was to connect with the forest and the land that we call home. We brought offerings and placed them as we felt called and connected with the land as we walked, staying silent the majority of the time. The energy and land spirits were palpable and at one point I was brought to tears. The land seemed to know what we each needed and connected to us in that way. It was a beautiful and moving experience which has me yearning for natural spaces.
-Ayda
