Years ago, I went through a period in my life when I had a somewhat crazy idea of writing a book. The content of the book doesn’t matter, and I’ve almost forgotten about it until I was reminded of one mental image I had when I was writing it.

I remember seeing a forest path at night. The path was illuminated by the yellow candles, making it mysterious and somehow inviting. I remember sensing a person walking the path past the lights, wondering what awaits them at the end. The path was long, and the longer it lasted, the more cautious the person was—one step at a time. The silence was deafening. No matter how much the person listened and wondered what awaited them at the end, no hints were presented. Suddenly, a flicker of light appeared in the distance. Last few steps, and the person stepped into a clearing, taking in their surroundings. The clearing was empty except for the massive fire in the middle of the clearing. No one was there, but there was a feeling of presence. A strong and heavy but non-threatening presence.

Many years in the future, the first time I went to my forest, I was walking along a forest path, unaware that it led to a clearing similar to what my imagination had conjured so many years before. The path was different, though. There were no candles, I could hear birds singing, and all around me were my little fungi friends.

I remember making the last step before the clearing opened, not knowing what awaited me: another step, and the clearing opened in front of me. I took a deep breath in awe. The trees in front of me were like friendly giants standing in a circle around one bigger tree in the middle. Calm spilled over me, and in that moment, I realized that I’ve found a special place.

I’m genuinely surprised by how many memories are coming up lately while working through this course. And not just thoughts, but also pictures and feelings. In the craziness of my daily life, these memories are comforting and grounding.

All of these were triggered by studying knowledge about Sacred Groves and a weekly exercise related to them.

During my first meditation, my mind took me to the clearing in the forest, and I wanted to revisit it soon. Come to think of it, it wasn’t really a wish. It was a need.

So on a Saturday morning, I packed my camera and left for the forest. After a good walk, I decided to take a break and enjoy the sun. It felt great soaking in the sun, and very spontaneously, I slipped into my daily exercise for the week.

Even though I was about 10 minutes away from my clearing, my mind was there. I could see it in my mind’s eye as if I were back there. I felt myself sitting on the ground with the palms of my hands touching the ground. The forest’s damp smell filled my nostrils, and suddenly I felt as if roots sprang from my limbs towards the center of the Earth. I felt connected to the forest like never before. There was no fear, just stillness. A fawn came and lay on my left side and put its head in my lap. Then a brown bear came from behind and put one of his paws on my left shoulder. In the end, a badger climbed on me and whispered something in my ear. I don’t know what it whispered as I’ve come back from the meditation, but the picture of the animals and the feeling of connectedness lingered.

I don’t know what it all means, and even though I want to dissect and dig into the symbolism and meaning, I’ve decided that for now, this is enough. Experiencing is more than thinking about it.

Until next time,
Pia