Sitting in a space where you will not be disturbed, take a moment to make conscious note of your surroundings and the physicality of your being in this space. Gently close your eyes and turn your awareness to the pattern of your breath. Allow your breathing to lengthen and relax into a calm and steady rhythm.

Shift your attention to the space between your brows and the inner screen of your meditative conscious mind. Sit as observer of this screen, taking note of the form of this inner landscape. Now see yourself standing and walking towards this inner screen. A pin- point of cobalt blue light forms just ahead of you and begins expanding in diameter as you walk towards it. When you arrive at the place of being immediately in front of this vibrant blue veil, it has expanded, stretched and opened to become an arched gateway. The faint glimmer of sparkling blue shines within its opening and you feel called to step into this place.

You step through the veiling and find yourself standing centrally in a circular room. The walls surrounding you are a vibrant cobalt blue colored marble. You look upwards and the ceiling appears to be dome-like, gently rising up and beyond your line of sight. You look down at the floor and the same sensation of it being dome-like in structure, but you quickly dismiss this thought as you are standing on what appears to be level and solid marble, the same color as the walls and ceiling.

You close your eyes and breathe in deeply adjusting easily to what surrounds you and finding your anchoring within this space. You take another very deep breath and open your eyes on the exhale, surprised to see that there are now 4 equilaterally spaced areas along the perimeter of the circular floor decorated in accord with each of the four alchemical elements of Air – Fire – Water and Earth.

You take a step towards what appears to be the cardinal direction of East. As you approach and move closer, you can feel a gentle yet strong breeze blowing from this direction. As the air moves over you and you approach closer still, your mind clears and thoughts seem to flow smoothly and easily through your mind. You find yourself standing in front of what appears to an opening in the wall and as you look out there is nothing but beautiful blue sky stretching as far as you can see and beyond. You breathe deeply in response to the beauty of this sight and as you exhale slowly you see an indistinct shape approaching from the depths of this sky scape. As you continue watching, the shape moves closer and you can now see that it is a sword; moving on the current, and coming directly towards you.

You breathe in deeply and in response the sword seems to move in rhythm with your inhalation of breath and you find that you are able to draw it towards you; bringing it to rest gently in your hand, point of blade reaching upwards. You feel the weight of this sword and it seems to fit easily and comfortably in your hand as though it had been specifically crafted just for you. You stand quietly in the strength of this space of the East and still your mind as you take in the beauty and detail of the sword more closely. Make note of any symbols you see on its blade or hilt. Move it around and see if you can sense the energy emitting from it as it weaves its carving through air and vibration. Make note of how its energy makes you feel and/or what thoughts present themselves.

You have received all that is needed at this time and the sword gently releases from your hand and comes to rest hovering mid-air. You breathe deeply and take a step towards the right moving towards the next elemental space.

As soon as you turn and begin to walk towards the cardinal direction of the South you can feel the heat of a blazing fire pulling you closer. You feel an awakening heat moving outward from your central core and know this to be the resonance of your inner flame with that of the hearth fire. You continue walking and come to stand in front of a stone-enclosed circular hearth with flames dancing brightly in its center. You move a bit closer and as you gaze into the flames, you see the tip of a beautifully colored wooden staff emerge from the heart of the flames. You are not surprised that the wood is not burning as nothing is as it seems in this realm. As the length of a beautiful rowan staff fully emerges, you instinctively reach out and the staff immediately responds coming to rest in your hand. The energy of this tool is vastly different from that of the sword. There was an immediate sharpness and clarity about that tool of the East. Immediately, you can feel a gentle heat moving through its core and feel the energy and vibrancy of the length of wood holding a blazing flame of intensity within its construct.

Take some time to more closely explore the energy and visage of this staff. Is it simple in its presentation or ornately carved? Are there any gemstones or crystals embedded? How does its energy make you feel? Make note of all that you observe. You breathe in deeply and fully and feel the inner fires rising within you calling you to action, catalyzing your will. You feel stirred and excited to explore the other two spaces.; but you exercise restraint and give more time and attention to this tool of Fire.

You have received all that is needed at this time and with these thoughts the staff releases itself from your grasp and pulls back towards the hearth, coming to rest mid-air directly over the rising flames.

You turn towards the right and once again begin your journey towards the cardinal direction of the West. You can smell salty air and hear in the distance the call of gulls and sea terns. You come to stand in the front of a large and expansive view of the sea. Frothy waves move in towards you and you can feel the pull of ground receding as the waters return back into an endless vision of horizon. As the next wave approaches you feel a welling up inside of emotion and a chalice filled with waters spilling freely rises to the surface and you reach down to take it in hand. You hold it close to your heart and for a moment noting the exquisite beauty of what you are holding. There are no words or thoughts that could adequately give homage to this vessel of creation and the sea from whence it came shimmers like diamonds as sunlight pours its rays onto flowing surface,

Finding your place of composure, you turn the chalice in your hand, observing it from all sides and perspective. Make note of what material (s) it is crafted from. Make note of any symbols that are etched into it. How does its energy make you feel? Do you feel the movement of the waters within you and the promise of journey back to the source that lay in wait at life’s end? Breathe fully and deeply into all that you are experiencing.

You feel the call of the next element echoing through these waters and the chalice moves away from you, hovering just above the water’s flow as though gently moving you on. You have received all that is needed at this time and turn to the right and walk towards the North.

As you walk towards the cardinal direction of the North, you feel the weight of your physical presence as you proceed forward step by step. You feel the strength of your own physical form and awareness of the hard and supportive floor beneath that seems to propel you forward. You come to rest in front of an opening that stretches looking out at a golden field of flowers. The fragrance is full and heady and you can hear the buzzing of bees and the song of birds perched on branches of nearby trees. The cooling shade of opening into a wooded forest stands off to one side and the smell of rich fertile soil is intoxicating, You see that a space has been cleared near the forest’s edge and a fresh mound of dark dirt covers a small circular space. Rising from this mound of earth a wooden pentagram pushes through to the surface, coming to rest lightly in the soil. You sit down the cushioned surface of dirt gently supporting and run your fingers over the surface of the pentagram. You breathe in the deeper smell of earth and life and feel the moisture held within it as your clothing dampens from the pressure of your body on its surface. You breathe deeply and exhale the intent of looking more closely at what this pentagram has been crafted from. Has the star been etched or burned, scribed or painted on its surface. How does this tool that encompasses the foundation of all of the elements feel to the touch? What emotions and thoughts does it provoke? Spend some time sitting with this tool and taking in the sights of earth unfolding before you.

You breathe deeply and as you exhale the pentagram lifts softly from the earth carried on your breath and hovers mid air. You have received all that is needed at this time and you feel the need to complete the scribing of this circle of the elements and their tools. You stand up, brushing dirt from your clothes and walk the edge of the circle completing it back to the East.

You stand for a moment and look around at each of the tools, some shining, some of wood, others of crystal or glass perhaps. All are poised in the liminal space of air and energy, delicately hovering within the realms of their making. Take a moment of pause and think on which of these tools resonated the strongest within your being. Which called you from your place of inertness and pulled you towards it?

Walk now to that tool. Stand in front of it and closing your eyes offer the intent to receive a personal message from that tool’s energy. Continue to breathe deeply and fully as the tool speaks to you and gifts you with its wisdom.

When you feel complete and the message of the tool has been given, offer up thanks to it for its guidance and wisdom. You bow slightly as a sign of honor and respect and turn to walk back to the center of the room once again.

When you arrive in the center space, offer the intent of your own being as the tool of Spirit and make oath to use all of these tools wisely and with great care. As the last of these words moves across your lips, the tools and the realms from whence they came, gently fade returning the space to a circular wall of blue energy. The room fades becoming a mist of blue energy and you breathe deeply, stepping through the archway of its veiling and find yourself once again as observer of your inner screen of visioning. The room has faded, but the memory of the experience and the gift of the tool of resonance still reverberate through you.

Offer up thanks for the wisdom of this journey and breathe into the intent of moving back into your physical state and physical room of beginning. Each breath draws you back into your body and the gentle rise and fall of your chest. And, when you are ready, gently flutter your eyes open and be present in the here and now. Blessed Be!

Foundations of Practice: Lesson 5