Gifts of apple meditation

Gifts of Apple Meditation

This month in the Woodland Bard live online we are exploring the lore of the apple tree.
In the last session we started with the words of Mary Cicely Barker which help capture the essence of the tree:

Crab-apples, Crab-apples, out in the wood,
Little and bitter, yet little and good!

The apples in orchards, so rosy and fine,
Are children of wild little apples like mine.

The branches are laden, and droop to the ground;
The fairy-fruit falls in a circle around;
Now all you good children, come gather them up:
They’ll make you sweet jelly to spread when you sup.

One little apple I’ll catch for myself;
I’ll stew it, and strain it, to store on a shelf
In four or five acorn-cups, locked with a key
In a cupboard of mine at the root of the tree.

In previous sessions we have been exploring the rowan tree and the hazel tree around the pool of Connla ( please see articles Wisdom of Hazel and The Weaving Goddess on this blog), in the last session we ventured forth to explore the apple tree. Each tree in the tradition has a specific role, the rowan tree takes us into meditation, the hazel tree bestows wisdom and the apple tree especially at this time ( as we approach the season of Samhain), lifts the veil of illusion to open our inner sight.

We spoke of the importance of connecting to a world soul, a spiritual aspect of ourselves connected to all of life.  Each person is part of a collective soul and now more than ever we can see how we all play a part in that, as we witness the Global challenges that affect us all. This will be explored further in later sessions.

Gifts of Apple Meditation

Look into a pool of water, it may be a spring, well, lake or pond. All around it are hazel trees laden with bushels of nuts and standing over it like a sentinel, an aged rowan tree. Watch the patterns forming on the rippling water and then see a doorway which will lead you into the inner realms.

Enter the door and descend down into an inner landscape, follow the images, thoughts or feelings that come to you. If you find yourself on a path follow it to a mature apple tree.

Sit with the tree, absorb the feel of the tree for awhile.  This is an opportunity to connect with the relationship between yourself and a tree that is of direct mutual benefit. You may feel the support of the tree and how it offers fruit to benefit others. The fruit when it falls adds many nutrients to the soil as well as feeding many mini-beasts. 

If you are aware of a guide such as an animal or ancestor tune into them and ask them if you can pluck an apple. If they agree proceed by then asking the tree. It's important you are confident with such an act as the taking of the apple in the otherlands is a commitment to expanding your knowledge and the understanding of yourself. If all agree and you feel ready, pluck the apple and allow it to be absorbed into your heart. In your heart is the song of the apple, the song of the earth, feel that connection: 

- Meditate -

If you would like to experience deep states of meditation with the sound of the drum and traditional lore and poetry join us for our next online session on  Sunday 25th October @ 6pm.

​Wishing you all many Autumn Blessings.

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