Meditation: May 3rd, 2025

"The ancient wisdom flows not from books or scrolls, but from the whispers of trees and the songs of stones. Listen with your spirit, and the Mother will speak."

Physical Setting & Preparation

Find a space where sunlight filters through new spring leaves. If possible, sit near flowering plants or trees. Feel the earth beneath you growing warmer with each passing day. Remove your shoes and place your bare feet on the soil or grass. Have a small bowl of fresh water beside you, representing the cleansing rains of Bealtuinn (May Day) that have just passed. Take three deep breaths, allowing your shoulders to relax and your mind to clear

Opening Invocation | Fosgladh

Seo an t-àm eadar Bealtuinn is Grianstad an t-Samhraidh,
This is the time between Beltane and Summer Solstice,

Nuair a tha am blàth a' fosgladh agus an saoghal a' fàs.
When the bloom is opening and the world is growing.

Air an latha seo, tha mi a' faireachdainn cumhachd na talmhainn a' dùsgadh.
On this day, I feel the power of the earth awakening.

Mar a tha a' ghrian ag èirigh nas àirde, tha mo spiorad ag èirigh cuide rithe.
As the sun rises higher, my spirit rises with it.

Tha mi ag iarraidh gliocas na Màthar.
I seek the wisdom of the Mother.

A' fosgladh mo chridhe dhan t-solas.
Opening my heart to the light.

Close your eyes and envision the sunlight warming your face. Feel the sensation of growth and expansion all around you. The world is vibrant with life—young animals exploring their surroundings, seeds pushing through soil, trees unfurling fresh leaves. Allow yourself to connect with this energy of growth and possibility.

Body of the Working | Corp

Tha casan an t-samhraidh a' dannsadh air an talamh,
Summer's feet are dancing on the land,

A' toirt beatha ùr do gach nì.
Bringing new life to everything.

Ann an gach blàth, tha gealladh air toradh.
In every blossom, there is a promise of fruit.

Ann an gach gealladh, tha dòchas.
In every promise, there is hope.

The early days of May bring both excitement and tranquility. As the wheel of the year turns toward summer, allow yourself to experience both these emotions.

First, notice the excitement building within you. Like the buzzing bees moving frantically from flower to flower, there is an energy of anticipation and possibility. Feel this excitement as a tingling sensation starting in your core and radiating outward through your limbs. Your breath quickens slightly, your heart beats a little faster. This is the excitement of potential—of seeds planted and beginning to grow.

Now, bring your attention to the tranquility that exists alongside this excitement. Like the still morning dew resting on fresh leaves, there is a peaceful certainty in nature's unfolding. Allow this tranquility to settle over you like a gentle mist. Your breath deepens, your shoulders relax, your thoughts slow. This is the tranquility of trust—knowing that growth comes in its own perfect time.

Ann an dùsgadh an t-samhraidh, tha mi a' faireachdainn dà thaobh:
In summer's awakening, I feel two aspects:

An togradh sunndach agus an sìth dhomhainn.
The joyful excitement and the deep peace.

Mar an seillean is am braon drùchd,
Like the bee and the dewdrop,

Tha iad a' co-fhaireachdainn annam.
They coexist within me.

Feel the contrasting yet complementary nature of these emotions. The excitement gives you energy to move forward and create, while the tranquility gives you the patience to allow things to unfold naturally. Both are gifts from the Mother Earth at this time of year.

The Deep Working | An Obair Dhomhain

A-nis, leig do fhreumhan a dhol sìos dhan talamh.
Now, let your roots go down into the earth.

Faireachdainn an cumhachd a' tighinn a-nìos tro do chasan.
Feeling the power coming up through your feet.

A' dòrtadh a-steach do do chorp.
Pouring into your body.

A' lìonadh do chridhe.
Filling your heart.

A' soillseachadh do inntinn.
Illuminating your mind.

Imagine you are like one of the young trees in early May—your roots extending deep into the soil, drawing up nourishment and stability. The Mother Earth holds you securely, providing everything you need for growth.

From these roots, feel the dual energies of excitement and tranquility rising up through your body like sap in a tree. Where do you feel the buzzing excitement in your physical form? Perhaps in your hands that wish to create, your legs that wish to move, your heart that beats with anticipation. Where do you feel the calm tranquility? Perhaps in your steady breath, your relaxed shoulders, your quiet mind.

Mar a tha na lusan a' fàs a-mach às an talamh,
As plants grow from the earth,

Tha na faireachdainnean seo a' tighinn bho Mhàthair an t-Saoghail.
These feelings come from the Mother of the World.

Chan eil iad neo-cheangailte, ach mar phàirtean den aon ghliocas.
They are not separate, but parts of the same wisdom.

Is e an togradh an sìol, agus is e an t-sìth an talamh.
Excitement is the seed, and peace is the soil.

Consider how the buzzing excitement of spring growth is held within the deep, steady tranquility of the earth. One cannot exist without the other. When excitement becomes overwhelming, you can return to tranquility. When tranquility becomes stagnant, excitement brings new growth.

The earth teaches us that these seemingly opposite emotions are actually part of the same natural cycle. The Mother holds both the frantic energy of new growth and the patient stillness of deep roots. By embracing both, we find balance.

Tha mi ag aithneachadh an dà phàirt seo annam fhìn:
I recognize these two parts within myself:

An gluasad agus an fois.
The movement and the rest.

An togradh agus an t-sìth.
The excitement and the peace.

Is iad an dà ghuth aig Màthair an t-Saoghail.
They are the two voices of the World Mother.

Afterthought | Smuain Dheiridh

Take a moment to contemplate:

How might you honor both the excitement and tranquility within you in the coming days? When might you need to call upon the buzzing energy of the bee, and when might you need the steady presence of the dew? How can you, like the earth in early May, hold both these qualities simultaneously?

Closing Blessing | Beannachd Dheiridh

Tha mi a' toirt taing dhan Mhàthair airson a gliocas.
I give thanks to the Mother for her wisdom.

A' giùlan an togradh is an t-sìth air ais dhan t-saoghal.
Carrying both excitement and peace back into the world.

Mar a tha am Bealtuinn a' gluasad gu Grianstad,
As Beltane moves toward Solstice,

Bidh mi a' cuimhneachadh an cothromachadh seo.
I will remember this balance.

Gum beannaich an talamh mo chasan.
May the earth bless my feet.

Gum beannaich a' ghrian mo shùilean.
May the sun bless my eyes.

Gum beannaich a' ghaoth mo anail.
May the wind bless my breath.

Gus an coinnich sinn a-rithist.
Until we meet again.

Slowly open your eyes. Take a moment to feel the ground beneath you and the air around you. Carry the balance of excitement and tranquility with you as you return to your day.