Meditation: May 5, 2025
"The trees remember what we have forgotten; that all life flows in cycles of renewal, death is but a doorway to rebirth, and wisdom lies in surrendering to these ancient rhythms."
Physical Setting & Preparation
Find a place where your feet can touch the earth. If possible, seek a grove of trees or a garden beginning to bloom with early summer flowers. Bring a small bowl of water to represent the flowing energy of life and a green leaf or plant to symbolize growth. Remove your shoes and let your bare feet connect with the soil or grass beneath you. Take three deep breaths, allowing your shoulders to relax with each exhale.
Opening Invocation | Fosgladh
Tha mi 'gairm air cumhachdan an t-samhraidh òig,
Blàths na grèine, ùrachd an uisge, beatha nan lusan.
Tha mi 'g iarraidh sìth is soilleireachd inntinn.
Air an là seo, an cùigeamh là den Chèitean,
Fosglaidh mi mo chridhe ri gliocas na talmhainn.
I call upon the powers of young summer,
The warmth of the sun, the freshness of water, the life of plants.
I seek peace and clarity of mind.
On this day, the fifth day of May,
I open my heart to the wisdom of the earth.
Body of the Working | Corp
Feel the growing warmth of early May surrounding you. Notice how the world has transformed since the first stirrings of spring. Trees now wear their full green cloaks, and flowers turn their faces to the strengthening sun. This is Beltane's season, when life surges with undeniable force through every branch, stem, and root.
Tha an saoghal a' dannsadh le beatha,
Na craobhan a' fàs, na lusan a' sgaoileadh,
Cuimhnich gur ann den talamh a tha thu,
Is gur ann don talamh a thilleas tu.
The world is dancing with life,
The trees growing, the plants spreading,
Remember that you are of the earth,
And to the earth you will return.
As you breathe deeply, allow yourself to recognize the enthusiasm bubbling up within you. Like the sap rising in the trees, feel this vital energy moving through your body. Place your hands on your chest and feel your heartbeat quicken with the pulse of anticipation. What new possibilities are emerging in your life? What seeds planted in darkness now push toward the light?
Yet within this enthusiasm, notice also a sense of vulnerability. Like the new leaves unfurling, you too must expose yourself to grow. The tender shoots risk frost, just as your open heart risks disappointment. Place your hands on your belly now and acknowledge this tender feeling.
Tha mi fosgailte mar dhuilleach òg,
Làidir is maoth aig an aon àm.
Tha mo dhòchas is m' eagal a' dannsadh còmhla,
Mar a tha solas is sgàil a' dannsadh fo na craobhan.
I am open like young foliage,
Strong and tender at the same time.
My hope and my fear dance together,
As light and shadow dance beneath the trees.
The Deep Working | An Obair Dhomhain
Now, holding the green leaf or plant in your hands, close your eyes and imagine roots growing from the base of your spine deep into the earth. Feel yourself connected to the vast network of life below the surface—fungi, roots, soil creatures—all communicating, all sharing nutrients and information.
Your enthusiasm is not separate from the earth's own excitement at this time of year. The birds singing at dawn, the buds bursting open, the bees humming among blossoms—all expressions of the same life force that moves through you when you feel inspired and energized.
An sgàil a tha mi a' faireachdainn 'nam chom,
Chan eil i na nàmhaid dhomh.
Is i pàirt den chuairt-sìorraidh,
Mar a tha an oidhche a' leantainn an latha.
The vulnerability I feel within me,
Is not my enemy.
It is part of the eternal cycle,
As night follows day.
Your vulnerability, too, is sacred. It is the soft earth that allows seeds to germinate. It is the opening that permits growth. The Mother of the Earth herself is vulnerable—to drought, to flood, to human harm—yet in this vulnerability lies her tremendous strength and resilience.
Place your hands in the bowl of water. Feel its cool touch against your skin. Water does not resist; it flows, adapts, yields—yet over time shapes mountains and carves valleys. This is the wisdom of yielding strength.
Tha mi mar uisge,
A' gèilleadh ach làidir,
A' sruthadh tro bheatha,
Mar a shruthas an t-uisge tron talamh.
I am like water,
Yielding yet strong,
Flowing through life,
As water flows through the earth.
Afterthought | Smuain Dheiridh
Take a moment to contemplate:
How might embracing your vulnerability actually strengthen your enthusiasm for life? Where in nature do you see examples of this paradox—that what seems fragile often holds the greatest resilience?
Closing Blessing | Beannachd Dheiridh
Gu robh cumhachd an fhàis còmhla riut,
Gliocas na talmhainn gad stiùireadh,
Misneachd nan craobhan gad chumail,
Is sìth nan uisgeachan gad bheannachadh,
A-nis agus gu bràth.
May the power of growth be with you,
The wisdom of the earth guide you,
The courage of trees sustain you,
And the peace of waters bless you,
Now and forever.
Return the water to the earth as an offering. Carry your green leaf or plant with you or place it somewhere you will see it throughout the day, as a reminder of both your strength and tenderness, your enthusiasm and vulnerability, united in the dance of life.