Meditation: May 7, 2025

"The language of trees is older than our oldest words; their wisdom predates our most ancient scrolls. When we listen with more than our ears, we hear conversations that have been unfolding since the

Physical Setting & Preparation

Find a sheltered space with dappled sunlight—beneath a tree canopy if possible, or near a hedge or garden where the play of light and shadow creates a sense of sanctuary. Bring a small bundle of fresh herbs or grasses to release their scent during your practice. Sit comfortably on the earth, allowing your body to settle into its natural alignment. Remove any constricting clothing or jewelry. Place the herbs or grasses beside you. Before beginning, slowly rotate your shoulders three times backward and three times forward, releasing tension held between your shoulder blades.

Opening Invocation | Fosgladh

Anns an t-seachdamh là den Chèitean,
'S an solas a' fàs làidir,
Tha mi a' gairm air cumhachdan an talaimh is nan speur,
A' sireadh sìth is tuigse.
Tha mi a' fosgladh mo chridhe,
Mar a dh'fhosglas flùr do ghrian an t-samhraidh.

On this seventh day of May,
As the light grows strong,
I call upon the powers of earth and sky,
Seeking peace and understanding.
I open my heart,
As a flower opens to the summer sun.

Body of the Working | Corp

Feel the contrast of sunlight and shadow playing across your skin. Early May brings this dance of elements—warmth penetrating the lingering coolness, brightness illuminating what was hidden. The world is alive with this interplay of opposites finding harmony. Notice the patterns of light shifting around you as leaves move in the breeze.

Solas is dubhar,
A' dannsadh còmhla,
Mar a tha beatha is bàs,
A' dannsadh tron bhliadhna.

Light and shadow,
Dancing together,
As life and death,
Dance through the year.

In this moment, allow yourself to recognize the feeling of contentment arising within you. Like a seed that has found rich soil, there is a natural satisfaction in being exactly where you are meant to be. Place your hands palms-down on your thighs and feel this sense of sufficiency—not striving, not retreating, simply being. Contentment is the earth's natural state—receiving what comes, offering what is needed.

Yet within this contentment, notice also a sense of curiosity stirring. Like a tendril reaching toward light, part of you seeks to know more, to explore, to discover what lies beyond the current horizon of your understanding. Place your palms upward now, as if receiving new possibilities. This too is the earth's wisdom—even while rooted, she continuously unfolds into new forms and expressions.

Tha mi riaraichte leis na th' agam,
'S mi fhathast ag iarraidh barrachd eòlais.
Tha mi suidhichte far a bheil mi,
'S mi fhathast a' sireadh na tha romham.

I am satisfied with what I have,
While still seeking greater knowledge.
I am settled where I am,
While still searching for what lies ahead.

The Deep Working | An Obair Dhomhain

Now, lift the bundle of herbs or grasses to your face. Close your eyes and breathe in their scent deeply. These plants embody both contentment and curiosity. They grow precisely where they are planted, drawing nourishment from that specific soil, that particular light. Yet they also reach outward—roots extending deeper, stems growing taller, leaves turning toward the sun.

Your contentment is not separate from the earth's own satisfaction. Every tree, stone, and creature knows this state of being enough, exactly as it is. Feel this profound acceptance in your body—the quiet joy of existence itself.

Mo bhodhaig mar chraobh,
Freumhaichte san talamh,
A' faireachdainn gu leòr,
Dìreach mar a tha mi.

My body like a tree,
Rooted in the earth,
Feeling enough,
Just as I am.

Your curiosity, too, is an expression of earth's wisdom. The Mother of the Earth continuously experiments, adapts, evolves—not from dissatisfaction but from the creative urge to discover what else is possible. This is the healing power of wonder—not to fill a lack but to celebrate abundance.

Gently crush some of the herbs or grasses between your fingers, releasing more of their scent. Inhale this intensified fragrance and feel how it awakens your senses. This is how curiosity operates—bringing more vividness to what is already complete.

Mo inntinn mar abhainn,
A' sruthadh tro thìr ùir,
Chan ann a' teicheadh bhon t-seann àite,
Ach a' leudachadh na tha mi.

My mind like a river,
Flowing through new land,
Not fleeing from the old place,
But expanding what I am.

Feel both contentment and curiosity alive within you, not as opposing forces but as complementary energies. Like inhale and exhale, they create a natural rhythm of being and becoming. The Mother Earth holds both stillness and movement, both acceptance and reaching. In this balance lies profound healing.

Afterthought | Smuain Dheiridh

Take a moment to contemplate:

How might your contentment actually deepen your curiosity rather than diminish it? How could your curiosity enhance your contentment rather than threaten it?

Closing Blessing | Beannachd Dheiridh

Gu robh sìth an talaimh gad chumail,
Gu robh iongnadh na beatha gad bhrosnachadh,
Gu robh eòlas nan sìnnsear gad threòrachadh,
Gu robh solas an là seo gad bheannachadh,
A-nis agus gu bràth.

May the peace of earth sustain you,
May the wonder of life inspire you,
May the knowledge of ancestors guide you,
May the light of this day bless you,
Now and forever.

Before you leave this place, scatter the herbs or grasses as an offering to the earth. Carry with you the understanding that contentment and curiosity can nourish each other, creating a balance that allows you to be fully present while remaining open to growth and discovery.