Contemplative Inquiry

I want to say something about my regular morning practice as it has developed in recent months.

Compared to earlier iterations, I have   stripped my practice down and abbreviated it. Although solo, it relies on speaking and at times moving (eg to greet directions). It has become more affirmative than meditative or prayerful, though elements of prayer and meditation are included. It is grounded in an animist and panentheist Druidry, finding a depth dimension in the here and now of this world. It doesn’t reference any named or personified deity.

I have used material from my past work in Druidry, and to a lesser extent Buddhism and the Eckhart Tolle community. But I have stylised and adapted these influences better to sound my unique note in the Great Song.

To begin, I light a candle, sound my Tibetan bells three times and say: I arise today in the strength of heaven, light of sun, radiance of moon, splendour of fire, speed of lightning, swiftness of wind, depth of sea, stability of earth and firmness of rock.

May there be peace in the 7 directions:

May there be peace in the east, power of light, element of air, domain of the hawk, quality of vision, time of sunrise, season of spring and early growth.

May there be peace in the south, power of life, element of fire, domain of the dragon, quality of purpose, time of midday, season of summer and of ripening.

May there be peace in the west, power of love, element of water, domain of the salmon, quality of wisdom, time of sunset, season of autumn and bearing fruit.

May there be peace in the north, power of liberation, element of earth, domain of the bear, quality of faith, time of midnight, season of winter, dying and regeneration.

May there be peace below, in the deep earth and underworld.

May there be peace above, in the starry heavens.  

I abide in the peace of the centre, the bubbling source from which I spring, and heart of living presence. May there be peace throughout the world. May I be present in this space.

I begin a breath exercise: breathing in through my nose, counting to 8; holding, counting to 8; releasing, counting to 8, resting, counting to 8. I repeat this 11 times. Then I say: I am the movements of the breath and stillness in the breath; living presence in a field of living presence in a more than human world: here, now, home.

I say: A blessing on my life. May I be free from harm; may I be healthy; may I be happy; may I live with ease. A blessing on my life.

A blessing on Elaine’s* life. May she be free from harm; may she be healthy; may she be happy; may she live with ease. A blessing on her life.

A blessing on the lives of our kin. May they be free from harm; may they be healthy; may they be happy; may they live with ease. A blessing on their lives.

A blessing on the lives of our companions. May they be free from harm, may they be healthy, may they be happy, may they live with ease.

A blessing on all lives we touch and are touched by. May they be free from harm; may they be healthy; may they be happy; may they live with ease. A blessing on their lives.

A blessing on all beings throughout the Cosmos; may we be free from harm; may we be healthy; may we be happy; may we live with ease. A blessing on our lives.

A blessing on our lives (arms raised), a blessing on the work (hands over heart), a blessing on the land (hands on ground).

I say: In the heart of Being I find protection,

and in protection strength;

and in strength, understanding;

and in understanding, knowledge;

and in knowledge, the knowledge of justice;

and in the knowledge of justice the love of it;

and in the love of justice the love of all existences;

and in the love of all existences, the love of this radiant Cosmos. Awen (Aah-ooo-wen, as a chant).

May there be peace throughout the world. May I be present in my life.

I stand today in the strength of heaven, light of sun, radiance of moon, splendour of fire, speed of lightning, swiftness of wind, depth of sea, stability of earth and firmness of rock. I ring my bells three times and extinguish my candle.

*NOTE ON PICTURE: original photo by me and stylised by  my wife Elaine Knight with AI support.

Above, murk outside my window. Below, an image from summer. The scenes are not identical, but close enough to make the contrast clear. Today, the murk contains and constrains me. My horizon is narrowed. I feel confined, yet also intrigued. What lies within and behind the murk?

This murk has appeared on a day when I woke slowly still caught by the after echo of a dream. I held on to the ghost of an image, aware of its importance but unable to see, grasp or name the image itself. I had a similar experience two days earlier. What is the imaginal realm communicating to me?

When I am present to the moment I feel blessed by this unknowing, just as I feel blessed by the murk.  When my thoughts are in movement, I desire more clarity. I trust that clarity will come, and that insight and inspiration will come, and have their moment too.

a sliver of waning moon

under the pink clouds:

the dawn of a winter day.

I’m noticing the ever-changing nature of the sky, more obvious when it isn’t overcast. Dawn on Christmas Eve has provided sights of the rising sun that the Solstice didn’t.

But what I notice even more is a changing skyscape, as the clouds continually move, interacting with the light. Such a change after the grey blanket of recent days.

At times during today’s sunrise the grey was still prominent, though broken up so that even the grey had a shape. At other times blue sky has been more evident, with the clouds diminished and wispy. I enjoy the energy of movement and change rather than any particular effect. I follow this celestial story into a bright morning.

Midwinter is part of Nature’s variety, and is varied within itself. Mornings like this make me feel alive.

Blessings of the Solstice. May it lead to nourishing and satisfying days to come.

Where I live it is Winter. I look outside our window at today’s solstice sunrise. In these first moments, I’m witnessing a slow, ordinary process, in which the daylight gradually announces itself. The effects, here and now, are subtle rather than dramatic. There’s a little pink in the sky, with a sense of darkness dispersing and a growing light. From this vantage point, I do not actually see the sun.

Nonetheless, I experience this beautiful, undramatic moment as complete in itself and also as marking the return of the light. During the coming days the Christmas festival also affirms new beginnings and the calendar begins a new year.

2025 has been hard for many people around the world. I dare to hope that 2026 is at least a little easier. I will look at ways, however small, in which I can contribute to greater human flourishing. I am glad to know that many other people feel the same way.