In our fast-paced world, it can sometimes seem difficult to build a genuine connection with the Land around us. So many of us don’t take time to really sink into Mother Earth’s wisdom. Everything needs to be a quick fix, a quick connection, or a magic potion that guides to the knowledge we crave.
Connecting with the earth, the land just below your feet, takes effort and dedication if you want to do it in a meaningful manner. It is also a crucial step if you want to build a relationship with the Faeries, the good neighbors.
In this article, I want to give you a few ideas about how you can either start out, or re-visit some of those ideas, as we sometimes forget the basics as we progress on our paths.
Learn the History
This is a more intellectual exercise rather than just sitting outside and listening to the wind. To understand the shape, the energy, the flora and fauna of the land, we do well by diving into the history of a place. Learn as much as you can about the area you live in. You can research questions like why aren’t there more forests around or learn about the different kind of rocks in your area. What quality does the soil have overall?
You also want to dive into the human aspect of the history of the land. When do the first settlements date back to? What battles were fought? How close is your area to the next river? Was it an area where trading and merchandise was significant? Are there any sacred sites near you, any holy wells or springs? How were they used? Research about how religion has influenced the place and how much it is reflected in the landscape today.
If you live in a more rural area, you probably still see the influences of farming, and many traditions that involve the time of harvesting, for example. If you dwell in a more urban environment, research how and why it became an attractive place to build a big city right there.
You might even want to work with the ancestors. They might not be from your own bloodline, but from those who walked the land before you. You can visit the closest graveyard or cemetery, perhaps even bring graveyard dirt into your home and leave it in a small vessel on your altar.
Yet, you can also observe the living in your hometown. What are things you have in common with the people around you? What brought you all to this place?
All those questions and more can help give you a better understanding of the land you are currently living on.
Physical Connection
To connect with the Land, it is obvious that you need to go outside and experience it. Sometimes we are so used to a place that we often forget to pause and truly take it all in. I’ll give you a little example. I live in a more touristy area, all quite quaint and rural. However, it is my everyday life, and I often whoosh in and out of the house for errands and are not fully aware of my surrounding. One of my neighbors rents out a holiday apartment and one day one renter stood in the middle of the street taking photos of the view to the side of my house. The exact view that made me choose and agree to buy this house, and yet until then I kind of forgot about it. Thank you, kind tourist, for reminding me that it is worth pausing every once in a while to appreciate what is right in front of my door.
To connect physically with the Land you can visit the same place at different times. May it be a field, the forest or the city park, or just in front of your door. Observe how the light changes the appearance, how the quality of the energy of the place might be affected by it. Take mindful walks around the area, early in the morning, late in the evening and anytime in between. Observe how the change of seasons affects the area and perhaps even the people. Take in the different smells and listen closely. What is the song of your land? Birds, wind, neighbors chatting along? Or is it traffic, sirens and a drowning of many voices? Whatever it is, even if you are not too fond of it, remember this is part of the Land’s song.
Connect with Spirit of the Place and other Land Spirits
A beautiful way to connect with the Land is to build a relationship with the Spirit of the place and other land spirits. You can either do this by meditating, opening up to them and set the intention of you seeking a connection with them, or you can use divination tools if that is more to your liking. It doesn’t matter if you live in a small village or in the city, or if you have a garden or not, there will always be a Guardian of the Land that you can connect with and that is ready to listen. So don’t be afraid to talk to them.
As already mentioned, just start off by taking a few deep breaths and set the intention to connect with either the Guardian of the Land or the Spirit of the Place. If you want to learn more about the difference between those two, you can read this article.
If you are either a Tarot or Oracle reader, you can use the following card spread:
1. Card to describe the essence of this place
2. How do you help the place in the physical realm?
3. How do you help the place in the spiritual realm?
4. Tell me something significant about the past of this place.
5. How can I help this place?
6. What else do you want me to know?
You can also use a dowsing tool to get some answers if that is more to your liking. If you use a pendulum, for example, you can ask yes or no answers to learn more about the Guardians of the Land.
Ask first if the Spirit of the Place or the Guardian of the Land wants to connect with you.
Then you can ask them different questions, here a few ideas:
1. How long have you been here? More than a hundred years? More than 500? More than 1000? And so on….
2. Are you happy here?
3. If no, why not? (Environmental issues? Are people the problem? Are any energy patterns out of balance?…)
4. Do you want me to talk more to you?
5. Do you want me to plant more trees, flowers, shrubs?
6. Would you be happy if I would leave you offerings?
7. Which ones? (Moon water? Song? Honey? Milk? Ale? Fresh Fruit?)
8. Can I do anything else for you?
You can also ask these questions to other land spirits. Perhaps you have some Fae beings in your garden, or on your city balcony who are waiting for you to connect with them.
Flora and Fauna
As you connect deeper to the land, you might also want to have a closer look at what grows, crawls, or flies around. Even if you live in an urban area, there will be plants and trees in a city park, flowers in pots on windowsills, insects flying about, birds nesting around high buildings. Learn about what is growing near you, naturally and by decision of humans. What trees dominate the forests? What is mostly planted in the fields nearby? What kind of birds do you see most? Can you recognize them by their song? And what weeds are growing near you? Weeds are important agents of soil conservation, so what significance do they have in your area?
If you can, give insects, birds, bats, hedgehogs, lizards, and so on, a home. Especially if you live in a city. If you are planting flowers on your balcony, plant bee friendly ones, if you plant a new shrub, chose one that attract butterflies. Learn more about the needs of our little friends and adjust some things accordingly.
Dowsing
We already touched on dowsing in order to connect with the Spirit of the Place. But we can also try to connect with the Land through dowsing, by looking for earth energy lines, Ley Lines, water veins, and so on. If you want to learn more about the different Earth Energy Lines, you can find an article here. LINK.
Of course you can map dowse, but to be actually out and about and sense the energy lines will give you a different experience altogether.
If you are not used to dowsing in the field or dowsing in general, give me a shout. I am happy to write another article about how to start your dowsing practice.
If you have already established your yes and no with the dowsing rods as well as your directions, you can easily try to find the closest Earth Energy Spiral.
Wherever you are in the world, you will have an Earth Energy Spiral nearby, even in your own home, but as we are trying to connect with the land, just have some fun and go outside for this exercise. Take your dowsing rods, pendulum, or bobber with you and go to a place where you feel peaceful and at ease. If possible, go when you know there will be little to no distractions… I know that can be hard sometimes. As you are there, take a few moments to tune into the essence of the place.
Then you simply ask your rods to show you the closest Earth Energy Spiral. Let them guide you to the spot. Again, try to tune in. How does it feel? Then you can ask if that spiral is beneficial or detrimental to you, if it has a masculine or a feminine energy (if you work with this concept), and if it is spiraling upwards or downwards. If this energy spiral is not beneficial for you, you can also ask if there is a beneficial spiral within the next 100 meters, 200 meters… and so on, depending on how much you want to walk around with your rods. If you go to another one, try to tune into the differences between those two spirals. Maybe one feels more energizing while another gives you a more calming energy.
You can also look for other earth energies, as mentioned before. But if you haven’t already, give the Earth Energy Spirals a try and let me know what happened.
Offerings
As already hinted at in the section of dowsing questions for the Spirits, it is always a good practice to leave offerings for the Land Spirits. Especially around your home, you can establish a regular practice. You can give different types of offerings, from food and beverages, to cleaning up an area, over to energetic ones like offering songs or an energy healing like Reiki, for example.
Just ensure that when you start this practice, to maintain it. Don’t do it once or twice and then forget about it. Bring stability into the relationship with the Land Spirits.
Opening the Hidden Pool
In the next article, I will give you another exercise you can try to connect with the essence of the Land. I will go a bit more into detail with that one, so I keep it separate and you will have easier access to it.
I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.
I hope your world is kind
Much Love,
Blossom
Write a comment