ELEMENTS 8.

Meeting the King of the Element Earth.

1. Begin this meditation by finding a time & place in which you will not be

disturbed outside where there is grass, rocks, trees & mud. A place where

you can plant your feet in the mud or feel the grass with your hands is

most effective.

The following instructions are best put on tape if you are working solitary.

2. Close your eyes & take several deep breaths, you may wish to feel & smell

the earth around you to help put you into deeper touch with it.

3. Begin a slow progressive relaxation. Start at the top of the head & begin

directing warm soothing energy to each part of the body, all the way to

your feet, take your time with this & relax.

4. Now place your hands on the earth itself, at this point keep your eyes

closed, notice how the earth feels now you are relaxed, what is its

temperature, its texture, its solidity. Imagine that you can feel a deep

pulse rising up from the heart of t he Earth itself. Feel yourself connected

solidly to the earth & to that inner pulse.

5. Breath deeply & just relax, allowing the following images to form in your

mind.

You see yourself standing in the midst of a circle of Oak Trees. Their bark

is twisted & gnarled like the skin of some giant entity. Their massive

branches & trunks dwarf you. The upper portions of the roots are exposed but

you know they must extend down into the heart of the earth itself.

As you stand beneath them, looking up, they seem to extend forever. You are

amazed that trees could be this large. It is as if they form a wall against

everything in the outside world. It is as if this inner circle is a point of

separation. As you look about you at the giant trees, you are filled with

wonder. If ever trees could house Gnomes & Elves, these surely could. The

trees are so large that only diffused light enters their midst. You do not

know whether it is day or night, it could be either or something not of this

realm. In this glen there seems to be a perpetual in between time. It is

neither dusk nor dawn & you some how know it never changes. It is then that

you notice a soft music & mist rising from the ground. It almost tickles as

it forms & soon the grass at your feet is lost in it, you turn around slowly

within the circle of trees, observing the shifting mist as it cloaks the base

of each tree. As you come back around, through the mist you see a face &

figure form within the nearest tree. Somehow you know that this is Ghob, the

King of the Element Earth, you whisper his name the mist responds by

shifting & dancing & the figure becomes more clearly defined within the tree.

A second time you speak the name, this time a little louder & with more

confidence. The mist swirls around the base of the tree & you begin to see

the figure move. Yet a third time you use the name, sending it out loud &

clear & as the mist parts & Ghob steps out from the tree itself. He is

almost as tall as the average human & he is dressed like the traditional

gnome of folklore. He wears the colours of the earth, greens & browns & upon

his head is a cap. His hair & beard are long & his features dark & worn.

His face is lined & set, & his eyes study you intensely. He is not sure he

should have answered your call. Then he notices your uncertainty & his eyes

twinkle, softening his stare, but only for an instant. Then he motions for

you to sit & he assumes a position across from you. He extends his hand

down & it passes into the earth as if it were merely water, when he with -

draws it, he has a handful of soil. Every grain of sand & soil is like one

of the millions of cells that make up your own body. All of the minerals

found within the earth are also found within you. Thus you are connected to

it & it to you, anything that happens to it, happens to you. He closes his

hand around the soil & as he opens it, you see he has transformed it into a

perfect diamond. It shimmers & shines, drawing your eyes to it. He holds it

up before you & as you gaze upon it, images begin to appear & disappear, a

moving collage of the abuses of humans upon the earth. You see land

stripped & left bare to erode from too much mining , farming & greed. You

see farmland with soil depleted of minerals through chemicals & over use.

You see trees being chopped down & thousands of creatures being left without

food & shelter, you see plants that lived in their shade wither & die. You

see rare & precious plants & animals destroyed with little or no thought of

long range repercussions upon humanity & other creatures of the earth.

Then you see foodstuffs artificially fortified, because natural minerals are

rare. You see great nations anemic & starving. You see images of people

dying because the plants that could have saved them are now extinct. Your

body aches in response to these images. Then Ghob closes his hand again

upon the diamond & then reopens it, revealing the loose sand & soil, again

he closes his fist upon it & as he opens it, there lies in his palm an

exquisite emerald, rich, warm & glowing. It radiates around you & in your

mind you begin to see new images. You see the life entities of every flower

& plant. You see humans working & walking with these entities. You see

flower faeries & tree elves. You see water spirits & forest Devas, you see

humans revering life in all its forms & slowly you see those abased l ands

being restored. You see land that is rich & fertile & you see humans living

in balance with it, taking only what they need in its season & you notice

the aches you felt before have disappeared you are connected to the earth,

just as everything upon the earth is connected to you.

What happens to one happens to the other , if some are turning their backs on

the material world's greed then others will follow, for already what man has

done is effecting all, this is felt as stress to both body & mind & the

craving for lush green peaceful places rushes up from deep primal forces

within us all. As one person learns to work with the natural world more

fully & joyfully, this influences the whole as well.

Ghob now addresses you directly:

" As you open to those of my Kingdom you clear the way & facilitate others

doing so as well. As you develop relationships with those you call faeries &

elves, others will feel the effects & be drawn to you. It will be subtle at

first & it may be ignored, just as the earth's personal abuse is ignored.

You will not have to convince them though, for as you open to this realm, on

some level of the subconscious those around you will also " know" & the pull

will be greater, it is your duty then to guide them on their path, in perfect

love & perfect trust "

Ghob stands & motions for you to do likewise. He closes his fist around the

emerald & with his free hand he takes yours & holds it palm up. He then

opens his fist & drops into your palm a perfectly formed crystal ball. As you

look at it you see markings of the planet earth. Then looking deeply into

your eyes he continues to speak: " This is a sign of my promise to work

with you & to open the earth & all its mysteries to you. Do not be fooled by

it though for it carries great responsibilities . If you accept it, it is

your promise to do your part as well. If you are not ready or are not sure,

simply leave it upon the ground at you feet when you leave. There it shall

remain until you are ready. Ghob steps back towards the tree out of which he

emerged. The mist begins to rise up, it swirls softly & gently. He nods &

for a moment you even see a gentle smile & then he is simply a form within a

tree. This then fades & you strain to catch his last words which are for you

only....... [Pause here for a minute.]

You are now standing in the circle of Oak trees holding the crystal planet.

You think about the responsibility & all you can do & you make your decision.

As you do the image of the glen fades & you find yourself back where you

started, at the beginning of your meditation. At this point please write down

any impressions you might have had during the meditation.

BLESSED BE.