In my post this past Thursday, I mentioned that I was taking Diane to Aztalan State Park so she could do her ritual Equinox/Solstice meditation of Calling The Directions. A couple of my blog followers expressed interest in this ritual so I decided to do this post to try to explain it as best I can.
This is something she has been doing for at least the past 3 decades though not always at Aztalan. Aztalan is a lovely park that usually has few visitors. She found that the setting, its history and the general solitude, she was often the only one there, helped her settle into her meditation. I cannot say I truly understand just what the Calling The Directions is but Diane has found the meditation ritual helpful in her life. In it, she faces the each of the cardinal directions in turn and asks for help in knowing and understanding any changes she may need to work on in her life. For the ritual she stands facing each direction, starting facing East and turning clockwise ending facing North. Each Direction covers a different aspect of ones needs. East is Air and represents the Intellectual side of life. South is Fire and that represents Passion or the Artistic or Emotional part of life. West is Water and the represents what one needs to wash away or let go of. North is about ones Health and connection with Nature. She says that for her at least the answers she answers she gets are shown as images. Sometimes they can be very strong and other times not so much. I want to point out that this is a meditation where she is using the Directions as a metaphor or useful framework to call up from within herself the answers she gets. She has said that the responses she gets are not from the outside but come from within. The meditation is a way of helping the inner self tell your conscious mind what you need to keep the same or change. I expect this is a poor description of what she is doing. As I said I do not really understand it, I have never practiced meditation, but I have seen how it helps Diane and how important it is to her.
Unfortunately about 10 years ago she felt that her balance issues from MS and a few scary falls it was not safe for her to there alone. This is one of the first places Diane took me to on a ramble and she told me how much she loved going there, about how she found it easier to do he meditation there. Ever since I have tried to take her there for the Solstice and Equinox. Not because I understand the ritual but because I felt how important and how much easier being able to do it there is for her. Besides being a safely factor and helping her negotiate uneven ground I will stand behind her so she can stand still and concentrate on her meditation and not on her balance. One thing I have learned is that for most people with balance problems it is not moving that is hardest but standing still.
Here are some pictures I took of the park to include in this posting. I included this first picture because it tells a bit about the park. I do hope it will be large enough for you to read. If when I submit this and I see it is not I will do larger picture of in the first comment.
This picture was taken from the parking lot facing East and downhill toward the, unseen, river and one of the mounds. As is the case of most pictures the mound looks a lot further away than it really is. As you can see it was a mostly sunny, beautiful looking day but with temps in the low 30s and a stiff breeze blowing it felt quite cold. Fortunately the breeze was at our backs as we walked down to the mound and the slope seemed to drop us below the worst of it.
This is more of a close-up of the palisade and mound shown in the last picture. The palisade is a partial reconstruction of what the archeology dig showed was there. Diane and I walked around to the right to get behind the wall for her Calling. It did help cut the wind.
Off to our left was one of the other mounds mentioned on the sign.
Diane and I usually drove down this road to get closer to the river and another part of the palisade that is below the mound shown in the last picture. Apparently they close that road in the Spring to protect it while the frost is going out. We were disappointed but were glad we were able to go to the mound in the second and third picture.
I took this picture walking back up the path towards the parking from the mound in the second and third pictures. The parking lot is just to the left out of the picture's frame. What you are seeing are a set of 6 or 7 mounds that are just to the North of the parking lot and next to the road. They may have been identified as burial mounds though I can not recall for sure if that is what they were.
As you can see this is a lovely park and I usually manage to take Diane to it for the turning of the seasons. We do not always make for the Winter Solstice though. It was as is usual a lovely day spent with Diane. We took a goodly ramble on the way to Aztalan. Actually more out of our way than usual. Stopped in a town on the way home for very late lunch or very early supper. Between the chill, the wind and the walk Diane was very tired when we got back to her place so I dropped her off and came on home.
I do know I have posted pictures of this place before and have mentioned how Diane loved the place and did this ritual but not what it was about. I do hope I have not bored anyone with this post. I shall be posting a larger version of the first picture in the first, bottom, comment in case that one is too small to read. No half naked or more picture this time as it was too cold and windy to take of my winter coat. It felt so good to get back into the car and warm it up.
Here is hoping all of you have a great Spring.
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9 comments
Sounds like a lovely place to spend the day
It usually is a great place to spend the day. Unfortunately, the day may have been sunny but it was a cold, damp and quite windy one so we did not stay much longer than Diane needed to. We did have a fun out of our way and sort of getting lost ramble on the way there. Still, Diane's Calling/Meditation went very well and as for myself any day spent with Diane is a lovely one.
Thank you for explaining Dianes ritual. I think we should all pause now and then to seek guidance in our lives. It will center us. Diane is a smart lady. Hugs!!
You are welcome lovely PonyGirl. One of the more difficult things to do in our lives is to discover our true needs. Not wants. I think Diane is smart too and she is very good working with and helping people.
Sending you big naked hugs.
P.S. I don't think I knew before that Diane's health issue is MS. My niece, who is in her late 30's, was diagnosed with MS a couple of years ago. She's doing well so far but I can only hope that if things change, her husband will be as supportive as you are to Diane.
Diane has never gotten a formal diagnosis of MS but been told that is was they thought it was. I have a sister who has been formally diagnosed with MS so I was somewhat familiar with the problems when I met Diane. As for your niece my sister was diagnosed with it at least 20 years ago maybe even 30yrs and is doing fairly well but as expected she has good days and bad days.
It sounds like a helpful ritual and I liked your explanation of it providing a framework to express inner feelings.
i have a friend who believes in astrology and I tried to express a similar concept to her - that my thinking is that a skilled astrologist is a very intuitive person who's good at reading people and the astrology provides a framework for their observations. She didn't agree. 😁
Diane says that sometimes the images she gets are very powerful and point to things that she needs to change or improve upon. Other times they can be kind of weak and seem to indicate she is doing okay as she is. She always notes down and/or sketches what she has seen and her initial reaction to ponder on later. This last time she said the images came fast and were very clear.
I have never felt astrology was valid as most of the traits given for a Capricorn, my sign, do not fit me. Also I feel most of the "advice" in the papers seem to be so general and insipid that it could apply to anyone.
Sending you big naked hugs.
Such a beautiful reflection on love, devotion, and supporting someone in what truly matters to them. Thank you for sharing this journey with Diane—it’s wonderful to see how deeply you care.
I am feeling embarrassed by the praise I am getting for what I consider doing nothing more than the sort of thing one does for someone you care about deeply. It is in no way a sacrifice on my part as I get to spend time with her and that is always a joy.
Sending you big joyful hugs.
It is great that you are supporting Diane in perhaps things you don't believe in. I take my hat off to you, and not the first time.
I can't say I do not believe in it . Rather I just do not understand it very well. Diane is a woman so very worth supporting. On the way home we were talking and she thanked me again for all I do for her. Told her she does not realize all she does for me. We have often remarked that one of the things about our relationship is each of us feels like we are getting the better part of the deal. Not that we keep count.
Looks like the first picture is big enough to read so I will skip putting it here.