Connection.

There was a tingle of anticipation driving out to the land today. As I travelled down the long winding dirt road and neared the valley, this tingle of anticipation increased. An image appeared in my mind of a little point of land that sat at the base of the hill. I had been drawn to it lately and the thought arose to meditate there.

Parking the car under the shady trees at the creek, I wandered along the grassy creek flats and up the steep slope through the trees to the point of land. Sitting down, I crossed my legs to meditate. Bellbirds chimed overhead and a warm yellow sun shone quietly down through the tall trees, but I was restless. I increased my efforts to become calm yet the body wouldn't quieten, and neither would the mind. Frustrated, I opened my eyes…

… and sensed a presence nearby. I’d noticed this presence out here before, but never had he felt so close, almost like he was watching me. I twisted round in my seat, peering expectantly through the trees behind, but there was no flash of movement or colour that suggested someone was there. Yet, I imagined I could smell the mustiness of his body odour and wondered if he would walk down and talk to me. I realised he wouldn’t, and knew if I went looking for him, he wouldn’t be found. Still, the expectation was there so I stayed, sitting on the little point of land amongst the trees.

Letting my eyes drift around, I took in the quiet harmony of the bush. The land sloped gently away down through the trees in front of me, to a steep creek bank hidden by the undergrowth. Overhead, gum trees towered through the undergrowth, rising up to spreading branches under a light blue sky. Thin white wispy clouds drifted between the leaves of the uppermost branches. Feeling settled and calm on my little outpost upon the hillside, I closed my eyes and fell into meditation.

The ground trembled beneath me … and trembled again. Startled, I opened my eyes. Was it an earth tremor? I wondered, and held my breath, waiting. The land was still; the bellbirds piped undisturbed overhead. As I sat there thinking about this strange trembling, a memory arose and I knew this wasn’t just a physical vibration. Once before, in another time and place it had rumbled through the earth, shaking the house like a huge truck was passing outside.

I closed my eyes, puzzled and curious as to why it had happened again, when another tremble ran through the ground under me. With eyes still firmly closed, I felt another tremor. And then another - and another, each growing stronger, and lasting longer.

These vibrations began to run into my legs and buttocks that were in contact with the earth. They rose into my body, climbing up my spine, and spreading out into my arms and head until my whole body was shaking. It was like sitting on top of a tiny earthquake and I thought I was going to be toppled down the hill! I opened my eyes, ready to brace myself - and saw that the land was still. Not a leaf fluttered. The breeze had dropped and the bright sunlight was shining down through the trees, falling in dappled patterns on the ground.

I took a deep breath to calm myself, wondering at what had just happened, to see ripples of light slowly moving out from where I sat, spreading out in circles and flowing over the edges of this point of land. I watched in growing fascination as these tumbling waves of light echoed the rhythm of the vibrations, for the vibrations were continuing, flowing down the hill and running underneath me, as strong as before.

The thought arose to join with the vibrations. I willed myself to blend with them, to send them onwards down the hill. I could follow their course as they continued on down towards the creek, but they didn’t increase in strength and faded near the front of the land.

I then tried sending them out into the ground, into the trees and shrubs and grass around me. The waves rippled out, increasing in brightness, but disappeared a short way out, leaving me sitting in the centre of the pool of light.

Unsure what to do next I sat there - feeling the vibrations as they ran under me, and into me. The thought came to send them back up the hill in the direction they were coming from - to where I sensed the presence was. Still facing downhill to the creek, I closed my eyes, focussing on the vibrations running beneath me; and the odd sensation arose of looking backwards through my heart. I could see the trees and the slope behind me. The scene grew clearer and I saw waves of light rolling down the hill through the trees.

My awareness began to creep up the slope. The waves increased; white clouds of energy billowed passed. Cautiously, I inched forward, finding I was gaining momentum. The waves became stronger. It became harder to keep moving as I they started to buffet me, pushing me sideways.

Slowly, I waded up the hill until these waves of light were crashing down upon me and around me, thundering passed. I felt like I was swimming against a raging stream, and wondered if I’d be able to keep going. With an effort of will, I concentrated on moving forward.

And then a Light appeared. And in that Light was the Presence. Connection!

I wanted to stay as long as possible, absorbing this light, this wonderful vibration, but was so full of vigour that I couldn’t sit still. I jumped up and started to head down to the creek. As I was leaving, I felt the Presence again. It seemed sad and disappointed. I stopped at the bottom of the slope and looked back towards the connection site. Was I leaving too soon? Should I have stayed longer? A longing arose in me. If I'd have meditated more, he might have come down.

Perhaps next time....