The Way of the Willow
Grandmother Willow
Summer Solstice 2021
Seven brave souls took an intense journey over the Summer Solstice with Willow. She had already been talking to some in their dreaming, telling them her stories of lightening and storms.
Summer Solstice is when the Sun time, Day, and the Moon time, Night - reach one of only two annual moments of perfect equilibrium. A balancing of the masculine and feminine dualities which gives rise to the birth of something new – a creative child – as depicted in the Celtic Triquetra symbol of the 3 interconnected spirals.
It is an auspicious time to consciously connect with what is trying to emerge in our life. Walking the edge between what is falling away and what is coming into being. Exploring what it might mean to live in constant co-creation, bringing intention and focused attention to our own unique blends of masculine and feminine energy that leads to living creatively and in the flow of life. Solstices are the perfect time to do this work within ourselves, within community.
Willow is sister of the moon, full of feminine grace and power. We were working with her as she rose to meet the masculine and showed herself to be a Triple Being. Known for her femininity, grace and flexible ability to bow to the wind. As a deeply rooted being, withstanding the storms of life. Often seen reflecting in water - with whom she is intimately connected – the element of intuitive understanding. She brings the receptivity yet unfathomable depth of her strength and power – all the while unperturbed as she rises in prayer to the sky.
Willow danced with the sun and the sky while we connected with our inner child’s playfulness and creativity, and a lack of complexity that lightly intuits deeper truths with a sense of joy and awe in the miraculous nature of life.
Another Moon lover, Wolf came - feeling his energy as we slipped behind the veil – teaching us how to balance solitude and living well and wisely in community. Stepping into the duality of partnership mirrors back aspects of ourselves in a new way, sometimes painful and confusing, others a delightful surprise as a mystery unfolds allowing something to be seen for the first time. Journeying into the returning shadows cast by the light. What gifts are there? What are we scared of or do we turn away from? What no longer serves us and is ready to be let go of? Leaning into the dark, the cold and listening to the unloved, neglected parts of ourselves. Learning to reparent ourselves … coming into partnership with ourselves and accepting it all on our journey back to wholeness …
… And as we shared our gifts around the fire Owl came reminding us of the wisdom of Eldership. How do we work in balancing our duality, holding both, without suppressing the need of each to be able to express themselves?
At some point on the deep journey into our authenticity and desire to unify diverse aspects of ourselves, we reach a realisation that our greatest gifts come from alchemising our deepest wounding. Eldership brings this understanding, and lived experience of balancing this apparent dichotomy, and shares the wisdom in community. There is a responsibility that comes with standing in both shadow and light, an instinctual knowing of timing, leaning into of the richness of sharing gifts that may inspire others, helping to light and lighten their path.
As we sat in circle with a central fire allowing darkness to fall around us, we were all taking this journey of letting go to align with, embrace and manifest the new that is trying to unfold … There were 10 of us and 3 dogs. In the shadows were our teachers: the land, the sea, water, the birch, the willow, the oak, the sycamore, the ash, foxglove, orchid, ladies bedstraw, primrose, the deer, the owls, the wolves and so very many Ancestors ...
... And we were paying attention.
Solstice blessings to you all
With much Love,
from my Heart to yours
Tania Aurora White Crow