Meditation for the Autumn Equinox

As you float gently through the heavens, your eyes trace the path of light from this one great star to the earth beneath. There on top of a high mountain, overlooking the earth, is a temple. The light from the star outlines the four columns that separate the inner from the outer. From your height, it appears in the shape of a cross, with one column standing in each of the four directions.

You begin to feel yourself gently descending, and ever so softly, you come to rest in the soft grass outside this grand temple. You stand before the doors. Emblazoned into the massive frame above it is a large flaming sword. As you step to the door, the sword begins to glow brighter and a sound fills the night air, making the earth and yourself tremble.

You step back from the door, and as you do, the earth on either side of it rips open and two large trees burst forth. The limbs and branches stab in every direction, twisting and entwining, until the door to the temple is barely visible and virtually impassable. The trees are growth gone astray. There is no form or shape. They twist and entangle, knotted together, preventing any further growth. They have grown wild and are beginning to suffocate the growth of each other.

The sounds soften and then there is silence. You stand before the blocked doorway of the temple, unsure what the next step should be. Within that silence comes the answer. A soft light begins to form between you and the trees. It is a soft pastel red that grows into a mighty column of light extending from the earth into the heavens. A gust of wind blows across you, and the column shimmers, shrinks and there stands before you a beautiful being of great strength and light. The eyes are steely and strong. Dressed in robes of the colors of autumn leaves- russets and reds- he holds your attention. Within his hand is a sword, which is more light than substance. Mingled with the energy of his essence, you cannot help but feel the strength about him. You wonder how he is able to control such force, and he smiles as if reading your thoughts.

He waves his hand at his feet and a great hole within the earth opens. You can see deeply within the heart of the earth and beyond. There within the depths was a powerful and magnificent dragon of red and gold. With each breath, light and energy of primal force pour forth from it towards all life upon the earth. Michael raises the Flaming Sword over this primal energy as it rises up and softens and surrounds him, pours through him and out from him in blessings of strength and love to all.

"We each must face our own dragons. We each must face that which we most fear. As we learn to transmute our dragons we give birth to light and love. As we learn to wield the Flaming Sword of spiritual law and discrimination within every aspect of our lives, we control the dragons rather than being controlled by them."

He waves his hand over his feet again, and the image disappears. You look at him, drawing strength from his gentle words. He steps to the side of the temple doors. "Before all are the trees of Life and Knowledge. Before you enter into the inner temple, the trees must be pruned, trimmed. Just as a bush is pruned in the autumn so that it may grow greener and more fruitful in the spring, so must your life be pruned. Look upon these trees and see within their tangled mess what must be pruned and trimmed from your own life for greater fruitfulness."

You gaze into the two trees, tangled and knotted. You see the people and situations, the habits, behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge that is blocking your own growth. As you look upon the two trees, you see all that you must do to untangle your life. You begin trimming and pruning the tree, one branch at a time. The task seems great - even overwhelming.

"We are never faced with more than we can handle."

The soft words break the reverie and fill you with encouragement.

"Now look again."

You look at the trees once more. No longer are they entangled and knotted. They are trim, full and green. There are blossoms, hinting of the fruit they will bear in the future. The doors to the Inner Temple are no longer obstructed. Slowly they swing open, and a golden light and a chorus of song surrounds you. You see an altar upon which rests and equal-armed cross. In the middle of the cross is a large white rose. A light shines down upon it from above, and you remember the star whose beam of light led you to this temple. Before the altar stands a magnificent being of shimmering rays of blue and gold light. He turns, acknowledging silently your presence. He slowly raises a Golden Chalice - the Grail of Life - to the heavens in silent prayer.

The door closes slowly, leaving you only with the joy of a memory that has emblazoned itself upon your heart. Michael - stands before you, his look tender and loving. "With strength, we all must prepare that we may enter the inner temples of the mysteries of the Divine. There was a time, though, when each had to accomplish it alone, but that time has passed. Today there is guidance and strength from many sources for those who will open their hearts."

He raises his flaming sword and softly touches your breast with its point. He closes his eyes and intones a word both foreign and familiar. You feel your heart seared with the light of the Flaming Sword. You look down upon your breast, and you see within your heart center your own Sword of Truth aflame.

"When you touch the heart and when you imagine the Flaming Sword within, I will come. For as you awaken to the Divine within and learn to express it without, you become a Son or Daughter of the Flaming Sword."

His sword grows blindingly bright, encasing you in light, and then fades. As it does, you find yourself alone outside of the Temple, but you feel the warmth of the Flaming Sword alive within your heart. You look to the sky and see the one star that led you to this moment. As you look upon it, you feel yourself lifting up gently once more into the heavens, carrying forth the energy of purification and preparation for entrance into Nature's inner temples.

from p.113 Nature Speak by Ted Andrews