The enchanted forest & the little sacred river.

Woke up to a beautiful morning, here in the south of France, sleeping beneath the heaving pulse of the great mastiff of Saint Baume. It is my birthday today. I have felt the abundant blessings of my life, the grand adventure and the gifts of abundance, and the bright flame of sisterhood, in the early days of my travels here with four women, all guided from all corners of the globe to gather, to be, to sing and offer our prayers to the earth that we walk.

This morning I felt the magnetic pull of the forest where the pure Huveaune river flows, the forest is protected forest claimed by the Dominicans, some say this is the river where Mary Magdalene traveled up the river after crucifixion. I was not drawn by this story or by the thought of her travels, but by the inner sense of radiance and relief that flooded my being when I thought of this river. My body knew where it needed to go, and when there was doubt that we were heading there, I felt a sense of fiery urgency and determination to get there.

Taking the drive in the car, we found ourselves spinning a little to find its entrance, and there was some hesitation from the rest of the group to continue, I was determined to get to the river and had the fire in my belly and the pull of my birthday to thank for keeping the momentum to the river !

When we finally arrived and after some distance along the path, I could feel the throb of a deep earth and energetic line, I began to feel a sense of vitality coursing through my veins and my senses activate to open to the forest we were entering.

As we walked, we sang, and as we sang, it rained, and quickly it turned to hail! Though in surprise and basking in the hilarity our spirits remained light and in play for the forest was moving in us.

The hail passed quickly and soon the radiance of the sun, and its tender warmth, trickled through the leaves and began to melt the chill. All sisters deeply present in the walk, a silent pilgrimage and communion to this enchanted land. Natures divas were responsive and the energies dancing with me was a somatic experience that left me feeling in awe of the beauty of life! The gift of this earth!

By the time we reached the little river the sun was high and heat was welcomed! The pure waters were a blessing. There was a vital exchange taking place, through the simplicity of being here, walking here, something my body and my soul needed.

I left the little river and this sacred forest, renewed, my senses deeply receptive to the ecstasy of life, in deep gratitude for the gifts this walk, the codes and remembrance of being the land and nature her had gifted me through sheer innocence and communion.