Bluebells

Centre:

Bluebells tend to wilt very quickly once cut. Better to enjoy in the woodland or garden. Tread carefully as they can take years to recover after trampling. Indeed it is said that if you pick bluebells on May Eve you will have bad luck during May.

They are called “St. Brigid's Flowers” in some parts of Ireland and are associated with the goddess's healing powers.

Prayer:

From Liz in Derbyshire - Archive of Tara Celebrations - Bealtaine 2009

Bluer than a sailor's eyes,
Bluer than the bluest skies
Spread your carpet, ring your bells
Round the trees and down the dells.
Call a meeting place for friends
In the woods where anger ends.
Tell two hearts for truelove's sake
To keep the loving vows they make.
Though trains may whistle, traffic roar
And aircraft in the heavens soar
Though houses rise and cities fall
The bluebell grows in spite of all.

Dalkie Bluebells

From Duchas School's collection: - (There are a number of names for this game and it is a fun for a group circle)

It is played by a number of children standing in a ring. One of the children runs in and out under their uplifted hands. She then taps on one of their shoulders and this person follows her round and some one else is tapped and so on all have been tapped. The following rhyme is sung -

In and out goes Dalkie Bluebells, In and out goes Dalkie Bluebells, In and out goes Dalkie Bluebells, I'll be your master. Tap-a rap a-rap tap on my shoulder, I'll be your master.

Bell Ringing:

Bluebells - Cloigíní Gorma - are enchanting and a favourite with the Fairies.

It is said Brigid would weave a carpet of them for the fairies to dance on. The blue flower bells would ring to call the fairies at midnight or special festivals.

Indeed early Christian missionaries used small handbells to call people to worship.

Buddhists consider the bell to be calming and to induce a suitable atmosphere for meditation.

Hindu's ring a ghanta, a ritual bell at the entrance to the temple as preparation for their practice and to announce their presence to the god / goddess. The bell is made out of five to seven precious metals, which are connected to the planets: lead (Saturn), tin (Jupiter), iron (Mars), copper (Venus), mercury (Mercury), silver (the Moon) and gold (the Sun).

Bells are associated with the first High Priest of Judaism - Aaron. It is said that his robe was adorned with bells and embroidered with pomegranates.

An Evening in the Woodland Meditation:

Either imagine doing this or walk - seven steps left, pause, seven steps right, change, seven steps repeated, the rhythm builds...

Now relax, release and let go and be comfortable, ready for a meditation. Become aware of your body in it's sitting position. In your own time, notice your breathing, the deep breathing you’ve got, slowing down by half. You break the rhythmic walking energy and move forward, touching a tree in the centre of your circle. Imagine blue skies and sun dipping into the west. To alter your state of consciousness tell your neural pathways to behave unexpectedly. At the edge of the woodland there are bluebells. The scent, touch, sight, awakens your senses, awareness of this meditation walk.

In day to day life we tend to walk in a haze of detachment from our surroundings - 'have I got change for the car park?', 'shall we have beans on toast tonight?'. So in this meditation we become totally aware of everything around us. There are many energies and beings, seen and unseen, in the wood. Sunlight dapples the tree trunks, dead leaves scrunch under foot, the path is muddy here and dry there, the roar of the waterfall from the lake outlet echoes amongst the branches, and a pigeon calls.

Along the path are many broken sticks and twigs and, those we feel called to, we pick up. Tying ribbons onto them we silently express our prayers and intentions.

We plant the sticks in hidden places where they will decay, be nurtured in the compost of the woodland floor and our wishes are released to the universe.

We rejoin and sit drinking tea under the stars. You thank the woodland for its support, say goodbye to all beings that have supported us.

In your own time, notice your breathing, the deep breathing you’ve got slowing down by half. Become aware of your body in it's sitting position. Become aware of your environment and gradually, in your own time, open your eyes.