Friday, April 2
15 minutes breath counting.    Same sensation of trance, although I wouldn’t really say it was deep enough.  Still lots of thoughts and images but they are getting easier to let go of.

Saturday, April 10
15 minutes after running on the bike path.  There is an abandoned rail station that has been converted into a park.  There are many trees, plants and a small field.  I sat with my back to a comfortable looking tree (I don’t know which type, but I took a digital photo!)

I closed my eyes and began my breath counting.  I asked the tree to accept my presence and grant me peace, protection and wisdom as I meditate.  The tree was young but as I sat in contact with it I felt a serenity come over me and the image drawn below came into my mind.

 I decided to let it come and eventually began focusing on it, sharpening it.  I continued breathing deeply.  The regular noise in my mind continued, but as I focused on the image it drifted more to the background.  The knot in the tree became more defined as I continued to meditate.  I wonder if it was an invitation to cross over to another world, or was there another meaning, or no meaning at all…

Friday, April 16
I enjoyed the park meditation so much I’ve decided to make it a ritual!  After running on the trail I stopped there again and meditated under the same tree as before.  As I sat at the base of the tree I found it difficult to connect as I had before.  I became aware of the many birds that were singing and could not block the songs out or allow them to simply fade into the background, so I decided to allow them in as I did the image of the tree previously.  I still had a lot of noise (evasive thoughts) in my mind, but found it was easier to let them pass into background as I allowed the birdsong to come to the front.  I sank deeper into my meditative state and other sounds of the park started coming to the forefront… more birds near and far, leaves rustling in the wind, animals (squirrels I think) playing in the trees.  As I sank deeper into meditation an image of a black crow (sketched below) formed in my mind.

The image, although black on the black background of my closed eyes was very clear.  It remained for a very long time until I became aware that the park had gone silent.  A few moments later I heard (more sensed, actually) an animal approaching.  It was a bit scary.  I opened my eyes and was relieved to see it was a dog…  I have no idea what I expected, but it was a great relief!

One more note:  when I approached the tree prior to sitting down I surveyed the ground looking for any gifts.  At my last visit I noticed a small branch on the ground nearby after my meditation.  I did not take it, then, against my intuition.  After I completed today’s meditation I found another branch (I did not see it before) and a black feather.  I took both this time for my alter.

Friday, 23 April
As is becoming my routine I ran along the same path ending at the railway station park.  After cooling down and stretching I sought out my friend, the tree (I’m pretty sure its apple, as there are many small apples on the ground around it…).  I sat against the tree and began breathing slowly and deeply, asking for its protection and communion.  My meditative state is getting deeper.  It is like being asleep but awake and aware at the same time.  An image of a flower (a rose, maybe) came to my mind. As it sharpened it transformed into a different kind of flower.  Again I let it sharpen in my mind and replace the random thoughts (noise) flowing through.  I watched the image form and was aware of the sounds of the park as before.  I also became aware of tense muscles in my jaw and let the tension ease away.  As I relaxed another image formed, like that of ripples in a pond as if a pebble had been thrown in.  As the ripple moved outwards I let my eyes open slowly.  My vision slowly faded in (weird) as if I was awakening from a deep night’s sleep. I felt incredibly relaxed after this session!  I want more!! I was very surprised that the entire session was only 11 minutes.  It seemed like hours… many pleasant hours.

Wednesday, April 28
Again after a run on the path I stopped to meditate, but this time on a hill overlooking Bristol.  There is a small oak grove (the oaks are tiny, actually, almost like large bushes…).  The field is large with tall grass.  I sat cross legged in the center of the grove and began to breath deeply, counting my breaths as they came.  I slipped into my meditative state, again becoming aware of the sounds of nature around me.  Unfortunately I was disturbed by a group of kids who nearly ran me over on their bikes!  But it didn’t upset me… which I count as a great leap forward.