You find yourself standing by a five bar gate. Look at the gate. Notice its condition, the latch and post. Feel the wood from which it is made. Be aware of the sensation of touch. Hanging from the gatepost is a storm lantern, which is alight. This may be puzzling, as it is such a nice sunny afternoon here. This lantern is your marker it will guide you home. Beyond the gate you can see a wood, look carefully at all the different types of trees. Either open the gate, or climb over. You find yourself on a path, leading to the wood. Follow it, enjoying the feel of the sun on your face. As you enter the wood, notice the coolness of the shade. .Smell the resin from the trees. Follow the path on into the wood. Look at the flowers, and undergrowth. Hear the rustle of the trees. Feel the plants brush past you on either side. Listen to the song of the birds. Suddenly you come into a clearing. In the centre stands a large upright stone. Go over to it. Its surface has a carved pattern, look at it. Touch the stone and feel its surface, run your finger along the pattern. Sit with your back to the stone. Feel it firm behind you. The sun seems to be dipping towards the horizon, and you see its rays through the trees before you. As you sit looking at the rays notice the things that appear caught and illuminated by each ray of sunlight. Quietly and calmly an animal conies out of the wood before. Look at it, and do not be afraid, it will not harm you. It makes its may slowly towards you, stopping by your side. Reach out your hand and touch, notice how it feels. You seem to be communicating with this creature without the need for language. Spend a few moments in its company. You notice that the sun is nearly set and that you must return home. You stand and look for your path. The creature goes before you, it guides back along the path through the woods. Follow it. Do not wander from this path Jbr now. As you reach the edge of the wood you can see the light of the lantern on the gate. Before heading for it you turn and bid your guide farewell. A for the creature can come no further this time. Walk down to the gate. Before going through it remember hat you have seen and done. As you pass the gale you will return to this place and time. Your journey will be over and you will back it that place you call reality. Return and remember.
Gently awaken as from a dream.
Have something to eat or drink and write down the results of your journey, try to make a realisation. The creature you met is one of your spirit animals. As such it reflects an inner aspect of your self Try to realise what it reflects.
Exercise
Try to write your own scripted visualisation. Base it on a journey to the cliffs, where you will meet a bird, another of your spirit animals. Try to give your script pace, and depth of experience. Remember to return in the same way that you went in. Make this journey and report on it, making any realisations you can.
Exercise
Write a scripted visualisation. Base it on a journey to a lake, river, or the sea. Be sure to enter the water. Leave space to meet someone or something, but do not define what or who you will meet. Do not use any visual cues in this script. Base the whole script on the other senses, taste, touch, smell, and hearing. Try to give your script pace, and depth of experience. Make this journey and report on it, making any realisations you can.
Exercise
Take a photograph or painting of a place. Look at it and make it your intention to journey into the image, in order to meet the spirit of the place. Do the exercise. Create the image in your mind, then step into it. Explore the place and go on. Remember to return by stepping back through the image, perhaps looking at it again in your mind's eye. Make this journey and report on it, making any realisations you can.
Exercise
Do the above exercise again but this time use a Tarot card as the image, if you have any. Step into the card and spend time talking to the characters within it, before returning. Make this journey and report on it, making any realisations you can.
Exercise
Use your imagination to build a door of gate through which you will travel on your future journeys. Describe or draw it. Use it to go on a journey to one of the places we have already visited in this unit.
All of these exercises will help you develop the true base and essence of all magical practice. Use them, and develop your skills. Remember it takes time, and this not a section to hurry. Good work now will ensure later success.