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Quick Ways to Connect with Nature at Home, by Jessica Marie Baumgartner

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

The natural world thrives. It is balanced, clean, and wild. Humanity has lived at one with its surroundings before, and I believe it can do so again, but modern society moves so fast that many people find it difficult to connect with the land.

When we're working to make ends meet, caring for family members, or looking out for friends and somehow trying to find our place in the world, life's natural rituals often fall behind. We forget the birds' song. The swish of the breeze in the trees doesn't even register. The buzz of modern technology takes over that place in our lives and we must work harder to listen to the voice of creation singing through rain, snow, and hail.

It's easy to feel left behind. Catching up sometimes seems impossible, but it's not as complicated as climbing Mount Everest. We do not have to venture out into the wild for weeks at a time to regain our sense of self and reconnect with nature (though, if you ever get the chance, grasp it with both hands!).

The days of religious figures and mystics abandoning their people for the secluded voices of the gods/universe are past. Our power and energies grow best when we integrate that part of ourselves into society and live out our "holy" quests for meaning, purpose, and love in simple daily actions.

Some pray in temples, others travel great distances to find what is no further than their doorstep. Our connections to our existence are not only found under these special circumstances.

Not everyone has the means to give up everything and wander freely?especially with the recent events of the world. Getting "back to basics" is the perfect way to strengthen our spiritual ties. When bringing ourselves down to the earth and remembering to focus on the physical elements that make everything, our internal fires ignite passion and guide us through fate.

That is the entire premise of my latest book, The Magic of Nature: Meditations & Spells to Find Your Inner Voice. Nature gives us everything we need. It hosts the most powerful magic, but it is up to each individual to explore their relationship to that energy.

For anyone not knowing where to start, or those who are well-versed but just need more focus, support, and wish to expand on their practices, I developed this book from my daily and seasonal work. I was raised poor and pride myself on "making do with what I have." Many of my exercises require little to no materials. It seems to me that ingenuity is more often found in resourcefulness than a cluttered altar.

However one works, I wish everyone all the best, and have included three simple practices that will not only strengthen one's bonds to nature, but also to their inner-voice—that instinctual magic resting inside our subconscious.

Spring Window Meditation

1. Sit near an open window or sunbeam coming through the glass.
2. Feel the air's energy?how it revives your skin and strengthens inner power.
3. Breathe deeply. With each breath, rock back and forth.
4. Relax your mind and close your eyes. Explore the images that materialize.
5. See yourself in relation to these visualizations. Where are you going? How far have you come? Are you sad or happy? What are you seeking?
6. Follow these questions through the trails of thought.
7. Let the air guide you. Remain conscious of yourself in relation to the light and air. Feel the pulse of life rushing through your body and how it matches the pace of your meditation.
8. Now, open your eyes and look out the window. Really see beyond where you sit and extend your energies.
9. Bow to the answers that greet you. Continue your day with a stronger purpose.

Porch, Patio, or Doorstep Greeting

1. Go outside and stand before your doorway. Doorways host a special power.
2. Turn and face the door as if you are a guest about to knock. Focus on the air surrounding you. Block out everything else.
3. Rest your palms on the door and closer your eyes. Think of what home means?how it protects, secures, and enhances life.
4. Visualize life without a home. How the land would look without the structure. Feel the energies that flow between yourself and your dwelling.
5. Now turn to face the outside world. Whether a road, garden, other homes or structures stretch before you, focus on the plant life and creatures that have adapted their wild ways to live alongside your domesticated structure.
6. Let their companionship strengthen your energies. Close your eyes. Feel the warmth inside and push it out into the surrounding area. Let the power grow, flow, and reach out.
7. Breathe deeply and bow your head. Now gaze back at the world ready for whatever the day brings.

Backyard/Garden Connection

1. Fill a bowl with water and bring it to your garden or yard. (If you do not have a yard or garden, do this at a park or common ground.) Sit on the ground or by a patch of flowers/plants with it. Place your fingertips on the surface of the water and feel its energy, its purpose.
2. Now, clear your mind. Focus on your life source. Where does it come from? The head or the heart are most commonly recognizes. Place your hand over that space and plunge the other hand fully in the water.
3. Focus on the link between life and water. Visualize your energies going into the water and returning anew with the ripples.
4. Now place both hands on the ground. Skim fingertips over the soul. Feel its energy, its purpose.
5. Again, clear the mind. Dig with both hands and cover the hand that went underwater as much as you can. Once more, place the hand that did not get submerged over your internal source of energy.
6. Focus on the link between life and the soil. Visualize your energies going into the ground and returning anew.
7. Raise your arms to the sky and close your eyes. Feel the powers combining. Think of your ancestors who lived closer to nature and how their spirits must have felt. Imagine a future where that connection is restores. Visualize your place in that future.
8. Call upon the elements to aid you. Thank the gods/universe for the means.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2021. All rights reserved.

During the wee hours of this morning, I heard incessant doorbell ringing. My eyes flew open and my heart was racing. Naturally, when you hear a doorbell ringing during the middle of the night, you think it must be bad news. I shook it off and calmed down. I went back to sleep and another series of incessant doorbell ringing ensued. I didn't look at the time, but I hopped out of bed like I had seen the Holy Ghost. I looked out my front door for the motion detector lights, which were not on. I knew it was the front door because it has a very distinct ring that sets it apart from the one under the garage. I thought the doorbell ringing was symbolic because my great-grandmother was buried close to this time last year. However, I'm leaning toward attributing it to my girlfriend. I read a Hindu interpretation of this sort of dream that says it is indicative of my desire to touch my girlfriend and be with her physically. It also said that she was probably the person ringing the doorbell and that I'm supposed to go to her. Ironically, she said something similar to that a few weeks ago - that if I want to be with her, I need to come to her and show her. Is it possible that the incessant doorbell ringing was my wake-up call to get it together and step up to the plate in my relationship? This has really scared me because it woke me out of a deep sleep. To be honest, I'm scared to go back to sleep. I will probably be consulting a sleep specialist next.

Brittany

Susyn:

There are many possibilities that may account for your doorbell ringing in the middle of the night. The most important aspect of what happened is that you are now more alert and taking note of some of the emotional and spiritual issues in your life that need to be addressed.

When a person experiences something this profound, it is definitely a wake-up call that something is out of order in their lives. You have done well to consider all the possibilities that could be connected with this experience.

I have had a few clients who had similar experiences. In one case in particular, the previous owner of the house my client lived in had passed away.

The story goes that he used to come home late at night from the bar to find his wife had locked him out. He would ring the doorbell incessantly until she let him in. He died before his wife did, and she remained in the house until her own passing. The door bell ringing in the middle of the night turned out to be a residual haunting. In residual hauntings, a scene plays out over and over, much like rewinding and replaying a section of a DVD.

If you continue to experience this sort of thing, from the safety of your bedroom, ask the entity responsible to leave. Using phrases such as, The person you are looking for is not here or No one is home should do the trick.

However, my sense is that you will not experience this again because it achieved its purpose: it got you to think about your relationship. You might note that if you and your girlfriend were together, she may have been able to confirm whether the doorbell was actually ringing, and you would not have had to go through this unsettling experience alone.

Researching the Hindu meaning of your experience has affirmed your suspicion that this was related to your girlfriend. In fact, she may have unconsciously astral projected to your house in her dreams because she was tired of waiting for you to reach out to her.

If you still feel confused or hesitant about this relationship, don't worry: If Spirit is ready to move the two of you closer, you will continue to experience signs that affirm that. You probably won't be awakened by another session of midnight doorbell ringing, however, for it seems you got the message the first time, and are prepared to take action.

*****

Mata:

I think the Hindu dream interpretation led you far astray. Of course, you are the ultimate authority on your own dreams, so if this feels spot on to you, you must trust that feeling. The problem is that I don't think this was actually a dream, so trying to interpret it as such is a fool's errand.

The phantom doorbell is an astral experience. It occurs when your mind is in harmony with the astral plane: when you are on the cusp between being awake and asleep.

It is not a physical phenomenon. A number of people who were tired of being awakened in this way have disconnected their doorbells only to find the experience continues. Further, the sound of the phantom doorbell (or phone or alarm) is often different from the sound the physical apparatus makes.

In my experience, hearing a phantom doorbell is almost always a result of a loved one in spirit trying to get our attention. Most people only begin to experience this after the passing of a significant loved one. Further, many are awakened to the presence of that loved one; they may not directly see or perceive the spirit with their physical senses, but they know that they are there.

Most of the time, this is just the loved one stopping by, much as they might have done when they were living. Sometimes, however, they are trying to get our attention for a specific reason. For example, if you have overslept and need to get up, you may be awakened by the sound of a phantom doorbell, alarm or phone ringing. I have also heard a number of stories from people who heard a phantom ring or knock at the door who awakened to discover some sort of emergency, such as the house being on fire.

Basically, this is a way for spirits to get our attention. I recall hearing a story about a man who was sometimes startled by the presence of his dead brother. One day he jokingly told him to ring the doorbell the next time he came around, and guess what? That is when the phantom doorbell phenomenon began at his house.

Though it often occurs out of the blue, there is a definite trend for this sort of thing to happen on significant dates such as the anniversary of a death or your own birthday. If you research this, you'll read many stories from people who describe how a loved one gave them a sign like this at a time that held clues regarding the identity of the sender.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.