Journeying and Guidance - The Bull in Irish and Celtic Mythology

Working with this established Irish power animal can lead you to the experience and insight of finding your own personal animal guide/s. The following can be adapted or utilised to suit your own needs. 

It would be good to have a working partner or group facilitator who could lead you in this sort of journey, even better if they can play a drum in time to their own words. I know, I used to read things like that back in my baby Pagan days and get a sinking feeling, as I always worked alone then. And I didn’t have a handy tape recorder either, to record myself leading myself on a journey. Alone is fine. 

Working alone is even better in some ways, because you create your own rhythm and set your own pace. If you have a drum, beat it as you go. If you don’t have one, or you feel it would distract you, try and get some music to play: something with a heavy drum beat and no words or wailing women.

Settle yourself comfortably. Somewhere outdoors would be good, an open plain or field of rolling grassland would be excellent. Cattlesheds might be going a touch too far, it takes ages to get the cow poo out from between your toes. If you want to focus on a particular Irish Bull, the Donn Cuailgne was to be found in the North East of Ireland, and the Finnbennach in the North West. If you wish to align yourself in either of these directions, that’d be good. Having said that though, bits of Finnbennach ended up all over the country, giving places like Athlone their names in Irish Gaeilge, so I doubt if it matters much which way you point your face. Working with crossed legs and a straight spine is good, but there’s not too many westerners who can hold the lotus position and still keep their mind on the job in hand. Don’t hurt yourself. Try a straight backed armchair, leaning against a tree or wall, or just lie flat on the ground.

Learn to breathe. Focus on each breath as it comes in, filling you with energy, and as it goes out, flowing away all the stresses and strains of your day/week/year/life. Breathe through your nose exclusively. You don’t need to take massive deep ones either, just relax into a steady nasal breathing pattern. I believe this to be healthier and easier to maintain than mouth breathing, as you shift away from conscious thought.

Now, just drift your way to thoughts of Bull. Every time your thoughts drift away, just notice it, let go of the distraction, and guide yourself back to the Bull. What do you know?  What do you see, or smell, or hear, or taste, or feel?  What do you call it, how do you experience it?

Simply keep your focus on Bull, and see what happens. When you’ve had enough, re-focus on your breathing, and on your physical self – where your body touches the earth, what it feels like, what you can sense around you here and now. And when you’re ready, open your eyes and move around a bit. Maybe eat something.

Now, write it down. Do it again later, and write that down too!  Rinse and repeat, and look for patterns, messages, guidance or clarity in the experiences you are having. 

Leave a comment on this post and let me know how you get on!
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