Arboreal Praxis

Over the years, members of The Temple have received requests from curious minds for practical advice on how to get out into the wild and practice in the way which we do. At face value, it may seem easy to get out there, but we appreciate that going from mundane life to adopting practices that appear exotic may be daunting. We wish to illuminate the way to make it easier for our fellow Europeans to connect with their native spirit.

In this post, we will outline how to find an appropriate place to conduct rituals outside, paying special attention to the fact that one will be in a vulnerable position when doing so, i.e., meditating, naked, or both. We shall be using the UK as our basis for advice, as this is where many of our members reside and where we often conduct group rituals. You may be worried about people stumbling upon you in the UK, as it is a small and densely populated island without the same kind of rolling wilderness as mainland Europe or the USA. However, you should feel reassured that there still remains enough wild spaces to guarantee total solitude. You should also take comfort in the fact that often people are not in the forest at 4 a.m., as usually humans can be completely avoided at such hours.

Finding a location

If you live in a town or village in the UK you very likely pass by woodland daily. Much of the UK’s rural areas are dotted with patches of woodland as a remnant of our arboreal past. When investigating your local woods, it is important to check if the land is private or not. This can be verified via signs and via the Forestry Commission (1). If you are from a city, you will only need to open up a map to find a forest close to you; national parks are always a very safe bet.

Before you plan to take up any ritual in a forest, it is important that you visit your desired location in the daytime at least once before returning in the dead of night. Glades are the best places for ritual praxis, and finding them is not difficult. Often, when approaching the forest, they can be seen from a distance, especially if there are hills. Looking up photos of the area should also give you an idea of where glades could be. It is best to identify a glade first before simply marching into the forest, as that can be time-consuming. However, if you can’t figure out where a glade would be, make sure you take a map with you to mark a spot when you do find a glade on your own. If you cannot take a map with you, it is imperative you make a map or write detailed instructions on how to get back there.

a glade in a forest

Familiarise yourself with the area as much as you can. You should aim to feel calm, at ease, and at home there. Being relaxed enough to meditate requires one to be able to truly focus; if you’re anxious, this will interrupt the ritual. Meditate there alone, clothed, and in the daytime as practise. These trial runs should also give you an idea of how many people come to the area. If many people pass through in the daytime, it is fair to assume people may also come by late at night or early in the morning. If very few people pass by or none at all, then the area is safe and is a good choice.

This can be done as a solo venture, but ideally, you will have someone else accompanying you, as one cannot progress through the grades alone. Being with someone else in the forest late at night will also likely put you at a greater sense of ease and can feel far less dangerous, especially for women. Being caught naked in the forest is much less awkward when you have someone else with you, however, fret not as it's unlikely to happen to you anyway if you have sourced a good location.

What to bring with you

Always bring what you principally need for whatever ritual in a secure backpack, but some other helpful items are as follows:

• Bug spray

• A blanket for the ground

• A torch

• Battery operated or wind up lamps

• Water proof coat for unexpected weather

• Extra batteries

• Something you can safely store your clothes in such as a bag you bring inside of your backpack

The Temple wishes you luck on your Occult journey.

Links:

1. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/use-the-land-information-search#forestry-commission-map-browser