Start the process by walking in nature often, if you don’t already, and find a suitable place that is “between,” yet undisturbed. Once you have a site in mind, do a simple meditation and offering there, to commune with the spirits of the land and the green in that place. Do they accept you? Are they willing to host your vigil? If not, move on, but when you find the right spot for you, it will be clear. Ask for an omen.
Prepare the spot by making your own grave. There are many ways to do this, and while Castaneda’s six foot deep grave would be ideal, there are multiple reasons why we might choose another way. First would be leaving the land relatively undisturbed. Yet marking the grave is a powerful method and should not be lightly dismissed. I would suggest marking a human/coffin sized boundary, of stones, of flowers, twigs and branches. This is the place from which you will not move. I also suggest placing a larger stone at the head, the literal headstone, which can be used as a head rest or decorated like a gravestone. You can mark the stone with your name and a motto or epitaph. If it was truly your headstone, what would you want it to say? Again, if you want to leave the land undisturbed, I suggest a nontoxic water color or vegetable dye as your medium to mark the stone. It will wash away with the rain, leaving no trace of your presence.
To both help induce trance, and to prevent the need to move from the vigil space due to bodily functions, I suggest performing a fast if you have the necessary constitutional strength to handle it. Hard fasts shouldn’t be taken by the very old, the very young, or the sick. You can start with a juice and soup fast, or begin with light food on the first preparatory day, move to all liquids the second day and then water-only the third day. Quit the intake of all liquids a few hours before the ritual and make sure to relieve yourself. In some South American traditions, one might fast upon the plant teacher itself. To attune to a specific plant ally, assuming it is not toxic, one would drink an herbal tea of the plant during the fast, and such a tea would be the only food allowed on the last day. Such South American style fasts allow some light foods, but specifically avoid salt, citrus, red meat and bottom feeder fish and crustaceans. Usually such plant fasts would also be combined with ayahuasca rituals.
Enter the ritual space and perform an appropriate evocation of the plant spirits. Use ceremony and ritual to open the way between your human world of flesh and blood perceptions and the communion of the Green World.
I call upon the Goddess of the Land.
I call upon the Goddess of the Green.
I call upon the Goddess of the Grave.
I come in the spirit of the old ways.
I come with love in my heart.
I come with the fire of the heavens in my hands.
Open your earthen flesh to me.
Open your embrace.
Open your Mysteries.
I call upon the Green Man of the Wood.
I call upon the Green Man of the Forest Floor.
I call to the God of Growth and the God of Rot.
Open the Gate Between Worlds.
Open the Gate Between Flesh and Blood to Sap and Pollen.
Lady and Lord of the Land Between,
I seek the spirit of the Green.
I seek to be touched by the Green.
I seek to be transformed by the touch of the Green Gods of Balm and Bane and Tree.
I seek initiation into the Ways of the Herbs that heal and hex and resurrect.
Guide me.
Protect me.
Bless me.
May I return with blood that runs green with wisdom, healing, love and power.
Now until the end of all time.
So mote it be.
Create sacred space in whatever way you see fit, knowing that your grave boundary acts much like a circle between the worlds, for the “open grave” is truly between the worlds. Perform your vigil in the night, surrounded by nature. Hold fast to your intention, be it for generalized wisdom and initiation, or a specific ability or experience. Hold intention, but allow the green wisdom to guide you in ways you might not suspect. Feel the presence of supernature, as it is the living life force that animates all things. Commune. Be open to your vision, hearing and feelings. Be open to initiation. Be initiated into the ways of the green.
Return upon the end of your vigil, either when the experience is well and truly ended, or when the time period allotted is done. Say thank you and give your blessings as you deem appropriate. Ground yourself. Break your fast with something gentle and light you have already prepared and have nearby. Return to civilization and discuss the
experience with a trusted friend or mentor who will help you gain perspective.