Sometimes, this earth place is so incredibly beautiful it is just overwhelming to the senses and feelings. The physical visual beauty of it is too much to encompass, too much to contain, too much to refrain from throwing your body down on the cool damp grasses and feel as if your are melting into it, becoming an even more close elemental part of it than is already known and felt.
It is the home and source of this physical being we occupy. The earth speaks to us in the winds, in the rush of waters, in the rain, in the warmth of the sun, in the buzz of insects, in the songs of birds, in the call from the animal life still active and present in many places. It speaks to us in the deep silence of a velvet darkness illumined by a full moon’s brightness. It speaks to us in too many ways to innumerate without forgetting some. Some of us, sometimes, remember to listen. Some of us, sometimes hear the voices of our mother earth and are drawn deep into her heart of amazing love and see the wonderment of her beauty beyond what mere eyes can encompass.
Come, take a “walking stick” journey with me. Oh, yes, it is the same thing as flying in the starscape, it is a soaring of Spirit that is, after all, what flight really is.
Lush ankle high grasses are on either side of the wandering pathway, interspersed with clumps, groups and gatherings of dancing wildflowers dressed in splendid colors, inviting your attention with deliciously wonderful aromas not quite identifiable, but most certainly irresistible. In front of our field of vision, there are stands of majestic pines shaking out their boughs as if preening for our visit. The sun overhead is playing tag with puffy clumps of white billowing clouds. The sky holds forth the blueness that sky was meant to be, a richness of blue that stretches from horizon upward in such soaring magnificence it demands we stop and look upward, upward, into the vastness of the blueness of blue. As we stand, head tilted back as far as possible while still able to maintain our balance, it becomes a great desire to lie down in the damp tall grass and simply gaze upward at the dance of clouds and sky and sun. Is it moments, hours or eternity that passes while we lie there immersed in sky? It is really of no concern or matter. It is a participation that feeds our soul and spirit to a degree seldom found in our day to day, hour to hour experiences.
When we rise up from the earth to continue our journey, it ripples an almost memory of rising up the first time into body here on earth. It is perfected within the analogy. Rising up. Continuing our journey.
Walking through the shaded stands of trees fills the senses with the scent of pine, the smells of damp earth, the gentle touch of pine needles that reach out to brush our skin. Touching trees. Trees touching. How can we not reach out our hand and trace the patterns and ridges in the bark on the tall, sturdy trunks of these magnificent creatures we call trees. How can I not open my arms wide and encircle the one in front of me with a loving hug and feel the love returned. How can I not lean my head against it, ear pressed closely to hear the life force of tree? I must. I do.
The scene changes constantly as we journey. From thick stands of trees to lush meadows and ponds alive with water lilies, frogs and skaters and buzzing insect life darting here and there. The royally adorned Dragon Flies hover and show forth their glorious colors of shimmering blues, turquoise and greens. They are breathtaking in their beauty. Here and there a small fish breaks the smooth surface of the pond and sends the ripples out in larger and larger rings. Again the analogy is not lost on us.
A grandly colored butterfly lites on the head of my walking stick and spreads its wings out sumptuously, inviting a closeup view of its obvious beauty. When I connect to this lovely creature’s energies, it says simply, “See what I have become. Aren’t I grand! I never really was the Caterpillar, I was always the Butterfly I have become! What will you become, dear human? I can’t wait to see you spread your wings and show your colors one day!” There is no stopping the gentle tears that well up within my eyes. The analogies are everywhere if we will choose to see them.
My heart is deeply touched to remember more clearly the why of things, the choices that lead to the spreading of wings, the donning of colors so spectacular that our hearts are caught in our throats at the sheer undeniable beauty of it all. With acknowledgment, butterfly flutters her wings gently and then takes off in flight, dipping and turning and in absolute joy of BEing.
To our right as we come away from the meadow and pond, there is in the near distance an outcropping of amazing rock structure. It seems to demand we come forth to climb upon it, explore it, touch it, see it closely with our hearts as well as our eyes. . . we move in the direction it calls to us from. We are lured in by its great energy and strength, we journey towards it.
Rest now for a moment and breathe in all that is here to encourage you onwards. We will finish this journey in the next installment.
Breathe, slowly and deeply, and those of you who have the ability to imagine (you all do, you know) imagine that your breath, your breathing, this clean crisp and sparkling air comes in through your back. . .all along your spinal column. . .it is easy, it is calming, it is more air in your air no matter how deep a breath you take. Try it. . .and enjoy.
Until next time,
Be at one with your mother earth
Hugs and Loves
Shirl
