There is a great poem I heard today read to me by a mentor of mine – Chelsea Korus. This poem is by Dawna Markova called;
I Will Not Die An Unlived Life “Wide Open I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise. I choose to risk my significance; to live so that which came to me as seed goes to the next as blossom and that which came to me as blossom, goes on as fruit.”
When I read this poem, it reminds me so much of the characteristics of trees. Although Dawna Markova might not be describing trees when she wrote this… or maybe she was? But when I read this and I think of the beautiful trees that I have noticed lately, it makes me smile. Givers of life – the very air we breathe. While it lives it opens up its branches and provides for all creatures, home, food, shade, fuel… risking it’s significance. Again; risking it’s significance – we take trees for granted.
And like most spiritual poems, there is such great unity in poetic words with nature. I find that the most resonating poems are stemmed from the soft, quiet, gentle (but sometimes not gentle) teachings from Mama Earth, Gaia, Pachamama as some would call her.
Our Giant Counsellors
If we consider mother earth to be as a teacher, then trees would resemble counsellors. They are the silent giants that have lived for hundreds of years. If they have a voice – oh the stories they would tell us, the things they would have seen. Their very presence is comforting and it’s canopy so protective – therefore it is only natural that we aught to learn from these earthly giants.
A New Digital Realm of Reality
Is the realm of Tick Toking, Influencing and YouTubing more real to our children then our earthly one? Kids are basing their reality on what they see on screens rather then developing their own instinctual muscles. Looking down rather then up. We forget we are living a one sided dependency with nature. Nature is a fundamental asset to our very existence. We already know this, this information is not new, and yet, we choose to not pay attention to it and even believe that we have evolved beyond nature. How have we as a species created by the same elements as the trees and the stars become so lost and so separated from our earthly connection that we allow our digital world to take us further away from it.
In the book, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben; I read about the quiet intelligence of coexistence within forests. How trees support one another to grow, survive and to thrive in a forest with sapling eating deers or tree chewing beavers. Creating it’s own micro-climate, it is astonishing how intelligent they are of the need to coexist in order to survive. Come to think about it; We human beings have so much to learn about coexistence that if we only spent more time learning how a forest thrives we would be more educated and compassionate about out environment the species we share it with.
Be in with Nature
The biggest lesson I have learned from my appreciation of trees is to slow down. In my previous post I spoke about efficient vs effective. Trees work on effectiveness. In their realm, time is not important. It takes it’s time to grow stable roots before it starts it’s ascend upwards. Those trees live on for hundreds of years.
Look up and appreciate the beautiful canopy of leaves and branches above. It not only great for your posture to actively move your neck in all directions but also strengthens your cervical spine supporting muscles. Done with awareness, it opens your chest and heart region too!
Lastly turn off your phone and enjoy the silence and open your senses to the sounds of nature. Feel it’s calming vibrations in your heart. Sit under a tree and enjoy the company of a your counsellors. I once sat under a tree, found a stick and used it to flip over few leaves and stones looking for insects just for fun but I left 20mins later feeling so calm & presently surprised by how therapeutic it was.
If you feel inspired to join other and their love for nature, here are some organisations you can connect with;
- Super Well Lab
A spa and wellness background but founder Regina Martinez is an avid adventurer! Contact her to join expeditions and nature walks. - Amazing Trekkers Club
A women’s only trekking group that connects you with other hiking enthusiasts - Noel Thomas – Conservation Manager for N-Parks
Noel is my cousin and he is very knowledgable about local wild-life and insects. If you like learn and explore their habitats join Noel on one of his expeditions - Bollywood Veggies
A fun place to let the kids roam and explore how food is grown and get to sample some delicious asian food made from scratch from the ingredients grown in the premises - Yoga in the Park
- Sunrise yoga with appreciation to the peaceful sounds of the gardens. All levels are welcome.