One day last week while I was walking along the banks of Lake Ontario on the beach. I found a spot to stand along the water’s edge. As I became still and closed my eyes, I could feel the firm ground under my feet and the wind caress my cheeks. There were the various sounds of different birds close by, and in the background of everything, the moving water over the shore pebbles: the rolling in of the waves, and the rolling out of the waves over and over again.
I opened my eyes and looked around still feeling into my body from the inside to out. I now included the sight and felt awareness of the Earth below me, and the sky above, the interesting colour of the day, the abundance of clouds, the sun trying to peek through here and there and again, coinciding with the repeating water crashing against the shore and pulling out. The water was also playfully trying to reach my boots until it couldn’t, unable to resist the power of the calling back of the Lake from whence they came.
The softly disappearing edge of foam of the surf just ahead of my feet is noticed. How like Nature we are. Things always arriving and passing. Such as remembrance of the forever receiving and releasing of my breath very much in sync with the ebb and flow of the waves on the shore. The breath never forgetting me until it does.
The feeling of belonging to something bigger becomes apparent standing there, the Earth and the whole natural process of life. Humbled. It was a moment of deep tenderness with observance of this connection to everything around me - through the wind, the water, and the birds. The recognition of it living in my cells, not separate. Touched and dwelling in my heart. Being still and breathing. Letting life unfold as it is. Unfolding compassionately to what is. And simply being. Nothing more than standing here. Breathing. Experiencing the aliveness around me with a lightness. A gentleness. And awe.
How astounding it all is.: this gift to be part of this intelligent earth breathing earth. Breathing in and breathing out connecting me to the inner life and to the outer life around me. Reminding me of something wondrous and simple at the same time. Oh, the mystery and beauty of it all.
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Try this for yourself someday. Stop for 5 – 10 minutes somewhere and an exercise. Be with life as it is. As it is happening. Breathing.
The Japanese naturist and poet Hokusai says,
It matters that you care
It matters that you feel. It matters that you notice.
It matters that life lives through you.
Look. Feel. Let life take you
by the hand and let life
live through you
When we meet life with our whole body we are awakened. We behold the changing stream of sensations and feelings and thoughts. Everything is alive, the whole world lives inside us. As we let life live through us, we experience the boundless openness of our true nature. Our true self: one with nature - not disconnected or separate.
In heart, Karen
