we went back to the same part of the river. Part of me wanted to verify that the river there actually was, or felt, the same as it had the day before. Part of me had no doubt whatsoever; was more motivated by a deep desire to express intention, attention, and a gesture of help.
When I walked the path, it was as it was the previous day. I walked and felt the ground beneath my feet. I felt the chill in the humid air. I was impressed upon by the things I saw along the path; more trees and logs and undergrowth that seemed fleshy. One particular tree trunk’s texture, wood grain, and shape was so strikingly animalistic, I for a good minute thought it was something like a deer lying on the ground.
Walking on, I paused along the way to really let the sensations and perceptions be felt clearly. I noticed that the path began to rise gradually. I felt like the body was receding beneath me. I felt like there was still a joyous flow; like the air was still fresh, chill and sweet, and that nothing really was amiss at all.
Then we passed into the area that I felt as the profound shift the day before. The sense of being high up vanished, although the path had climbed to it’s peak, vertically. The air felt dense, stagnant, unmoving, even though the breeze was still clearly present. I looked at the trees and, the dappled shadows on the trunks had a distinct quality of appearing as the shadows of water moving over sand in a lake on a sunny day. My head pressure. My nasal cavity felt quite suddenly stopped up. As if this whole place were underwater.
I shifted my focus to the water that was on the other side of the path from the river. Scum covered it’s surface. It appeared brownish-black, stagnant, and no birds, bugs, or other wildlife could be seen at all. Not a ripple disturbed that scummy grey water. It was still.
I turned to face the river. It passed by silently. The flow came in from the same direction as the path we’d taken, then approached this place, and abruptly turned away.
There seemed to me to be some kind of block. If the river took it’s natural course, the course it intended, it would flow in a meandering way into the now-stagnant low area and provide it’s vital, oxygenated, clear movement; the water would swirl and circulate and eventually emerge from the lowlands rich with silt, nutrients, waste products from the roots, which all would serve as nourishing resources for the life of the river. The intent of the river is to exchange in mutual benefit with this low area.
This intent was in conflict with the distinctly human intent for the path to pass through this area and disallow any river water from moving past it. There was a foundation conflict. Not in the physical manifestation of the path; but instead the intent of each.
I stood there and spontaneously, without thought, without foreplaning of any kind, offered the attention, intention and goodwill of humanity for the harmony of the river and of the path. Instantaneously, I felt the relief, joy, and exuberant energy of the river flow right past me. It was like the block had not just dissolved, but an energetic bridge had traversed all physical barriers to the lowlands and new, fresh, pure movement rushed in enthusiastic gaiety of dancing vital dynamic energy. I did place a physical monument in that space; however I think it was entirely unnecessary.
I paused to take in the sensations of the area before we left it. I looked at the water, and somehow, even though the physical appearance of it was exactly the same as before, it seemed more full, more lively, and exactly like life was hiding around the corners and under the accumulated leaf mass on the forest floor. I heard chirping of birds and the rustling of the trees as they swayed. The dappled leaf shadows now seemed entirely like leaf shadows, and nothing like the snake-squiggles of water shadows.
I turned to the river and immediately noticed that it was LOUD. It gurgled and sprinkled and splashed merrily, invitingly, and had entirely lost the character of giving the cold shoulder. It no longer seemed to be turning away, but waving gayly in approach and beckoning as it slid away. As if to say “Ahhh, thank you for this lovely reprieve on my very long journey. I needed this little rest.”
For myself I felt joy. Pure and unadulterated, in my chest and heart. I felt gratitude and an awe that brought tears to my eyes.
Loading comments...