nature poetry and listening to the trees, beauty in November

feel the pulse ebb… notice it flow…

something deep within is expanding…  ten seconds later, contracting…

different trees seem to have differing frequencies and depths…

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it (as a Craniosacral Therapist) is to go out and feel the fluid rhythm is one or more trees.

My friend and I had our hands on trees, and as we are both experienced with listening to the deeper rhythms of the cerebral-spinal fluid with Craniosacral Therapy, we were listening to the rhythms of the Earth, to the fluid dynamics of the oaks, pines and beeches in a local Wilderness Preserve.  It was a very beautiful day – not a cloud in the sky, the sun was starting to warm up the little meadows and forest, making the bark on the pine trees smell like sunshine.

We did a short hike, only 2 miles.  At one point, we stopped as a doe had just gotten up, not 15 feet in front of us, we both spoke reassuring words to her, and she stayed still, like us.  Who was watching who?  Who was more surprised?  It was obvious she was used to humans, as this little stand off lasted a minute or two.  Then a blue jay landed right above me with a strong pull of air and wings.  A fellow hiker came along behind us, either indifferent or oblivious to why we were standing still in the middle of the trail.  He walked right up next to the doe who took off, and he kept hiking like this was a normal event.  Then my friend’s phone rang – a voice from New York, checking in.  Hello!  Who is in nature?  Did you think you could escape?  🙂

The conversation ranged from Radionics, to Craniosacral Therapy, Core Dynamics and Polarity Therapy.  All the way back to life in New York City (where he is from) and the happenings around C’ville.  We spoke of birth trauma and the possibilities around reversing its affects.  I am hoping to spend time with him again soon.  Perhaps a trip to New York is in my future.  Maybe I can seem like a crazy outsider as I have my hands on some trees in Central Park.

To emulate the subtle mytho-poetic essence of this day, here are some suggestions:

Go out in nature.  Slow down.  Check in with your body – if you want to walk, do that.  If you want to lie in the grassy sunshine, then do that.  Or go sit by a body of water.  Now, slow down some more.  Notice what is around you – everything from the feel of the soft, wispy autumn weeds/seeds; take a moment to really smell the air – not just a quick snort, but really embracing what you notice; watch for little changes in terrain, wildlife, leaf color, etc; listen to the various sounds of nature – the guardian crows above, the symphony of bird calls from within the fringe, the gurgling of a little stream…  Take it all in, oh – and slow down some more so you can truly listen.