Life, Death, Rebirth

Cycles of Nature

Today’s hike was a little different.

I was at a state park, but at one I have been to many times. Only this time I was here for an event.

I was learning forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku as it was named by the Japanese. Fort Snelling State Park was offering a free workshop on this and I was grateful to be able to attend.

Our wonderful guide took us out to Pike Island and along the way she told us about the science and benefits of shinrin-yoku. Which were many. Study’s discovered that certain forest trees emit organic compounds called phytoncides, and inhaling these compounds has been proven to decrease blood pressure and improve immune system functions. But the list of benefits just starts there.

Being an avid hiker, I knew there were many benefits to be out there, the calm, the beauty, getting in the energy and connecting with nature. But this workshop taught me the science of it, which was cool to learn.

The guide took us through 5 concepts, of many I’m sure. The fourth one was all about finding life, death, decay and the life that can come forth from that death & decay.

Many people don’t like to talk about this topic but it’s the ultimate cycle of, well, everything, isn’t it?

So she explained the concept and then gave the group about 10 minutes to “bath” in that concept with the help of the trees, plants, animals, etc.

Plenty of trees down, moss or mushrooms growing on them. But then I noticed a healthy tree that had lost one of it’s branches. Say hello to Alice (yes, trees have names).

It was clear the branch had fallen off many moon cycles prior to today. The edges of the scar where curling around and pretty smooth for a tree. This tree had proceeded on without it’s lost limb.

That’s where the death came in. The branch that was no longer there.

But inside the place where that fallen branch had originally sprouted was a new sprout. Almost as if the scar was a planter for the new life.

As I stood on the other side of the path from the tree, I was unsure if the new sprout was growing from within the tree or from the seed of a near by tree.

At that moment it didn’t matter to me. I didn’t even want to know. I just knew that new life was possible.

It is very metaphorical to my life right now. Something had died and fallen away. I am not sure what is next. This sprout, it showed me that new life can grow. It can grow out of what has been, maybe in a beautiful new way or it can grow out of something newly introduced from an outside source.

With some of the concepts someone in the group would share what came to them. I thought about sharing this. But, at first, I didn’t want someone to say it’s impossible for it to be growing OUT of the original source. I was going to explain at the beginning of my share that I wasn’t looking for an answer to that question, I just want to sit with the observation.

Then I decided to walk up closer. Take a look for myself. I studied the new life and then I studied the host. The leaves were different. This sprout was indeed the doing of an outside source.

A seed from a nearby tree had deposited itself in this cavity left from the fallen branch and began it’s beautiful journey of life, death and decay.

The host tree accepted the outside intruder and took it in as it’s own. Now they will grow together, possible die together.

I decided to not sure my discovery with that group. As I walked away after the workshop, I thought it would be better shared here, with you all.

What was my message from this delicate union? Sometimes we have to let things fall away, die even, so that we can have beautiful new life enter our existence.

Sometimes it’s better that way, whether we want to see it or not.

At first I did not want to know if it was a new life from what already was a part of the current life or if it was new life with something completely new. I was internally torn as I compared it with my own situation.

Sometimes we don’t want to let go of what is known, even if it isn’t the best thing for us, because starting with something new is unknown. That can be scary, or that can be an exciting adventure! It’s all in how we look at it. This can apply to a career, relationship, moving across the country, whatever.

Introducing something new and unknown into our life can grow into something so unique and so beautiful.

If only we have the courage to allow that foreign seed to settle into our being. To step up and welcome the new life with open arms, open heart, open mind.

We have the courage, somethings it’s just hiding behind safety. Understand though, safety is an illusion. Life is an adventure and meant to be lived!

I want to head back out to the island and mark this tree, Alice, on my map. I hope I can spot it again. I want to see how the two grow together throughout the years.

I want to breath life into the new and unknown, I want to see how I can grow with it throughout the years.

AHO