caribou
are on the mind
tonight as i meditate on my
lack of meditation
free the mind is the promise
just got to make time to prioritize
freedom. let the fog drift by.
drift through
fog through the meadow where the
caribou graze listlessly, freely
caribou are on the mind
Tag: nature
to the sky
i have a headache. it’s been with me all day. off and on.
i was on a journey home after being away for a few days, in the mountains. (these mountains were unfamiliar to me though) the journey there was longer than the return, so when i arrived i was slightly frazzled. this feeling didn’t shake off until the second day. we went off-roading, up high towards the sky, through pine forest, semi-arid desert, mountain scrub. to the top: a rock, by way of snaking dirt roads of varying complexities. we’d stop occasionally to get out of the SUV to inspect the road ahead: could we make it? what’s the best angle? remember to not stop!
when off-roading, it’s easy for me to focus more on the task at hand – not crashing, rolling over, breaking the car, etc. – than what is around me. thankfully, the mountains knew i was there. the high winds flew over, around, and through me. the plants shared their serenity, their optimistic outlook. the rocks, their histories, pragmatism, grounding. the uninterrupted sun: disinfecting. while it would perhaps have been more meaningful or special, i did not need to know that the mountain was cleansing and nourishing me so. it gives so much: a playground for us to go vroom-vroom1, and spiritual development. to me, these two go hand in hand.
when i returned home i felt high. this is a loaded word for me nowadays. i’m not supposed to feel that way. but i did. it took me the better part of the evening to realize why. why i felt so calm, free, light.
when i was first taught about forest bathing i liked the simplicity of it, how passive it was (while recognizing the power of the place one finds themselves). i appreciate that the intention is to have no intention. to just listen, receive, share, acknowledge, appreciate, feel. the effortless nature of it is liberating.
that evening, the fog rolled in. the sunny day moved on to the next part of the world to share its love, opportunity, challenges, victories (or failed attempts). the cool water vapor coating everything on the mountain: “it’s alright. i’m here.”
my body was vibrating, i didn’t realize how apart from nature i have been. this reminder was necessary. i could feel the woods, the lake, the trees calling to me. a bit like a horror movie, but for me it brought comfort.
it’s alright. i’m here.
1 i thought it best to include this bit: we were off-roading on designated OHV trails, respecting the land, picking up moop