“I’ve always regarded nature as the clothing of God.” Alan Hovhaness
Dear Friends,
Nature speaks to us all the time. If you pay attention, you will notice you are being given gifts and information from all around you. I had my final swim of the year a few weeks ago. It was a magical afternoon. Mount Ranier was out in all her glory. A Heron was basking in the sun and grooming himself. Ducks were swimming around me and stopping with their butts up in the air looking for treats. And at the end of the hike from the swimming spot, a beautiful dragonfly, lit on the leaf within inches of my face. He was the most gorgeous dragonfly I have ever seen.
Years ago, I was contemplating going on a trip to China with a group of people I was studying with for energetic healing. I was on the phone with a good friend of mine when I told her that I was having a hard time making up my mind about whether to go on this journey. My friend, very emphatically stated, “Rosemary, why wouldn’t you go on this trip! This is what you are studying, and you have the opportunity to study in China with a Master teacher!” At that exact moment, a Heron flew very close to my dining room window.
I was in a bit in shock and awe as I have never seen a Heron away from the water like that. He landed on the fence a few feet from my window. I knew I was being given a message. I opened my totem book and looked up the Heron totem. The message that caught my eye was “to go for opportunities that present themselves”. I laughed as I thought, the message couldn’t get any clearer than that! I immediately called up the coordinator for the trip and informed her I wanted to join the group. I have never regretted my decision! Every time I think of that moment, I feel deeply touched that life had my back, so to speak.
When I saw the Heron and the dragonfly after my swim, I felt immensely drawn to both of them. The Heron showing up again, told me to pay attention to an opportunity that was coming my way. The dragonfly was especially magical. It was a huge gorgeous being. I have never seen one so big. The colors were stunning, with gold wings shimmering in the sun. And he came within inches of me and stayed on the leaf the whole time I was communing with him. Dragonflies to me are about transformation and freedom. And because this was such a special dragonfly, I knew there was a transformation occurring within me and my life. And perhaps it will be with the opportunity that is presenting itself to me soon.
As an avid gardener, I always commune with the critters around me, including the insects and the birds. I experience harmony with the bees in my garden and we go about our business enjoying each other’s company. I can put my head in the middle of my flowers where the bees are buzzing around and not once have they harmed me. They are special magical creatures that to me represent community, abundance, and creativity. When they show up in my garden, I feel a deep sense of peace.
The reason I am sharing this with you is to provide some hope in your life if you are going through a difficult time or having a hard time making decisions about something important in your life. Life is always showing up for you and all you need to do is pay attention. Pay attention to the magic that is around you in the form of mother nature. If you are sad or depressed, take a walk in the park and see what or who shows up. A squirrel might chatter at you reminding you to save for the future. A specific type of bird might cross your path, that connects you with a memory of something from your childhood that brought you joy. It could even be a person offering you a smile and shares something that touched you in some way and helped give you an AHA moment. People are an integral part of nature as well and are offering us tidbits of guidance all the time if we open up and pay attention through all of our senses and not just our limited linear mind and thinking.
I went on a trip with my brother to Wyoming a few years ago and noticed that he kept sighting hawks everywhere. I never saw them first, he always did. I knew that the hawk had a message for him and urged him to pay attention.
If you are trying to make a decision about something, all you need to do is go about your business and stay aware. Allow life to support you with your answer just as the Heron flying by my window at the time my friend was urging me to accept the China trip experience. The Heron was so out of place, that I knew it had a message for me. However, if I had not been aware and open at that moment, I might have made the decision to avoid the trip and would have lost out on some powerful experiences. I am very grateful to my friend for her encouragement and connection to a higher truth as well.
Life is so magical when we pay attention. Even if we feel alone in this world, we can learn that we are never alone. All we must do is observe how nature is showing up for us all the time. Even plants are speaking to us if we listen from our full consciousness.
Back in the late 1990’s, I quit my job as I was very unhappy in it. I took 6 months off from work and spent many hours walking in a nearby park during those months. One particular walk will always stand out in my mind. I was sauntering along the beach, and suddenly, my consciousness expanded, and I experienced the rocks as living beings, chattering and communicating. I could also feel all the other creatures, on the beach as well, communing together. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I have always loved collecting rocks and placing them around my house and garden space. I knew at that moment why I am so drawn to them. They too have a consciousness.
The reason I had the experience above, was that I was fully enjoying the present moment. I temporarily stepped out of linear time and thinking and entered a world that is so much more wondrous than the one I normally participated in.
If you are going through a difficult time, you can find hope that life is trying to support you if you pay attention, listen with an open heart, and take a moment to be still. Even if you are feeling very harried, just step outside and breathe for a few minutes. Perhaps a hummingbird will fly by you reminding you of the joy in life. Or a spider will draw your attention reminding you to create. Take in nature as it speaks to you and know you are not alone, no matter what your busy mind is telling you. Or perhaps your dogs will run up to you reminding you to be playful. A particular flower may keep drawing your attention. Receive the message and the love. You don’t always even need to know what the message is. Just repeat to yourself, “I am open to receiving the message you have to offer me!”
Life is magical and mystical and so much more than we normally allow ourselves to feel and experience. If you are needing to make a decision about something in your life, ask for help from the beings around you. God/divine source energy speaks to us through the clothing of Mother Nature. As much as you can, take a moment to remind yourself of this. Then, step outside, breathe deeply, pay attention, and receive!
Namaste, Rosemary
Beautiful and such a great reminder! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and inspiring us to remember to look for signs and guidance that is around us.
Thank you so much Melody for your comments! I appreciate them.