The fires started burning almost a month ago, casting their smoke and ill omen out my way as more of our beautiful forests here in New Mexico are being taken.
As Earth day hit, a time for celebration and awareness, dear mama Gaia sent out a full-fledged “hear me now” signal as a new fire started in my own backyard mountains.
Since then, things have been scary.
Heartbreaking.
Unstable.
–
All-the-while, it’s still springtime! The birds have returned to their cheery bustling and the insects are busy at work. Meanwhile, the buds have come forth bursting with new life as the brown mountainsides begin to sprout bright green patches.
It’s a perplexing state to be in, one filled with so much light and bright energy, while simultaneously being forced to sit with more darkness.
Balancing the light and darkness
In case you haven’t been paying attention to what’s happening out there, this seems to be the theme of these times.
We continue to exist in a world with so much light! There has never been more opportunity in the history of mankind:
- to connect with others
- to experience the world
- to find tools to solve problems
We live in such an abundant world.
And yet….
And yet, the world is crying out. The ecosystems that span our planet are deeply wounded or outright dying out.
Meanwhile, within our societies are deep crevasses that continue to threaten (and deliver) swift falls into dark pits.
Our world is crying out now, and it needs us to hear it.
Do you hear it?
Do you hear it?
And, when you do, are you able to let that message sink in?
To feel it?
To let it move you?
If you’re afraid to go through this process that is tuning into the greater problems around us, I understand. It’s not a particularly fun one. Our world is A LOT right now, and the idea of trying to take it all in can seem overwhelming.
The last thing I want is for more overwhelmed individuals who are too distraught to do anything.
What we NEED is more individuals who are able to take in just the right dose of reality such that they can take the next right step.
You can try it out. It’s quite simple.
Next time that signal comes your way, and you feel the need to go run or hide… Or, perhaps you feel like you need to scroll, scroll, scroll (consume, consume, consume), try this instead:
- Find your feet on the ground, and feel into your grounding
- Breath into your feet, and feel yourself here, in this space, completely alive and safe, supported by the earth below you
- Be here, in this space
- When you’re ready, it’s time to call in that signal – the one that sounded scary or heartbreaking. Call it in now, letting it enter in – in just the right dose. No need to take everything in during this small moment.
- Whatever feels accessible to you, allow it into this grounded space, knowing you are here, connected directly into the Earth.
As you feel into this space, and all the important information it contains, I want to know – Where is it leading you?
I packed up my home tonight. The signal to evacuate has yet to reach us, yet we have been told to be ready.
Meanwhile, the wind outside howls, and my heart groans again because I know, just 7 miles down the road, the same wind howls against the flames that have been burning the land for weeks now.
I moved back home to my beloved forests with dreams of planting my own roots, yet as I do, the land sends me along a different journey.
I want more than anything to spend my days dancing in the light through the lively and bustling forests: To run the trails day after day, and to go rest up in a green meadow as I put on my climbing shoes and prepare for a fun ascent.
But damn, that’s just not what is being called to us right now.
Nature is calling to us.
Will you take a moment to stand with me, to listen, to let it sink in, and then – most importantly – to follow through with the experience of where that takes you?
Where is it leading you? I want to know.
An Invitation
Hello, dear reader. As I see you’ve made it all the way through this post, I was thinking you might be asking where we are headed next.
I have an invitation for you, to join on a journey of healing
- our planet
- our communities
- and our own selves (mentally and physically)
You can see the full invitation and join in over here.
Cheers to that journey,
Katie
