Today we will together embark on a journey inspired by the ancient discipline of natural philosophy.
The aim of this practice is to cultivate wisdom via observation of the natural world.
In this case,
We will explore what wisdom might be gained from a contemplation of the trees in a forest.
Before we begin,
Find for yourself a comfortable seated position,
Making sure that you keep your back straight if possible.
You can of course lie down if you prefer to do so,
But be mindful of the risk of falling asleep.
Then,
When you're ready,
Begin by taking some long,
Slow and deep breaths.
With each passing exhalation,
Feel yourself sinking further into a state of calm relaxation.
See yourself now walking through an idyllic forest.
Golden beams of warm sunlight filter through the forest canopy,
Coming to dance in patterns on the forest floor.
Those patterns caused by the leaves overhead as they sway in the breeze.
As you walk,
The first of the autumn leaves softly crunch beneath your feet,
And as you breathe,
Your nostrils are filled with the scent of damp earth.
As you walk,
A path opens out onto a stream,
Which gently pours into the valley ahead.
You gaze out across this valley,
And as you walk on,
You begin to notice the many different shapes and characters of the trees which surround you.
You see that each tree,
In its own majesty,
Is distinct from its peers.
There's no mistaking one for another.
As you wander amidst them,
You observe the elders,
Weathered and gnarled with age,
Standing proudly beside the saplings,
Fresh and full of potential.
Some of the trees reach for the heavens,
Standing tall and unwavering,
While others display a dance of twists,
Leans and bends,
Each testimony to their own unique battles and blessings.
This orchestra of nature,
With each tree singing its own song,
Tells tales of resilience,
Of battles with winds and rains,
And of moments basking in the nourishing sunlight.
Every curve,
Every scar,
Every leaf tells a story.
A story shaped not by the tree's will,
But by the environment it grew up in,
The seasons it endured,
And the challenges it overcame.
Now,
Take a moment to consider.
Just as each tree was shaped by the conditions in which it grew,
Is that not how we were shaped too?
Is it not the case that each person's character grew towards whatever sunlight was available to them as they developed?
Just as trees need a balance of sun,
Water and nutrients,
So too do people need a balance of love,
Challenges and experiences in order that they too might grow.
Our experiences,
Joys,
Heartaches and triumphs,
They are more the shape that we show to the world.
The bends and the twists,
Whether seen or unseen,
Are testament to life's challenges and gifts.
These very irregularities,
These bends and turns,
Give richness and depth to our own stories.
And if we come across someone whose character is of a rather strange shape,
It tells us only that that is how they came to be shaped,
By the things which happened to them.
Would you judge a tree for the way in which it was moulded by its environment?
I suspect perhaps not.
But does it not then seem unwise to judge a person for the same?
Those things about others which irritate us are indeed only a result of the way they came to be because of the conditions in which they themselves grew.
It might perhaps seem better for us,
And better for others too,
If we accept that other people were only ever doing the best that they could with what they knew at the time.
Now,
Take a moment to consider.
If I were a tree,
Might my shape be perhaps a little irregular too?
But then also ask yourself,
Am I not simply this way because of the conditions in which I myself grew?
See if you are able to accept yourself as you are,
For you are the way the world has moulded you.
Remember however,
That each tree affects the whole forest too.
You remember you are walking,
And you see light up ahead.
On the path you've been walking,
You've reached the forest's edge.
As you step out of the forest,
Imagine you are bringing with you a small seed,
A seed of knowledge,
A reminder of what wisdom you may have taken on today.
Take a moment to thank the trees for their teaching,
And to thank the forest too,
And for taking this journey of insight,
Remember to thank yourself too.
When you feel ready to do so,
Open your eyes.
