A lesson from nature on letting go of FOMO (fear of missing out)

“Right here inside of you is exactly where you need to be.”

Camping on the forest edge I woke up on Day 2 of the @ecofluency Yellow Wood Initiation and felt the need to miss the guided pilgrimage to meet the Yellowwoods. “What!” my inner voice cried, “skip an activity!” Nature replied, “just be with me.”

I was still in a tangle of thoughts about this as I sipped my green tea, I really dislike missing out, when a large dragon fly landed on the handle of my camp kettle less than a meter away. It looked directly at me. I looked back. Dragonflies in many cultures are sacred helpers to enter the dream world; and night before we had made our prayers to yellowwood and the spirit for nature to guide us directly through our experiences and dreams. “Ok, I am listening!” I stayed and my mind instantly softened, slipping into a deep meditation with nature.

My attention became one with a giant tree rising high up above the canopy. I could sense the strong trunk and deep rooted grounding, the branches held high in sunshine, wind and rain. The sensation of it just being itself was sublime. As I watched and sensed, my vision expanded above the forest canopy and I could see other Yellowwoods too, just doing their own Yellowwood thing, in their own spaces and radiating their own unique frequency. My mind had a glimpse of how on a metaphysical level all the individual trees and species are vibrations making up this exquisite ecosystem.
 
What I love about direct learning from trees and animals is feeling it in your whole body and being, the messages lighting one up from inside and energetically triggering subtle and profound changes in our chemistry. Yellowwood reminded me about the importance of independence for true relationships and communities to flourish. Independence of course requires having a voice and as my mind sat with this next thought an Oriole sang his sweet liquid song above me with full throated generosity. Orioles are friends of mine, birds whom I have consciously asked to help me open my own voice.
 
My body filled with awe and gratitude. I followed the bird songs and wandered down the forest path to the giant tree, affectionately named Mamma Yellowwood. I sat in her embrace of roots and moss, leaves, dirt and bark.
 
Another small bird caught my attention as it hovered above its perch. Then swooped down, flying directly through the centre of a spider web snatching an insect from its sticky weave. No damage was done to the delicate weave. “Wow”, my mind exploded with the morning’s lesson about attention and focus. As the days and weeks unfold this lesson stays with me. It challenges me, carries me and inspires me in how to lead like a forest. Free will really is a powerful choice we have every day.
 
If you’d like to join me in learning about Wild Wisdom and having magical encounters with nature I have a new workshop offering called Wild Animal Spirits as well as Animal Communication Retreats in wild places.
 
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