Erasing overwhelm with an afternoon stroll through the garden.

While walking in the botanical gardens https://botgarden.uga.edu/ on my lunch break, I was focusing on breath work to be present and release some stress. Over the years of doing energy work I have learned the importance of breath work and drawing in life through the crown and healing stress out through my feet. Today that alone was not enough to bring balance.

My day at the office had gotten overwhelming and I sought the forest for solace. Typically, I find myself focusing on the glory of all the showy flowers, but today was different. I had no interest in their colors or shapes beyond a brief, “oh that’s nice.” I found so many other amazing things captured my focus.

The wrinkled bark on a tree. The leaves alternately repeating on a stem. The moss growing on the side of a tree. Beautiful! I found the tranquility in these things. I began to ponder how today was different from my normal.

I sought out interesting bends in limbs. Rotting tree trunks, a branch that made the number four, they all captured my interest. The knots in the bark all had faces and stories to tell. They were so interesting. I found release in the calm, subtle textures and colors. Finding myself lost in their patterns relieved my troubled mind of its burdens. Then I realized something more.

Flowers have a way of grabbing my attention. But today the calmer, quieter, bark of the trees beckoned me with their wrinkles, curves, and patterns. Their imperfections lured me deeper into the study of the trees smaller stories. So many patterns emerged in the less vibrant plants. The beauty was there, I just had to look deeper and with an inner quiet. And that’s what I loved.

So much of my world is a visual barrage of the colors, lights, and movement. This forested landscape offered me a study of older, wiser, calm energy. That calm stillness, a gentle presence that will be there for years…that reassurance felt deeply grounding. No matter what happens in my day, I can rest assured there will be a forest full of strong, steady trees reaching to the sky. They will always be heading towards the light with their slow, steady pulse, full of strength pulling in the light and filtering the air. No matter what, these trees will support me and my lungs. What a treasure.

I turned to leave the Forest feeling somewhat reset. Climbing the hill out of the gully, my heart began to pound and my lungs began to burn. My body pushed out the adrenaline as I puffed up the steep hill in the heat of this endless summer. The sweat felt good now, I was releasing tension and feeling the power in my lungs and steps.

Exiting the woods, I felt back to me. Forest is my medicine. Even when it’s not the right time for deep meditation, a light shifting of focus will do. Being outside allows me to expand my senses and feel big. I am grateful for today. Energy work practicing reiki has taught me so much.

Bridge into the higher self and quiet mind.
Bridge into the higher self and quiet mind. I found this on free images pexels, and immediately felt a sense of entering a portal.

This post was written last August in 2019. I had no idea what was coming as I quit my office job and regular paycheck in January of 2020. Looking back, I sense the challenges I faced maintaining one foot in the regular grind of 8-5, and another foot stepping into the mystery. While feeling blessed to have the support of my friends and family, I have also looked into the face of fear of complete financial loss a emerged better for resolving that deep seated separation from love. Love is trusting that I am capable of asking for help and finding solutions however hat may present. Sometimes that just requires floating on the stream and finding the blessing in the ability to do just that.