Sometimes Nature knows just what we need to heal and find our North Star again.
By Mary Boutieller
Walking through the woods a few weeks back, I paused to take in the beautiful kaleidoscope of oranges, reds and yellows everywhere I looked. It was nearing the end of autumn, and it’s as if the Universe changed its palette from blues and greens to Nature’s finest jewel tones. I constantly stopped to look, trying to not photograph every single thing…instead just taking it all in, because soon it would all be over. These vibrant colors would lose their potency, turn brown and fall.
Some might say the leaves are dying, but I think they are only beginning again. Not as chlorophyll vessels or oxygen producers, but as food and shelter for the animals and ground below. The cycle of life continues with Nature contracting, then expanding again.
The sheer beauty of the woods took my breath away, and I knew that this experience was food for my hungry soul. To be surrounded by what was real, what was true, what was present in the moment instead of in the past or future, was just what the doctor ordered.
You see, for a while now, I’d been feeling rather blue. Easy excuses evaded me; it seemed to be a little bit of everything…the U.S. election, a friend’s illness, and all the pesky, bothersome things that had taken hold of my attention. I needed that walk in the woods and the sustenance of Nature to remind me of what’s important.
What I realized was that GRATITUDE had gone on vacation, and I hadn’t noticed. I was too busy reading about doom and gloom, forgetting how lucky I was, missing the opportunities to show love and feel joy. I was down and no amount of reasoning was going to pick me up.
The woods, though, seemed to know what I needed. The quiet, the magic, the unerring message that this, too, is life. It’s all life and it’s all worth living – the ups and downs, the questions and uncertainty. The woods seemed to say, “Be here now; trust yourself and the process.”
When we can be with our discomfort instead of ignoring or pushing it away, we start to realize it for what it is – a temporary passenger on a southbound train. It will move on…we will forgive and forget; we will heal and we will find our North Star again.
Many things can be our North Star—our way home and guiding light. For me, it shines brightest when I’m with the people I love. It guides me when I’m teaching, writing or hiking.
My North Star beckoned when I saw my husband walking toward me after finishing his three-day solo hike. It shone as I walked in the woods and felt its beauty wrap around me; it came into view when my gratitude resurfaced, and I stood in appreciation of the small, innumerable things that fill my cup every single day. I felt the light return, and I knew that my trust in the Universe had come back.
I think, sometimes, we forget that we are tender human beings who occasionally get tugged off-center. We try to be strong and make ourselves impenetrable, but we are just mere mortals. When things happen, it’s important to be kind to ourselves.
Like Nature’s seasons, there will be times of light and times of darkness—and it’s all okay. Everything in life contracts and expands in its time. There is nothing wrong with snuggling up with a blanket (or your favorite person or pet), and just being where you are for a little while without feeling the need to change it. As our hearts and our souls find their way through trust and gratitude, we will rise again, stronger and with more empathy for ourselves and others.
If you are ever feeling down, anxious or afraid, look for your North Star. Remember what it is that grounds you, makes you smile and leads you back to your center. The beauty of the North Star is that it doesn’t shift with the wind. It is steadfast and always there.
Mary Boutieller is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. She has been teaching yoga since 2005. Her work experience includes 22 years as a firefighter/paramedic and 10 years as a Licensed Massage Therapist. Mary’s knowledge and experience give her a well-rounded understanding of anatomy, alignment, health and movement in the body. She is passionate about the benefits of yoga and the ability to heal at all levels through awareness, compassion, and a willingness to explore. She can be reached at: SimplyogaOm@gmail.com.
