Wisdom comes from many sources, form within us and around us.  For me I feel most connected to my inner wisdom and ‘true’ self when walking in the woods alone. I felt inspired after watching a short video from a mentor of mine this morning where she described her ritual of walking in the woods.  First, she thanks the forest for this time with it, I love this as taking time to thank the forest is like taking time to also thank ourselves.  She then asks that her ‘I AM” or true self unites with herself, her worldly self, composed of the physical body, thoughts, emotions, past experiences, perceptions and beliefs.   I realized this is what happens to me when I am in nature by myself without naming it this way. However, by bringing in this intention, I thought it could only enhance my experience.

So, on this exceptionally warm, sunny late October day I set out and simply ambled.   I have been totally enamored with the sounds, sights and smells of the forest this fall, particularly the late falling oak leaves.  I remembered to thank the forest and state my intention.  Time stood still, a sign that I was connecting to my bliss layer/ my true self as I watched the slowly falling oak leaves. 

  As I watched these leaves slowly falling, I noticed I was looking up at the clear blue sky seeing these leaves fall with the blue sky in the background.   You may see the symbolism already.  Frequently in meditation the blue sky is associated with clear awareness or the true self from which all thoughts and feeling arise and fall back into.  So, for me on this beautiful day I sensed the beauty, vastness and constant nature of the sky.  I also sensed the transient nature of the oak leaves, just like my thoughts, emotions, even this body.  

There was beauty in slowly watching them fall away without naming anything good or bad.  The falling away simple is and will always be.   I sensed it personally for my own I AM but also collectively as a nation and as humanity that there will always be a  falling away to make room for the new just like mother nature and her cycles.  I choose to identify as much as I can with the I AM ness in myself and the world. 

As I started to head back my ‘me’ or small self, reminded me that I was hungry and thirsty.  Then I returned to my I AM and remembered that the I AM is always content and lacks nothing.  I wish you peace this fall and an abundance of time to find ways to unite your I AM, with yourself.   It can be as simple as looking up at the blue sky.  Or the gray sky, we do not deny the worldly self (the body, thoughts, emotions, past experiences and beliefs) but always aim to remember who we truly are, our I AM place of spacious awareness, contentment, inner knowing and peace.