Life lessons from Mother Nature

NATURE AS METAPHOR
There is the art of metaphor to assist in truly seeing oneself clearly. Nature displays this so readily if we only observe.

OCEAN AND WAVE: The Ocean is the wave, and the wave contains the entire ocean. The individual wave’s movement comes from ocean behind it. The individual exists because the ocean exists.

VOLCANO: If what is true is repressed, it will bubble up from deep affecting everything in its path. Volcanoes stand as an omen for change being forced if you will not flow, to a difference in perspective or shift in awareness that results when what we live isn't supporting the essence of what is really true.

CATERPILLAR: The caterpillar lives a whole lifetime in worm form. However, when one life cycle ends, another begins. It accordingly builds a cocoon when it needs to transform. Re-birth always requires this. This cocoon is not a hiding from the world; it is what is necessary for the completion of all transformation. But, the best is yet to come. It emerges from its cocoon completely changed, identified with a new self. And, it can fly!

BERRY: The berry represents wholeness. Every tiny seed that makes up the berry is necessary for it to be. Each particle containing a seed of the berry holds a piece of the whole. Even if each particle is ripped off, no matter how separate each piece is, they still contain within them the trace of the whole, the essence of the Essence.

CACTUS: The cactus represents Truth. It protects against, and pricks what approaches it unconsciously. But when there is no difference between 'you' and 'it', you know its secret water source.

BANANA: Skin hides the fruit. For a long time we only know our superficial masks. Do we have the strength to peel this skin back? The time is now to know the fruit of ourselves.

CARROT: The carrots are safe within, underground, even if its plant above is ripped and torn. At times, what is seen on the surface gives no indication of what is living within.

MOUNTAIN: The mountain doesn't move, trees do. The sky doesn't move, clouds do. Stability in the midst of all movement.

SNOW: Each snow flake is unique. From afar however, it looks like a uniformed sheet of white. Be the individual and lose the individual to know your true identity.

CLOUD: Huge cloud formations change gradually, almost imperceptibly into another formation. This is how gradual the process of human transformation is. The changes are so small that the overall formation looks the same. But gradually the shift will happen, until suddenly, the cloud is entirely different--- the person is entirely different.

TREE: A gigantic tree doesn't become that by knowing it's a tree while still a seed. It only knows growth. Constantly changing, while still remaining the same. Not dwelling on end results, it is content just to grow and not know where it is going. The seedling, shoot and mature tree aren't the goal, but the process-- the journey.

NOW ITS UP TO US WHAT WE LEARN.