My Forest

The Joyce Kilmer National Forest........where I am able to find myself.

Joyce Kilmer National Forest.......

Not a fancy place, certainly not one of jaw-dropping views, but, for me.......well.....magical, transcending, majestic in its simplicity. I was and remain filled with awe of this ancient land unaltered by human hands; mesmerized by this glimpse into the soul of Mother Nature as she intended.

The air; crisp cool air that suddenly startles the lungs like tiny electrical shocks; not painful, but intensely powerful at first,then tranquil, soothing, like the voice of an old friend. There is a humbling realization that we, man, have not only strayed shamefully from the aethers, but, mindlessly, persistently continue to devour our very sustenance. With reverence and gratitude, an awareness comes that, without all "this", I could not be, nor would I ever have been.

The colours.... greens.......vibrant greens.... as I've never seen before; intertwined in a random yet ordered ballet of hues and texture. Each shade graciously complimenting one another, perfectly executing graceful port de bras. Stately giants of trees straining skyward, piercing the heavens themselves, then disappearing beyond the clouds, their fingers clinging to what surely must be the very edge of the world.

Extraordinary deadfall.... at first glance, viewed sadly as and end to life, but, not so, upon closer consideration. These fallen giants, some lying flat, some askew, are a protective, provisional womb, incubating new beginnings. A haven for a vast array of creatures, insects, foliage, flowers......birthed and yet to be born....a secure fortress for those things that are growing or have grown to the fragility of senescence.....deadfall, deceptively named, is, rather, the educere of the forest as well as the last bastion preceeding rebirth. nurturing, watchful, protective of and perpetuating nouvelle vie.

Much more than just seeing the natural beauty of this place, for me, it was feeling it, tasting it, hearing it.....becoming a part of the "still". Stricken by the silent echos of centuries old voices of, what I imagine were, the Shaman, the Chiefs, who walked these same paths, who sat cross-legged upon the soft comfort of a grassy clearing amongst the deadfall...... contemplating, meditating.

The wise ones, embraced by the Spirits, passing a peace pipe, experiencing the communal joy of the oneness of it all....... yet, at the same time, their souls bleeding from the many imposed wars, the destruction, the disregard, the blatant disrespect by man.... of man. Their eyes silently pooling with tears that then spilled down weathered, high-boned cheeks; a salty drizzle finally dripping languidly from chiseled chins, mixing with the tender evening dews of the grasses. Sages, visionaries, bent at the shoulders by such dolorous weight.....sharing an unspoken fear for survival...... not theirs, but of the very essence of all things.

This forest....my forest.......she knows me, has always known me....and I her. More than a familial bond, it's a coadunation. And a stunning realization that, though their have been many journeys, many adventures.....I am insignificantly significant. Our origins, our destinies, no matter our form, are a multifarious conglomerate. Yet, from the most miniscule organism to the most complex .....we have but one heartbeat.

For time eternal, man has sought, not so much explanations but, ways to circumvent our biggest fear.......Death. Science to spirit, beginnings to after-lives.....theories, folklore, wishes, dreams, all tools used in the hunt for perpetual life. There is no one defining answer but, there is a key......one that unlocks, not all the mysteries, but, the elegence, the wonder, the sublime unity.........Respect.

We are nothing more than a part of the Completeness......one living, breathing, evoluting, perpetual world. Each facet charged with individual purpose, yet, totally dependent upon all others. Respect. Respect of all things....how very simple! Take only what you need, give back to that which sustains you.......Respect.

Sit for a moment in my forest........she will speak to you.........

m a vadeboncoeur 9/2015