Archive: Around Town

For us who are continuously inspired with nature's rhythm, enjoy roaming the woods and looking for unmarked paths, spring is the season of wild awakenings. Although coming from different cultures, most of our ancestors lived in dwellings where the floor was soil and the surroundings were wild, pretty, untamed nature in almost every corner of the world. Some of us have, with great appreciation for our great-grandmothers and grandmothers, preserved and cultivated our relationship with the wilderness and orders of nature. Some of us are searching for connection through education and rising awareness about nature.

On my personal journey, growing up in natural surroundings preserved the essence of my connection with natural world.  However dozens of years of studying and immersing myself in Chinese medicine and philosophy have cultivated a mindful approach to what I have felt all my life is the simple evolution of being. With knowledge and lucidity of imagination I could describe nature in May as a fantasyland inspired by Five Element theory in the following fancy words:



An azure dragon has risen from the East with the first rays of the sun gushing a palette of green colors from wide open nostrils. Rich fumes have been painting trees and meadows. The beast wish-washes its tail, sprinkled with shiny emerald-like scales to arouse the winds in all directions. Creation is benevolently fierce. New beginnings arise with spontaneous idealism. Dragon's eyes reflect lapis blue waters brimmed with the raindrops to clear its sight for greater visions. Its sharp claws dig deep crevices in soil to carve the paths for dormant snakes.  There is no pause in a hop of the rabbit or jump of the deer. Life force thunder is bedewed with a fertile mists in a buoyant days of May, where blooming follows sprouting and nourishing mingles with mating. (A glossary of the Five Element Theory terms is provided at the end of this article.)



Gushing palettes of green resonate more for some of us with a scientific understanding of natural phenomena. Photosynthesis, water cycle, the Periodic Table of the Elements and dynamic and interconnected theories of physics, chemistry and biology explain the diversity and richness of ecosystems.

We humans, confined by epistemological approach, can easily become judgmental in the process of justifying the accuracy of mindful understanding of natural laws. Nevertheless, nature has its own chaotic intelligence, beyond our comprehension, but within reach of our senses. When we employ our senses, we feel, and when we feel we are the nature we have felt. Oh, my deepest apologizes Mr. Descartes!  It sounds quite philosophical and confusing, but it is in fact very simple and human just to feel in order to be.

Our true nature is uncultivated and wild as wild plants and animals, sensitive to slow moving energies of minerals and stones which carries messages of our  eldest ancestors in layers of millions years of experience. When we enter into the wild and forget who we are, and surrender to sweet nothingness, winds, waters, soil, fires, trees and animals become our teachers, our healers, spiritual guides and our survival strategists. In order to rewild ourselves we must develop relationships with natural world which builds up with patience, humility and faith.

You don't need deep woods to bond with nature, although natural settings might help 'rewildling' beginners. Nobody is either privileged nor neglected. You might live off grid, ride a busy subway every day or board overseas flight. Nature is all inclusive and ever present, if we are open enough to feel by being more sensual beings. Cultivated and mindful parts of ourselves will only benefit from dash of wild and gush of untamed.

Emerging herbalist or forager, botanist, enthusiastic hiker or nature photographer, please don't enter nature's bounty with competitive and consumerist mind. Be a nurturer and understand that nature has its own rhythm and plans of establishing communication with you. It takes years, if not decades to truly bond with plants, animals and minerals. Most herbalists and naturalist write books after decades and decades of quiet and modest communication with other living beings. We do not dictate the process. Our strength comes from believing in the process of becoming who we really are. Let the spring be our wild awakening in truth and love!

Glossary

• Theory of Five Elements (Wu Xing), one of the principal concepts of Chinese philosophy, cosmogony, mythology, geomancy and medicine. Following terms and symbols are mostly associated with Element of Wood.
• Azure Dragon – heavenly creature of element of Wood associated with spring; in Asian cultures spring is Azure Dragon of the East
• East- direction of the element of Wood
• Spring- season of Wood element
• Wind, windy- climate of Wood element
• Green, blue- colors of Wood element
• Spontaneity, idealism- mental activities of Wood element
• Eyes and sight - sensory organs and sense of Wood element
• All directions, expansive- vectors of energy movement of the Wood element
• Fierce, anger- emotion of Wood Element
• Scaly animal- animal of Wood element
• Thunder- I Ching sequence in Wood Element

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