Forest Gardening meets Deep and Personal Ecology

All Beings at Harmony asked for respect born of communication, of meeting at the crossroads and getting to know each other. For their part they often stopped what they were doing, and went out of the way to communicate. For our part they often ask us to lead the way for other humans, and naturally they ask us to pause in what we were doing to get to know them.

Birds have played key roles as their song heralds the morning, the evening, and their visits during the day. Kereru have become great company when I am there alone. They swoosh of their wings as they fly low by buildings and the noises of leaves and branches rustling as they feed in nearby trees. Bellbird have often sung to us, looked at us, and honoured the sacred space about our buildings by circling that space before we build. Tomtits have come by for chats occasionally, Tuis have reminded us that it is important to keep focus and to get on with our responsibilities, Fantails have gifted me their company when I have wondered how I can do things without help, have heralded the ending of special projects, the opening of new pathways, and coming in groups of four, that I call the bachelor's club, taught me more of the importance of keeping the company of your own age group. Paradise ducks have called in to teach me that Harmony is a sacred, contemplative space in which it is a blessing to be present in solitude.

Ruru has called in the night to remind us we are not alone, that we are always in the hands of friends who know the light and are experienced in the ways within the dark

One brown frog and the occasional croaks of other frogs have inspired us to think that Harmony is a relatively clean environment. Native cockabullies have shown me that if water is clean enough to live in, it is clean enough to drink, which is to have it live within you, and give you its life.

Mice have taught me my purpose is worth dying for, that death is an ordinary consequence of life that can occur as a result of procuring one's food. Possums have taught me that fear faced is not fear, do not be afraid, look all fear in the eye and do not fear it. Death is nothing to be afraid of. Their death rattling cries of this is my territory have often been met by my "This is My Space" as mice and possum have taught me to respect and claim my own home as the space I am entitled to live in.

Old long, fat, bush worms have in their hundreds taught me the value of life that can so quickly end. That there is nowhere so deep that is away from live and death.

Small native cockroaches, which I can relate to without the need to make them seem big and scary (like other species I've seen).

Wild goats have reminded me that has a goat I am stubborn, that I too am prepared to butt heads on important matters, while being prudent enough to run away.

Wild pigs that both they and I make trails for all creatures, and trail making is something I do not do alone. That when I think something is not, something else will think that it is, and that something often is a pig.

Spiders that I can feel in three dimensions, thought is creative - hold the big picture and make it, that no structure is so fine it cannot be broken, that no matter is so sticky that it cannot be fixed, that a single thread is all I need to connect to my source, that if I stay stuck in one place I will sometimes starve, and if I let a spider live out is full and natural life it will leave that life with a nest of many more of its kind.

Rabbits that I must walk within the group mind of every creature, to understand that animal, to communicate it, and earn its respect.

Trees have spoken of the common cause, that life is part of a cycle, and that each stage of that cycle can be long or short. The light is worth seeking, and patience means gratitude for all that I have. I never know the age of a tree in the forest and those that look young may be old and ever so patient. How do I know when the last crash of old tree inspired the growth of new trees into the light, which one's made it, which ones lapsed again into the patience of suspended adolescence. How mature does a tree become growing imperceptibly through the decades, studying how to live for hundreds of years before becoming a young adult, older than any animal, younger than trees possibly thousands of years mature.

I have watched trees seemingly mature and happy with the status quo, to be surprised by growth spurts, changes in shape, I am amazed at how plants see other plants and depending on their personality perhaps, respect that space, or dominate it. How some trees will drop their leaves to smother their neighbours while another tree grows so close its trunk merges with its own. How some trees can be pruned, cut, bent or broken and will grow again anew, and how others are happy to end life when disturbed rather than carry on. How some will stand the winds of change and grow stronger while others will accept support and hold on to it so long they become the weaker for it.

I appreciate all the plants that gift their lives that others may walk in their company, that accept the touch of animals upon the trails, that hid from sight that they may be special and wild.

I appreciate the forest that keeps me warm in the cold, cools me on hot summers day, keeps me dry when it starts to rain, provides the wood for my fire, wood for my shelter, and green symmetry for my delight.

I love the creek as it hums the rhythm of life itself, speaking the source of all things, and reminding me the way home is to follow the sound of God to the source of life itself.

Yet still the wind disturbs me, roughs me up, teaches me that I dwell within the harmony of life itself by keeping my calm centre within. Serenity is carried to me in the buffeting of winds that destroy what I am attached to, that I may let go and let God.

For more special experiences and insights on living with respect for All Beings Subscribe here for Harmony's free quarterly e-zine sharing enchanting personal experiences not published elsewhere.

Thanks for telling you like this article by clicking:

Love,

David

Please forward, distribute, and publish every article in this blog anywhere you wish, as long as the ENTIRE article, footnotes, and any banners, are left as is, and all links remain active. Exception: Photos may be left out, though we prefer they stay.