Katy Manna  

There is a wooded area I recently discovered near my house. I have lived in my house for nearly 7 years and was unfamiliar with this most amazing place until now. I have been aware that "something" was there, but what it was remained a mystery to me by choice.
One morning I was guided to take a walk of discovery. I felt moved, almost called to surrender to this great mystery and allow my heart to be my guide. I put on my walking shoes and I was off.

I was immediately aware of the beauty of this once hidden place. This most gorgeous path opened up and welcomed me. I delighted in its invitation and breathed in its essence.
The birds, the squirrels all have made this their home. And it's no wonder, I wish I could do the same. The tall trees shading the path in some spots and in others leaning back to for the plants to bask in the sunlight.

I begin to notice the fallen trees and how amazing they are. What I felt from them was their ability to move on with grace. In their death, they became shelter for little creatures, they became food for others and a breeding ground for the vibrant green moss. How amazing it must be to let go so completely and deeply. What a service to provide this most beautiful place.

I noticed how the fallen trees were just as beautiful and just as much a part of the living beauty that was before my eyes. This was a cosmic masterpiece that honored a Universal cycle.

I began to think about how this relates to my life. In these trees I saw relationships I have let go of, I saw pieces of myself that no longer served me. I saw the ultimate letting go, a full surrender to the Divine.This ultimate letting go paving the way for rebirth and a place for the new to take form.

I thought about how many times I have fought and fought until I surrendered. How I have lost sight of the bigger picture. That the letting go is just as natural as the receiving. How death is just as natural as birth. Neither being an ending or a beginning. And each a miracle.

I sat and breathed in the magnificence of this gift. I thanked the Universe for blessing me with this same kind of grace in my life. I thanked the Universe for enlightening me with such a powerful metaphor. I feel blessed to recognize this same landscape within me. The baby trees whose lives have just begun. The trees that are sturdy and full of gorgeous green leaves, thriving in their existence. The trees that have fallen and have blessed the woods with the an opportunity to start fresh and in a whole new way. And for the creatures that live in the woods for their appreciation and celebration for everything being just as it is.

As I began to make my way back home I walked in total connectedness. There was no distinction between me and the physical place I was in. I felt the power of being in complete harmony with the Universe. A powerful lesson that I reflect on often. I continue to visit this place and peel away the layers even deeper. I visit in honor of this Divine connection and in honor of life itself.