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Return Journey to our Natural Essence

By Anne Dorcas

One night last week, I heard a racket coming from the fireplace.  A starling had dropped in from the chimney and was trying, without success, to fly back out.  I opened the living room window before unhinging the fireplace doors for the little bird, but it took him a while to find the opening towards the sky.  He bumped his head a few times before figuring out which window was open.  He rested from time to time before he tried again.  And finally, he flew away – free to enjoy his evening – and hopefully staying clear of chimneys after his adventure.

This was a funny metaphor reminding me of this human adventure on Earth. Oftentimes, the window is wide open yet we pass by it without noticing, as we tire from our trials and tribulations.  We eventually move forward, but perhaps with a little less harmony than we would have hoped.  Another message this little starling brought me, being a bird that prefers to travel in groups, is that it is now time for us all to reunite – and to travel this journey together.

We sometimes hear about Native American traditions, the way they support each other in community – each person having their own distinct role.  And, in these traditions, which are of ancient origin, they are taught to honor nature.  A shaman is a someone who has a strong bond with nature.  This shamanic knowledge has shown that everything we’ve ever needed to support ourselves has always been abundantly present on Earth.  Our Earth is like a big house we all inherited so that we could share it together.  But this beautiful way of living in harmony with nature, of growing together and supporting each other in community, has been replaced by separation and a detachment from all that is natural.  This illusion of separation is the source of all hardships in this world.

The beautiful nature that surrounds us is filled with sacred geometry.  If we cut an apple in half, we find a star.  When we look closely at a snowflake, we discover a magical work of art.  Have you ever noticed the center of a sunflower or the pistils on a tulip in full bloom?  And have you ever had the chance to appreciate a freshly created spider web or the perfect balance in the pattern on a butterfly’s wings?

Along with reuniting in community, certain aspects of sacred geometry can support us in a wonderful way during this period of transformation.  It is this pure aspect of nature that allows us to access the pure and divine aspect of our consciousness.

It was in a sacred circle, surrounded by my «brothers» and «sisters» who took their distinct places in this circle, that I came to a profound understanding of an event that had marked my existence.  My intention during the program had been to understand – and to heal – my relationship with my mother. I couldn’t figure out why there was so much conflict between us.

My twin brother had developed a serious illness at the age of three - a rare blood disease that caused bruises all over his body.  This situation required that my mother be very present for him throughout our childhood and adolescence – a presence I also would have needed.  I was a highly sensitive and perturbed child.  Growing up, I was a warrior.  That was my way out.

In this sacred circle, I remembered the source of my troubles.  When my brother and I were three (before the illness), we had wasted an entire bag of potatoes by smashing them, one by one, against the wall.  My father was an angry man, my mother – afraid and insecure.  She believed my dad would be enraged, so she took it upon herself to punish us.  With her wooden spoon, she beat our little bodies senselessly.  In my little girl memory, I felt such compassion for this woman who was horrified by this action she had not been able to control. I wanted to help her and I chose to shoulder a good part of her guilt. My brother, however, had a more difficult choice to make.  I remembered a tall man showing both of us the consequences of this choice my mom had made out of fear.  We watched on a television screen the destiny that would likely result from it.  We had certain options to create a happier outcome, and my brother, at that moment, made his choice to become ill.  In this way, my mom would redevelop her tender and nurturing qualities.

It’s hard to explain in words the relief and healing that took place for me from this understanding.  My brother had made this choice out of great love.  I was blessed by this remembrance that allowed me to finally let go of anger and blame, and to return to this great love I’ve always had for the woman who gave me birth in this life.

We are beings of love.  At our center and our very core, love is our essence.  And even though our experiences are individual, we are all living this Earth experience together.

This is partly the idea of the sacred circle, and of working together in community.  In taking our place – that is not only unique but ours alone – we allow others to also take their place fully.  Taking our place means that we return to our center and to the unique integrity of our being.

In supporting each other – whether in a sacred circle or in our lives in general, we are able to grow beyond the limits this illusion of separation may have created.

Let us take flight and return to our natural essence!  The window is wide open!