Spring greetings NYSOEA!
Reflection on time I spent at a summer Y camp inspired my essay.
Perhaps you grew up in an urban area and found nature touching you
through a window, on a tar roof at night, or in a park under a special
tree. Wherever you grew up, nature was with you; the wonderful thing
about being a part of nature is that it’s always with us.
My wish in writing this essay “The Between Place” is to spark your
memory and inspire rediscovery of this precious resource.
I wish you the touch of Nature’s wisdom each day—
Marlow
With Nature in heart and mind-Marlow
The Between Place by Marlow Shami
The canvas flaps on the platform tent were easy to roll up and tie. On
hot August afternoons, the smell of the faded canvas, queen Ann’s
lace, and just-cut sweet grass flowed through the open-air home,
along with the quiet conversation of counselors relaxing in the staff
tent located a short distance away.
At rest hour, after lunch, I would lay face up on my scratchy maroon
wool blanket, quietly shimmy myself to the head end of the bunk, and
hang my head out. The view of the sky was alive with billowy animals,
mythic in size and detail. Sometimes I’d shut my eyes for a while and
imagine how the clouds might transform. Falling asleep like this
wrapped me in a soft comfort, a feeling that brought me back to camp
each summer for thirteen years.
The lake was a lot like the sky. It too changed from day to day,
moment to moment; it’s color, smell, texture, and sound alerted me to
the kind of swim I might experience. I loved inhaling deeply and
plunging down until I touched the part of the lake in which the warm
water met the cool darker parts. In this between place, I’d turn onto
my back and release a little air through my nose. The tiny silver
spheres of air floated up like the bubbles that connected the thought
captions in my favorite DC comic books.
My brown hair floated, a part of the lake, a soft velvety mass. I
watched the silent moving rhythm of my hair blend with the dark slick
strings of water plants that tickled the underside of my legs. The blood
flowing through my body made sounds I could hear when the water
was quiet. If the sun was out, its rays would enter the water in a star
shaped glow that beckoned in a way I didn’t understand. It caused a
longing in my belly and the wish for wings to grow from my back like
my beloved Pegasus, an animal I never grew tired of drawing.
At night we’d settled down for bed, our counselor would read a
bedtime story for vespers, and then would make her goodnight rounds
visiting each camper in the tent. If it was a clear night, the tent flaps
would be up, and I’d spend time with the stars. They reminded me of
the underwater sun stars, but these pin points were so far away, like
mica chips floating in that cool between place. It wasn’t unusual to
spot half a dozen shooting stars while I hung my head out of the tent.
They were as special to me as four leaf clovers; tiny diamonds,
shooting like fire tipped arrows across the sky. The arch of their
trajectory kept me awake, or so I thought.
I’d fall asleep to dream of water stars, diamond arrows, and riding
Pegasus. We could melt through walls in those dreams. I’d hear a hum
and match its vibration somehow within my own body. I blended with
obstacles this way, and could move through to the other side of any I’d
encounter. Within some dreams I’d fly through the air, others drew me
deep into oceans in which I could breathe. The white horse could
breathe underwater too. He didn’t need to hear the hum to move with
me through the barriers—the horse did these things naturally.
Pegasus and I spent many nights under the stars together. The
greenness of wet air filled our lungs with something alive, something
that belonged within us, our wings would spread, and we’d go to that
between place--wild, aware, and receptive to the gifts waiting.
ACTIVITY: Your Inner Child’s Natural
Wisdom
Based on Michael J. Cohen's of Project NatureConnect Natural System's
Thinking Process
Over the years Pegasus took new forms and eventually became and
continues to be a growing energy in my life—a force powering me
through my daily challenges--helping me pass through situations that
sometimes feel like impossibly “solid” obstacles. I restore myself with
this creative power during that special time each day when I resonate
with the natural world.
I offer this nature-based activity to help deepen your healing
connection with your personal version of “Pegasus”. You may have felt
a deep connection to a tree, rock, the sky, the smell of rain--perhaps a
particular bird’s call or season. Take a few minutes to recall some
favorite childhood attractions with nature. If you can’t recall one, take
time today to go outside and notice what you are positively attracted
to in nature and bring your observations to this activity.
Our minds are powerful tools, and when we reflect on past joyful
connections, we rekindle a spark that enhances our true nature. The
outcome of this activity may include one or more of the following;
feeling rested, inspired, playful, grounded, energized, and/or deeply
connected to the web of life.
Materials needed: Pad of paper, pencil
STEP 1: Plan to spend 15 minutes or more enjoying this activity. Make
yourself comfortable in an attractive and safe outdoor area. Notice
your surroundings. Feel yourself being supported by the earth. Spend
a minute doing slow deep breathing.
STEP 2: Ask yourself, your younger self—your inner child, “Remind
me of a time in my childhood in which I found deep joy with nature.”
Shut your eyes if this feels OK to do and listen with all your senses.
Don’t edit, judge, or ignore any details. Take your time. This is a quiet
process. If nothing comes up, this is fine, just open your eyes and
notice what you find really attractive in the natural area around you
now.
STEP 3: Write down two (or more if you like) positive qualities that
attracted you to the childhood or current experience with Nature. After
you have identified two qualities describe why the quality is a positive
attraction in a few sentences.
Example: “I love the huge rock because it can support me, and allows
me to have a great view of the land.”
STEP 4: Ask yourself, how do the qualities of my attractions manifest
in my life. Write a bit about this. Writing helps you integrate the
wisdom growing out of your collaboration with Nature in this activity.
Example: I can support myself like this beautiful huge stone--when I
take my time to gain perspective. Stone energy is grounded. I am
grounded when I slow down and pay attention to that which does and
does not nourish me.
STEP 5: Thank your inner-child /nature for the wisdom gleaned from
this collaboration. Express your gratitude in any way--with a song,
prayer, touch to the earth. Gratitude grows your relationship with the
web of life—and feels good all around!