Entwined Forests, Interwoven Spirituality
Life connects even when we don’t see it
Have you ever thought about the life of a forest? How it connects in a beautiful tapestry of mycelium below? And when you turn your eyes skyward, how it weaves a vast canopy of countless treetops in all the shades of green. Have you thought about how, together, they express the energy and magic of life?
Yet, each tree is also a unique expression, rooted deep in the earth. And reaching up to the sky, it connects to the many creatures that call the forest home.
It’s a beautiful image, isn’t it?
In the same way, the many human paths of spirituality are vast in number, yet distinctive, reaching up and out towards the world.
Some paths are wild and untamed, some are gentle and nurturing. Some a precise and strict. But they all, together, weave a web of meaning, spirit, and wonder.
Within these great tapestries, each thing of the earth lives its own unique life, moving through the seasons as they come and go.
I remember when as a child, I came upon translucent bluebells swinging in a gentle breeze. I felt kinship. Felt them be curious about me, as I was curious about them. A mystical connection allowed me to sense the presence of their collective soul. Even amidst the unavoidable chaos and destruction of the world, I never forgot this deeper magic at play.
It seems to me that balance is forever tipping from lost to found, to lost and found again in a forever dance of creation and destruction that gives rise to more creation.
For humans, our spiritual practices are as mycelium, connecting us even as our difference can make us feel divided from each other.
The natural world reveals the beauty of its resilience in this endless dance, each aspect contributing to the tapestry of life. The many forms of spirituality, too, add to the tapestry of life. Connecting with, and honoring the earth and the creatures that call it home, and striving to stay connected with the natural world of which we are part is as essential to our spiritual practice as it is essential to the tree roots to stay connected with each other.
For humans, our spiritual practices are as mycelium, connecting us even as our difference can make us feel divided from each other.
Spirituality takes many forms. Whether through service, prayer, meditation, yoga, lightwork, loving, doing good, practicing kindness and compassion, we connect with something larger than our single selves. Thus, we weave the tapestry of human life.
For each of us, our unique spirituality feels like the right one. But like the forest, home to untold life, we live in our spiritual practice among myriad other practices.
As we come to sense, more and more, the interbeing of life in all its forms, as shown by the life of forests, we begin to understand that the many strands of our human spirituality are more intimate with each other than we’d imagined, fomenting — perhaps unintended, but nevertheless — connections, adding to the greater spiritual stream of consciousness. We begin to suspect, then sense that all our spiritual and religious paths are entwined.
May we find ever more ways to embrace the many paths with respect and wonder. For in the end, we are all part of the same forest, each of us contributing to the magnificence of the whole.
Henry’s 6-wk Mystic’s Tarot & Oracle Class starts April 8th.
Henry was born in W. Germany. They are a nonbinary writer, certified life coach, ecotherapist, Tarotist, and metaphysical guide & healer. They teach tools, techniques, and action steps — and give you unconditional love & support — to help you crystallize & fulfill your soul’s journey. Website: henryindiaholden.com
©2023 Henry India Holden. All rights reserved.
