Trees, mud and the soul

May 13, 2010 by libertatemamo 2 Comments

“look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better” (Albert Einstein)

There is nothing quite like nature to bare the soul.I was reminded of this several years ago while hiking in Cheltenham, UK. I had set out on a forest hike in the lovely Cotswolds. Hiking alone has always been a special pleasure of mine, so with gear in hand, maps abound and supremely blissful in my little adventure I set off into the woods. The ground was, admittedly, somewhat moist from weeks of rain, but the air was sweet and the sky clear, so it seemed a trifle of an issue in such a beautiful environment. About ~2 miles into the wood I came across a small, muddy area that I needed to cross. The surface seemed firm enough so I leapt forward with supreme confidence to get to the other side. And that, my friends, was when I found myself up to my knees in mud, teaching me the very important lesson that English mud is not to be trifled with. I managed to extract myself from the situation but arrived back at my sister’s flat as the image of the creature from the Black Lagoon.

These past 2 weeks in Coconino forest have bought back these and many other fond memories. You see, there is nothing quite like the woods. The awesomeness of it all spreads before you like a grand expression of your deepest thoughts. The trees seem to keep secrets and yet are always changing. At times wild and alive, chanting to the wind, at other times hollow and quiet, listening steadfast to every footstep.

So, if you’re looking to delve deep into your mind, take a few hours and go to the woods…..just watch for the mud.