Meditation on a swamp...

I spent the afternoon meditating on a swamp. Coming fresh from a fast paced modern life like many of us lead, I approach the seemingly motionless swamp on sped up modern world time. It takes some time to wind down and bring myself to be in sync with the rhythm of the forest. But I slow my brain down to match the timing of this magical place I am in. The world opens up and my mind clears when I slow down I see so much more the invisible now becomes visible.

What was seen as a thick motionless blanket of algae with nothing going on becomes a hot bed for activity and beauty. Turtles peek from below the blanket of the algae exposing their shelled backs to the sun a glistening wet sheen sparkles as they glide within the thick green waters. They then extend their necks out to scope out the distance before them and call out for their mates. The choral of turtle chirps and birds fill the air with a wonderful song. All the while the hum of fluttering fireflies and other flittering insects scurry about.

All this life brimming under the thick murk of a still swamp in all it's slow motion beauty that shows me and reminds me that life's pace can tune down to tune in to all the beauty that is there at every moment it's just up to the viewer to take the time to see and respect it. My heart has been hurting at all that is going on with the natural world at the hands of humans. The destroyer always seems to be us.

But for now in my hopeless helpless state I return to the swamp and let the blanket of algae blanket my mind opening it up letting all my inner sleeping turtles rise up stretching their necks toward the sun filling me up with new ideas and hope.

An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life...
"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.
"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
"One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow,
regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt,
resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride,superiority, self-doubt, and ego.
"The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope,
serenity, humility, kindness,benevolence, empathy,
generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
"This same fight is going on inside you -
and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and
then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old chief simply replied,
"The one you feed."