Nature and Healing: The Gift of Eagle Wings
June 8, 2008
10:25 am
annie
Living Metaphors
The older I get the more I look through a single lens of simplicity to make sense of my life. I just wrote a series of posts about my celebration of wellness. Nature is a common theme I use to describe the healing that has occurred for me in the last several months. As I begin to reflect on the illness that has crippled me since my teen years; images and themes from nature give a perspective that seems true to the bone. My thoughts are for the most part clear and my mind is calm. My feelings are available to me and I can access them to connect with my thoughts for a more cohesive picture of daily life. It is like my mind is working with the rest of my “self” for the first time in many years. I hope my stories convey some of the lessons I am learning from the Creator and all that is in nature. As so many of you say, we need to share our experiences with each other to advance healing and wellness.
The Gift of Eagles Wings
The steep rolling hills to my home place are like a bipolar roller coaster. There are nine hills and hollows to get to my home. At the base of each hill there is that instant when I worry about the danger just over the crest of the hill. I dare not speed or swerve for fear that the passing vehicle will not be as cautious. It reminds that my wellness is fragile and requires understanding and mindfulness to keep the illness at arms length.
Every day that I travel these hills I am given a gift and a lesson. Two months ago I hit the crest of the seventh hill to see two eagles soaring high and swooping down in front of me. Eagles inspire me to look beyond their flight and beyond the horizon. I would have loved to have stopped my car and to have watched them in flight but I would be putting myself at risk to pause on the roadside. For me, eagles represent a practical kind of spiritually. They call for a demonstrative spirituality that asks me to look deep in side and to come from a place of kindness in my actions.
Each trip to town I anticipate the gift of eagle’s wings and welcome the lessons that they teach. Quite often they do return and at other times the lesson is in the wind or sun. It is a time that challenges my quest for balance. I look as closely as I can to follow the eagle in flight while keeping one eye on the road. I embrace the gift, study the lessons and commit myself to the challenge of the roller coaster.
June 8th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
In one of my posts in the last week I spoke of wanting to transform from a timid mouse to that of a soaring eagle, so I can really relate to the eagle connection, except over here they’re hawks not eagles. Hawks are known to be more of a pain than an inspiration because they swerve in front of cars (a bit dangerous).
I also rely on, and get inspired by nature. I am lucky enough to hear a lot of birdsong from my office window at work. It’s great.
June 8th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Acorn- thanks for your comments. I love songbirds.Nature resonates for us in all sorts of situations. Take care, Annie
June 8th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Dear Annie,
What wonderful writing! It is such a pleasure to read you! Such lovely images and so much to say. A winning combination!
Susan
June 9th, 2008 at 3:09 am
Im too depressed to think of an appropriate comment but want you to know I have been here and am reading
June 9th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Annie, your poetic description of the hills made me visualize a meadow of rolling hills and what it looks like for me. You write beautifully and the images are so vivid! Thank for sharing this with us. i love the analogy and the significance of the eagle.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Annie, I loved this post. I could see those hills and those eagles so clearly in my mind! Nature metaphors are wonderful, because nature is accessible to all of us, even if we live in the city it’s there in all sorts of small ways. Thank you for this beautiful post!
June 9th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
this is beautiful Annie.
I wanted to know I’ve had you bookmarked for a while and have been reading you silently.
I was delighted by your kind and warm comment on my post about my grief.
thank you.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:39 am
Annie, I love to see eagles soaring too. It must have been a very wonderful sight for you! Thanks for your encouragements. Take care!
June 10th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Susan, thanks for the support of my stories. I am inspired by your writing and enjoy telling my stories. Annie
June 10th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Raine, thank you for letting me know you are here. I am reading your posts as well and hold you in white light as you are in the darkness of depression. I hope you feel better soon. Annie
June 10th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Jena, your comments are so kind and I am glad you can visualize the rolling hills. I hope it helps each of us understand bipolar in a different way.
I enjoy your posts! Annie
June 10th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Jazz, I agree that we can each see signs of nature in the city or country. Thank you for you comments and it helps me with writing my stories. Annie
June 10th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Gianna, I appreciate you commenting, it is helpful to exchange ideas with each other. I hope you feel better in your process of grieving your loss. Thank you Annie
June 10th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Nancie, It is good to know that you are out and about. Do you feel better? I enjoy hearing from you and I am glad you can see eagles too. Annie