By Courtney Elmes
The natural world is a constant source of inspiration and wisdom. One remarkable aspect of nature that has much to offer our lives is its incredible resilience. Earth has endured countless challenges and changes over a vast span of time, adapting and bouncing back from adversity.
In 2019, the Australian wilderness saw a devastating wildfire tear through the land… Fast forward five years, and the ecosystems have slowly become restored, giving birth to new life in the ever-flowing cycle of life, death and rebirth. These energetic processes of creation, sustenance and destruction are known well in Hindu mythology as Brahman, Vishnu and Shiva.
Wildfires occur naturally and are, in fact, necessary for renewal of the terrain and rejuvenation of species (in many Indigenous cultures there is actually a sustainable practice of creating fires to help nature along with this, and prevent destructive ones). The Earth herself witnesses natural fluctuations on a constant basis but always finds a way to recover and flourish. We can connect this concept to our yoga practice, with the importance of overcoming obstacles when we face challenges in our daily life.
The other week, I partook in my first ever guided global meditation experience to send prayers to the more recent and just as devastating wildfires of Hawai’i and North America. I felt deeply the pain of the Earth, yet also the healing… there was so much potency having 300 people coming together in an intentional practice (I had only experienced around 30 people meditating together, somewhat haphazardly in their own worlds, before).
We opened the space by centering, breathing and grounding. The Earth provides a solid foundation for all living beings, and with yoga, we can tap into this stability to improve our balance, concentration, and overall beingness. We then welcomed the energy of Quan Yin – bodhisattva of compassion. Together, using the power of visualisation, we envisioned water dragon energy from our own personal connection to a body of water, which travelled to the affected zone, transforming and pouring down as rain from the sky.
If I have learnt anything about conscious practice, it is to never underestimate the power of intention. (Read this post about how our mindful planting of trees and digging of trenches created a flow of water from nowhere the following day).
The spontaneous meditation on this day somehow perfectly aligned with Naga Panchami, an auspicious time that celebrates the sacred serpent in India. In the Yogic culture, the serpent represents kundalini and the upward movement of the serpent depicts human aspiration for divinity. (The synchronicities of life never cease to amaze me).
Currently I live in Mexico, where the grass is usually dry and spiky. However, when the rainy season comes, the grass, plants and trees all flourish… showing how we only need the right environment, resources and conditions to let us fully bloom. Our potential is always there, right beneath the surface, and waiting for the opportune moment.
Courtney Elmes
Courtney Elmes, aka ‘Coco’, is a dedicated Sacred Earth Activist – a mantle she took up and something that particularly awoke within her after taking Awakened Spirit Yoga’s Sacred Earth 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training back in the Mayan lands of Guatemala in 2018. She now works in creative climate communications, with a focus on community, artistic storytelling and emotional resiliency. Embracing the ancient tradition of yoga as a way of life, visiting the birthplace of the wisdom showed her how this was done well. She especially enjoys developing her practice of herbalism and flow arts. Living from (and always coming back to) a place of loving kindness, she is most at home when surrounded by lush forestry. Find her on instagram @liberationoflove.
