The Enemy of the Forest

It is a narrow and long winding road deep in the jungle with thick bushes, foliage, beautiful trees, and flowers everywhere. There are varieties of plants and fruits and different species of animals. It is truly a magical place where you see the majesty of nature, a place like nowhere on earth. There is such abundance, more than you can ever imagine! It is surely the most fertile place in this planet, a vast rain forest and the only place in the world where wildlife and people dance to the tune of nature. It is the heaven of our imagination.

This place looks timeless but it has a history because of the folktales that are associated with it.

Though the environment is unpredictable and fast changing, it manages to sustain both animals and plants in a harmonious way. It is a kingdom of wonders where people and animals enjoy the juicy plants while rejoicing and dancing, as they mould the place to their liking. The efficiency of the cycling nutrients is made possible, by the movement of people and animals, as they trample on the grass and encourage the breeding conditions. Here we see the miracle of change and regeneration in a dynamic, exciting and exuberant atmosphere.

The varieties of beautiful flowers are a rare sight, and the trees ever green create an umbrella-like canopy. It provides welcome shade for the light sensitive flowers. The spring rain replenishes the spring and the pond with beautifully clean water, which is good news for the pollution sensitive amphibians.

Added to the whole scene, are the slow moving rivers that enable the marsh frogs to construct and repair their nests and the plants to bury themselves in the soft cold soil by the edge of these rivers. But these plants have to survive the onslaught of ferocious nibbling animals whose appetites never seem to be appeased. But as this paradise offers lots of easy to reach food, some of the plants have by nature developed thorns to limit the damage. However the destructive plant eaters are creative at the same time, because their continuous movement on the trampled grass encourage it to grow faster and the humidity of the area encourages the worms to breed even faster.

This unique and seemingly ideal site has all the trappings of a tranquil world where nature’s best is at display, where your imagination runs wild with visions of reawakened memories. It’s a place where you can create a balance between body and mind. All your worries are taken care of.

You are free of the stresses of life, and you are completely transformed to another world of endless possibilities.

As your imagination continues to run freely, the chemical messengers create a feel-good effect on the body and pain relief…..the safest way to health. And you are grateful to be alive and well.  Maybe you are also thinking, ‘my body is a masterpiece’, because you are probably awakening your inner genius to express something magnificent.

The creations in this wonderful place stretch to the Amazon where you find explosions of herbal plants and vegetables.  The grasses are resilient and fast growing; they are thriving even in different weather conditions. Other herbs provide important food for the small and mighty invaders or hunters who are always looking for the rare herb that is a cure for a variety of diseases. Stories about the healing benefit of this herb abound.

It was said that once you take this herb, you will become ageless and fit for life.

There is also a variety of tree whose branches are plunged down 30 metres to tap the water deep underground. But in the dry seasons leading trees fade away, turning the land into an empty space. When rain arrives, the land become alive again, and the moisture loving trees display their natural beauty.

People fly from across the world in search of this healing herb which seems to evade them. Many keep coming every year to unearth the treasure of this life essence and with the hope of transforming their lives, guiding them to greater level of awareness, but with no success.

One day a man once came halfway across the other side of the world and vowed not to return home until he found this elusive treasure. His body was covered with sores and so was his face. His sores had developed in his childhood. As he walked through this jungle of bushes, trees, herbs and green vegetation, he suddenly became very thirsty and was desperately in need of water. He had been trekking for over two hours without stopping. It was like a marathon race for survival and a perilous journey deep in the Amazon.

Suddenly, he found himself between a ditch and a river, he was not sure how this came to be as he was following a thick jungle trail and was not expecting to come across a river. He was not carrying a map, though that would be useless as this place is like no other and is extraordinary. He really did take a chance in pursuit of this ‘missing treasure’.

As he stopped to get a sense of his bearings, the man heard a loud noise that seemed to be coming from the ditch. As he stepped forward to look down, his body took on a new form, like a tree with twigs and his whole demeanour changed. He was rooted to the spot and paralysed.  The landscape dramatically changed.  Time seemed to have stood still. And he felt as if he was trapped in a cave.

Meanwhile the sound was becoming louder and louder with each passing moment and it was coming on to him with such force.  How could he escape this ‘danger’ now that he is paralysed and trapped? He thought the noise was deafening and at the same time frightening.  Hot air with thick smoke was coming from the ditch.

Within a short space of time, the vast trees had turned into thick woodland and then disappeared altogether leaving just thick grasses. Is this an illusion of the mind? A mental illness perhaps? Where are all the beauty and the majesty? Where has all the tranquility gone or has he imagined it all? He seemed to have lost control of all his senses. The grass beneath him seemed to grow faster, fueled into action by the loud noise senses. He saw images of ferocious beasts flying silently and grasses, leaves and everything beneath him seemed to be vibrating. His life has taken a new dimension. He was looking into another world.  It was like nothing he had ever seen or experienced before. He was mesmerised by the images playing before him; from flying beast to faster growing grass to the vibration and the disappearing jungle. And his body! Which has been transformed into a tree like structure?

The thunderous noise was approaching fast.  He cannot run away from it because he has been paralysed and even if he were able to run, there is nowhere to hide for there isn't a hiding place. Moreover, he has become an entity, no longer the same being. His mind was alert, but did it have the power to answer questions?

Could it be that his thirst had triggered this scenario?

At this point he saw an image of a baby monkey perched on its mother’s back, while what appeared to be a lion and a snake were desperately looking for the kill. And plant eaters which seemed to be controlled by a larger force have suddenly appeared from nowhere. These creatures are approaching him! They are vibrating in a circle and seemed to be in tune with the noise. As they came closer to him, he felt as if a certain force was dragging him away and lifting him up. He was no longer trapped and paralysed but he is still a ‘tree’ because his features haven’t changed back to normal.

World of possibilities?

As he was dragged away, the noise from the ditch suddenly stopped and at that moment he felt that many forces have converged at once and the feeling he was experiencing was out of this world. All his mental and emotional faculties are in sync which enhances his ability to see people and things differently. He felt healed and in balance. There was a shift with a new energy and vigour.

His whole life was unfolding in this space. He was free of the past, of all addictions and powerful…..

At that moment, the noise started again and he felt a deep yearning for contact with it. His body was vibrating and different images of plants and herbs began to appear before him and saluting before a giant baobab tree which sprouted from the ditch. This was amazing for what he thought was a ‘the noise’ was actually a giant baobab tree! But then stories had it that baobab trees have got spirits in them and if you attempt to climb them or pick their leaves, you are done for; you get attacked. Such stories abound and continue to be told to this day. He was day dreaming

He was jolted back to the present when the giant Baobab tree suddenly spoke:

‘I am the king of this space, in this time and I take charge.  You are trespassing and must honour all living beings. This jungle is home to different species, plants and animals and you have stepped into a sacred territory. You are lucky to be alive because the ferocious animals who are our gatekeepers are more active at night but silent hunters in the day. You are lucky also because we were expecting you here for you are ready for this vital information.’ You possess certain qualities that no one who has been searching for this healing has. That is why you are chosen. Many have tried to find it but failed. But it is not a miracle; it is your body, your power and mind and combined with the healing! You are master of your life’.

What vital information? He was interrupted from his thoughts and the tree continued, ‘You were carrying your past with you and subconsciously creating and manifesting problems and health issues in your life despite your best intentions. That is not your fault, for that is the power of negative emotions on your life.

Now you are free of that because you have been transformed and now aware of how learned negative emotional patterns are creating chaos in your life. And there are laws of the universe. Laws governing health and wellbeing, if adhered to can make you feel invincible’

From now on you will learn about optimum nutrition and about the right foods. And because you have the knowledge of self, from now on you can now express, vent and release feelings in healthy, conscious and appropriate ways and never get stuck in negative emotional pattern. It makes all the difference when you consciously experience all your emotions.

Be conscious of your breathing; release all negative emotions until you feel a physical sense of relief in that part of your body”

Then everything went silent, the giant tree disappeared, the saluting plants went with it and the noise. The landscape returned to normal, vegetation; everything returned to normal. It was as if nothing had happened. He was transformed back to his former self, but this time he felt different; there is a new kind of vibration, a new energy and a deep sense of health and well-being.

Was he dreaming? Were his senses playing havoc with him? But it couldn't be. He was a tree and that voice, the giant baobab tree, his words which still echo, his transformation, the whole process. Surely that was not his imagination and he was not daydreaming either?

That was years ago now. He had since become more than average and had inspired average people to attain their goals

He had become a healer with his knowledge of herbs and power of words. He was a shining example of how one can turn bout of addiction into doing productive things to heal the body and mind.

The blessings of nature are endless when you are in tune.