Sacred Communication in Nature
Natural
Experience
Nolan Trail Experience
Communication is not the same as speaking. If this were
true, then we could only communicate with humans. Everyone, when they think
about this, knows that it would be foolish to say you could not demonstrate
your meaning through your actions or even basic vocal functions. As a
dog-owner, I communicate with my pet through simple voice sounds which she has
memorized; I also communicate with my hand gestures. Because of these things,
she knows what I am trying to make her understand. Likewise, nature can
communicate with us and we back with nature. The Nolan Trail was a prime
opportunity to see this. As we walked through the woods, we could read the
state of the tree through their appearances. One tree was evident to have been
struck by lightning, and another was obviously pulled down partially by a
person. These trees communicated their destruction to us through their state.
One tree had evidence of disfigurement because it was covered in knobs. At one
point in the trail, there was a lone tree which towered above the others. It
was the only one of its kind in sight. Apparently, the others like it were
destroyed by a hurricane which occurred in recent years. This was the most
human-like tree because it conveyed a feeling that all are familiar with: loneliness.
This non-sentient yet lonely tree was standing strong and silent, but parts of
all of us can relate to the message which it shared.
As I walked further along the trail, I could see the
changes of fall affecting the trees slowly. Leaves were all shades of colors.
Some were bright green still, while others looked yellow and red. Many trees
had already shed their summer coats, waiting to grow them back after the coming
winter. These trees communicated with each other as well. There were vines that
looked to be strangling skinnier trees, preventing them from growing any
further. We learned that sometimes this can be beneficial to us, as humans,
because it can create intricate designs that make the trunk of the thin tree a
desirable walking stick. We came across one spiky looking tree which was very
small. These were nicknamed the Devil's Walking Stick because of the amount of
pain one would receive from using it to aid in their hiking.
Seeing these things has helped me learn that, though trees
are not sentient creatures and have no sort of mind, a message can still be
given to us through them.
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