An excerpt from my book One Path, Many Lights – Chapter Eight
Back on Path, Mindfulness in Action
After the experience with my carotid artery I knew it was important to maintain some form of fitness and stay healthy. However, I realised it had been a number of weeks since I had walked any significant distance.
Off to the Lilydale Lake I went. Getting up in the dark and trying to find my clothes, I started to wonder, What am I doing? Yet after washing the sleep from my eyes I could see clearly again and realised it wasn’t that bad!
My friend Charlotte and I started our walk around the lake when it was still dark. Street lights along the path partially lit our way and we were guided by the light of the full moon. It was magical.
On our past walks together we had talked and laughed, and focused mainly on our goal of getting around the lake twice in a good time. Yet something had happened. We started noticing so much more – like rabbits sitting tall and watching us. As we came close, they turned around with their fluffy white tails and scuttled away. At first we only noticed one but hiding behind clumps of grass was a whole family. A duck swam silently through the calm water forming a V-shaped wake as it glided along. The sun was rising in all its colour and brilliance. Mist hovered over the lake. Charlotte imagined we were in a scene from King Arthur. I thought we were in Scotland waiting for the Loch Ness monster to rise up and grace us with its presence.
We smiled encouragingly as our imagination bubbled — something I hadn’t felt for a while – and I got in touch with my inner child.
A little marsupial, larger than a mouse and not as big as a rat, sat comfortably on the side of the walkway, eating happily and not phased one bit as we strode by. We looked in amusement, making up stories about what it was thinking about us. Sitting on a post, two small blue birds watched as we walked by, their vivid colour bringing us feelings of happiness and putting a skip in our step.
Everything had changed. Nature’s beauty and richness was enhanced.
We expanded our breath as we walked and talked, each of our senses taking in the experience of the moment. Our bodies were relaxed even though we walked fast. Our backs extended upwards as if we were getting taller. We decided to rename Lilydale Lake “Lake Epiphany” because there had been many times that answers had profoundly dropped in.
No longer did we talk about getting fit. We shared that we were nourishing our souls as we breathed in the moment, aware and open.
It’s so easy, through life’s twists and turns, to lose our connection with the very thing that inspires and nourishes us: nature.
I now understand that reconnecting with nature makes us infinitely richer.
Back in the car we wound down the windows when they fogged up from our body heat. Driving off I felt the breeze cooling the perspiration on my face and down the back of my neck. I was alive! With gratitude, I silently thanked Lake Epiphany and all of her inhabitants for sharing and showing me the way.
Until next week,
Maria Lacey was born in Australia. She has travelled extensively overseas being led by visions, dreams and spiritual guidance.
Maria writes about life (the human and spiritual path), the adversity, learning, musings and triumphs. A successful entrepreneur with over 18 years in her own business, Maria humorously states, “I am my greatest case study.”
Maria is a qualified Counsellor, Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master Teacher, Spiritual Teacher, Meditation Teacher, Healer, Channel and Speaker.
Maria is currently writing her second book about her spiritual travels overseas.
For further information about the author go to: http://www.marialacey.com.au/
Maria’s first book – https://www.amazon.com/One-Path-Many-Lights-Spiritual-ebook/dp/B00YOIOTIS
Maria Lacey 