He stood singing by the river. A new song. One had never heard before nor imagined to be. The river was not shallow for this time of year, as some have told him. About knee high at its rocky center and shallower close to the shore, of course. Where the river turned from flowing east to flowing south deep swimming holes formed and it is in one of these pockets –under the shadow of the tropical flora that he saw the opening. He normally would not hesitate to go in. Today was different. He had not gone on a journey like this for a while. This is what he wanted though.

To prepare himself he stood firm and still with his eyes closed. First he noticed the sound of the river. How had he missed it? He laughed to himself. He hadn’t of course but the clear crystal-like sounds awaken like a bird at dawn when the eyes are shut. Nature allows this. Back in the city, to close your eyes and hear the sounds of traffic and yelling and hammering is abusive. No wonder people lose touch with the silence within them.

After the sound of water running over rocks he heard the wind in the trees. Yet another thing it is hard to find pleasure in when you are surrounded by air hitting concrete. At it’s best it brings with it smells from restaurants serving food that is devastating the planet. At its worst,well, you’ve experienced these city winds.  The wind in the forest will speak to you if you listen. It carries the fragrances of life itself along with its wisdom.

He took one step forward and touched his toe to the water.Whispers from the water could be heard - voices from the realms beyond. He remembered these realms. The creatures within them peered at him like eyes in the mist - some voices fierce, others gentle and yet others whimsical. They are beings like ourselves but who have listened to the wisdom of the land. Beings unique to their element. The water beings like open containers for the creative force of the universe itself. Earth beings, like stethoscopes, attuned to the heartbeat and flow of life and death. The air beings, like secrets being told by giggling children, like blessings holding up the very space that life can be in. And finally fire beings, like laughter from ten thousand portals into ten thousand universes and all the souls within them celebrating.

He removed his toe from the water laughing with childish joy. He opened his eyes, ran in to the water and dove deep into the wisdom and play of the mystery beyond.