If you were standing on the roof of my home right now, you would see a network of trails in the snow below. You might notice this human-made trail system circles the house and has four main branches. You might also sense that each main branch holds the same feeling of purpose as the trail of a hungry wild canine in search of a meal.
At the end of each branch of my trail system is a cluster of foot prints and bum-prints in the snow. Like the pounce marks of a fox or coyote or wolf, these prints signal that something was worthy of a pause and exploration. What was Willow searching for? You might ask.
Like my wild canine relations, I too search for nourishment. Not some mice to put in my stew –- I am a vegetarian after all! No, I leave the mice for the wild dogs for I am seeking a different kind of meal. Each morning, I slowly walk the trail system to each of the four endpoints. I stop. I breath. I open. And there I find sustenance in the energetic teachings embodied in each of the four sacred directions.
Each sacred direction holds personal meaning: a conversation if you will, between our temporary human self and our infinite Vast Self. Each direction invites us to explore layers of meaning; timeless teachings from Indigenous cultures around the world; relevant lessons from the continually evolving intelligence of the land community.
I am indebted to my Anishnaabe teachers for generously sharing their knowledge with me over the past three decades. Now it is up to me to put these teachings into action. My responsibility is to become a more courageous human who doesn’t turn away from the pain of injustices that I witness in my daily life: racism, abuse of the land, unequal sharing of resources, and indifference towards the suffering of vulnerable people. And equally as important, my responsibility is to become a more joyful human who doesn’t take for granted the ever-present opportunities to be awed by life’s beauty and magic.
Living this responsibility is my deepest desire. However, there is a problem, for it seems I am a very forgetful two-legged. It is so easy to get caught up in the mundane. What will I eat for breakfast? What tasks need to be accomplished today? What if I fail? Should I go on a trip? When will I find time to exercise? What if I am not good enough? On busy, especially self-indulgent days, I might even forget that injustices exist at all. Or I might forget to tend my heart by playing with the land.
I need help remembering what this human journey is truly about. I need constant nudges to become more than I was yesterday in terms of living with compassion and awareness. And so, I created a simple practice inspired by teachings given to me about the sacred directions. I call it my sacred walk-about.
Whether at home or traveling, I seek to connect my body and soul each day with the four directions, tuning into the intangible, merging with a greater reality beyond my limited mind. Even if confined indoors or in unfamiliar lands, with my handy-dandy phone compass, I find the sacred directions.
Where ever I am, I face each direction, and without thinking, I welcome meaning into my awareness. The meaning may take the form of a sound, another life form, texture, aromas, or some kind of indescribable yet powerful knowing. Anything is possible. Nothing is expected.
Today as I gazed out to the East, I was reminded of a Grandfather teaching that Truth sits in the East. And in kundalini yoga we say, “Sat Nam. Truth is my identity.” What shall I do today to honour my truth, my true identity?
Sitting in the South, I remember the agonizing pain of losing “my” beloved Wil. I remember how the land held me and graciously accepted this pain without judgment or pity. Today, the sun shone brightly and spoke of courage to love again.
In the West, I heard Raven. I was reminded to play and dance with the wind.
In the North stood the gangly, tall White Pine. You showed up just when I needed you. How might I show up for someone today?
And so, it goes — giving full embodied attention to the fleeting gifts of each sacred direction, recalibrating my inner compass for the day ahead.
In addition to seeking guidance, I express gratitude to each direction. This morning I gave thanks for the gift of yet another day to experience life. As a survivor of depression, I gave thanks for the sweet, sweet gift of having energy once again; energy to be fully present with people I love, and energy to fuel my dreams. I gave thanks for all the amazing and courageous people in my life. I gave thanks for the Elders of our community, the keepers of knowledge and models of integrity.
Aaah. The feeling of connection is immediate and so reassuring. Tuning in to each direction energizes me. This simple practice calms my busy mind which started babbling the moment I awoke.
This simple practice nourishes my soul as I remember my place in this world. It eases my burdens, because I know the land has my back. Gratitude flourishes in this simplicity. Four sacred directions. Always present. Always welcoming. Always offering guidance to an open heart.
This grounding practice doesn’t happen every day, for I am perfectly imperfect. I am learning to be kinder to myself as I strive to support my whole health. Whole health: spiritual, physical, emotional and intellectual. As a long-time academic, I have been walking around lopsided, tripping over my thought-filled head, killing joy by over-analyzing everything, and fretting over an illusion called perfection.
Now, with this four-directional practice, my sacred walk-about, I remember to gently touch all aspects of my whole being. I remember my wholeness as one with the mystery of life. I rejoice in the complexity and beauty of this world that sustains everyone I love and everyone I have yet to meet. I remember to laugh and not take myself so seriously. I remember my joyful responsibility to be a humane human with every thought, word and action.
I am nourished.