I grew up in Northern California. It has the perfect climate
for an abundance of life, including trees, birds, mammals, flowers, etc. After
growing up in California, I went to the University of Michigan where squirrels
and birds frolic in the plethora of trees. But then I went to the University of
Arizona for law school.
Prior to relocating to Tucson, I had only been there twice.
I love the beauty of the rocks, but over time living there, one thing became
abundantly clear – I missed trees. The lack of trees started to grate on me. It
seemed almost too metaphorical for law school and the legal profession.
But then I opened my eyes. I started taking yoga seriously
in law school and started taking it very seriously my third year and while
studying for the bar exam. It was then that I noticed how amazing the desert
really is. Life exists where all reason says it should not. My favorite example
is the Ocotillo cactus, which people often cut down and use to
make fence posts. Rationality suggests that cutting down the cactus would kill
it, but each spring these fence posts come alive and grow leaves and even
flowers. It is incredible.
Living in New
Zealand since January has been healing for me. This country does not lack for
trees. So it has been easy for me to forget the desert lessons, but last week,
I got my reminder . . . this time on a volcano. If people did not know before
February, they now know that New Zealand is earthquake prone. What is less well
known, however, is that its largest city, Auckland, sits on a few (read 52)
volcanoes. I’m starting to wonder why anyone lives in this country . . . but I
digress.
Last week, I visited the most recent eruption. It is an island
called Rangitoto, which was created 600 years ago when the volcano erupted. It
is an island, therefore, made purely of lava. There is no dirt. There were no
trees. There was no life.
Today, Rangitoto has the largest Pohutekawa (a NZ tree that
flowers at Christmas time, so it is called the Christmas Tree) Forest in the
country. I was expecting a day walking on lava. Instead, I got a day walking
through lush forest. In fact, the only lava you could really see was in the
lava caves and along the road where the trees had been cut down to make the
road. There are even NZ fern trees.
A view of the lush landscape on the island looking back to Auckland City.
A view of the crater, full of trees.
A NZ fern tree.
In 600 short years, out of molten lava came a beautiful
forest. If the ocotillo cactus is not a great testament to life, the lava
forest should be. It may sound cheesy, but I like to think of these examples
when life seems incredibly difficult. Sitting in an office all day, devoid of
nature, it can be very easy to forget how powerful life and nature can be. It
is necessary to step outside and remind ourselves. Yoga is about being present
and taking stock of the world around you. Sometimes that is the best way to
remember how powerful life can be. Where do you most notice the power of life?
Namaste!
©
Rebecca Stahl 2011, all rights reserved.
This is beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
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