Oftentimes, living in this culture, we are immersed in a social agreement that emphasizes the mind, the linear, the logical and the rational. A story is told from point A to point B in a straight line. We are taught that this is the right way to go about living in the realm of ‘right and wrong.’ Ritual and ceremony, however, remind us that the story is really multidimensional, and that the richness of the experience of living happens amidst a tapestry of flavors, textures, sounds, sights and waves of energy. To be able to see and experience the many dimensions and frequencies that surround us and flow through us is food for the spirit and soul.

In a recent talk, elder Malidoma Patrice Somé discussed symbols, saying that they are the inner workings of the veins and arteries of the world, and that the world becomes anemic when the savoring of symbols is depleted. He went on to say that the world is constantly being remade and rebuilt. Without awareness and experience of symbolism, there is often a starvation of soul and spirit and a longing for reconnection with what people have referred to as the Beloved, Spirit, Creator, Connection or Unity. Many people today are in a state of longing for home, for the sacred. We were once connected to it or we wouldn’t be able to long for it.

Poets, artists, bards and musicians attempt to bring this experience of symbolism back into our realm. Nature does this, too. We live in a world rich with symbolism and, without much effort, can feed upon our experiences and interactions with these perceptions and energies—to begin to remember the indigenous wisdom that has been passed on to us from our lineage and resides right now in our very bones. I’m not referring to mental musings about what an object symbolically represents. Rather, I’m speaking of the direct contact and experience of the essence of something in the flow of giving and receiving—the taking in of the vibration and capturing of the deep memory that is evoked as the result of looking and seeing, smelling, tasting, hearing and living in a new way in every now-moment.

In the way of Malidoma Somé’s Dagara Tribe of West Africa, the elements are living beings that are with us and within us at all times. The elemental beings offer gifts and healing to those who are open to connect with and remember these gifts. Fire, water, earth, mineral and nature are five elements that when interacted with can be healing balms. Many people benefit from their interaction and experience with these elements without considering why. To consciously interact and invite a deeper relationship with these elements through ritual can bring forth a whole new experience of the world in which we live.

Fire is our connection to the ancestors, to the force of life and to our dreams. To sit with a lighted candle or a bonfire can be enchanting, and it can also be a gateway to one’s connection with the ancestors. Perhaps you’re drawn to sit with a fire as it burns. What are you being called to? What are you really seeing as you gaze into the flames and embers?

People often say that an ocean or a lake gives them a feeling of peace and calm. Water is the element that brings peace, forgiveness and reconciliation. Water is one that purifies and cleanses. To merge with the essence of water will bring about a new freedom.

Earth is home: our place of belonging, of being held, and of being nurtured and nourished. Working in a garden, lying on the Earth, feeling the sun or gazing at stars can allow the remembering of being held as a baby. Earth holds the bones of our ancestors and our deep roots.

The mineral realm includes stones and bones. It’s said that all ancient wisdom resides within our bones and has been passed down to us from our ancestors. The stones are the bones of the Earth. People are attracted to certain stones, rocks and jewels and like to keep them around or wear them. Mineral assists us in remembering our stories, our wisdom and our medicine; to know something “in our bones.”

Nature surrounds us and is constantly interacting with us and bringing gifts and opportunities to listen, remember and receive. Trees, mountains, plants, flowers and animals can all bring a gift to us if we are open to receive the magic. Ask yourself, what animals and places in nature am I attracted to? Why? Perhaps the qualities and energy of that place or animal are calling to you as a mirror to assist you in bringing forth that medicine from within you!

Or, perhaps not. This is where choice comes in: the choice to truly open our eyes and see. Are you so busy as to not see the rich tapestry of colors, sounds, textures and energies that make up your life? Or, do you take the time to read into the wealth of the symbolism and receive the messages that are there for you?

Theresa Sykes Brittany, MS, has a private practice in Leicester, NC, and can be reached at Theresa@RitesofPassageCouncil.com or 828-777-1492. To view her ongoing programs, Circles, trainings and retreats, visit www.RitesofPassageCouncil.com.

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