Seeing with New Eyes

How Acts of “Letting Go" Allow Us to See New Things

I had the good fortune of leading a small group of women on a forest bath in unseasonably warm, autumn conditions. We received much-needed rain last evening and overnight, and the sun was delightful for our 10:00 a.m. start.

While I do not intend to recount our entire guided forest therapy session, I feel it may be instructive to highlight a connection made on the trail. No matter the number of forest baths I guide, I believe each walk can and will offer a new learning, a new connection.

During one portion of the walk, I suggested that participants look in all directions - up and down, zooming in and out to see what is in motion. From my vantage point, it was captivating to stand in one place, neck craned upward, towering trees overhead. The golden and rust-colored leaves filled my vision. It was peaceful observing leaves drifting down to the ground.

One participant reveled in this sight observation as well, noting the need to “let go.” Whether they fall at the beginning of the season or hold on until the very end of autumn, eventually each of the leaves must let go. They fall to the ground and then become part of a new process - decomposition - contributing to the future nutrients of the land.

To visualize her description, the participant held a small collection of leaves. These leaves had been nestled on the ground around her, and they had already started the process of decomposition. As she held up one leaf, I was intrigued by its delicate, almost lace-like quality.

After others in the group had shared, I contributed having seen several species of birds, including two Carolina Wrens and a Red-Bellied Woodpecker. Another participant commented that she hadn’t noticed birds, a perfectly fine observation; her attention was elsewhere. I explained how my fondness for winged creatures had grown. I now appreciate seeing and hearing birds when years before I would not have noticed their presence or understood the significance of migration and seasonality.

It was in that conversation that I made a connection. An act of “letting go" had allowed me to see new things, to extend my sight to new possibilities and opportunities. I likened this to the leaves letting go of the tree branches and opening new sight lines for visualizing birds. Then, as I was journaling today’s experience, I was reminded of a word that has significant meaning to me - surrender. Surrender is not giving in, not waving the white flag. Surrender is letting go of what was and opening to new possibilities. Surrender is where the magic lies.

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