A Divine Play in Nature

                                                                     

Years ago, I saw a Rock artist at a beach in Southern California. I was mesmerized. He was so skillfully balancing the rocks that I thought the rocks were magnetized.  When the country started shutting down due to Covid in March 2020, I was in CA for a business trip.  I was in Ventura Beach and I couldn't resist but to pose for the below picture. I thought, I want to build something like this when I grow up. 

I'd like to build something like this when I grow up- March 5, 2020 

Later in the summer of 2020, my son and I were hiking at Hocking Hills,OH and we came to this field,  with lots and lots of rock sculptures. This was a big playground for hikers full of rocks to build their rock sculptures. That was it...I gave it a try and I was hooked. 

Should I try???

My first ever rock structure at Hocking Hills

I'll not talk about how to balance rocks. There are multiple videos of professional rock artists in youtube but I'll talk why. First it became a nice distraction for me in nature, something I looked for in Covid-summer weekends, and then in the Fall,  then in Winter, and then in Spring...I started spending time in river beds, balancing rocks, I'm so lucky we have plenty. 

For me it's connecting to Earth and feeling its balance and perfection through rocks. It's an incredible meditative activity where I can single pointedly concentrate and not think about anything else.  I'm not in a contest to build the highest tower of rocks. Not at all. The less the better. 

First thing first, I need a large stable base, just like our hara, one that connects me to Earth, one that I can rely on and build on top. If this base is not stable, forget it, it will never hold. A structure must build on top of a stable base, Just like we practice to build our connection to Earth, claim our place on Earth, stabilize and declare our existence, you keep your base rock stable. When your base is stable, nothing on Earth can hold you, no fear can distract you. 

Balance starts with harmony. The next one should weigh in to the Earth but be weightless of any emotions, senses and sensations. If you load too much meaning into this next one, forget it, it won't hold. You need to let this one free, so that it can reach to Heavens. Right and Left, Above and Beyond, it stands on Earth solidly to reach to Heavens.

When Earth and Heaven is perfectly balanced, the next one comes naturally and claims its place, be careful here,  no expectations. This one is to know that there is more beyond Earth and Heavens.  The trick is to be true to yourself only and willing to expand beyond your borders. 

The next one is where the Earth, Heaven and Beyond disappears. You can sometimes reach to this, sometimes not and it doesn't matter a bit. No effort needed, if it comes, it becomes by the Grace of it. 

Leave no trace., like everything else this journey ends, it comes to an end and it dissolves, one picture is taken at a point in time, and all the stones go back to their origin. One by one placed where they were found and thanked over for their co-play role.

Impermanence is the last lesson, letting go lovingly and don't cling.. After all, they were here for a lesson, in a Divine play in nature, just for the joy of playing.