Nature's silence and grace

by Emmanuel Salgado (Chile)

A leap into the unknown Bolivia

In an era of chaos, consumerism, and immediacy, few places retain some of the identity that characterized the earth thousands of years ago. Places that hold a part of our identity as living beings and stand as one of the planet’s pillars of conservation. One of them is in the Andean country of Bolivia, about 400 km from the capital, La Paz, where you can access Rurrenabaque, a gateway to the majestic Amazon rainforest. Rurrenabaque is a small town on the banks of the Beni River, at the entrance to the Bolivian Amazon. The nature in this place is indescribable, of magnificent character and unique on the planet. The majestic Beni River, monarch of the place and guardian of life, invites us to travel through it without hesitation, and understand, a little more, its role in this world fed by its flow, which nourishes all around it. The path for the amazon is long and winding, the trees have become numerous and the animals countless. It is difficult to measure how deep we go into the heart of the forest. The sun is our guide; for the moment, the landscape remains similar. The immense river surrounds us and invites us to listen to it, while we border an endless forest of native trees that delimit the area and show us the right direction. Nature speaks and communicates; the forest is wise and proves it every second we go into it. Each one has a role and fulfills it with responsibility. Like the Ceiba, the sacred tree of the pre-Columbian cultures, which appeared in front of us, majestic and imposing, Marking the entrance to other domain, a different one, that teaches the will of mother earth and her strength. At that instant, we made an offering for our arrival, asked for her protection and energy, and to fulfill our goal in seeking connection with the mother, and hear her words. After that, we thanked and continued. From that moment on, everything became different... A vibration went through my whole body, the environment began to feel more extensive and its connection with me became inexplicable, I felt my vision clear, and suddenly, I began to listen, and learn. When the earth received me inside and spoke to me, I heard clarity. I understood the end of many things and the beginning of others. An eternal swaying of countless frequencies fed by all of us. When I found myself inside her, deep in the forest, I heard the sighs of an eternal and silent land, pure and powerful, fearsome, and a clear guide to my next steps, our mother. The trees escorted the journey and with wise guidance led us along the right path. The animals, on the other hand, complemented that vibration with energetic movements from side to side, insects, mammals, and birds, fluttered around and served as carriers of a greater message, directed to the depths of my mind; the Bolivian amazon holds many surprises inside, it is home to millions of species, being the largest reserve of biodiversity on the planet. However, it also holds the wisdom of an entire planet, channels its energy and spreads it throughout all that space that is not yet touched by human beings. It preserves within itself, the vestiges of a planet in balance, integrity, and peace. A perfect ecosystem nourished by nature and instinct as the greatest community consciousness of the environment. A message so simple, yet so easy to remember and hard to put into practice… Today, after a journey through the heart of the world, I find myself back home, looking up to the sky and remembering the sounds of the jungle that communicated so much to me. I think of the Ceibo and its protection, of its serene guide and its imposing presence inside the rainforest. I feel our mother, who is everything, provides shelter and food, balances her components and takes care of hers. She hears your feeling and vibrates with you. Clear your mind, thoughts, your lungs, and renew your energies. I remember the clear message of nature, that little awakening, and as I am responsible for taking it to the world and spread it.