Can’t See the Forest Fire Through the Trees

I just got back yesterday from a trip to see my family in Colorado. Being in Nature means a lot to me, and the Colorado landscape is one of my favorite places to visit. The trip was super restorative, and it got me thinking a lot about the relationship between fires and trees.

Trees are a magnificent part of Earth’s flora. They provide shelter from the rain, shade from the burning sun, life-saving oxygen to the atmosphere, and housing for birds, bugs and other creatures. Their roots stabilize the soil, and sometimes trees act as a filter to purify our air.

Trees are important. No wonder they are a symbol of life, itself.

Every year, many of the western states, including Colorado, suffer through a forest fire season from Summer through the early Fall. The loss of acres and acres of trees can be devastating, while simultaneously bringing melancholy to the people who live there. My parents and some of my friends have at times feared their houses would be turned to dust by an approaching blaze. As a result, I’ve always held negative views of fires.

The National Park Service, however, has a different attitude. In fact, it’s quite yogic:
“Fires remove dead trees and litter from the forest floor. Shrubs and trees invading grasslands also are killed by fires. In each example, new healthy regrowth occurs. Fire does not imply death, but rather change. As fire was associated with rebirth and renewal in mythology, fire today is recognized as an instrument of change and a catalyst for promoting biological diversity and healthy ecosystems.”
(Read more at: nps.gov)

Let’s think about that for a moment. As painful and devastating as fires can be, they are also a catalyst for change. Many of us grow so attached to things as they are, we are resistant to change. And, let’s face it – we’ve all had times when we’ve needed to “light a fire under our butt” to ignite the spark of motivation.

So, let’s focus on building a little heat, become a tree for a short time, and hopefully the combination along with the rest of a complete yoga asana sequence, will give us another nudge forward on our path.