Calm by Nature

With all the heavy rain we’ve been experiencing recently in SE Australia, this time round I am feeling called to write about moss (yes, moss!) which is of course a plant that thrives in moist conditions.

Moss tends to get overlooked because it’s non-flowering and is often at ground level or hiding somewhere in a shady spot.  It’s a primitive plant with no real roots and so, attached by only slender filaments, it sits lightly on a rock or tree trunk or “covers the ground like green skin” (Helena Attlee, Gardens of Japan).

Moss feels velvety to touch and has its own simple beauty, coming in many shades of green.  In fact there are over 120 different kinds at Saiho-ji (also known as Kokedera or The Moss Temple) in Japan and the mosses have now covered many of the garden’s structures like bridges and small buildings.  Such is the reverence for the moss garden that it has become a World Heritage Site and can only be visited by applying in writing and, if successful, going through a ritual.

Several years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting a small temple in Kyoto with a viewing platform expressly for contemplating the small courtyard garden comprised entirely of moss.  Every time I am close to some moss, I get a strong sense of the ancient, which is not surprising given that moss fossils discovered in Antarctica in 2008 were dated at 14 million years old. It felt both humbling and deeply reassuring to sit on the old wooden temple floor gazing out onto a carpet of soft green velvet, to experience such a palpable serenity and power of stillness.  It brought me back to earth and left me feeling very grounded.

If you find yourself frenzied, up in the head or just generally “not here”, here are a few ‘moss’ reflections and suggestions to help you feel more grounded:

• Nature can be a wise teacher.  Moss grows horizontally rather than vertically, and usually in the shade.  Consider how this principle might apply for you.  In our society, we are used to growth being upwards towards the limelight.   Might there be other creative ways to expand your knowledge, career, success, relationships and so on, ones where you could reach out sideways and actually cover more ground?   
• Nature can give us clues about ourselves.  Next time you are out for a walk, look for some moss.  It may take some exploring in nooks and crannies where you wouldn’t normally look, so just notice how that experience feels for you and how that may mimic the way you operate in different areas of your life.
• If you find some moss (even if it’s on your garden wall!), take note of its colour, shape, density.   Look up close – can you see the individual leaves?  You might even like to touch it (please be very gentle with it and wash your hands afterwards!).  Then close your eyes, how does it feel to be near the moss?  Simply stay open without judgment to whatever may come.  If nothing else, you will have had a few moments of stillness.
• Moss Agate can be useful for keeping us grounded and connected with the earth.   It can even support us to bring ideas into the physical world.  Wear as jewellery, place a crystal on your desk, under your pillow or in a pocket.

Interesting links:

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2005/08/11/2043166.htm

http://www.japantravelinfo.com/heritage/h_moss_temple.php