Wild Primal Jungle Shifts My Perspective

Living in the jungle of Costa Rica now for 2 weeks, it has changed me in significant ways. And it truly shifts my perspective. I am curious how it will continue to influence my perspectives, openness, love for all life.

Summary:

This is a HUGELY different environment than what I find in Minnesota, or in the states anywhere for that matter. HUGELY different. This is WILD in the ultimate sense of the word. Over the days, I have moved from tolerance for the jungle to frustration (with the literally hundreds of bug bites). Then to respect, awe, and surrender. And now complete appreciation for the powerful spirit that is 

THE JUNGLE

Wild, primal, passionate, alive.

Details:

Have you visited the jungle? What was your experience? I am curious it was the same as mine.

Tolerance to frustration

I did my research. What critters are poisonous, what to avoid, how to ‘survive’ in the jungle.

Week 1 of my jungle experience was at a retreat up on the hillside overlooking the Caribbean Sea. We were surrounded by jungle. I and my lovely retreat roommate, Danielle, chose to sleep with windows and doors open to allow the jungle energy in.

So, when I had the scarab beetle hiding amongst my ceremonial mat in the ceremonial space, I thanked it for its medicine and gently moved it back outside near the fountain pond.

When I had the giant locust visit my headboard at 2am, I tolerated its presence and gently escorted it back outside via the open walls of our bathroom space.

… and Yes, I really enjoyed showering (among other bathroom things) in the open air; definitely a primal experience.

At this point, I was trying to be open and embrace the jungle. However, without realizing it, I was in ‘survival – tolerance’ mode. Of course, I had no idea that this was my perspective. It’s just how I was, how I was dealing with this very different environment compared to home.

Somewhere around day 6, the bugs decided I was delicious. (I can’t blame them really … just kidding). It was at this point that I had a micro-panic attack:

Day 7 moved me from the hilltop retreat center to a cute home near the main road, half-mile from the beach, at sea level. This is when I realized the hilltop area was a real blessing because the fresh breeze kept us cool and the bugs (actually) at bay. In this Airbnb, I was at a new level of jungle experience. The still air brought high humidity and an escalated number of bugs. This is when my tolerance morphed into deep frustration. To the store I went for (natural) insect repellant and anti-itch cream.

Respect and Awe

Somewhere around day 8 or 9, I felt a shift in my perspective about the jungle. I began to realize that I am a guest here. And I pondered what kind of guest was I being? Was I rude and belligerent?

How could I be a more respectful guest in the jungle-home? How could I pay due respect to the Spirit of Jungle, the guardians of this land? How could I better honor this Time & Place? How could I honor the millions of years that these Beings have held space here, creating the perfect place for all that has transpired?

As I pondered this and meditated on this, my frustration turned to respect. I began to understand the depth of the wisdom held within the intermingling foliage. I began to witness the mystery. I began to sense the pulse of primal energy that permeates E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G in the jungle environment.

This shift in perspective gave me a space in which to stop, breathe in the primal air, and appreciate all that it is, exactly as it is. And this brought me to a perspective of awe. Pure AWE:

After this, I shifted into a more open & accepting of place. I am speaking with the guardians in deep honor and with deep respect. I understand that I have a great deal to learn from them and from the Jungle Spirit herself. Whew! Such extreme super-power! Every plant has medicine. Every animal has a life-force about it. Every wisp of air has its on purpose. Every raindrop is placed with care.

Life here is SO very interwoven, one thing cannot be extracted from the rest for to do so creates separation. And thus, that one thing is no longer its deepest truest self. And with this understanding, I moved into a perspective of deep surrender. I too wanted to be inseparable from this environment. I too want to be seamlessly interwoven for the time that I am here.

Surrender and Jungle Initiation

I suspect that anyone who has lived in the jungle for a few weeks or month will find this turning point. The point where they either ‘get it’ or not. If they ‘get it’, they know why they were drawn to the jungle, and they know why they choose to stay. If they reach this ‘ah-ha!’ moment, the jungle initiates them. And if not, the jungle rejects them.

Ask anyone who has embraced the jungle “what was your jungle initiation?”

Mine came two nights ago. I put head on pillow with windows wide open as usual and mosquito netting around my bed, I honored Jungle and wished her ‘good night’. Within moments, I heard scurrying up the metal siding and perhaps upon our roof? Or into my room? The scratching and screeching sounds were right here, seemingly next to my bed. I envisioned a huge hairy rat so I turned on my flashlight and shown all around. Nothing. Light off, scratching and screeching again. Light on, me up peeking into every possible corner to find nothing. After the fourth time of searching, I fell exhausted onto my bed. No longer caring and realizing 2-hours had passed, I surrendered to it all! Yes, I found myself surrendering to the jungle. I knew that I was safe. I knew that I could sleep soundly without any harm to me.

Almost immediately after this surrender, the critter scurried back down the metal siding and disappeared. I never did see it nor care to. I suspected it was a test from Jungle.

I fell asleep and slept soundly for perhaps 2 hours.

And then the next phase of the initiation woke me. More sounds on the roof above me; scratching, squawking, squeaking, and other unidentifiable sounds. I opened eyes and peacefully, curiously observed “what now?”

Having captured my attention, the sounds turned into the whooshing of wings. I saw huge bats circling above me. Don’t ask me how I saw them through the metal roofed ceiling. But I saw them, and I would stake my life on that fact. They whooshed and circled for a minute and then were gone. And all was quiet.

I asked my inner guidance “what was that?”

I heard “Jungle Initiation.”

Yes, that made sense. In complete peace, I settled back into my pillow and rested soundly.

Loving the Jungle

Since the initiation, I have felt extremely loved and supported here. When I woke this morning, I felt the warm embrace and the nurturing of Jungle. I feel in the flow of nature here. I feel interwoven, connected. I am no longer surviving; I am thriving here. It will be interesting to see if this deep connection is carried with me to other parts of the jungle, in other parts of the world, or if this is a special bond that I have here.

Conclusion:

And, I can completely understand why people love to live in the jungle. The Jungle is alive. And it loves deeply and passionately in all its primal and wild ways.

Have you visited the jungle? Lived in the jungle? What was your experience? Did you have a jungle initiation?

Sharing this with loving intentions,

Lila

Tags:

#Lila @lila_Crystal-Goddex @crystalweavers #spiritedadventures #awakenyoursoul #junglelife #jungle #costarica #ascension #natureheals #mothernature