What moved me here was the difference between instinct and the story the mind builds afterward. The body recognised danger and responded; then, beneath that alertness, you were still able to see another living being simply resting in the sun. That shift—from “a threat to me” to “a life beside me”—felt deeply meaningful. This piece did not romanticise fear or deny it. It showed how awareness can hold both caution and kinship at once.
Hi Anthony, you have seen this in a beautiful light. Thank you for piercing right through those layers of mind. It is a journey, isn’t it? I particularly love your last sentence, “how awareness can hold both caution and kinship at once” - that is so well said.
Thank you, Jenni. You expressed this so beautifully. Every word rings true, but you did something more than that. I could actually feel the joy of being the snake and the butterfly. Through your writing, you wove us together. Thank you for that.
Had a similar experience in my vegetable garden. A 2 mtr long dugit staring up at me. Fortunately my pup was nowhere near. I simply admired the beauty of this creature before me, knowing full well that if I took one more step forward it could lash out and bite me. Arrh, the beauty of nature and the wonder of the Divine that permeates all.
This was so beautifully written. I agree that we are all just as important as each other and really we are all “one and all”. I’m from the UK and at the moment we are camping in Bennie our Motorhome in the New Forest where there are wild horses, ponies, cows and bulls roaming freely around us. It is magical. And of course butterflies. Not sure about snakes, although I did see one once with my daughter 🌹
Thank you Georgina, your camping trip sounds wonderful, how blessed you are to be travelling in this way and experiencing so many wild animals, they must be free and happy too. 🙏🌷
It’s only for a long weekend, but we have been on much longer trips when we lost our hotel. We’ve been down through France, Italy, Spain and even into Greece! Such an adventure 🌹
Beautifully done, resonated deeply, I grew up in rural Australia and it was part of the DNA of the place that the only good snake was a dead one. I felt the surge as you read the story. It's a lot to unlearn . Every day I go out side and take a photo of something nature ,not to possess it but to metabalise it's beauty it's presence , its life. The brain takes longer to "hold" love peace joy beauty than fear.
The spirituality of all is both deeply heart breaking and overflowing with grace
Ian, thank you so much for your genuine resonance and connection. Seeing life and nature in the way you describe—the way you said you take a photo to metabolise it—to me sounds like a daily act of deep transformation. Your last sentence particularly touched me. When you say "deeply heart-breaking," what does that mean for you? What comes to my mind is how everything comes to an end, the cycles of creation, so I’m wondering if that’s what you are referring to?
Thank you for your kind comment and for reading. I have felt a similar depth and observation from you during our conversations about nature; it is so lovely to be able to share this.
What moved me here was the difference between instinct and the story the mind builds afterward. The body recognised danger and responded; then, beneath that alertness, you were still able to see another living being simply resting in the sun. That shift—from “a threat to me” to “a life beside me”—felt deeply meaningful. This piece did not romanticise fear or deny it. It showed how awareness can hold both caution and kinship at once.
Hi Anthony, you have seen this in a beautiful light. Thank you for piercing right through those layers of mind. It is a journey, isn’t it? I particularly love your last sentence, “how awareness can hold both caution and kinship at once” - that is so well said.
How lucky to witness the love from the butterfly and the fear from the snake on your walk and all that it conjured up. 🦋🙏
We truly do live in a beautiful part of this world. One piece of land here is so rich with life, beauty and activity 🙏
Love this Jenni
Thank you Ben, I appreciate it 🙏
This is beautiful Jenni ❤️
Thanks so much, Anthony. I appreciate your kind thoughts. ❤️
Thank you, Jenni. You expressed this so beautifully. Every word rings true, but you did something more than that. I could actually feel the joy of being the snake and the butterfly. Through your writing, you wove us together. Thank you for that.
Tamas, as always, thank you. I so appreciate your deep recognition, insight and sharing in the true wonders of the natural world.
Had a similar experience in my vegetable garden. A 2 mtr long dugit staring up at me. Fortunately my pup was nowhere near. I simply admired the beauty of this creature before me, knowing full well that if I took one more step forward it could lash out and bite me. Arrh, the beauty of nature and the wonder of the Divine that permeates all.
“The beauty of nature and the wonder of the Divine” It is extraordinary to say the least, somewhat impossible for the human mind to comprehend 🙏
This was so beautifully written. I agree that we are all just as important as each other and really we are all “one and all”. I’m from the UK and at the moment we are camping in Bennie our Motorhome in the New Forest where there are wild horses, ponies, cows and bulls roaming freely around us. It is magical. And of course butterflies. Not sure about snakes, although I did see one once with my daughter 🌹
Thank you Georgina, your camping trip sounds wonderful, how blessed you are to be travelling in this way and experiencing so many wild animals, they must be free and happy too. 🙏🌷
It’s only for a long weekend, but we have been on much longer trips when we lost our hotel. We’ve been down through France, Italy, Spain and even into Greece! Such an adventure 🌹
A beautiful contemplation
Thank you 🙏🙏
Beautifully done, resonated deeply, I grew up in rural Australia and it was part of the DNA of the place that the only good snake was a dead one. I felt the surge as you read the story. It's a lot to unlearn . Every day I go out side and take a photo of something nature ,not to possess it but to metabalise it's beauty it's presence , its life. The brain takes longer to "hold" love peace joy beauty than fear.
The spirituality of all is both deeply heart breaking and overflowing with grace
Ian, thank you so much for your genuine resonance and connection. Seeing life and nature in the way you describe—the way you said you take a photo to metabolise it—to me sounds like a daily act of deep transformation. Your last sentence particularly touched me. When you say "deeply heart-breaking," what does that mean for you? What comes to my mind is how everything comes to an end, the cycles of creation, so I’m wondering if that’s what you are referring to?
There is so much suffering and horror in the world and so much grace and joy
I love the way you respond to nature and observe yourself alongside all these creatures. It makes for a lovely piece.
Thank you for your kind comment and for reading. I have felt a similar depth and observation from you during our conversations about nature; it is so lovely to be able to share this.
Thank you, Senor Clooney, thank you for recognising the essence of this writing, and for your immense encouragement!