Listening to the Wind

Wind in a willow next to Lake Michigan at Loyola-Leone Beach, Chicago

Listening to the Wind

As the Spring season starts in full force, at least in the Chicago, the constantly changing weather always give me pause to listen to what Nature is telling us. We are all connected to in a great web to nature and the hubris of mankind is that they think they are removed or above this connection. The brilliant Brit Marling in the second and final season of The OA created a character who was medium who could communicate with Nature, both with the natural elements and also living beings like animals and trees. I loved this because I believe that so many folks have some form of this ability and it comes across in different ways. It can range from the billowing of the wind, the waves crashing on the shore, or communing with the trees around us or interactions with the animals we see and talk too. Sometimes it is just comforting; like when people simply want to lean up against a tree for grounding or other times it can be a form of divination. The late Robert Jordan in his fantasy series The Wheel of Time called one such type of divination amongst his magic users “listening to the wind” – a type of Foretelling. This was an homage to the generations of women and men who, for centuries, have been able to sense both physical changes in the atmosphere and weather to being able to know things like when company is coming or major change is on the horizon. As an air elementalist or “weather witch,” I too have been gifted with this talent, this mediumship with Nature connected any slight breeze or howling gale I interact with. Sometimes its interpreted by reflex and sometimes it is something that I focus on and illicit to come forth for guidance. It usually comes across as a blend of specific precognition and intuitive feelings.

This type of talent is also connected to the area and landscape that one lives in. In a big city like Chicago, it can convey quite a bit of information about the population, overall energy, and the “health” of the city. I’m certain folks who have talents with gardening or growing things would also be able to tell you about changes in the land as well when their hands are in the soil or they are talking to their plants. I don’t know if all green thumbs can as it comes to a question of understand the communication. That’s where the mediumship aspect comes in; understanding the messages and relaying them. I’d also probably bet that so many folks do this second Nature and don’t even realize what it is. With the animals in their neighborhood, or lake they live next to, or park near their homes. But once discovered, the best part of this talent is that it can be nurtured and grown.

I’d challenge anyone reading this to reflect on their connection with Nature and to see if they too have an affinity or maybe have been receiving messages from Nature, and if so, explore and strengthen that connection into a real relationship as part of themselves and their practice.

Brit Marling in The OA amongst the talking tree roots.