Going With The Flow - Literally

Over the past six months I’ve developed and launched a new website and e-newsletter that is similar in structure to Conscious CT, but with a very different theme. From a spiritual perspective I don’t know why I did this as it took time away from holistic projects; but it felt right and events kept prodding me in that direction. So I went with the flow.

The flow in this case is literally a river, which is located across the street from where I live and passes through Vernon parallel to I-84. The river is only 5 miles long but 4 of the 5 miles are protected land with many hiking trails and parks. The river valley includes the southern half of Vernon plus a bit of Tolland, Bolton and Manchester. The river is the Tankerhoosen and in its early days was dammed in many places to provide power for early mills. Thus it is rich in history as well as nature and recreation.

Last year a local businessman attempted to put an outdoor summer concert venue in the center of our residential area; the sound stage would have been a quarter mile from where I live. Profits would have come from alcohol sales resulting in noise, litter and traffic problems for the area. Another concern was the possibility of harming the Tankerhoosen River. Neighbors came together in a flash community to fight the project and over a three month period we were able to defeat it. I was drawn into the effort and built a website and produced an e newsletter to keep people informed and provide a place to make information available.

Over the nearly 50 years I’ve lived in town I’ve largely avoided getting drawn into politics or local battles. As I was drawn into this one it felt that for me it was not just about the concerts, but that this was about something else. There was something else seeking my attention.

I regularly hike the roads and trails in this area and feel blessed that I live in such a nice area. I’ve walked and sometimes meditated next to the river and taken my children and now grandchildren for walks and wading. It’s a place to relax, unwind and think. Yet I never thought of the river and its valley as a whole, as a living, connected related entity.

The testimony before the Planning and Zoning Commission included a number of studies relating to the environment and the river. The people I met and worked with on our neighborhood committee had years of experience protecting resources in town and introduced me to detailed studies of the area. Reading through the studies and listening to testimony I became fascinated with the many layers of information and how little I knew about this area where I’ve spent most of my life. It encouraged me to hike and explore more areas of the valley and to learn about the challenges in preserving the area from development.

It seems to be my nature that when I learn something I want to share it with others. If I didn’t know that much about the area then others probably didn’t either and people would be much more interested in protecting something they understood and came to know. So I did what I do and created a website and newsletter that would collect information from many groups and sources and offer it to those who live here or use the area for hiking and recreation.

The project has been fun to do as I learn something new each day. Its an excuse to get outside and take photos and I’ve met many wonderful, caring, capable people.

But from a spiritual perspective what’s it really about? Native people’s believe there is a spirit in places, particularly when water is present. In classical times the Romans called it ‘genius loci,’ or spirit of place. Am I feeling the spirit of this place? Am I serving a higher purpose by in essence channeling the river. It’s not hard to visualize the river as the blood or chi of the valley with the land and rocks as bones and the animal and plants that flourish here as sensing organs. Is my role to protect the place or to help reconnect man and nature as part of our growth in consciousness?

I really don’t know but every teacher talks about the importance of listening to our intuition and staying in the center of the stream of events, the flow that carries us into the future. So its not important that we understand the full spiritual purpose of what calls us. Only that we listen to intuition, stay sensitive to all the synchronicities and go with the flow. It continues to be a most fascinating journey with new surprises around each bend.

You’ll find the Tankerhoosen at Tankerhoosen.info. Come for a visit and see what you feel.

Comments

[julie Montinieri]

As a former elected official, I find Spirit very much at work in the political arena. I'm sure the Spirit of the River appreciates what your group of advocates accomplished on her behalf.

[David Daugherty]

I am interested in meeting people with similar interest as I, in reguard to religeon. I am not a Christian, I do not follow prophets, nor believe in them. I am hopfull that by reaching out, you ma be able to point me toward the correct path... any help will be appreciated!