Teachings from the Natural World: Attention to Warning Signs

I invite you to enter this scene: 

It’s a warm Sunday afternoon. The sun is golden; the breeze is kind. You are walking on a wood-sided trail, nestled by red oak and wildflowers. You give a gentle nod to the bees buzzing by; they don’t linger or cause harm. Through the silence, you notice a rising sound. You keep walking forward, over a little hump of tan colored trail toward what sounds like the angry screaming of a bird. You are curious to find a small flock of wings rustling in conflict as you look up to locate the sight of frustration. Looking up into a canopy of green, you expect the sight of destruction and feathers lost in fighting. You continue scanning the large sprawling tree, from which you are sure the sound is coming. Dumbfounded—and then—there in the center, where the branches just begin to extend from the trunk, you discover a squirrel perched stiffly in the “v” of two of the tree’s long rustic arms. The squirrel is pulsing as he alone resounds this high-pitched alarm. You pause, are surprised, and shift your perspective on the whole experience. What you thought was an aggressive bird is really a squirrel terrified and crying out to warn and gather others.  Your heart begins to grow compassionate and present with the small, scared animal.

Reflect: What angry birds do you know? Maybe you are that aggressive bird. 

How do you feel toward the presence of anger? What is the anger trying to do?

Is it possible that the sound of aggression is actually the alarm of a terrified squirrel? 

Let’s go deeper to notice just how intelligent the squirrel is for locating threats and letting out a warning sign to alert others of danger. Nature is wired for survival, and this is just one of the many examples of that. This small mammal can act as a small mirror to our own human survival instincts. When threatened, one common response is aggression or anger. Becoming curious of that anger may unveil that there is something else there, often fear. This leaves the anger less threatening and creates clarity around perceived danger. You might find this in another. You might find this in yourself. A yell is frequently an acknowledgement of disturbed peace, of threat; a cry for help. Getting curious about the anger, attending to the sound as a warning sign, locates the fear. This locates the threat. Locating the threat is an opportunity to understand and acknowledge what any mammal, human, or squirrel may find dangerous and need support for. 

If this clip from the natural world relates to you or someone you know, might you ponder or encourage therapy support to help you walk your trail, discover fears, and find pathways for peace. Or, you may find other blogs and resources on our page to help you and those you care about.  

See you where you are.