Tend to your breath, the gentle tumble of your heartbeat, whole-body witness.
Can you sense their presence? Their words fill the air:

Dear one— 

You will be told many stories 
about who you are 
and where you come from 
and what you mean

stories of tragedy 
stories of pain 
stories of futures that disappear before they’ve even begun 

but We who have come before 
We know different 

We are here to remind You 

when your mind is all awhirl
Your thoughts moving this way and that 
and those around you look on you with contempt 

go to the Tree 
linger in its shade 
notice its curving, curling branches 
stretching out to the sky in all directions  
never moving in a straight line

We do not say the Tree is broken. 
So too, it is with You. 
Remember:

You are a Child of the Tree 
The wisdom of the Tree moves within You. 

when the world around You picks up speed threatening to leave You behind 
and those around do not stop or slow 

go to the Rock 
feel its heavy surface 
Its once sharp edges 
slowly rounded 
changing shape over time.

We do not say the Rock is broken. 
So too, it is with You. 
Remember:

You are a Child of the Rock 
The wisdom of the Rock moves within You. 

when others look past you 
perceiving only their own understanding 
and those around you cannot imagine otherwise 

go to the Stream 
plunge into its gentle current 
its reflective surface guarding 
a whole universe 
unto its own. 

We do not say the Stream is broken. 
So too, it is with You. 
Remember:

You are a Child of the Stream 
The wisdom of the Stream moves within You. 

when You are alone
held separate from all others  
and those around you cannot seem to comprehend 

go to the Tall Grass 
brush your skin against its blades 
notice its tangled shape 
each blade intermingling with the next
always more than one.

We do not say the Tall Grass is broken. 
So too, it is with You.  
Remember:

You are a Child of the Tall Grass
The wisdom of the Tall Grass moves within You. 

when You are overwhelmed
your body and mind porous to your surroundings 
and those around you respond with confusion

go to the Earth 
press into the cool wet soil 
feel it exhale 
through twisting roots 
and spongy loam.

We do not say the Earth is broken. 
So too, it is with You. 
Remember: 

You are a Child of the Earth. 
The wisdom of the Earth moves within You. 

And so 
When the tree reaches
When the rock rests 
When the stream runs 
When the grass bends 
When the earth moves 
Perceive, here, 

Your kin: 
Those who came before
Those here now 
Those who will follow 

We are with you.