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Letting go is a process, always available and certainly in my case – always needed! This was the theme of our final Nature Immersion, as we are having a break and working on some other related projects before regrouping in September.

The infamous Thai Buddhist monk; Ajahn Chah is reported to have said- “If we let go a little we will have a little peace… If we let go some more we will have more peace… If we let go completely we will have complete peace”.

So today, deep in the woods we practised letting go of thoughts/ situations/ relationships/ foods whatever we chose that no longer served us. The Earth is a wonderful support when we are practising like this. We are held in Nature… as sometimes letting go can be a very sticky and challenging affair.

Here is the poem I read as we closed our practise today:

Letting go, in order to let in
releasing, in order to receive
nature’s coded messages become clearer
the less we try to see.

Trying hard, trying harder and harder
trying so very hard
is not the way.

We need commitment, yes
and focus
and hope and faith and trust
but most of all we need ease
a discipline of ease
not trying too hard at all.

You see “trying hard” has a cell-mate
called “giving up”, admitting defeat
like black and white
like pushing and pulling
no peace there.

“Not yet”, you say
“I’m not ready yet
to take the step beyond.”
I know
I’ve stepped so slow myself,
still do
but love sweet sister,
like death
comes in a moment’s heartbeat
then goes.

There are no ways to hold
except by letting go, and
letting it be a part of you
and you of it.

– Stewart Mercer