Text and photos by JULIE ROST
COME AND SIT WITH US
A Lady Slipper Love Story
T
he lady slipper first activated my heart, as most of nature does, when I was least exI knew they were going to teach me a new way of communing, hearing, knowing, remempecting it. This was just one of many lessons I would learn, starting with how to listen bering. Their sheer beauty drew me in to sit quietly. That was always their call: “Just come sit for the quality of her silent wisdom. Like every other creation, the lady slipper is a with us.” At first, I studied them like a scientist. I did some research on my phone right there unique expression of divine intelligence, which, by overcoming the challenges of its own ex- in the woods, learning from naturalists, botanists, mythologists, and flower essence farmers. istence over millennia, results in a highly specific essence. What began for me as a childlike The lady slipper’s flower essence is an energetic vibration that helps us discover our path of observation and study turned into a spiritual friendship, a feeling of companionship, essence, our unique attributes and contributions to the world, our sacred piece in the puzzle comfort and inspiration. Finally, I realized what was drawing me towards of life. Yoga calls this dharma and, like the lady slipper, understands that the lady slipper was my own true self. Her essence filled the holes in my The lady slipper our highest purpose is merely and powerfully to discover our highest self. I heart, reuniting the fragments of my soul so that I could more beautifully felt the lady slipper lighting me up, showing me that the path, as well as the shine as an expression of the divine. This is, in truth, the very essence of the first activated my destination of dharma, feels exciting, wondrous, beautiful, hopeful, magical; lady slipper, so let me now tell you our story. that it doesn’t need to be hard, and the effort required will flow easily at the heart, as most I will never forget meeting this pair of lady slippers two spring seasons ago. right time. Can you remember a moment in your life in which time seemed to stand still, This was just what I needed to hear. I had been working very successfully of nature does, to hold some significance yet to be understood? I have a mental photograph training Yoga teachers and running a yoga studio for 15 years, but I was when I was least bogged down in the administration of business and managing people. I of the precise moment when, for no apparent reason, I turned my head to look up at a ridge where the lady slippers were growing. I marveled at their pink, longed for space and time to integrate all I had learned from my life, sensing expecting it. delicate beauty in an otherwise stark landscape. I felt like a child in a fairy tale, a new direction for my teaching that would better serve others, as well as discovering a rare treasure. I am smiling now as I look back on this moment of innocent curios- my soul. But all was uncertain. Others were not exactly happy with my decision, and I had no ity, now that I know the lady slippers so well. They knew what was to come! They knew I would idea where I was going. return a full year later, and that our relationship would heal and transform me. The lady slippers already knew. Their tune is like the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Yoga text, whose title means “Song of the Blessed One.” The unknown author of the Gita, like the lady MAY 11: Sure enough, my life brought me to a difficult turning point, and I dedicated slipper, shares wisdom to guide one gently and beautifully toward the true prize — reunion myself to walking for two hours every day in the woods in order to make space to listen. I had with the divine whole. And both do so with a quiet allure, and a repetition of themes to awakforgotten all about the lady slippers, but they didn’t mind. They caught me by surprise a secen our soul’s sleepy lull again and again with humor, patience and compassion. ond time, resprouting in the same spot I had first seen them. Once again, I had the intuitive feeling that something sacred was happening, and I named their location Lady Slipper Rock, MAY 14: To my delight, I learned that the pink lady slipper is not only an orchid, but also a place I would pass by each day, but only occasionally be called in to listen. the New Hampshire state wildflower! Though this variety is not currently endangered, they 48 Spirit of Change | SPRING/SUMMER 2021
