Author Alan Watts once made the distinction, that we do not come ‘into’ this world; rather, we come ‘out’ of it.”

My darlings, do you know what this means?

It means, that every single soul on this earth is a magnificent expression of this Universe.

Just as the leaf finally breaks free of the tree to step into its autumn glow;

So, too, will our hearts find a way to let the soul’s truest colors come through.

We are not born into this world, my darlings. We are born of it.

One living, breathing, soul-stretching manifestation – of this, the sum total of the Universe.

WHEN I AM AMONG TREES

by Mary Oliver

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks, and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.

I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”

The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It’s simple,”
they say, “and you, too, have come
into the world to do this, to go easy,
to be filled with light, and to shine.”