By Giovanna Raineri
I pause
I breathe
I look around
What am I seeing?
What am I noticing?
And I wonder
What is the land offering me now?
Leaves taking flight
Petals blown by the wind
Rocks covered in moss
Algae dragged by the sea
Between branches and dry leaves
the forest offers me its table
of fallen trees and rocks
sharing their stories
Sometimes it is the sea,
other times it is the forest or the countryside
I close my eyes, I feel the place
I let myself be guided
and we play together
Assembling and disassembling
Without expectations
I perceive the texture of the leaves
the temperature of the stones
the colors of the season
and I lose myself between light and shadow
My hands touch this earth,
of leaves, roots or sand
I ask permission
And the dance begins
between my heart and my hands
Lichens, logs, teapot,
aromas and flavor
While from different corners of the forest
other beings observe me
They accompany me to set our table
and to gather in our circle around the tea
To give back to the Forest
In the way that it feels good to us
in silence or in whispers
among songs or movements
tears or laughter
there is no right or wrong
We honor each story
With an open heart and without judging
All writing and photo credits to Giovanna Raineri