Meditating with a spider
- nicoledefelice88
- May 8
- 2 min read
As I sat down to meditate on a mossy rock at the edge of the stream, I couldn’t help but get distracted by the ants hustling and bustling up and down the trunk of a tulip tree. Upon closer inspection, I noticed a small spider walking perpendicular to the ants, effortlessly navigating the bumpy terrain. The spider nestled in a notch of the bark, as if it too, wanted to pause and meditate with me. As I took a deep breath, my gaze was pulled away by a bumble bee zooming by as loud as a helicopter. I checked on my spider friend and was amazed by its camouflage, blending in seamlessly with the bark's crevices.
Bright green skunk cabbage leaves have emerged, soaking in the sunlight. Cinnamon ferns are beginning to unfurl their long, fuzzy stems, stretching from a long winter slumber. Yellow Trout Lily flowers dot the edge of the stream, their speckled leaves resembling the skin of trout, which were probably hiding in the shadows of that very stream.
Once I was able to relax, I tuned in to the sounds of the babbling brook. Unbelievably calming. It could lull me to sleep if I let it. Birds chitchatted in the background, busy talking about what they have going on this time of year. Pairing up, defending territories, building nests, preparing for the busy season of chick rearing. Blue jays nagging, cardinals chirping, titmice “Peter, Peter, Peter” bouncing from one side of the forest to the other.
This forest is a small, green island surrounded by a sea of houses, roads, and development. You can hear the occasional plane fly over, or a leaf blower from a nearby landscaper. Though there is the persistent reminder of human presence, nature endures, keeping herself relevant.
Bringing my attention back to my immediate surroundings, I closed my eyes and tuned in to the trickling of the brook. The buzzing of the bumblebee. The chit chat
of the birds high up in the forest canopy. Breathing in the earthy forest musk. When I opened my eyes, dazed from the deep relaxation that comes with meditation, I searched for my spider friend in the crevice. Still there, safe and sound. Content to remain there. I wondered what the spider had on its agenda for the rest of the day. Was it settled there until nightfall? Did it need to find a meal? Did it even have foresight to plan ahead like me? One may never know. I said my farewells to the spider, letting it continue to meditate and contemplate.
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