A conversation with Rock Roberto

January 12 ~ Peru, Sacred Valley

I was feeling a bit tense when I arrived. My thoughts were like a tornado and my heart was beating fast. I was already feeling a bit frustrated, not being able to ‘feel’ the magic I normally do when I am out in nature, not being able to feel the aliveness and nature spirits all around me.

I lay down on a massive Rock, looking at the Tree tops swaying in the Wind.

‘We see you’, they said. ‘Close your eyes and calm your breathing.’

So I did.

After some time, I started to feel a warm and tingly sensation on the back of my body, the part of me that was touching the Rock. I felt a loving awareness reaching out to me, and immediately my whole system was being flooded with feelings of joy and love.

I asked the Rock his name, and he answered, in a thick Italian accent, ‘I am Roberto.’

I tried not to laugh, as we were in Peru, and that seemed like a random name for a Peruvian Rock. ‘What?’ he huffed. ‘I am a big fan of Italian food!’

‘Me too’, I said.

I waited a bit for the conversation to start and realised Roberto was patiently waiting for me to reach out to him. This is the thing about opening up to communicating with the more-than-human world. They are ready, eagerly waiting for us to reach out, to See them and open up to a connection.

So I asked him something that had been on my mind for a few days. ‘Roberto, how can I be a true guardian of all life on this planet?’

He immediately responded, “Dear one, you can not possibly take care of All Life on Earth, this would be too much for you! What a pressure you put on yourself!”

I responded, “Okay, I get that. But what if all Humans acted as true guardians of Earth? How would that look like?’

Immediately, an image flashed into my mind. I saw many human beings outside in nature, sitting with Trees, Rivers, Animals. Being in communication. Living together, knowing that a Tree being was no different from a Human being.

‘Yes, dear one, that is what it will look like. Partnership. Being equals. All humans remembering the living language of Nature.’

Roberto took on a sharper tone. ‘Let me ask you something: when you want to help someone or take care of someone, do you decide what is best for them and completely disregard their wishes? Or do you ASK them how you can be of help?’

He continued, ‘This is the path for Humans. To let go of the - might I say - arrogant idea that you are above All Life. That you are The Ultimate Intelligent Species on this planet. That being a guarding means to dominate and control.

We are ancient, we are the ones who came before you. We can help you as much as you can help us. Do you see that everything is always in balance, always has to be in balance?

To be a true guardian of All Life on Earth, means to see each other as One, and to co-create a beautiful world together.’

I laid my hand on the Rock, lovingly, and thanked him for his wisdom. Again, I felt something brush against my awareness, like a cat nuzzling against my hands, asking to be petted.

‘I am no cat!’ I heard Roberto say, ‘I am Italian!’