I frequently ask my guides and guardian angels to keep me safe and protected. This ritual has helped me create more personal trust and less in fear. The intense weather I have experienced in the past month in the high elevations of the Smokies has been extraordinarily challenging but, in hindsight, has also provided the most rewarding experiences. When we put ourselves in demanding situations and respond in a positive way, managing sudden changes, whether it be weather, wildlife, difficult situations with people, or otherwise, we learn, grow, and improve.
On the first day of my last hitch, it was stunning out… a day as beautiful as they get. The persistent ice had melted, the skies were bright blue, and it was finally starting to feel like Spring. However, I knew thunderstorms were coming the following day.
There was a group of four backpackers, among others, in the shelter that night who were planning to get up at 4am, pack up, and hike over Clingman’s Dome to Newfound Gap. I heard them get up and quietly pack up their gear, and they were gone right on schedule by 4:45. Not ten minutes after they left the shelter, a violent thunderstorm erupted with near-continuous lightning and torrential rain. It was intense. I kept thinking about those people being out there in the storm, in the darkness, and their dreadful timing. I asked my angels and helpers to watch over them and help me know when it was safe for me to head out. I put my earplugs back in and decided to get a little more sleep. I needed the rest.
I woke up a couple of hours later and began to pack up. I wasn’t packing quickly, for it was still pouring outside. People were slowly filing out into the bellowing of the storm. A few hung back for a little while longer. Fortunately, I didn’t have a substantial mileage day ahead of me. I slowly made breakfast, fixed a second cup of tea, and reminded myself that I had asked to be told when to leave. So, I let go of any concern and went about the chores at hand.
I already had my rain gear on, and around 10:15, I felt the nudge to leave. I cinched down my backpack cover, put on my gloves, and marched out with the intention of finding gratitude, even in the pouring rain.
And then it happened.
I was suddenly grateful for the cleansing rain. I knew I would dry out… eventually. I knew I had everything I needed with me. I trusted that all was well, and it was.
Slowly, the rain began to lessen, and the lightning and thunder dwindled. The windy side of the mountain was cold and damp, but then the sun suddenly peeked out from behind the thick clouds. It started warming up and abruptly turned into another magnificent day.
My guides and guardian angels never let me down. The path to inner peace is filled with opportunities to learn to trust. “I am always safe, protected, and the Universe goes before me preparing my way.”
Namaste
