Once, high in the jungles of Borneo, the community of pitcher plants faced a dilemma: an increasing lack of nutrient filled bugs — their main food source.
In contemplating this problem, one pitcher plant we’ll call Bobby had a crazy…No… An inspired idea! Broadening his mind as to what an alternate food source could be, Bobby approached the others. ‘We can’t just wait and hope the bugs come back, we need a new food source now. Tell me, besides dirt, sun and rain, what's the most abundant thing around here?’
After looking around, the pitcher plant we will call Jim responded, ‘Well, those little tree shrews leave their poo droppings all over.’
‘… Exactly…’ replied Bobby knowingly.
‘Bobby, you couldn’t possibly be thinking what I think you are… Are you?’
‘Ya Jim, I think I am. Why don’t we strike a deal with that tree shrew over there? We’ll offer it something it wants, something delicious and undeniable, like sugar nectar, and we’ll learn how to convert those infinitely abundant droppings the shrew leaves everywhere into a source of nourishment. If that could be our food, we’d never go hungry again!’
In a great uproar, all the pitcher plants laughed at Bobby, and thought he was crazier than he looked (which is little like this by the way).
In time though, there was no one left to laugh at Bobby. Evolution had its way, and they all died off; all but Bobby and a few intrepid pitcher plants who heard the call. Thanks to following an inner directive, a spark of inspiration, a vision trying to come to life, Bobby and his entourage became the high mountain tree shrew’s favourite new restaurant/toilet bowl, and the new evolutionary standard of all pitcher plants to come, in the high Borneo jungle.
The end.
True Visionaries
So…
The point of the above story (or at least our creative imagining of it) is to express that when a new idea is trying to be born, when something is calling from deep within, when that inner voice of inspiration speaks, or a call to change beckons, it’s important to listen. It could just be life saving!
There’s an ancient and timeless idea, which spans many cultures and geographies, that says each of us come to this life with a unique gift to offer the world and a unique path to walk. As mythologist and storyteller Michael Meade puts it — there is a seed in our soul, a story within us waiting to be lived, and it is our job to find that story and live it out so the seed may grow and the unique gifts and beauty waiting within can be offered into the world. This isn’t done by following another’s path, by using another’s map and ideas or by dulling our uniqueness. It is done by listening to that creative spark and particular voice found within each of us which, as Michael Meade says, “arises from the creative depths of one’s self and one’s life situation.”
The pitcher plant story may be a strange example, but there are many, many examples in the human world that we can relate to —
- Where would we be without creative visionaries like Socrates, who following his own vision of life, and living by his own understanding of life, even unto death, helped make our minds all the richer for it? (And he stuck to this, despite the fact that his innovative and ground breaking ideas weren’t taken very well by the modern establishment of the times, putting his own life in danger.)
- What about Van Gogh, who saw the world through uniquely sublime eyes, though during his life, never received any acclaim?
- What about Thomas Edison whose persistence, foresight and ingenuity gave us the light bulb amongst a thousand other things?!
- What about Nicholaus Copernicus, who first put forth the theory that the Earth rotated around the sun, and not the other way around, despite what the prevailing understanding was at the time? (He was so afraid to publish this, he did so under a fake name.)
- What about Hildegard Von Bingen, who refusing to write of her visions and experiences, became ill, until she finally, ‘listened to that voice and wrote, bringing herself back to health ‘by the strength received…’
- What about Nicholas Tesla whose ingenuity and ingenious vision birthed many of the origins for modern communications and more?
- What about George Lucas who had to believe in and trust his own vision enough to fight ‘tooth and nail’ to make a movie no one cared about come to life, without which we wouldn’t have Star Wars?!
Without these or creative visionaries like them, whose ideas inspire us, make our lives better, open our eyes, break us out of ruts, and move the world forward, where would we be?
Who knows, we may even still believe the sun revolves around the Earth. We surely wouldn’t have the transcendent music, art and beauty we do. We wouldn’t have computers, the light bulb and umbrellas. We wouldn't have diet water — Now 50% less calories than regular old water (which is already 0 by the way) — or toilet golf… The picture says enough.
(Ok, not all ’original’ and unique ideas or inner visions are good, uplifting or needed in the world. Discernment and attunement are
very important.)
We also wouldn’t have a wellness company like Purica sharing a broad and ancient vision of health, in hopes of seeing a richer more vibrant world; because that inner unique drive we are talking about here is, and always has been, vital to health on all levels.
If all that didn't clarify the importance of listening to our own attuned visionary pulse, consider what life would look like if these artists and inventors, or anyone who has ever had something calling within, didn't answer that call, didn't follow their heart or what they knew to be true regardless of what anyone around them said. Consider what we would have lost in this world. The importance of heeding that inner directive can’t be understated.
And here’s the thing: We are each creative visionaries. The question isn't whether there is a creative voice within, the question is — ‘Are you listening to that inner voice?’
More Inspiration From Nature
Obviously, we can’t mention uniquely brilliant, and even strange, examples of life and nature, and not bring up the original genius of mushrooms. Each one a wonder in its own way. Each and every medicinal mushroom, like each one of us, carries a unique gift for the world.
Lions Mane with its scholarly intelligent precision, its ability to induce clarity of thought and focus (vital abilities for crafting and expressing a unique vision) and to rewire the brain.
Cordyceps for the power and endurance to carry that vision through regardless what some naysayers (or unbelieving pitcher plants) say.
Reishi for the calm steady poise to not be ruffled, to enter meditative states with a relaxed and healthy body-mind and receive the inspiration. To name a few.
It takes courage and a steady heart to live as your own kind, follow our own path, make new paths and forge ahead. Offering something to the world that only we can offer instead of following the pack when it’s not ours to do. And those exact qualities of courage, making new paths, and steadiness of heart, basically sum up the combined effects of Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps and Reishi mushroom. Not bad for something that looks as strange as this.
Following That Spark
Really, this is all about the heart: The source of all connected vision and fire.
As soon as we make the choice to take those unique steps of heart it is said the invisible help waiting for that great ‘Yes’ goes into action, and worlds are adjusted. In the words of Joseph Campbell, “Doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be… doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else.” Though that doesn't mean it will always be easy. You may still have to face both outward resistance and inward fear and doubt. And that's where the right inspiration comes in, and help from the natural world in the medicinal mushrooms.
What all this comes down to is following a life that we can live whole heartedly.
It is a life of great discovery that honours our unique potential and gifts.
It is about the inspiration and upliftment of ourselves and those around us, and the seeds of this inspiration proliferating throughout the world like dandelion seeds riding on the wind.
It is about having more fun, being more creative, more adventurous, more playful, more responsible, more at peace and choosing a life of braver possibilities; because anything else will only be half hearted, and half a heart can only produce half a vision and half a life.
So trust in and express your creative visions, even if others don’t see it. If we go about mimicking others in place of our our own hearts authenticity and creativity, squeezing our lives into boxes smaller than our hearts and potential really is, we just might miss out on an entire universe of deep nourishment, and risk stumbling along another’s path instead of forging our own. We don't want to end up like the extinct pitcher plants do we?
Take inspiration from the visionaries who have gone before you. Remember the healing genius of the medicinal mushrooms and, if it helps, even the ridiculous story of the pitcher plants.
Thanks Bobby!
So what dream is trying to come alive in you?
Ps. And yes that is actually what the pitcher plants of the high Borneo jungle eat.
Try This —
What we are born to do may not appear wise or important to another, and we have to have the courage and a steady heart to follow the heart’s inner calling and forge new paths ahead. Like George Lucas, or like the pitcher plant, to say, ‘No, I have a dream, where that little shrew’s abundant droppings can sustain us day and night’ (or whatever your dream happens to be).
So this week, follow at least one spark of inspiration, do at least one thing, and do so ESPECIALLY if a voice barks up and says, ‘Oh no I can’t’ (as long as it’s not something that’s going to overtly hurt another anyway). Tune into the inner heart and if it is a yes, nothing else needs stand in the way this moment. Not this time.
Say no to a friend if you have to in favour of working on art. Turn off the TV and pick up the pen. Pick up the phone if the inspiration strikes to call an old friend. Buy a plane ticket. Kick the laundry pile over in favour of the paintbrush. Keep driving. Whatever it is, remember you are choosing love and smile to yourself for having done it! And thank you, from us.
