HEERA ALAYA

HUSH
restorative sanctuaries

By Heera Alaya
January 1st, 2021

“In solitude we give passionate attention to our lives,
to our memories, to the details around us.”
— Virginia Woolf, English writer

It is essential to intentionally carve out time to cultivate spaces that nourish your soul, providing solace and comfort while honouring your dignity and life force. Hush encourages you to hold your space—disengage from any intrusive or toxic influences—and immerse yourself in the beauty and purity of the natural world. The dawn chorus almost always nudges me awake. Stepping into nature in the wee hours of the morning, when thoughts are few, makes me more than notice things—I feel life.

The bare foliage—caressed by the gentle rays of light—invites me in to appreciate the sparkling morning dew, and the soft, repositioning flowers encourage me to wonder whether the stars had played hide-and-seek at night. Nature’s elements are gentle reminders to embrace A childlike spirit—imaginative, playful and curious.

Surrounded by blooming flowers, I infused my morning with a few nourishing thoughts, a continuation from the previous night’s art and poetry. Before long, I found myself willingly distracted from my reading; a gentle breeze wafted in soft melodies, interspersed with the buzzing of bees and the rustling of leaves.  This symphony gradually crescendoed into a delightful chorus of comical chatter and spirited screeches.  These familiar sounds herald nature’s announcement: THE SHOW IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

A high-pitched operatic tenor kicked off the performance, compelling me to look skyward at a puffing, feathered chest that mirrored an opera singer’s, its bright yellow beak striking against the clear blue backdrop. On cue, dazzling platinum bellies, powered by sunlight-filtered translucent wings, flew by in a graceful V formation. Then, a flock of creamy birds gracefully descended harmoniously, maintaining ample white space. The birds glided so low that I couldn’t miss the comical interruption—a squirrel stuck his face out from behind gauzy flowers, looking utterly baffled, and, realising: “Oh-no, I am not part of this act,” quickly retreated. As though to promptly shift my attention from this mishap, a high-pitched whistle diverted my eyes to a long-tailed bird that zipped through the sky, heralding the interlude. The performance—an exhilarating mix of opera, ballet and comedy—flowed seamlessly, embodying the unique rhythm that only nature and its magnificent creatures can deliver. Each act built anticipation—what would be unveiled next?

Turning the page proved futile. An otherwise rapid-moving mustard bee insisted on hovering around—a not particularly delighted—me. As if sensing my unease, two elegant black silhouettes glided by ever so gracefully, signalling the start of the second half. Unexpectedly, in what appeared like charcoal tulle petticoats, blackbirds swept low over me in a semi-circle and ascended towards the sky, handing over the next act to tilted high-flying birds who executed their jet-like routine. As I marvelled at these displays like no other—complete with mid-air turns and graceful penches, the squirrel interrupted again! The squirrel scurried along a beam, paused centre stage to furiously scratch its ear, and then stood perfectly still for a few moments before darting off. I couldn’t help but chuckle—the squirrel was a reminder of how I must appear on my bad hair days—like a bewildered, scraggly-tailed squirrel!

The impressive finale unveiled a flurry of movements—from beaming, bobbing bunches to swarms of iridescent, winged dragonflies, and from a variety of colourful, criss-cross, zooming birds to glimmering, shivering leaves.

Engaging with the essence of nature—moving through their day with intention and grace—effortlessly dissolves any negative feelings. Instead, the vibrant existence of plant and animal life sparks a profound sense of appreciation, gratitude, and tranquility.

The drifting wafer-thin flowers, the timeworn terracotta, the fertile soil, the trickling water and the blooming lilies command your attention, inviting reflections on life’s most significant aspects—embracing the present moment, celebrating individuality, cultivating patience, mastering the art of breathing, navigating the journey of ageing, and finding your balance. Even the delicate white stigma inside the bougainvillaea underscores that the smallest details are vital in enriching our experience and adding depth.

As I sat in quiet contemplation, gazing at the earthen water container, I admired how the support rope beautifully intertwined with nature. A bird alighted to drink, her grey plumage stunningly juxtaposed against the vibrant pink bougainvillaea. She perched, examining the water with her glistening ruby eyes, and I found myself hoping she would appreciate the delicate, floating flower as much as she relished the fresh water. In a delightful surprise, the bird sprinkled me with valuable life lessons as she pushed her pink feet and took flight—her plumage scattered glimmering droplets around me, reminding me to remain uncaged and to keep the light within my soul shining brightly.

The movements of plants and birds might vary, but in their essence, each motion evokes meaningful emotions that drive productive action. I derive immense satisfaction from pulling out even the tiniest of weeds (on a good day, this can accumulate into quite a pile), much like I take pleasure in distancing myself from poor-quality individuals—those ignorant and insignificant parasites who assault, harass, threaten, enable, blame, and shame, and who attempt to dictate and silence, engage in gossip, carry stories, pry into personal matters, patronise, and disregard boundaries.

Insecure people voluntarily languish in their cowardice-corrupt dead-end narratives. Your refusal to merge with their existence is met with attempts to destabilise you by harming your exposed frailties. Conversely, secure individuals, much like nature, rejuvenate you with vitality. Just as a creeper requires a tad bit of support to take shape, the right people—though few—will have your best interests in mind. The good news is that you can be a valuable person to someone else, lifting their spirits and facilitating their transformative journey.

Like plant photosynthesis that burns at night, fuelling growth and regeneration (after an injury), so must we. We support self-healing and self-love by synthesising introspection, uplifting imagery, and positive messages in moments of silence and solitude. Attuned to the rhythm of my soul—that seems to wear lifetimes of wear and tear—I frequently, lovingly and proudly repair parts of me that are threadbare and parts that demand reinforcement, all the time sewing in meaningful and beautiful elements, consistently revitalising my blueprint.

At daybreak, as I sit ensconced with my reading material— amid nature’s splendid array of mints, olives and emeralds, and interspersed with hues of ochre, ecru and blush—I am reminded that hush takes the coming together of a multitude of elements—the crispness of paper; the softness of cotton; the smoothness of porcelain; the bitterness of coffee; the spirit of creatures; the hardness of wrought-iron; the grittiness of terracotta; the lushness of petals; the translucence of water; the opaqueness of concrete; the dampness of wood; the wafting fragrances; the rhythm of my heart and the wholeness of my soul.

The transparent essence of nature and its lovely creatures guide my approach to life; despite their imperfections—flaky feathers or tangled tails—they are fully content in their being. Little creatures trust themselves enough to fly high in the sky and dart up narrow beams, while confident, delicate climbers reach for the heights, and paper-thin flowers continue to bloom,  bearing the shining sun. I feel worthy of being part of their lives (nature and animals)—who naturally influence my thoughts and living with their purpose and confidence. In turn, I have learnt that for anyone to be part of my life is a privilege.

I encourage you, especially those of delicate sensibilities, to create your own sanctuaries and regularly retreat into solitude to soothe and rejuvenate your soul.

Documentary Filmmaker, USA