Walking Tree
What would happen if you were able to build a strong foundation, sinking your roots deeply into your passion? Then slowly, over years of time and dedication, the supporting foundation was removed until you no longer needed it?This is the gift of true masters - creating a solid foundation for their students, then gently removing that support by empowering them, until finally they realize their own mastery. This is the mark of a true master...how many students they bring to mastery, not how many followers they have.
How amazing is it that this tree is really resting entirely on its root system? The initial soil line would have been just above the two upper roots, yet over time the soil has eroded from around the trunk, slowly enough that the roots could cover themselves in bark and reach further and deeper. Now, this Standing One resembles one of the trees from Lord of the Rings, the Ents, who may very well be able to walk away from this site. And, who knows, perhaps after all the "eyes" of the forest are looking elsewhere, they might just go out for a hike!
The metaphor here is that we often find security, safety, and assurance in creating a strong foundation based in a company's model, parenting regimen, or spiritual/religious tenets. These are usually beneficial in the beginning as it is wise to follow down a tried-and-true pathway. But how often do we become shackled to these principles, to the leaders, to the ideals until we have completely stopped thinking for ourselves and instead regurgitate the dogma, not really sure of what we're saying but feeling like we should because everyone else is saying it and they can't all be wrong...can they?
In its purity, none of these paths are wrong, or bad. The challenges arises when once we have established our foundation, can we start to uproot ourselves, gently placing one foot on the virgin soil resting just outside our views? Do these roots that we've formed stand on their own in all situations, in all scenarios? Can you adopt your roots to stretch, reach out, and stabilize in these foreign lands so that you keep the best of the foundation, yet grow to become more than what your beliefs were? If the answer is yes, then you are on your way to mastery and may someday be able to stand completely free...and then you begin to walk! Those leaders, teachers, and gurus who try to hold you back from this journey, who are constantly pruning your roots, must be gently moved around, just like the rock in this photo. Don't try to push through or change them, for often they are anchored like this rock and are immutable.
The true master helps form a strong foundation based on past experience. Once established, the master hands our power back to us, questions what we think is true, and encourages us to test our truths in the world. Eventually, we find our own truth and like a toddler, we begin to walk on our own. This is the pathway of true mastery and masters.
