"They walked on, thinking of This and That, and by-and-by they
came to an enchanted place on the very top of the Forest called
Galleons Lap, which is sixty-something trees in a circle; and
Christopher Robin knew that it was enchanted because nobody had
ever been able to count whether it was sixty-three or sixty-four,
not even when he tied a piece of string round each tree after he
had counted it. Sitting there they could see the whole world spread
out until it reached the sky, and whatever there was all the world
over was with them in Galleons Lap."
I've known I would name a cache "Galleons Lap" for some time. It
came about as a result of reading The Tao of Pooh, by
Benjamin Hoff. Mr. Hoff uses Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh,
and friends to illustrate Taoism using the Tao Te Ching
(pronounced like dow duh jing), an ancient Chinese text which,
translated, means "The Book of the Way and Its Power". Taoism is
perhaps one of the simplest philosophies, but because we human
beans tend to overcomplicate everything, especially the way we live
our lives, it's not always easy to understand and can be quite
profound. Basically, it is a beautiful, poetic instruction on
living "Wu Wei", in which one learns of and acts only from one's
true nature, the self not ruled by the ego.
I was enchanted the first time I walked on the trail that will
lead you near the cache. The path, so dark and green and lushly
vibrant and alive, captured my senses and overwhelmed my spirit.
Indeed, I was so taken by the majesty of this forest that I passed
by the cache that was hidden near here once upon a time; it became
a mere bonus for being out there.
While you are here, take the time to really be in the moment.
Initially, you will hear the "normal" sounds one hears in a forest.
However, if you remain very still and quiet, the sounds will
increase. By recognizing that all reality is taking place right
here and right now, you will experience the entire world as you can
know it. Falling leaves sound like the footfalls of invisible
woodland creatures. Birdsongs echo from tree to tree. You can feel
a hundred, sentient eyes watching you. Every shade of green that
there has ever been and ever will be seeps into your very
being.
Now, listen for the still, small voice that is all too often
silenced by the ego, that identity in each of us which keeps us
from being who we truly are. Allow that self to be here, grateful
for the abundance which surrounds you. While you are here, you will
see the whole world spread out until it reaches the sky, and
whatever there is will be all the world over with you in Galleons
Lap.
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