Symbolism Or Coincidence?

Is there Symbolism in Nature, or is it just Coincidence?

Spending a lot of time in nature can change how you see things. It happens slowly, quietly, almost without you noticing.

Every now and then in the early days of my adventures in Africa I would occasionally hear people talk about nature presenting things to them that somehow lined up with what was going on in their lives. To be honest, I thought it was a load of rubbish.

However over the years I spent more and more time in wild places on my own and with my groups, and I found myself becoming more aware and more reflective. I started to notice more, and certain moments begin to stand out. Back then I was often reflecting deeply on traumatic events that had happened in my own life, looking for answers, and finding the clarity I was looking for in nature.

I still have regular experiences that make me think more deeply about people in my life, decisions I have made or need to make, and situations I am in etc. It's not like I get any clear messages from nature, but often at the fire side at night I think about why I/we had a particular experience that day, which prompts deeper think about life or that of those in my group. This also prompts questions for the group to talk about around the fire at night.

I don't think it really matters if it’s symbolism or coincidence? As long as the outcome is positive, perhaps that’s enough.

Over the years, I’ve had plenty of wildlife encounters that felt like they carried something more than just the sighting itself. Moments that seemed bigger than simply “I saw an animal.” Moments that seem to reflect challenges that I was coping with in my private life or work life, helped provide clarity, or pointed me in the right direction by feeling encouraged to think more deeply and differently. At the same time, I’m fully aware that I might just be adding that layer myself, to help myself, giving the experience more depth than is really there.

I realise now that the real value isn’t in whether the symbolism is actually true or not, the value is in the way these encounters reflect something important back to us.

The Leopard and What We Choose to Show

A powerful conversation around the camp fire often starts with something simple and symbolic we noted in the day, or an animal that stood out to us.

We may be talking about how good leopards are at staying hidden, and how most of the time they are there, and we have no idea. It’s not because they are weak or afraid to show themselves, it’s the opposite. They don't want to give the game away because if they did, they’d fail at what they’re trying to do. They stay hidden because it works and when you do see one they are so clearly very strong and capable with no sense of weakness about them at all.

It’s not a big step to relate that back to ourselves. The things we keep hidden, parts of our personality, ways of thinking and often because we’re concerned how they might be seen, or reacted to as a weakness rather than a strength. Particularly by those with a big ego, who are actively looking for a perceived weakness.

There’s a tendency to think that holding something back comes across as weakness but the leopard shows the opposite. It stays in the background when it needs to and reveals itself when it chooses to. Both are part of its strength. That idea can land well with people, that you do not need to be seen, heard or at the front all the time in order to be effective or have an impact.

The leopard in this case just gives us a way to talk about it.

Slow Down

In nature we have no choice but to slow down. We walk more carefully, we notice more, and we’re not constantly being pulled in different directions. There’s something quite symbolic in that shift of pace, as it creates space to think, to notice, and to reflect. It often highlights just how fast and full on life can be back at home, often chasing the next thing and rarely stopping.

With this contrast of environments people can begin to see things more clearly. Not because nature is telling them anything directly, but because the slower rhythm of the days brings a clarity that is often missing in everyday life. We can take this home and add it directly to our lives.

Encounters

Writing this I am thinking about certain encounters and moments that carry symbolism, and often help us contemplate how we go about things in everyday life:

• Leopard staying hidden, then appearing

  As we mentioned before, most of the time they’re there, and we have no idea. Not because they’re weak, but because it works, and when you do see one, it’s clearly strong and capable.

  It's a reminder that not everything needs to be on show, and that holding something back can be a strength.

• A kudu bull (very large antelope)

  Sometimes they can just stand there, calm, looking at you. There's no panic, no rush at all. An animal like that will make the person with the biggest ego think twice about how important they are.

• Following tracks without really knowing where they’ll lead

  You focus on the task in hand, see how it plays out, and adjust as you go. Not that different from real life, and a good reminder that you don’t always need a perfect plan, just the ability to move forward and adapt.

• Realising an animal has seen you before you’ve seen it

  That moment when we become a lot more aware when you thought you were aware of everything, then realise you’ve been watched the whole time. A good reminder of how much we miss, and how often we think we’ve got a handle on things when we don’t.

• Close encounters

  This strips things back to instinct and how we react, our situational awareness, our risk management, and how quickly priorities become clear. This can be reassuring, showing us we are capable and switched on in the moment, or it can be a reminder that we need to be more aware, more present, and not drift through situations assuming everything is under control.

So...

Is there symbolism in nature? Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t really mind either way.

It could all just be coincidence, animals behaving as they always do, and us interpreting it in ways that suit us to encourage deeper thinking, and greater clarity.

If those encounters consistently lead people to reflect on their own lives, their decisions, their perspectives and their personal growth, then there’s something in that worth paying attention to.

Angus