The Malaria Mosquito

Samasati Nature Retreat, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

I am in the jungle on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica during the rainy season. The humidity is intense and nature is ALIVE all around me. I am surrounded by toucans, macaws, Blue Morpho butterflies, hummingbirds, red frogs, armadillos AND LOTS AND LOTS OF BUGS! The largest, fastest and biggest variety of insects I've ever seen. There are spiders as big as my hand that jump and move at astonishingly fast speeds, praying mantis, massive cockroaches and even a bug affectionately nicknamed 'The Bullet'. The Bullet hurtles its large body directly at its target (that being me) with such ferocious speed and strength its like getting hit by, you guessed it, a bullet.

Years ago I attended a workshop with the intention of working through my fear of nature. The seed that was planted in that experience inspired me to explore my fear of insects. In the past I had responded to them as many of us do, with irritation or fear. I would often run away or attack. As part of my spiritual discipline I began to consider that there must be a way to live more harmoniously with these creators. I began to allow them to be closer to me. Here in Costa Rica, the opportunities to practice this are plentiful.

Last night on my balcony I was enjoying the serenade of a jungle symphony until my mind said, "If I sit out here I will be bitten by a mosquito with malaria and I'll get sick." On queue, the Malaria Mosquito showed up, buzzing about my face. Panic shot through my body as the mosquito took residence on the very tip of my nose. I heard a different voice in my mind guide me with calm, "This is a test and an opportunity for you to digest your fear and prove a natural law in action. Use your tools. Do not swat the mosquito away."

And so I breathed. I grounded myself and focused on staying present in the moment while attending to the feeling of tightness in my belly. It began to loosen. I said a silent prayer and I noticed how the mosquito felt on my nose. I could not sense any threat or danger from this tiny creator. The very tip of my noise began to vibrate with a hum and this sensation spread throughout my face. I felt joyful celebration, gratitude and calm. Then the mosquito peacefully flew away. That sweet little mosquito sat on my nose for five minutes to help me to learn and grow.

The day before I left on this journey, I was witnessed by friends in allowing a wasp to explore my upper lip and mouth for a number of long moments. The discipline and trust it took to remain open to the highest possibility in that situation were worth the effort.

We are powerful creators of our experience. Fear attracts fear. Harmony attracts harmony. We have the ability to create within ourselves states of consciousness that immediately and directly affect our reality and experiences.

In gratitude for nature as my teacher...

Alexandra

P.S. - Now, I need to figure out how to work this out with that bullet bug!

Comments

[Judith Ann Donaldson]

Thankyou Alexandra...I am looking forward to learning what you can teach me!!!Love and prayers, Judith Ann

[Dhaina Lynn]

Alexandra... Thank you for this very valuable teaching. You have great courage my sister...
DL

[gillian]

Your teachings are with me.. though they seem more clearer with you guiding me.. and how that experiance did !! I love the clarity in which you teach me to view things.. and from such a distance.. and in so many ways no distance at all..costa rica bullet beetles you say.. oh my..

[Jack Rosen]

Very Good,

I have worked and lived in the outdoors for years and know that it is a frame of mind--those that are relaxed about bugs, bears and cougars, do not often have bad experiences. Good work Alexandra for getting over a big hurdle and getting one step closer to living directly with nature.

[Leslie]

oh, you are braver than me dear alexandra! and yes, you can conquer that bullet bug too!

[christina]

wow,

I had no idea there were so many bugs of all different shapes and sizes and spiders big, big and big...I need to go there!

Love the stories, eating my breakfast as I am reading...

Thanks for being where you are and enlightening all of those and us around you during your journey!!