Starry Story #6 - The Whispering Trees

Join Starry again as the remembers the magic in the Australian bush landscape at night, practicing mindfulness and slowing her mind.

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Transcript

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Hey Stories, this episode is perfect for you to listen to on your own or with a grown up. Enjoy! Hi, my name is Pearl. At Stardust Squad, we respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather, create, explore, and dream, the Gunnaikurnai people. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and recognize their ongoing connection to the land, the seas, and the skies. We acknowledge that this land has been a place of learning and storytelling for thousands of years and honor the wisdom and stories of Indigenous people. As we continue on our Stardust adventures, we commit to building a sense of belonging. Welcoming and respect for all cultures, identities and beliefs. May we walk gently upon this land, guided by the styles and spirits of those who came before us. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land. Stardust squad we shine so bright, twinkling in the sky at night. Hand in hand we laugh and play, dreaming big every day. Sparkle high and sparkle low, together we let our magic grow. Girls of strength, girls of light, Stardust squad we take flight. Clap once, clap twice, then spin around. In Stardust squad we're safe and sound, shining strong we lift each other. Sisters of stars like none other. Starry sat by her bedroom window, gazing up at the night sky, as she often did. But tonight, something felt different. She wasn't thinking about far off galaxies or distant stars. Instead, her mind felt heavy, cluttered with thoughts from the day. She'd been worrying about school, her friends, and all the things she couldn't control. Normally, stargazing helped her feel calm. But tonight, even the stars seemed too far away to offer any comfort. She sighed and rested her chin on her knees. The air outside was still and quiet. Except for the gentle rustling of the leaves in the big gum tree in her backyard. The sound of the wind through the leaves make her think of a place she hadn't visited for a while, a place that wasn't as far away as the stars, but was just as magical. It was the bush behind her house. Starry had always loved the bush. As a little girl, she spent hours exploring it, pretending she was on adventures in enchanted woods, surrounded by fairies and magical creatures. But as she got older, school, friends and sport took up her time, and she'd forgotten how much she loved the feeling of being in nature. But tonight, the bush was calling her, and Starry decided to listen. Quietly, Starry slipped on her shoes and crept out of the house. The cool night air greeted her, and the soft light of the moon lit her path as she made her way towards the edge of the bush. As soon as she stepped in amongst the trees, she felt something shift inside her. The hum of everyday life seemed to fade away, and the world around her became calm and still. The trees stood tall and proud, their leaves whispering in the gentle breeze. The ground beneath her feet was soft and cool, and the earthy smell of the bush filled her lungs. Starry took a deep breath, letting the cool fresh air fill her chest. It felt as though the bush itself was breathing with her, in and out, slow and steady. She walked deeper into the bush, listening to the sounds around her. The hoot of an owl, the rustle of the wind through the branches, the gentle trickle of a nearby creek. As she walked, she tried something her teacher had mentioned in class one day. Mindfulness. It was a practice where you paid attention to everything around you in the present moment, noticing the sights, sounds and feelings without thinking too much about the past or the future. Starry normally found this really tricky, but tonight, she started smiling to herself. It was as if the bush was helping her practice mindfulness without even trying. Every step she took felt intentional. Every sound she heard became clearer. And every breath. As Starry wandered deeper into the bush, she came across a small clearing. In the centre of the clearing stood a giant gum tree, larger and older than any tree she had ever seen. Its branches stretched high into the sky, touching the stars. The leaves of the tree seemed to shimmer in the moonlight, almost like they were made out of silver. Starry felt drawn to the tree, as if it had been waiting for her. She walked up to it and gently placed her hand on its smooth bark. The moment she did, she felt a deep sense of peace wash over her. It was as if the tree was sharing its ancient wisdom with her, reminding her that she was connected to the earth, to the stars, and to everything in between. She sat down at the base of the tree, leaning her back against the trunk. The cool bark felt comforting. And she closed her eyes, letting the sounds of the bush surround her. She could hear the wind, the distant chirping of crickets, and the soft flow of the creek nearby. Each sound seemed to lull her into a deeper sense of calm. Starry took another deep breath and imagined herself becoming part of the bushland. She pictured her roots stretching deep into the earth just like the tree she was leaning against. She imagined her branches reaching high into the sky, touching the stars. She felt grounded and free all at the same time, connected to both Earth and her favourite place, the night sky. As Starry sat there feeling more at peace than she had in days, she heard a soft, gentle voice in the breeze. Thank you for visiting us again Starry, the voice whispered. Starry opened her eyes and looked around. There was no one there, just the trees and the moonlight. But the voice didn't feel frightening. It felt kind of familiar, like the voice of an old friend. Who was that? Starry asked. The voice responded, I'm the spirit of the bush. We've been watching over you for years, ever since you were a little girl exploring our paths. We're glad that you've come back to us tonight. Starry smiled. I'm glad I came back too, I forgot how peaceful it is here. The bush's spirit whispered again. The peace that you feel here is always within you, Starry. The bush reminds you of it, but you carry it with you wherever you go. When life feels overwhelming, or when your thoughts become too loud, remember to be still like the trees. Breathe deeply, like the wind, and listen closely, like you are now. Starry closed her eyes again, listening to the wisdom of the bush. She realised that the bush wasn't just a magical place outside of her, it was also a place inside her. A place she could visit whenever she needed to feel calm and centred. She didn't have to be in the bush, crunching on the fallen leaves, to feel connected to nature. All she had to do was take a deep breath and remember that she was part of something bigger than herself. As Starry sat in the clearing, she thought about all the times she'd felt stressed or worried in the past few weeks. She had been so focused on what could go wrong or what other people thought of her, that she'd forgotten to enjoy the present moment. But here in the bush, everything felt simple. There was no rush, no pressure, no other people. Just the steady rhythm of nature. The bush spirit spoke again. You are like the stars that you love so much, Starry. You shine brightest when you're true to yourself. And just like the stars, you don't have to rush or try to be something you're not. You only need to be present, just as you are. Starry thought about that for a moment. Being present, that's what mindfulness was all about. It wasn't about trying to control everything or worrying about what was going to happen next. It was about enjoying that moment, feeling slow and grounded and trusting that everything would fall into place in its own time. She smiled to herself and whispered, Thank you. After what felt like hours, but was really just a few minutes, Starry knew it was time to head home. She stood up, feeling lighter, calmer. And more connected to herself than she had in a long time. She gently placed her hand on the big old gum tree one last time. Silently thanking it for the peace that it had given her. As she made her way back through the trees, she noticed everything with fresh eyes. The moonlight streaming through the branches. The soft rustle of the leaves. The cool breeze brushing against her face. It all felt more magical than ever. All because she had slowed down and stopped thinking. She walked slowly savouring each step and each breath. When Starry finally emerged from the bush and stepped into her backyard, she felt a deep sense of gratitude. Stars twinkled above her and the trees stood quietly behind her. But now she knew that the peace wasn't something felt outside of her. It was something that she carried within her. She just needed to remember to find it. She walked back into her house and climbed into bed, feeling relaxed and happy. As she pulled the blankets up around her, she closed her eyes and took one more deep, mindful breath. She could still hear the whispers of the bush if she listened closely, reminding her to be present. Breathe deeply and to just relax her mind. As she drifted off to sleep, she knew that the peace of the bush was always with her, no matter where she was or how busy life got. She could always find her way back to that quiet, mindful place inside her. And so, Starry learned that just as she was connected to the stars in the sky, Just as she was made of stardust, she was also deeply connected to the earth beneath her feet. The bush had reminded her of the power of being present, the importance of slowing down, and the peace that comes from slowing her mind. No matter where life took her, she knew that she could always find some calm and slowing down by remembering her connection to nature and the world around her. And in that connection, she felt empowered and confident to be able to be herself. Today's affirmation is there's no right way to look or be. Thanks for listening, Staries. See you next time.