BRANCHING OUT

Reflection in lake; Yosemite, USA.

"to branch out - to expand or extend one's interests"
(Collin's English Dictionary)

Inspired by Nature

Leaving behind the rigid lines of cities, let's branch out into the restful patterns of the natural world. Taking time to look closely at trees and leaves, rocks and rivers, we can find both satisfaction and inspiration in swirls and curves, whorls and ripples.

Lessons from trees

Trees are the world's oldest and largest living things, and it is easy to feel that that we are not alone when walking through a wood or forest. What tales would they tell if they had tongues? What secrets lie hidden within the concentric circles of their growth rings?

Bleached branches by the sea.

Yet words are unnecessary. We need only observe trees to learn the subtle art of survival: get a good grip, a firm root in the earth; be adaptable, bend towards the sunlight; be generous to other life forms.

Natural patterns are everywhere

There is an infinite variety of patterns in trees; most obviously in their twisting branches, but also in their cracked or smooth bark, their snaking root systems and miraculously-formed fruits, flowers and seeds.

They also play host to many other plants, such as ferns, epiphytes and fungi. Even insects that live under their protection add to their adornment by carving pretty trails in the wood.

Fungus thrives on rotting trunk.

Leaves present familiar forms, their spines, ribs and veins mimicking the human form. Here too though, the diversity is limitless. Spiky and waxy succulents, fanned-out pads of lotus, gold and red shades of deciduous trees - all make up the complex jigsaw that decorates our Earth.

Droplet on lotus leaf (nelumbo nucifera).

Re-assurance and Reason

Just why are the patterns of nature so satisfying to contemplate? Perhaps the answer is that they reflect a certain symmetry or order in the world which is reassuring for us.

Red leaves in a puddle.

If our curiosity is aroused, we will always find a purpose in the patterns. Branches bend to find a way to sunlight, roots stretch out in search of water, barbs form a defence against animals.

Cycad palm.

Ridges and Rocks

Even the inanimate world reveals patterns that soothe us. Looking out over terraced valleys or mountain ridges receding in the mist can induce a meditative calm in many people.

Sunrise over a sea of mist; Phu Chi Fa, Thai-Lao border.

Rocks may be one of nature's hardest forms, but they take on a fascinating quality when washed smooth by water - in caves, on beaches and by rivers. The growth of lichen on boulders and the swirl of multicoloured sands often look like abstract works of art.

Lichen map on rock.

The Wonder of Water

Wonderful as all these sights are, it is perhaps the constantly changing patterns in flowing water that can relax us best. Watching ripples roll incessantly onto a beach, or objects beneath the surface transformed by the undulating current, can be mesmerizing.

Sunlight reflected from fast-flowing stream.

The purity of this transparent wonder is reflected in the smooth curves of cascades and the flashes of light across rushing streams, even in a dewdrop clinging to a blade of grass.

Nature's Mystery

The magical patterns to be found in nature can have a rejuvenating effect on our mind and make a return to the city with all its clamour somehow more bearable.

Having looked briefly into the mystery of natural forms, we feel more enlightened, more complete, having taken another step on the endless road to understanding our world and the richness that it holds.

Sand patterns on beach.