Meandering in Myakka River State Park

Musings from the Mystical side of Myakka

One of the best parts of taking a mindful ecotour in Myakka River State Park is the long, slow drive to the North end of the park. The vortex energy is more potent on those trails, so I spend a lot of time there. The crowds stay in the front of the park. Wide, manicured trails next to the canopy walk handle strollers well, and the understory is open for lots of lines of sight to keep track of your children running ahead. But that is way too much noise and activity to be able to connect easily to the vortex. 

The road is clogged at people looking for gators at the first bridge. But when I got past the concessioniere, the traffic thins out and the animals feel safer to show themselves. That’s where I saw a massive gator in the middle of the road! And I’m talking like 10 feet, fully alert, ready to move gator. It was in eyesight of the lake, so not far from where it wants to be. In case you have any reservations about hiking in Myakka, we’ve never encountered a gator on a trail that is out of site of the river or lake.

Anyhow, today, the gator has a message… big feelings ahead. Keep reading to learn how it was delivered!

Book a tour to find your messages from nature.

Most Common Animal Totems seen on an Ecotour of Myakka

The next sentinel on my journey to the trail head was a kettle of vultures. I see them frequently in the park. A symbol of the circle of life. One of the only animals in nature that does not hunt or graze. They are masters of patience. Shamanically, they teach us to trust that the universe will provide. Not an easy task-I know. I am often compelled to do more and more and more, push harder, faster, better. But the American hustle culture celebrated on social media does not exist in nature. A tree is not disappointed when it doesn’t bloom in winter. The vulture doesn’t sulk and cry when there’s no food that day. It waits. It teaches us patience. 

For me that day, it signaled that I need to roll back my expectations and be open to what presents. In this very moment of today’s hike. You can’t always create the experience you want in the vortex; it gives you the experience you need. And if that sounds scary, take a guide! That’s what I’m here for. I want you to be able to let down your guard, open your heart to the messages of nature, and trust that you are being taken care of. I’m carrying the first aid kit, trained in wilderness survival, and mentally capable of holding space for any emotion that arises. It’s not always about fearing the wildlife or poisonous plants, but we fear what we will find inside ourselves. 

Nature Knows What You Need

There was one more significant totem on my hike. This one came from the plant kingdom, in the form of a Saw Palmetto bush. This is not a rare plant by any means. You can find Saw Palmetto in almost every park and tree line in Southwest Florida. Sarasota County is FULL of Saw Palmetto and we pass them on every ecotour in Myakka River State Park. It caught my eye today because this specific plant cast out a huge flower spike full of creamy white flowers. One of my favorite things to do is ask the flower what kind of medicine it shares. This is the first and only time that the flower shut me down and said, “I’m not for you!” How rude!?!? I thought. I’ve never received a message so cold and distant. It’s helpful to know a little bit of the science of plants and animals when shamanically interpreting their meaning. In this case, I know factually that Saw Palmettos create a berry that is used as real physical medicine for men’s health issues. So it made perfect sense that the plant knew it was not for me. In this case, it has a hyper specific role, and I am not it’s ideal consumer ;) 

The Maze of Myakka

Myakka River State Park has such extensive trails that you don’t ever have to take the same hike twice. I was exploring a section of the Myakka Trail, managed by the Florida Trail Association, and found a shady live oak grove that I’ve never seen before. So naturally, I stopped, laid out my blanket, took off my shoes, and settled into the connect to the vortex. People always ask me how big is the vortex, and how do you know where they are? It’s more of an art than a science. 

Messages from Above

Okay, so what happened in the vortex? What did all these sentinels and totems set me up to experience? I received a visit from a deceased relative. My great aunt Rita. I had received a text message from family earlier in the day that she had passed the night before. She was my Grandmother’s Sister and always had a special place in my heart because it showed me what my old age could be like with my sisters; fun and joy. Rest in Peace Rosemary and Rita. 

The mood was set before I arrived. I hiked slowly. I was alone. The trail was narrow and canopy thick. The perfect setup for a deep inward journey. And then there were crows. Great big shiny black birds. I didn’t see them at first. What made me look up was an eerie creaking sound. It came and went and I couldn't pin down a direction. Sometimes it was a buzzing, like a bee flying around your head, but there were no bees. Sometimes it was like tree branches rubbing against each other, but the trees were barely moving. Most of all, I just felt a presence. 

Crow: Friend or Foe?

It was from my sixth sense for hearing a call from the other side. It was almost like a radio frequency or static on a tv trying to come into focus. I had an ego response to quickly pack up and move on.  And then I thought of the black gator, the black vultures, and how they held space for me to travel here. And now the crows are delivering the message. Fear of nature is disconnection from nature. My brain knows that a crow can’t hurt me, but my heart was soft and tender and felt vulnerable. Whatever the sounds were, It brought my attention up to the tops of the trees and then I saw them. First one crow, then 2 and 3 and 4. Silent, sitting, practically over my head. Crows are a symbol of the underworld. Associated with carrying souls to the other side. When I tuned into the energy, I knew that it was my relative letting me know that she was hiking with me. Gentle encouragement to keep pursuing this business. Examples of what is possible in the vortex.

Communicating Across the Veil

In many spiritual traditions, working in the psychic realm and using our sixth senses is often described as ‘behind the veil.’ A person is known as a shaman when they have the ability to see or journey beyond the veil. And this is where we go on a vortex tour. The vortex is not material, it’s not visible. It’s metaphysical, it’s only seen in our mind’s eye. One pattern that is showing up on these tours is participants interacting with deceased loved ones. And that is a beautiful gift. I hope you get a chance to see beyond the veil and hear the whispers of nature calling you home. Join me for a mindful walking tour and journey into the wildside of Myakka.

Myakka River Vortex Tour

150

Book Now