The nightingale song
We cannot protect what we do not love
Last night I sat with Sam Lee and the Nest Collective to listen to the Nightingales sing.
It was an evening of poetry, song and stories around the fire. It was a rare moment to be in utter darkness, to rest in stillness and surrender to deep listening.
For me, was also an evening of grief, reverence and activism with actionable take aways and strengthened resolve.
The pilgrimage began with a guided walk into the protected woods of Gloucestershire and a pause to listen to the dusk chorus. Sam spoke of how our ancestors would have been able to interpret the song, to listen for clues about approaching dangers or changes in our environment. That age old saying “a little birdy told me”, carrying more literal meaning now.
As we sat under the stars and around the fire, I did wonder to myself if food really does taste better outside, shared with others and amongst the elements. This was the thread of our entire evening together, a returning to circle, to ancient ways of being and connecting, both within and without.
With the sharing of folk song and myth, we were guided back into a felt sense, remembering that this is how we once would have gathered not too long ago. We would have sat around a fire, letting our eyes adjust to the darkness, being together in simplicity and heart.
The Nightingales song, a symbol of love and hope, has long been revered and adored. It was with deep grief and sorrow that we discussed how the population has decreased by over 90% in the last 50 years, and continues still to decline. Caused by the shocking mix of deforestation and hotter climates.
The energy of the circle changed. “We cannot protect what we do not love. We cannot love what we do not know”, Sam implored.
We are living in a time of crisis. Species are becoming extinct all around us. Here in the UK, we are the least forested countries in Europe, at only 13%. And yet even the most climate conscious of us forget and go numb to these horrors.
So how do we keep paying attention?
I was reminded last night of the urgency to gather. The absolute desperate need for us to reconnect to each other, the land and our hearts.
To reconnect with the animals, plants and birds which desperate needs our protection.
To grieve. To let our hearts break. To not turn away.
I have to believe that gathering together in circle is an act of rebellion. As we sat in the woodland last night was the hum of the A40 nearby, I imagined our group as a circle of light getting brighter with the nightingale song. I imagined us as sanctuary amidst the chaos.
There are many moments that I feel helpless to the horrors unfolding around us, and yet evenings such as last night remind me to keep coming together in circle, to keep remembering and to keep coming home.
With love
Nici
Ps. Sam Lee did leave us with some actionable advice from his book – The Nightingale. The first, to buy organic food wherever possible so we’re not contributing to the industry of pesticides and therefore farming that is harmful to all wildlife and biodiversity. The second to take children out into nature as much as possible, to show them how to fall in love with the world around us and to feel a part of it. And lastly to change who you bank with. I didn’t know this until yesterday but turning your pension green cuts your carbon 21x more than going veggie, giving up flying and switching energy provider. It’s more fun with a friend, because let’s face it - admin is boring, so I’m going to pair up with a few people this week and change over my bank. There’s great information here: https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/