The Map is NOT the Territory

by Joanne Gruttner

Since my NLP Master Practitioner's training this summer and my move to a new city, I have felt very "out there", displaced and totally disconnected with my body and spirit - 1st and 7th chakra imbalance. I was offered a job recently and my whole body reacted negatively to the opportunity. I declined the offer and decided it was time to get connected with ME. All of me. I have spent so much time with mind science, spiritual explorations, and goal setting, acquisitions, getting an understanding of my soul's mission, purpose, trying to figure things out, relationships etc. that I have neglected my physical self, not nutritionally, but mechanically, the vehicle which supports and carries me through this journey. My spirit was yelling at me that it was time to use it or lose it - my spirit and body connection that is.

In the past I have had meditations in which I saw myself climbing a mountain, reaching the summit and looking over the world below. Never too strenuous of a climb, but mostly for building strength of spirit and supporting my soul's evolution, again through the process of mind science and spiritual/energy work. Sooo, a few weeks ago, my husband saw an ad in the paper advertising a wilderness weekend of camping and hiking, with the camaraderie of a group of spirited women, to the highest mountain in the province of New Brunswick. He thought it would be good for me, being new to this city, it would be a way to meet women and make new friends. Internally I cringed, because usually when he sees these opportunities for me, he is usually right, but it means that I am in for something really exhilarating and challenging, and usually outside of my comfort zone. My intellect quickly searched for "reasons" not to go, then as I read the notice, a much bigger voice was saying "why not? It might be fun and besides, it will be adventurous". My bigger voice won!

So off I went, along with the other women, to the info night. We were told what type of clothing was required for hiking, what gear, food, etc. would serve us best. We even got a map of the territory – looked simple enough! The first part of the trail was zigzagged, which indicated intense climbing. Then the rest of the map was just fairly straight lines with a dot representing the mountain top. And, which appeared to be a short trail to another dot, the other mountain - the highest point in the province of New Brunswick, 840 meters. So reading the map, I assumed the trails would be well groomed - after all, the map represented the territory, right? And it was a provincial park, right? And we were women of all ages, sizes and fitness levels. Certainly it would be fairly easy – the weakest link is the strength and pace thing...

So, next thing I knew I was setting up camp with 12 other women in the cold October dark at Mount Carleton provincial park, four hours north of Fredericton, NB. I didn't sleep the first night because I froze my butt off, awaking beside my buddy, we told each other that we would pretend we had fun, because we would never hear the end of it, but if we ever get an offer like this again, NO THANKS! We laughed until tears came into our eyes. I really was wondering what on earth did I get myself into? Frozen, no sleep and no real interest in what was ahead of me. I wanted to go home. To heck with this nonsense.

As I was packing my backpack to take with me on the journey, I realized what I was about to do and questioned the holographic universe thing.... Through my meditations, did I create this mountain and these people to make this real? Was there a connection between climbing the summit in my meditations and climbing the summit in the province? Hmmmm. Do we really create our reality with first our thoughts then wait patiently for the energy to manifest itself at the most opportune time for us to gain wisdom for our soul through physical experience? Is this what the journey through the territory is all about? If so, I'll be much more selective with what I think about!!!

I really expected a smooth, well manicured trail, you know like the wheelchair accessible gravel ones you find in most provincial parks. HA! From the first foot on the trail, it was an intense upward stomping and foot pounding and tripping over rugged roots, slippery earth, moss and far too many rocks to climb onto and jump down on, all nestled in beautiful dense forest ablaze with fall colours. Hmmm, just like the map indicated!!! Mother Nature was very generous to the hikers who were strong visual and olfactory perceptors - lots of beautiful reds, yellows, oranges, various shades of greens and the sweet smell of the fall earth kept us exhilarated and energized. After four hours of invigorating and intense climbing, we eventually got above the tree line of the first mountain, climbed the highest rock, looked over, nearly got blown over by the wind and felt this wonderful sense of "Yes, I did it, now I can go home!!" Only to move down the path a bit to be shown a magnificent valley of dense forest below us that seemed to go on forever and another mountain far off in the distance with a small house on it - the forest rangers look-out cabin. At that point, I was in such awe of the beautiful terrain I saw below me that I had forgotten that I came to climb 2 mountains (one over 700 meters and the other 840 meters high, the highest point in NB) being the ambitious soul that I am! My saving grace was knowing that once this over with, I could just relax, just 5 more hours.

It turned out the valley had hidden treasures waiting for us. Our wonderful seasoned guides shared nature's keepsakes with us and explained the healing properties of various plant life. It was so beautiful, in the still of the meadows with sphagnum moss all over everything, it looked like a fairy's forest, as if they would pop up from behind the trees to delight us, very silent, peaceful and quite divine. No camera could capture the essence of Mother Nature's exquisite beauty and gifts.

Then I reached the summit, wind was so strong that we couldn't stay for long. Took pictures to prove it and for the memory, but the sense of accomplishment and achievement was far beyond any words - like never having had that physical experience before! As I started to descend the mountain, I was feeling a bit disappointed that I didn't stay up there long, considering the effort and time it took to reach it. Then I was overcome with a popular inspirational saying "Success is a journey, not a destination, Joanne." Ain't that the truth!

The descent was that of painful feet, aching, twisted ankles, weak and grinding knees, yet soaking in the beauty of the world below me, a sight that can only be seen through triumphant eyes, and an overall feeling of glory, awe the "YES" of knowing that I am different, beyond the need of even trying to understand or consciously know how.

I am amazed how a small ad in the newspaper and simply saying yes to its calling could lead me to walk today with a feeling of authentic power, wholeness and a bigness, largeness that I have never known, yet with a humility and respect for the earth I live on and the wonderful opportunities my world offers me to challenge myself and to grow from and strengthen myself in many ways. It was ten hours of the most physical life affirming experience I have ever had. There certainly was a camaraderie with highly spirited women, with some of whom I will do this again and others with whom I will honor as having shared this experience. The whole thing was a real test of mind, body and spirit! I even paid big bucks to learn to do what the bears do in the bush!!! :) I trust that was cosmic humour!

The whole NLP concept of "the map is not the territory" use to elude me as I never had a reference for it. I just didn't get it. Well, I believe the universe gave me one. I'll never look at a mountain the same way again, the superficial beauty, but now see it as an opportunity to go beyond my comfort zone and discover that part of me that really wants to LIVE and experience feeling FULLY ALIVE. All of me - mind, body and spirit. Just like the journey called "Life." I know I have a map of my life somewhere, most of it hidden from my eyes by the veil of forgetfulness, but as I walk through this journey, trekking through the rough terrain, tripping over the roots, climbing over those rocks we call obstacles, enjoying and savouring those soothing and blissful valleys filled with divine grace, and walking alone in the dark wilderness under a star lit canopy feeling vulnerable and totally respectful of this world, I now have a greater reverence for my life. And, my spirit and body have connected again.

I also will never take for granted any map, yet I also know that the only way to experience the reality of the territory in which the map attempts to represent, is to take the journey with a strong and open mind, body and spirit! And not ever again look at it as "when I'm done, then I will rest", but rather "Wow, I am savouring every moment of this journey, because I know this experience will soon come to an end and then I will move on to something new and wonderful again - in the meantime, I embrace what I have created to grow from." The creative cycle repeats itself and gives us opportunities to expand from and improve our attitude towards every experience we have. I prefer to go big with my attitude and expand my experiences of life affirming adventure!

May you discover your territory with the same awe and reverence I journey mine.

Hiking anyone?

This article may only be reproduced with permission of the author.

Joanne Gruttner is a Certified NLP Master Practitioner by (Partners in Renewal / WEL-Systems Institute) and she can be reached at JoanneGruttner@rogers.com