I had the great fortune to be with a spiritual group celebrating the summer solstice. We went hiking in the Austrian alps. It was a wonderful experience to be in such a beautiful part of the world, also I had time to reflect on the river there. I was watching it slip quietly through the shadows of the forest. The light barely touched its surface, but I could see the movement—the determination. I noticed the way it curved around rocks, danced over pebbles, and kept flowing, no matter what stood in its way.
It reminded me of us.
It reminded me of life.
So many of us face challenges that feel like jagged rocks—grief, fear, illness, heartbreak, uncertainty. These are the moments that test our balance, our belief, our ability to move forward. But like the river, we don’t stop. We can’t. There is always a next step, a next breath, a next healing moment waiting for us.
Rocks Are Not Roadblocks—They Are Teachers
When the river meets an obstacle, it doesn’t freeze. It finds a way—over, under, around. And with every detour, it carves a new path. Likewise, the rocks in our lives teach us flexibility. They remind us that it’s not about having a perfect, straight journey—it’s about becoming stronger, wiser, and more fluid in the face of resistance.
Here’s something I tell my clients often:
Don’t ask, “Why is this happening to me?”
Instead, gently ask, “What is this here to teach me?”
This simple shift in perspective turns pain into purpose.
Movement and Change Are Sacred Truths
The river doesn’t flow backwards. Neither should we.
You may revisit memories, but you don’t have to relive them. Healing invites you to honor your past, not be trapped in it.
Life is movement. Energy must flow. Emotions must be felt and released. Growth must be allowed. Healing happens in motion—not in stagnation.
If you’re feeling stuck, try this:
- Go for a walk in nature and simply observe. Let your thoughts drift like clouds.
- Journal without judgment. Let the words flow like water.
- Drink water slowly and intentionally—thank it for its nourishment.
- Breathe deeply, and as you exhale, imagine letting go of what you no longer need.
These are small acts of flow. They are not grand, but they are sacred.
You Are Not the Same Person Who Faced Yesterday
Just as no one crosses the same river twice—because both the river and the person have changed—you are shifting every day. With every sunrise, you hold the potential to show up differently. Softer. Stronger. More present.
Don’t underestimate these subtle changes. Healing isn’t always loud or dramatic. Often, it’s quiet and unseen—like the roots that grow beneath the surface.
The River Nourishes as It Moves—So Can You
A river doesn’t exist just for itself. It feeds life around it: the fish swimming within it, the plants rooted along its banks, the animals that come to drink, and the people who rely on its waters.
Likewise, your presence, your healing, your growth—all ripple out. When you take care of yourself, you naturally begin to nourish those around you. You offer peace. You offer calm. You offer wisdom just by being you.
You Don’t Have to Cling
One of the greatest lessons from the river is this: it doesn’t cling to the rocks. It doesn’t try to stay still. It knows its destination and trusts the flow.
So many of us hold tightly to pain, labels, identities, or old versions of ourselves—because they feel safe. But healing requires release.
Let go. Let go. Let go.
Release the idea that you have to be who you were yesterday.
Release the belief that you are broken.
Release the fear that keeps you from moving forward.
Your Ocean Awaits
The river’s final destination is the sea—a merging with something vaster than itself. As it flows into the ocean, it doesn’t disappear. It becomes. It expands. It is home.
You, too, are moving toward something greater. Toward wholeness.
Toward truth. Toward oneness.
So be the river. Flow. Nourish. Release. Transform.
And as Rumi beautifully reminds us:
“You are not a drop in the ocean.
You are the entire ocean in a drop.”
With love and light,
Doris Muna
Founder, Dorothea Healing
www.dorotheahealing.com