Nature's wisdom: Lessons from berries and heather

A journey with lingonberries, blueberries, cranberries, bell heather and heather

Yesterday morning I decided to visit Tranerödsmosse again. I wanted to not only capture the beauty of nature on film, but also listen to what it had to say. With my camera in hand, I left the wooden bridge and balanced myself on the tufts of blueberry and heather. The sun slowly rose over the horizon, and its soft light spread over the bog, shading the trees and creating a magical glow.

As I walked further, I found myself once again surrounded by ripe lingonberries and blueberries, but this time I also saw small, red cranberries almost hidden among the grass and moss. And then of course there was heather – both bell heather with its small bell-shaped flowers and the common heather blooming in all its glory. These plants, each with its own unique message, felt as if they were speaking directly to me.

I usually let Solöga's interpretations of plants become a starting point for my own inner reflection. Today I let each plant and its message sink in, and I felt them intertwine into a deeper reminder for my own life.

Lingon: Let your wisdom change your life

“Let your wisdom change your life. Wisdom: I possess the wisdom that changes my life/situation. I practice my wisdom and change my life/situation for the better. Stop thinking about it and do something about it.”

The lingonberry reminds us that wisdom and action go hand in hand. But just as lingonberries do not ripen if picked too early, we must not rush into action before the time is right. The wisdom to act comes from within, when we feel that everything has fallen into place. That is when we are ready to turn our insights into action and truly change our lives.

Waiting for the right moment is not about passivity, but about giving our ideas and plans the time they need to fully mature. Once the inner inspiration comes, we know the time is ripe – and then it is time to act, trusting that we have all the wisdom we need to do the right thing.

Blueberries: Your own wisdom makes you successful

“Your own wisdom makes you successful. Wisdom: I trust myself. I trust my own wisdom. My own wisdom makes me successful.”

Blueberries remind us of the power of following our own unique path. Just as each blueberry grows and ripens at its own pace, we each have our own unique wisdom that guides us to success. Our success is not dependent on competing with others or comparing ourselves to them – instead, it is about fully trusting the path that is our own.

Our wisdom is unique to us, and there is a place for us where we can flourish without having to measure ourselves against anyone else. When we trust and follow our own inner voice, we discover that there is a unique place for our success, where our full potential can blossom. By standing firmly in our own wisdom and our own path, we can achieve success that is authentic and meaningful, without being influenced by external comparisons.

Cranberries: Show humility towards life

Be humble about life. Wisdom: Life is a precious gift. I value my life. I value all life. I feel humble about life. Life gives us all so much.”

Cranberries remind us that life is a precious gift, filled with small moments that are all part of a greater whole. Their modest growth habit, close to the ground and often invisible at first glance, reminds us of the importance of being down to earth and seeing the value in the small. Cranberries teach us that every moment, every action, and every small detail matters.

Being humble about life is about appreciating everything we experience – both big and small – as important parts of our journey. It is in this humble appreciation of life that we realize that nothing is too small or insignificant. Every moment we live is a piece of the puzzle in a bigger picture, where everything has its place and purpose. By valuing each moment and seeing it as part of something bigger, we can live with a deeper sense of meaning and gratitude.

Bell heather: Hurry slowly to catch up

Hurry slowly to catch up. Wisdom: I do everything at my own pace. I get what I need to do. It actually takes longer if you rush and stress."

Growing low and close to the ground with its small bell-shaped flowers, the bellflower reminds us of the importance of being present in the moment. By moving slowly and living consciously in each moment, we can reduce stress and find a natural rhythm in our lives. When we are fully present, our sense of when time is right intuitively becomes stronger.

The bellflower teaches us that we don't need to rush through life; instead, we can take it easy and trust that we will get what we need to get done. It's when we let go of stress and stop to truly experience each moment that we discover that we can achieve more with less effort. By living in the present and listening to our inner signals, we can do things at the right time, without feeling overwhelmed.

Heather: You create your life and your experiences

"You create your own life and experiences. Wisdom: I create my own life and experiences. I am happy with my life. I am happy with my relationships. I am happy with the experiences I have had. I have learned."

The heather's growth force, which often spreads over large areas and covers the ground with its purple flowers, reminds us that we ourselves shape the richness of our experiences based on the perspective we choose to view them. The heather's message is that we are the creators of our own lives, and that every experience – regardless of whether it feels positive or negative – contributes to the whole of our life puzzle.

There are no mistakes, only lessons that help us grow and develop. By choosing to look at our experiences with a sense of gratitude and understanding, we can integrate them as valuable puzzle pieces in our life journey. Ljungen encourages us to embrace all parts of our experiences, and to see them as necessary steps on the path to creating a life that we are truly satisfied with.

Conclusion

There, in the midst of nature, the message of these plants became a powerful reminder of how we can live our lives in balance, awareness and trust. The lingonberry reminded me to act on my wisdom, the blueberry to trust my own path, the cranberry to show humility towards life, the bellflower to take it easy and let the process take its course, and the heather to take responsibility for my own life and shape my experiences with an open and learning mind.

So the next time you find yourself in nature, let its quiet message guide you. Stop comparing yourself to others, trust your own wisdom, be humble, take it one step at a time, and take responsibility for the life you create. Let the message of nature (lingonberries, blueberries, cranberries, bellflowers, and heather) inspire you to live a life filled with inner peace, outer success, and a deep appreciation for life.

Tranerödsmosse in early morning light.