The white heron and the white bull - Goa

Life is a school we attend throughout our physical time on Earth. 

From what I have learned, we are here in this physical form by choice. And although it's often hard to believe, considering all the trials and heartaches we endure, the question arises... 'Seriously? I chose this?' Yet, life is a school, and the faster we learn its lessons - especially the art of letting go of pain and heartache, the better our journey becomes. It's challenging, no doubt, but we have a choice: to rise and grow or to sink under the weight of it all.

Once more, I escaped the London winter blues last February and travelled to India to join Sis Hala for some sun and fun. Our yoga teacher, Joe, could not make it over this time, and the search for a replacement led us to Raj, a serene man whose daily practice unfolded in a large tent draped with see-through orange and green netting. One morning, as I prepared for our session, my eyes drifted to a lush green field ahead where something magical caught my attention.

(and noticed a white heron elegantly posing on the neck of a white bull. The site resembled a surreal painting enlivened with the melody of the birds and the gentle sound of the leaves swaying swiftly to the breeze. It was as though the two were deep in conversation, not by any sound but by flowing energies.) 

There, under the open sky, stood a majestic white bull and perched gracefully on its neck was a white heron. The scene before me seemed like something from a dream, almost too surreal to be real. The melody of the birds filled the air, and the breeze gently stirred the leaves. The two animals stood still, as if locked in a conversation, not through words or sounds but through an invisible exchange of energy, a silent communication. 

As I moved through the yoga poses, I couldn't take my eyes off them. The bull, with its strong, grounding presence, barely moved the entire session and the heron remained poised, a figure of grace and balance. The questions that surfaced in my mind were endless. Was this a form of companionshipt? Could two such different creatures form a bond? What could they be sharing in their stillness? Weather gossip, perhaps, or something far deeper - an understanding of the world that transcends words? The only thing that made sense was the profound peace they embodied. That moment, witnessing the bull and the heron together, felt like an invitation to recognise the quiet beauty in simply being present. No noise, no distractions, just existing side by side, as if teaching me that sometimes, connection doesn't need words at all. It made me reflect - aren't we too, nature's creatures, seeking that same peace in our connections, whether with others or within ourselves?

On other days, the heron would stand beside the bull, sometimes on a rock, facing each other. They would remain like that for hours, the heron flying off briefly only to return to its silent companion. Their relationship fascinated me. The bull, a symbol of strength and stability, seemed content to share its space with the heron, a creature of lightness and flight. Together, they created a balance that I found hard to look away from, so much so that I often struggled to focus on my downward dog. 

Now, back in London, as I sit wrapped in a soft blanket, listening to the rain tap agains the glass, I can't help but long for that warmth again - not just the heat of the Indian sun but the warmth of connection, of being held against another body. The longing for the embrace of a man flickers in my mind, but it comes with too much baggage, so I let the thought drift away, focusing instead on the sunshine. 

It's funny how moments like that, of stillness, of simplicity, remain with you long after they pass. They teach us that peace isn't something we have to chase. Sometimes, it's found in simply existing alongside another without needing anything more. The bull and the heron showe me that. I wrote this blog last year and never posted it. Writer's block, like a travel ban, lifted from my mind today, and I feel free to share once again. 

Writing down your thoughts and feelings is therapeutic. I recommend it to everyone I meet. Stay as positive as you can, even when life feels heavy. This, too, shall pass.