Orenda: Nature’s Invisible Energy

I recently learned the word, Orenda, a spiritual energy believed by the Iroquois to exist in natural objects.

Lately, I’ve been listening to the music of Ferry Corsten. His uplifting songs resonate with me during these challenging times.

T is familiar with electronic trance music or as he calls them: songs with no words. For a while, Martin Garrix’s Animals was T’s repeat request.

To me, trance epitomizes the power of music. Stripped of words, melodies and rhythm form a universal language that connects with listeners.

Corsten’s latest song, Orenda, has his signature joyful melody, spiritual themes and masterful build towards an emotional climax. As always, the sonic journey feels transcendent.

I was curious what Orenda meant. I thought it was related to astronomy and I was enlightened when I learned its beautiful meaning.

With each repeat listen – the song is on heavy rotation – I reflected on the words energy and nature and the ways they appear in our lives.

Endless Energy

As most parents of a child with FASD will tell you, the child’s endless energy is exhausting.

Neighbours often remark about how T is super energetic. I now understand why there are wheels in hamster cages.

I’m slowly reframing how I view T’s hyperactivity. Rather than see it as a negative, the hubby and I try to find productive ways to refocus that energy – to help him better manage daily life.

Like other kids in similar situations, sports provide T with a healthy outlet to burn energy.

Now that summer is here, outdoor pools are a lifesaver. I love watching T’s confidence and ability grow with each visit.

Nature’s Healing Energy

Nature provides so much respite during this pandemic. Whether it is a Spring walk as nature reawakens from winter, a long summer hike, or a fall colours excursion, our bodies re-energize from the healing outdoors.

I’m thankful T has gained an appreciation for the outdoors and that he looks forward to and enjoys our simple rewarding family outings.

I believe that T finds freedom with nature. In these vast spaces, he runs as fast and far as he wants, splashes water as hard and loud as he wants, and can be himself with abandon.

Collisions of Energy

I’ve written about T’s explosive moments. He’s making great gains in learning to regulate his emotions; it’s a work in progress.

One of the best lessons I’ve learned from other parents on similar journeys is to be the calm in a child’s storm. Responding to an explosive moment with an explosive reaction is counter productive.

I know, this is such obvious common sense advice. But it took me a long time to figure this out. I still have challenges with staying calm in T’s storms, but I am a work in progress too!

Renewal of Energy

Energy is finite – and self care is an important part of my survival strategy to parenting T.

After a gruelling three months of virtual schooling while working full time, I took the last week off to recharge. Bonus: his daycare reopened on Wednesday!

This past Friday, I had my first day to myself with zero responsibilities in forever.

I sat down on a patio – for the first time in over a year – and enjoyed a delicious bowl of tonkotsu ramen and an ice cold can of Coke while soaking up the sun and feeling a cool breeze. All by myself and boy was it rejuvenating!

Transformative Energy

Storms are said to possess orenda. This tidbit resonated with me when I first read the definition, but I wasn’t sure why.

Shortly after I arrived home from lunch on Friday, dark clouds that were promised all day finally appeared and soon enough, thunder and lightning ripped through the quiet sky and heavy rain poured across the city.

After the storm, I looked out our window at the hubby’s garden. He has been working so hard at it and it looks wonderful. I told him that he doesn’t need to water the plants and that they were going to bloom further after the downpour.

That was when it clicked why the word orenda resonated with me.

As we weather T’s stormy moments, like plants under dark skies, we too are inevitably transformed and grow through the energy of the storm.