A beautiful story circulating widely on our local WhatsApp groups captures much of the essence of meaningful nature experiences (or perhaps even nature-based synchronicity) and the observer account of this special and unusual encounter seemed appropriate to share here:
“I’ve just watched a “wonder-full”, rare encounter between a boy and an octopus in our Herolds Bay tidal pool. Ben, who has a broken arm, instead of swimming, was walking slowly at about waist-depth, studying the sea-weed in rocks at his feet. Suddenly he realised an octopus was climbing up his leg. Quite unafraid and completely amazed, Ben bent down and with his good arm and hand gently drew the octopus up to his chest. I was astounded by the unusual and endearing action enfolding before me. Neither boy or sea-creature were afraid , each seemed to be greeting the other. Ben stroking octopus gently and octopus stretching out a tentacle which enquiringly cupped Ben’s chin.
I was left wordless with wonder. No hunter or hunted, no aggression, only trust and a young boy’s joy. Ben just could not stop smiling . His mom standing with me on the pool wall was taking photos, she told me Ben since babyhood has been crazy about all animals.
Slowly Ben walked into deeper water and with a final loving stroke he coaxed octopus back into the pool. Releasing a small squirt of ink, the beautifully mottled creature gave a spurt of speed and disappeared from our sight.
I learnt from his mom that Ben was going through a hard time, having recently lost his dad in a car accident. Was it only by chance that the octopus came to give Ben such joy or had I perhaps witnessed an unexplainable heavenly event?”
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