Monkey Love
This final installment of the Costa Rica series begins with a confession. While on retreat last January, I fell in love with Brad Pitt. Yes, I know, a shocking discovery - perhaps more so when you learn that Brad Pitt actually fell asleep in my arms during this trip. Pretty scandalous!
I guess it might be worth of mentioning that I'm not referring to the actor, but to a baby Howler Monkey, currently being cared for by the generous folks at the Jaguar Rescue Center. I borrowed the photo above from their website to show off my new found love.
The Jaguar Rescue Center does some truly amazing work. The two biologists who created the facility are from Barcelona, where they were employed by the same zoo, but had never met. When both were sent to Costa Rica for work, they fell in love with the beautiful country and each other. When the locals learned about the scientists who'd moved in, they started bringing wounded and abandoned animals to be healed. Among those was a baby jaguar, which, despite the couples' best efforts, they could not save. This inspired the creation of an official facility, and the name honors that first one lost.
The nature of the Jaguar Rescue Center is to revitalize, nurture, and release their rainforest guests. Visitors are welcomed, and participate in one of the two daily guided tours. Each tour includes a magical five minutes in the howler monkey enclosure. All cameras, jewelry, eye-wear, and purses must be left outside the cage, because these young monkeys perceive everything as a new toy.
Before entering, each person rubs on an antibacterial lotion, and is warned not to make any sudden movements or laugh too loudly, as the monkeys might poop on you if they get excited. The guide clearly states in a variety of ways that the monkeys are the priority for this part of the tour - not the humans.
On my first visit (I went twice!), I met Brad. He had been feeling a little out of sorts because one of the more dominant young males had picked a fight with him. Once we were in the enclosure, the guide invited me to hold my arms like I would a baby (I'm so glad my grandson has given me some practice in this realm). When he placed Brad in my arms, we all ooh(ed) and ahh(ed) at his sweetness. In this content state, he fell asleep. Precious!
The beauty of the Center's work comes with their intention. Tend to those in need of assistance; create a safe space with opportunities for experiences that develop into helpful tools in the wild; and allow the animals to go back to their natural habitat whenever the cared for deem ready. For the monkeys, this last part - the release - is achieved is through a daily "picnic."
Every afternoon, all of the healthy monkeys are gathered together to venture into the jungle with the humans who tend them. A blanket is spread for the humans to rest upon, while the monkeys have free rein to go off and play, meeting wild troops who may someday accept them into their family, and learning about the life that lies ahead. When all of the monkeys fall asleep on the blanket, the picnic concludes. Every so often, though, one does not come back. When he or she is ready, has found a place with a new family that accepts them, they live their life in the wild as nature intended - coming back for the occasional visit, but not to live.
The nature of this program feels completely in alignment with my coaching work. Before entering the space with clients and workshop participants, I must first be "clean," because the priority in this space is the clients. My clarity helps to create the safe space, within which folks have the opportunity for new experiences and learning that they may take with them into the world. And once they've crossed the bridge we built together, they may come back sometimes for additional support, as it feels right to them. Revitalize, nurture and release - a nice model for each us to practice. A reminder that we can only live our own journey, and that the most supportive means for "revitalizing and nurturing" another is by offering our agenda-free presence. May you offer and be offered such presence today.
With love and presence,
Joanne Lutz