My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and asking deep questions.
True self-fulfillment arises in the absence of the ego.
Lao Tzu
It’s a busy day. Coffee and conversation at Mugs, then met my oldest daughter for breakfast. Will meet Duane for a late lunch at 2:00 pm then attend a movie premiere for my friend John Barnhardt at 5:30 pm. at the CSU Lory Student Center theater.
…I write to better understand myself and my relationship with everything else. If my writing does indeed influence the world in a positive way, either now or in some future time, I’m all for it. And if for some reason it doesn’t, I’m okay with that too. But before any greater analysis is made, it’s important to keep in mind that my work helps me understand who I am. What happens after simply happens.
Robert Lax
I practice my photography and writing to understand myself and the world around me. It’s interesting to think that we do not know just how many people read our blogs. Could be less than ten or over a hundred. I’m not actually interested in knowing those numbers. So, I write on this blog and I journal to better understand myself and my relationship with the world around me. If my writing touches someone or helps them understand themselves or me, then it has been worth the work.
We have had a nice gentle rain the past 24 hours providing much needed moisture.
Once we discover that the ‘book of nature’ is an ancient idea—that this really was God’s first way of reaching out to us—then it’s like we’re stepping into this giant prayer book when we step out into the natural world. This makes it impossible for me to be anywhere in creation, now, and not be aware of this God who is crouching down low, just waiting for my attention.
Barbara Mahany
“As the sunrise brightens each new day,
Ron Stutz (from his website – Native Sunrise Flutes)
so the sounds of the flute chase the gloom of night away,
and awakens our soul.”
This is my new Native American style flute made by flute maker Ron Stutz out of Highland, Utah. I chose to purchase one of his flutes because it has a professional build quality, is customizable, but also is a work of art. There is something within me that wants to be able to make magical sounds that feed my spirit, use it as a meditative tool, and allow it to become a part of my spiritual practice. The Native American style flute is also known as the Love flute or Courting flute. And no, I’m not courting anyone.
I purchased this flute through the Horizons Flute Store. When ordering the flute you get to choose several options. You get to choose the key it’s made in: this one is in the key of A. You get to choose the type of wood, either Spanish Cedar or Sapele: I chose Spanish Cedar. You also choose the style of flute, either Canyon or Woodland: I chose Canyon style which has a set of petroglyphs found in Nine Mile Canyon in Utah and has a manufactured broken and burned end for a distinctive look. You have four choices of totems to choose from: I chose the animal kingdom because of its simplicity. You choose between two mouthpiece shapes, round or tapered: I chose rounded. We will see how that works out for me. And, finally, you can choose from the standard 440 Hz Concert Tuning or the alternative 432 Hz Consciousness Tuning: I chose 432 Hz because I will be playing this flute in nature and it has more of an earth tone.
Honestly accept the journey into physical diminishment as the new learning curve in your life and embrace it with curiosity and beginner’s mind. Keep facing forward with a gently yielded heart; that is always the direction from which the new integration emerges.
Cynthia Bourgeault
These are the morning clouds on my way to the coffee shop this past Thursday while bicycling across campus. I do like riding my bicycle because of scenes and moments like this. But I also hope it decreases some physical diminishment in this aging process we all are on. I also find it’s a great way to start my day and be actively a part of nature. I hope you have a wonderful Saturday!!
Whoever you are, you are human.
Barbara Brown Taylor
Wherever you are, you live in the world,
which is just waiting for you to notice the holiness in it.
I spent some time on a walk around the Environmental Learning Center yesterday. The sky was putting on quite the display of clouds as predicted rain began moving into the area. I had not been there since January and a lot had changed. The Poudre Trail bicycle path now runs alongside the center then heads east all the way to Greeley. I was also surprised to see how much dead and fallen trees there were inside the center. I loved the solitude! The rain did come, a nice gentle moisture rich rain. Even had some thunder with it. This morning is bright with clear skies and sunshine. Perfect day to ride to coffee.
By my intimacy with nature I find myself withdrawn from man. My interest in the sun and the moon, in the morning and the evening, compels me to solitude.
Henry David Thoreau
We don’t change as we get older – we just get to be more of what we’ve always been.
Joan D. Chittister
I took this on my ride home from coffee along Spring Creek Trail this morning. Saw the reflections and had to stop and turn around! There are not that many places along the trail where you can take a photo without the sign of man intruding. Did my best to crop out the buildings but you can see the reflection of them in the creek. We are expecting this lovely sunshine to become rain later this afternoon and into tomorrow. Would love to see the moisture. I hope you have a great day!