My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
There comes a time in the spiritual journey when you start making choices from a very different place . . .And if a choice lines up so that it supports truth, health, happiness, wisdom, and love, it’s the right choice.
Angeles Arrien
If you notice she does not include monetary wealth or anything that has a physical presence in her list. Everything she lists has an intangible value. And, in my world her list does not have a monetary value to them. I believe this is one of the reasons this quote resonates with me and one of the major reasons our world is in a state of decline. Which begs the question within me; What would our world be like if more people lived their spiritual journey?
I no longer feel that life is ordinary. Everyday life is filled with mystery. The things we know are only a small part of the things we cannot know but can only glimpse. Yet even the smallest of glimpses can sustain us. Mystery seems to have the power to comfort, to offer hope, and to lend meaning in times of loss and pain. In surprising ways it is the mysterious that strengthens us at such times…
Rachel Naomi Remen
I changed up my morning routine. I got up early, made my necessary trip to the bathroom, made the bed, made a chai latte then headed up to Pineridge Natural Area for sunrise. As I pulled into the parking lot, I was greeted by two coyotes. I told them I was here to witness and photograph the sunrise and share the quiet of this sacred place with them and they could go ahead and continue their hunting. They turned and scampered up the ridge. After a few minutes of quiet time in my car I moved out to a location where I have another uncomfortable rock to sit on and where I like to take photographs. It was almost the perfect temperature and I loved the refreshing breeze. I enjoyed the singing of the meadowlarks and robins and the clouds were stunning. All of this reminded me of the blessing it is to live where I do and the gift of life. When I returned home, I had my meditation time, then mounted the red steed and rode to Mugs. Adriana made me my Old Town mocha and I enjoyed conversations with Jeff, Curtis, Terri, and Joan. I do not consider my life ordinary in the least but feel it is filled with mystery.
We no longer coordinate our human celebrations with the great liturgies of the heavens… We have silenced too many of those wonderful voices of the universe that spoke to us of the grand mysteries of existence.
Thomas Berry
We are now moving into longer nights and shorter days which means I will be getting out to celebrate the morning sunrise more often. In all honesty I have missed participating and photographing these morning liturgies, listening to voices of the universe and the grand mysteries of existence. So this is a warning that you may see more sunrise photos in the coming weeks.
Many do not have enough Because a select few have far too much.
The people are difficult to control Because there is someone trying to control them.
The people are poor and starving So they have little to lose in revolting.
The subjugation of the poor naturally leads to the overthrow of the rich.
This is a simple fact.
Tao Te Ching (75) By Lao Tzu Rendered by: Julian von Bargen, John Braun, Jr., David Warkentin
Teasels are one of those plants the invasive human considers to be an invasive plant. Man considers them invasive because they are capable of crowding out native plant species. Which begs the question, “Who is the native plant?” Seems they are native from somewhere and long before man. They have a purpose in life just as everything. The roots and leaves are used to make medicine. People apply teazle to the skin for wound healing, arthritis, and scaly, itchy skin (psoriasis). Anyway, in my eyes they provide beauty, photo opportunities, and their seeds are an important winter food resource for some birds, notably the European goldfinch.
As you can see I am slowly reading through a translation of the Tao Te Ching that is touching me at my core. It was written in the 4th century BC and the words are just as prevalent today. It is central to both philosophical and religious Taoism. I found that if I took the above refrain and substituted nature for people it rang just as true for me. Looks hot everywhere so I hope you are staying cool!!
If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.
Rachel Carson
I hope you are having an enjoyable Saturday morning. After my quiet time, I enjoyed a bowl of yogurt and granola then met Eric for coffee and conversation. It is a great way to start any day. This dahlia is from my return excursion yesterday evening at the CSU Flower Trial Gardens. Nature is such a creative artist. There is so much mystery, awe, and wonder to experience when we look closely as the child we are.
I rode the red steed to Mugs for coffee this morning. Adrianna was my barista and an Old Town Mocha was my drink. Jeff, Curtis, Adrianna, Joan and myself each gave of our time to one another through our presence, conversation and laughter. I choose to believe we all made some difference in one another’s lives.
Pollen laden bee on a Black-eyed Susan
One little person giving all of her time to peace makes news. Many people giving some of their time to peace can make history.
from Peace Pilgrim
Jeff and I rode by the CSU Flower Gardens on the way home. When I got home, I felt I did not stay long enough or walk around enough. I think I’ll return later this evening in an effort to make another small ripple. The bees were busy giving their time and making their small ripples in life, fulfilling their role in creation. I watched while they indulged in the process of pollination. And, later as I journaled on my porch, I shared the arm of my chair with a ladybug. We also gave of our time to one another. I wrote while they watched. Then, I watched two young squirrels chase one another around the tree. Again, we gave of our time to each other. I let them entertain me while they played. The bees, the ladybug and the squirrels live a life so much differently than our world of consumerism and scarcity. Their role in life is about making history. So, my prayer today is that more people give some of their time to peace, sending out small ripples, and making history rather than the news.
When my barista gave me my cortado, she apologized that her latte art turned out to be an onion rather than a rosetta. No apology necessary as it’s still latte art and it tasted wonderful.
No people went through an environment faster, and more destructively and wastefully, than Americans have gone through North America.
Donald Worster
I again took the long-cut home from coffee shop, making a loop around Spring Creek Park. Round trip is about 11.5 miles. The bicycle trail runs through Rolland Moore Park where people can picnic, toss frisbees, baseball diamonds, playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts. I loved the clouds this morning and stopped to take a quick snapshot. This looks out over a field of grass and wetland. Behind these trees is the park and some apartment buildings. Behind me are houses that go west for about two miles. Also behind me was a guy on a four-wheeler spraying for weeds. The smell was repulsive! It seems wthin cities we find very little natural environments.
Love is the most universal, the most tremendous and the most mystical of cosmic forces. Love is the primal and universal psychic energy. Love is a sacred reserve of energy; it is like the blood of spiritual evolution.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
I still believe love is the path to world peace! It is an energy that heals where violence brings more wounds, hatred and division. It is an energy that opens up connections between one another and all of creation. It all begins with small communities built on love, sending out small ripples of love. Yes, love is…
