• Art,  leaves,  Plants,  quotes

    Transformation of Consciousness

    When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.

    Joseph Campbell

    There are times when nature stops me in my tracks. It could be a familiar scene we see regularly such as these leaves. Today it was the life giving viens of these leaves that awoke my consciousness. And, I hear October tapping on the door. I’m ready for the transformation of the world around me into the season of fall. 😊

  • animals,  landscape,  sunrises

    I’ll Take the Experience

    “This new day has greeted us with no rules; unconditional opportunity. Do not dilute the power of this new day with the hardship of yesterday. Greet this day the way it has greeted you; with open arms and endless possibility.”

    Steve Maraboli

    In darkness I drove east of town to watch the sunrise and distance myself from the city noise: trash trucks, sirens, traffic, landscapers and others. I felt tired but felt the need to stay open to any possibilities the new day may bring. Joyfully I encountered a group of five antelope (pronghorn) along Weld County Road 90. They are always on alert and in my experience they normally quickly run, keeping plenty of distance. So, for them to not run away while keeping a watch on me, was different and provided this photo opportunity. Not the best image because I used a handheld telephoto lens, out the car window, with the car running. No matter, I’ll take the experience I was offered. The sky is still filled with the smoke and will be for the next few days. May you have a wonderful Thursday.

    Okay, I installed a new comment and subscription plugin called Subscribe to Comments Reloaded. Let me know if you have issues with it.

  • clouds,  landscape,  quotes,  sunrises

    Life and Spirit of Landscape

    This morning’s sunrise over Dixon Reservoir at Pineridge Natural Area

    “Previously, during the Industrial Revolution, there was a raiding of the resources of the earth, but now there is the actual destruction of the physical earth itself. There is often a complete disjunction here between the religious outlook of people, which can be very pious, and their total blindness to the life and spirit of landscape.”

    John O’Donohue

    Interesting how we give names to much of our land as if it were a living presence having its own life and spirit. Yet, we can show almost no respect to its value of life, only the use of its resources. My prayer this morning is to live life by respecting, protecting, valuing all of creation.

  • Albert Einstein,  leaves,  Plants,  quotes

    Deep Into Nature

    Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

    Albert Einstein

    Yesterday was a cooler day with refreshing rain and more rain is forecasted for today. It is overcast, damp, and foggy in Colorado this morning. The fog mixed with the smoke filters the sun to glow bright orange through it all. Wish I knew a good way to photograph that color but I haven’t come up with one yet. But, that’s okay because I was able to just sit and experience nature doing its thing, and just for me.

    My prayer this morning is for more of us to take a deeper look into nature which means spending time there and on a regular basis. Seems to me Albert knew what he was talking about. Leaving in a few minutes to meet a special friend for coffee and conversation. Have a great Sunday!

  • Black and White,  grass,  natural areas,  Plants

    Time in Nature

    From a weekend walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    “Nature, too, supports our personal blossoming (if we have any quiet exposure to her) through her spontaneities, through her beauty, power, and mirroring, through her dazzling variety of species and habitats, and by way of the wind, Moon, Sun, stars, and galaxies.”

    Bill Plotkin

    It is a desire of mine to spend more time in nature. Hopefully, you already knew that. It is now obvious to me how deep these roots of solitude with and in nature have always been present. There is an awareness, also, that the more time I spend in the natural world, the more I desire to be there. My condo of bricks and sticks is not where I want to spend my life. It has provided a place of comfort but at a price. For many the house is all they need and want. Our culture stresses that. I’m not one of them. There is a desire to blossom. Have a great day and wonderful week!

  • Cactus,  Plants,  quotes

    And yet we worshiped

    “We had no churches, no religious organizations, no Sabbath day, no holidays, and yet we worshiped. Sometimes the whole tribe would assemble and sing and pray; sometimes a smaller number, perhaps only two or three.” 

    Geronimo

    Took this on my walk at Pineridge Natural Area this past weekend. Like how the plant, and I do not know what it is, was backlit just for me. If you look closely you’ll notice a dragonfly caught in mid-flight to the left of center and a few other insects which are all backlit. Gonna be another hot day with temperatures in the mid 90’s. Stay cool!