My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
We had a wonderful rain on Friday evening. So yesterday morning I began the day by greeting the sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area. Song birds were happy campers and singing merrily. Everything was wet, covered in heavy dew. I stopped at Red Fox Meadows on the way home because there was a bit of fog along the low lying meadow. Everything is refreshed after the rain we had. Being in a drought makes it even more enjoyable. It was a wonderful way to start the new day.
If you haven’t notice I spend many of my early mornings at Pineridge Natural Area which implies I post a lot of images from this area. I took this image in mid June. I am sure the kayaker is enjoying their morning on Dixon Reservoir. The color is interesting to me. I took several images and they all have this almost dirty gold look. We have no fires burning, thank goodness, so I’m assuming it is a smog/haze mix.
The Journey
Mary Oliver, from Dream Work
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice –
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do –
determined to save
the only life you could save.
I usually read one or two of Mary Oliver’s poems when I go to bed. This poem called The Journey, kept me awake the other night so maybe I need to rethink that routine. Anyway, the poem rocked me because it’s asking questions that I’m still asking myself at 72 years of age. It’s about transformation of an inner journey. So, it is asking if I’m willing to take all the risks involved, if I dare listen to the voice within, to face a death of some kind, to let go to something I’ve outgrown and the birth of a new self. It’s about learning to trust myself, about leaving the bad advice and demands of other people behind and even the voice of my own insecure egoic self, and to follow my own instincts, my own path in life. What does it say to you?
Today is my 72 birthday. I will most likely spend some time with my feathered friends at one of the natural areas, have a mocha or chai, get in some reading and journaling time. Basically, I’ll continue to spoil myself, even at this age.
Up early and off to the natural area.
ms
Wind was blowing hard and cold,
penetrating my fleece.
I was not expecting any colors
with clouds on the horizon but…
creation would not disappoint us.
Love sharing this sacred place
with all my friends,
both human and feathered.
It’s a good way to start each day!
Have a great weekend!
I miss the early days of the pandemic when scenes like this sunrise did not have the dirty brown smog hoovering on the eastern horizon. Sigh!
My day begins in the sanctuary of my home.
ms
with the quiet of prayer and meditation.
Then I make my way to the sanctuary
of a local natural area.
My feathered sisters and brothers greet me as the goldfinches,
house finches, chickadees, meadowlarks, magpies,
robins, swallows all sing songs of joy this morning.
I watch their amazing aerial antics as they snatch insects in midair
or playfully chase one another from branch to branch.
My eyes catch that patient fisherman, the Great Blue Heron,
who silently wades in the shallow waters of Dixon Reservoir.
A pair of mallards cruise the waters of the reservoir
sending their delicate wavelets to shore.
A noisey crow pesters a red-tail hawk, both adrift in the baby blue sky.
Two bashful cottontails step from their hiding place
to nibble on blades of grass.
My soul now filled with nature’s delights
and the mind cleared of intrusive thoughts,
I make my way to one of my coffee shop sanctuaries.
Two young squirrels pause their wrestling
to keep a watchful eye on me as I enter this sanctuary
then scamper up a tree.
Now sitting in a favorite chair enjoying my mocha latte,
crafted with love by Emma.
I now put pen to paper in my journal
taking note of the ordinary gifts
given in my morning sanctuaries.
Spent my Fathers day morning in nature watching the sun rise at Pineridge Natural Area yesterday. In this image you can see how green and lush the meadow is now, in spite of the heat and such little rain. Nature can do that. Yet, before we know it everything will be turning brown and dry. Have a great week!
I’ve come to believe if our seeing does not expand then we stunt our growth mentally and spiritually. Photography has helped me see the beauty in the world of nature’s landscapes with the eyes of a photographer. While self-reflection along with prayer and meditation have helped me see the beauty of our inner landscape with the eye of my heart. I also believe in the statement we never see more than we are willing to see. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!