Lately, I’ve taken my camera with me to the woods to record the passing of the seasons and to meditate as I walk. My pace is slow. I scan my surroundings. I listen for the wind, the birds and insects. I came across a charm of goldfinches last week. What a golden treasure they were! I scout out small hidden places. I walk in wonder.
Tag: Nature
The Serene Art of Forest Bathing
The muted, burnished colors reflected in the mountain pools were so incredibly soothing. They blended together in wavy lines. The trees, the leaves, the water became one, and I wanted to plunge in and cover myself in autumnal splendor. It is in these moments that the real and the imagined join forces and cast a magical energy.
Welcoming Autumn: Home in the Woods
It's not easy settling back in even though I have had a lot of practice! My mind is a jumble, my home is a mess of summer and school paraphernalia, and there are lists upon lists upon list of things to accomplish. It takes at least the first two weeks of September to feel back home in my rightful place. The sacks of apples and displays of assorted pumpkins at the grocery store helps. Autumn is coming, and I can take a deep breath, find an easy rhythm, and enjoy what is unfolding before me.
Artist at Play in Maine
Art is a little less familiar to me. When I take a photo, I compose in the moment and then it is finished almost instantaneously. I want to see if I can play with photographic images much the way I play with words when I compose poetry. I want to make sure I keep that playful, childlike mindset. I hope this artful adventure will teach me something new about the creative process. As I age, I want the world to stay fresh. I want to keep my curiosity.and youthful perspective.
Autumn Revelry: A Journey of Relaxation & Reflection
In October, I’m a charged particle frantically going in one direction hoping not to overload my circuits and short out or go up in flames. So, I know I must take out a little time for myself to hideaway and enjoy autumn’s splendor.
Look up! A Supermoon!
This week the moon is on the rise. It is a full harvest moon and a lunar eclipse. It is magical and wonderful to take a moment and gaze up into the night sky as the moon ascends. I told a group of kindergarten students to be on the watch for it, and they came back the next day to tell me what they saw.
Mindfulness Mandala
There are moments that we will never forget in our lives, some are traumatically stamped there, and some, like this one, are placed indelibly as a mile marker of hope. As I age, I find myself searching my memory more and more for those hopeful mile markers.
Small in Your Presence
Recently, I've been reading Rilke, specifically Books of Hours: Love Poems to God, and as I was reading, this poem came into my mind. The small things, the things that sometimes seem inconsequential, often turn out to be essential to lifelong contentment.
A Room with a View
We found a historic inn that overlooked Frenchman Bay. When we opened the door to our room, we were immediately greeted by the sea. Sliding glass doors to the balcony invited us to sit and take in the natural and nautical beauty.
Forest Bathing: New Hampshire Woods
Mountains rose up all around us, and I instantly felt at peace. This is where my mind and body belong – up among the green and growing – deep in the green valley protected by the tall mountains all around. I feel safe here.
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 