Oh do you have time
to linger
for just a little while
out of your busy

and very important day
for the goldfinches
that have gathered
in a field of thistles

for a musical battle,
to see who can sing
the highest note,
or the lowest,

or the most expressive of mirth,
or the most tender?
Their strong, blunt beaks
drink the air

as they strive
melodiously
not for your sake
and not for mine

and not for the sake of winning
but for sheer delight and gratitude--
believe us, they say,
it is a serious thing

just to be alive
on this fresh morning
in the broken world.
I beg of you,

do not walk by
without pausing
to attend to this
rather ridiculous performance.
​
It could mean something.
It could mean everything.
It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:
You must change your life.
​

     Yes, yes, yes … “it takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.”  EE Cummings is one of my favorite American poets whose precise, simple words inspire this humble spirit.   My artistic interests are always developing so during an early encaustic techniques workshop,   I returned home from the day, smelling of bees wax and feeling highly excited from working with the medium.  I spent a couple of hours looking through magazines, books and other materials to pull together images to incorporate on substrates for the next day.  The unfolding of this process is what I enjoy most.  No set plans or ideas, only the mind’s eye leading me along.  It’s an extremely versatile and fulfilling process. Several workshops later, this encaustic inspiration materialized; a visual reminder to remain strong, brave, tender, and whimsical.   

​This past year I have made it a point to capture a daily image and never know what will present itself.  Something or someone will pique my interest.  ​Now that we are over half way through 2016, what I am seeing as a theme, is that visual messages randomly appear.  This unfolding fern caught my eye, marking the moment of beginnings; a lovely pause at the threshold before the journey.

Have a beautiful day.  

​I don't know about you, but I am happiest when I am hiking, taking-in nature, feeling present and strong.  Starting from the coast, the trails led up and through the grassy hillsides to the wooded gulches and the redwoods.  In the comfort of the enchanted forest, I found myself mesmerized and kept reaching for my camera.  During a lunch break, resting and chatting with another hiker, we agreed, that that there is no better place to spend a summer's day.  Hiking along the bluff, I felt a delightful sense of wonder and harmony. The sea of beauty, in all its vastness, refreshes the mind and spirit; and feeds imagination and creativity.  I returned with a feeling of lightness and freedom that communing with nature brings.  

Image taken along the Ohlone Bluff trail in Santa Cruz, CA.  

We all know the saying, "when one door closes, another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us."  (Alexander Graham Bell). 

I've heard the first part of this quote countless times and have even offered it as words of encouragement.  Oddly, the entirety of this quote is about missed opportunities, dwelling on what might have been or holding onto negative thoughts surrounding our loss, failed events or unexpected changes.  It takes time and effort to find the inner-strength, the faith and the desire to believe that what is occurring, is usually for our better good, in spite of the degree of the loss.  Life challenges, heartaches and disappointments are unpleasant, but the first step is to let go of our need to control outcomes.

Photography keeps me grounded and I find that there are always unexpected messages waiting for me.  I was drawn to the illumination around this door handle, and found myself smiling as its revelation became clear.  All one needs to do is reach out and push forward.  It is as easy as that.  When we do, we open ourselves to surprising wonders and new beginnings.  Loss, failure and frustration are replaced with happiness, contentment and fulfillment.  Looking at a closed door will never be quite the same for me.
 
​

“... and in her starry shade 
Of dim and solitary loveliness, 
I learn’d the language of another world.”
— Lord Byron

At the top of the trail, the sight of this glorious Live Oak captured my imagination.  I could feel the tree’s strength, deeply rooted in the Earth, a powerful symbol of life, death and renewal.  I’ve often thought how much trees are sentient beings just like us with their strong trunks and tree limbs welcoming. The ‘whispers of a breeze through their leaves’ are moments of nourishment and deep connection.   The tree’s vibrational energy is ever present with each step.  Whenever I can, I will spend time in nature, in the forest, seeking this peaceful grounding serenity.  

Several years ago, I attended a Yoga & Writing Retreat for Women in Sedona, Arizona led by Sarah McLean.  When I explained to her that I was newly widowed, that my Anniversary Weekend was quickly approaching, and that I was looking for a new perspective within which to view this time, her reply was "this retreat is a perfect gift for oneself."  With a bit of trepidation I arrived and found myself immersed with a group of loving souls, each from various places in life. The weekend was spent in deep meditations, followed by expansive writing exercises that expressed our creative souls.  The revelations from these writings were surprising and deeply healing.  My initial intention to honor myself and to create a meaningful new spiritual experience ended with my coming away with the most incredible, transformational experience of my life.

On the final day of the Retreat, together with another participant, we went into town to shop for a special memento.  With our purchases in hand, we then climbed to a favorite spot, sat upon the vortex and placed our items on our laps to unwrap.  My purchase a beautiful silver band with a coral stone, reflecting endurance, vitality, play, and creativity.  As I placed it on my ring finger, I promised to "love, honor and cherish myself all the days of my life."  Truly powerful, energetic and liberating.  
​The significance of this Anniversary day remains forever with me.     

​“I believe the world is incomprehensibly beautiful — an endless
prospect of magic and wonder.”
— Ansel Adams

Ansel Adam's words ring true!  Hiking in beautiful places of respite is where I cultivate wonder and nurture dreams.  Breathing in the scent of nature, the feel of the Earth beneath my feet, and the magic from my surroundings, a peaceful living presence.   I will stop, close my eyes and reflect on all that I am grateful for in my life and in that moment.   This image was one of those moments.
​