Tag: trees

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A day for serious reflection

No surprise that I started the morning feeling shocked and sad, struggling to understand, to even slightly comprehend.

But then I remembered reading a quote that said something along the lines of “when agitated turn to nature” and decided to go for a walk. I immediately found myself focusing on (and taking even more photos of) beautiful autumn-leaved trees.


And as I started breathing more deeply and relaxing just a little bit, what popped into my mind was a prayer I learned during the seven years I attended a Unity church. When I gave birth to a stillborn baby boy in 1995, this prayer was the lifeline that kept me from drowning in grief and repudiating God:
There is only One Presence and One Power
active in all the universe and in my life:
God, the Good, Omnipotent.

I’m not saying that the situations are exactly comparable, only that I found it extremely helpful to remember this truth at this time.

As I continued my walk, I was thinking about the importance of living my dharma; of being a warrior of light in this world; and of how important it is to stay centered in love while keeping my energy high. And of how it’s all part of the Divine Lila (God’s play).

When I reached the midpoint of the walk and took yet another photo of a beautiful tree before I headed for home, I was surprised to find myself mentally singing one of my favorite Thanksgiving hymns from childhood:
For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

But then I realized it was entirely appropriate to think about all that I still have to be thankful for, regardless of what is going on in the wider world. As the scripture says: “In every thing give thanks.” But note well that it says “in every thing,” not “for every thing.” HUGE difference.

For the rest of the way I sang Swami Kriyananda’s song, “I Live Without Fear” (lyrics below) and arrived home feeling much calmer and centered in myself.

After breakfast, Ramesha, Mike, and I gathered in the recording studio for the absolutely FINAL listen-through of the Christmas album. It felt like perfect timing because our dharma is to help get Swami Kriyananda’s music into as many ears as possible in order to raise the consciousness of the world, and I believe this album is really going to help make that happen.

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And finally, as I left the studio I looked at and (for once) really saw the big old cedar trees across the road from where I was parked. Looking at how big around they were, and thinking about how long they’ve been there, made me think of the “Trees” verse from Swamiji’s song “Channels”:
Trees, standing firm, hold the secret of inner pow’r.
Give us, when tested, strength to endure.

What a great reminder to stand firm in our inner strength and power, so we can stay the course through the longer rhythms. 🙏

I LIVE WITHOUT FEAR
Though green summer fade
And winter draw near,
My Lord, in Your presence
I live without fear.

Through tempest, through snows,
Through turbulent tide,
The touch of Your hand
Is my strength, and my guide.

I ask for no riches
That death can destroy.
I crave only Thee:
Your love, and Your joy.
(repeat)

The dancers will pass;
The singing must end:
I welcome the darkness
With You for my friend.

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Seeking distraction

Why am I seeking distraction? Because tomorrow morning — after close to twenty years of avoidance, denial, and procrastination — I will experience a colonoscopy for the first time.

But I really didn’t want to post a photo of a digestive tract, so I’m distracting myself with more photos of the amazing trees and beautiful colors that are all over Ananda Village right now.

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It’s getting to be that time

I guess I’m more attuned than usual to the approach of “letting go” season. I certainly don’t recall noticing so many little hints of red in the midst of mostly green foliage in past years.

I also happen to be gearing up to (hopefully) accomplish some letting go of my own — namely decluttering and releasing things I no longer use, need, or resonate with.

Hopefully, I can learn from the trees.

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Forest bathing

Although there’s been quite a lot written and said about forest bathing in the last few years, it’s not something I paid much attention to — other than vaguely thinking it was a good thing.

But this past week I’ve been getting back into a walking routine, going slightly farther each day. And as I went far enough this morning to actually relax and tune into my surroundings more deeply, I suddenly became aware that I was doing a version of forest bathing!

In fact, I live right in the forest, so every time I leave my home I can be forest bathing…if I’m consciously aware of doing so.

Of course, when I went to read more about forest bathing *, I learned that the recommended length for a forest bath is two hours.

Well, maybe I’ll save that for special occasion forest baths!

[* Click here for an article in Time magazine by Dr. Qing Li, the author of Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness.]

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A joyful Rajarshi Day

We usually have Rajarshi Day — our all-community workday — in early May, around the May 5th birthday of Rajarshi Janakananda (Yogananda’s most advanced disciple). But because Springtime at Ananda has become so big, and takes so much time and energy from the whole community, Rajarshi Day got shifted to June.

Although we had a beautiful, mild summer day for it, it was still quite a day for me.

My morning was spent outside of the Temple of Light, where I removed wire cages from around young trees (so that another team member could weed whack around the base of each tree); raked up the weeds; spread mulch; then replaced the wire cage.

My raking buddy, Brian, and I worked on approximately ten trees, all of them in the sun. I definitely expended more physical energy than I have in years — maybe decades. Fun, but exhausting.

Then, after meditation and lunch on the Market lawn with our entire spiritual family, I headed home to rest and shower before Ramesha and I got on a Zoom call with Ananda Australia. We were the guest speakers for their Sunday morning satsang.

As usual, all the tiredness went away as soon as we were connecting with the group and talking about Ananda Music.

Now, however, I’m ready to drop. 🥱

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Walking the neighborhood

I’m getting back into a walking routine — building momentum before next week’s bone marrow transplant — and really enjoying the variety of charming sights in the neighborhood.

From little fairytale houses to unfamiliar trees to canine rest stops, it’s all quite delightful.

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Our new neighborhood

The house across the street

We’re liking our temporary new neighborhood a lot.

It can’t compare with the Village in terms of quiet and nature, but hasn’t been that difficult of an adjustment.

There are lots of trees and many front yards are filed with flowers. I was a little sad at leaving my garden behind, so I ended up bringing two of the “deer-chomped” lantana plants with me. I figured they could do with some TLC in a gentler environment, plus I can putter around with them during the weeks that I have to stick close to home.

Lantana plant on the road to full recovery

Well, as it turns out, there’s a huge bush of the exact same lantana plant just up the street from us! Very encouraging.

What my lantana plant may become someday

And finally, there’s a neighborhood cat who’s completely at home on the back deck. It comes pretty much every day and makes itself comfortable, even trying to come inside at one point (which we firmly discouraged).

Neighborhood kitty

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From the trees: a mantra for the day

For once I’m writing my blog post before noon. Why? Because inspiration hit early for once!

My friend, Lisa — who feels, as do I, a deep love for the poetry of Mary Oliver — shared a poem that really spoke to me today. And I felt to distill its message down to these words to live by: Go easy; be filled with light; shine.

Trees remind us that we, too, have come into the world to do this. But how quickly we forget…

WHEN I AM AMONG THE TREES
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”

@2006 by Mary Oliver
Published by Beacon Press in Thirst, p.4
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Spontaneity

Another way in which I let doubt block my creativity is with spontaneous photos and videos. I’ll be in the moment, having fun or experiencing something that I feel to capture and share, so I’ll grab a quick snapshot or video on my smartphone.

But then the overthinking kicks in: Is it too silly? Will people understand? Is it done well enough? Maybe I’d better wait until I have time to write the perfect caption. Etcetera, etcetera… (what a fun word to see written out)! And you guessed it: months later I run across those moments, still in my photos folder!

No more! I’m now going to share three spur-of-the-moment videos that I took three(!) years ago during a short vacation in Ashland. While strolling through Lithia Park I was inspired by the flowers, the trees, and the river, and started thinking of Swami’s song, Channels. After some doing, I persuaded Ramesha to sing the pertinent verse of the song while I took shaky videos. Yeah, it is pretty silly…but it was fun!

Update: I completely forgot I was the one singing “Flowers”! If I had remembered I probably wouldn’t have posted it; guess the joke’s on me! 🙂