Peace Permeates the Being

A couple of weekends ago I drove out to Kripalu for a weekend of much needed relaxation (yoga, meditation) and entertainment (Zumba!). Upon arrival, I was welcomed by the night sky.

During an early morning hike to the lake, the sun warmed the faces of the people in this circle of retreaters...as they lifted their arms up to the sky.

The sun was a perfect reflection of itself in the lake. Lifting my own arms up toward the sun, for a few moments, I too became a perfect reflection of myself.

When peace permeates the being, only then can we reflect who we truly are.

Everything Before Us is Clear

Today I went out to see the fall foliage. The remaining leaves created a soft setting for the branches before me, bringing them into full focus. Everything before us is clear when we recognize the backdrop of beauty that is life.

The Seasons Commingle

There's so much to love about the fall in New England. The prevalence of orange (which stands for happiness)...

...the harvest (how lucky are we to be able to justify usage of the word?)...

...the unique shapes and traditions. Driving out of Verrill Farm, I had the sensation of a summer departed...

...that quickly faded when I encountered these hardy sunflowers, dancing in the wind. Perhaps it was their way of welcoming the fall. The seasons commingle and inspire a gentle flowing of life.

Fauna Inspire Us

Yesterday morning my sons pointed out special visitors in our backyard - a small flock of wild turkey hens! Regarded by Native Americans as "powerful spirit warriors," the turkeys raised my own spirits as I beheld them on this dark and rainy morning.

We tiptoed outside to get a closer look, but the turkeys noticed us nonetheless and decided that they didn't want to stay after all. Still, we were happy for their foray into our "neck of the woods."

Although many in the flock began to flap their wings when they caught sight of us, the leader kept her beak up and calmly led them into the woods. Fauna travel in groups and remind us that together, we too can be beautiful.

All of Life Shines

I spent much of my time over the past two weekends at the baseball fields.

The sky was clear and the sun illuminated each of my two boys at play.

A visit to Idylwilde Farm left me in awe of the hibiscus in the parking lot, their petals wide open as if to embrace me.

Back home I spent some quiet time tending to all my house plants...

...some faring better than others but all of them forgiving and responsive to my TLC. All of life shines when you take the time to notice it, tend to it, and love it.

Water Calls Out to Us

Over the past couple of weekends, my husband, sons and I were fortunate to spend time with friends in the Berkshires and at Lake Champlain. Our first excursion saw us at the covered bridge in Sheffield, MA, watching the sun set over the Housatonic River.

The following afternoon, after a steep four-hour hike to and from a point on the Appalachian Trail, we went to Shadowland Cove in Cheshire, MA to visit an old friend of mine who owns a house on the lake.

We moved quietly along the water on my friend's pontoon boat, stopping to visit a small island and to allow my sons to jump off and go for a swim.

On Sunday we went to the Berkshires Arts Festival at Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, MA. The sun shone on the artwork and on this pretty pond on the Butternut property.

In Wesport, NY, at another friend's house for the long Labor Day weekend, I rose early every morning to meditate at the dock on Hunter's Point, overlooking Lake Champlain. On my first morning, I caught remnants of the blue moon.

On the second morning, the eastern sun, the clouds, and the ripples in the water created by the gentle breeze filled out the scene.

And on the third morning, the intense blue of the sky was reflected in the water, the blue moon an eye in the distance. I flashed back to the joy of the past two weekends, and I felt immense gratitude for our friends and for the time we spent with them. I left Lake Champlain feeling peaceful and recharged.

Water calls out to us and cleanses us, allowing us to clearly see and enjoy all the beauty and love that surrounds us every day.

Nature Comes Together

This past Tuesday my sons and I took a short trip out to Gloucester and were humbled by beautiful landscapes such as this one that we encountered during our walk along Atlantic Avenue.

During dinner we watched as the sunset tinged the landscape pink.

The next day, at Singing Beach in Manchester, we walked on the dry sand and tuned in as it squeaked, much like a dolphin, under our bare feet. We admired the patterns the ocean imprinted on the wet sand, not unlike an underwater coral scene.

Perched on one of the small cliffs flanking the beach, I thought about all the beauty that nature is capable of when it comes together in harmony. Nature presents itself to us and reminds us how connected we are to one another.

Acceptance Grounds Us

Today I visited the Larz Anderson Bonsai collection at Arnold Arboretum and was struck by the interesting trunks of the trees.

Each tree was strong and grounded in its unique way. 

 

The more weathered the tree, the more character it exuded.

 

And even those that leaned to one side did so with a certain grace.

Only by embracing our uniqueness can we find firm grounding...and blossom.

Mornings Guide Us

 

Last Sunday my sister and niece took me on one of their early morning walks at Cove Beach in Stamford, CT.

As we walked briskly along, I felt perfectly balanced - outside, awake with full movement and inside, serene with the stillness enveloping the three of us.

Afterward I sat facing the beach, thinking of my beloved uncle-in-law who recently passed away, thankful for the time with my sister and niece.

Mornings spent in nature guide us to fully see and feel and cherish not only the incoming love before us but the outgoing love as well.

We Become One Another

Last weekend my family and I stayed at a house on Paugus Bay just off of Lake Winnipesaukee. On our first morning there, I stepped out onto the balcony and was astonished by the sunrise.

On our last morning my youngest son and I woke early to watch the sunrise as flocks of Canada geese glided quietly by.

Kayaking together afterward with not another human in sight, we had several periods of peaceful silence as we stopped paddling and just listened and watched...and glided. Only by contemplating one another deeply can we truly understand...and become one another.

Radiance Rises to the Top

My walk at the Garden in the Woods in Framingham began with my not knowing where to look first, with so much to see. So it was fitting that this sculpture, called "Wired" by Michael Alfano, would be the first to hold my eye...

...followed soon thereafter by this "serpentine" sculpture ("Hidden Valley" by W. Gary Smith), which was created by falling trees.

Clear paths like this one...

...led to comforting paths like this one...

...taking me up stone staircases like this one...

...and down rustic stairways like this one...

...to bring me to the water lily pond...

...and show me that radiance rises to the top and shines on us all.

Nature Unites Us

Last Saturday afternoon I visited Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. The beauty, diversity, and immensity of the landscape was breathtaking. Twice I came back to this small pond.

The duckweed blended with the surrounding foliage to form a blissful union of nature...

...sealed by a ring of purple lupines. And I was united in peace to people lying in the shade of trees, admiring the gardens, observing the woody plants, and strolling with their families. Nature unites us, bringing us back our true selves.