I feel like in order to appropriately welcome 2009, we must bid 2008 farewell. The year 2008 brought me many wonderful joys, lessons and gifts. In January 2008, I attended a class led by my friend Deb Estep at the Baladerry Inn. During that class, I met many wonderful new friends to name only a few: AngelHawk, Terry and Hunter, Katzi, Sonya Barclay, the trees and Mother Nature. While all of them have touched my life in special ways - the ones that I am going to focus on now are the trees and Sonya.
During the weekend, Deb had us take a nature walk to have us connect with our Mother and all her wonderous beauty. I set off on the walk not knowing what to expect and fully feeling silly! I was waiting for someone to jump out of the bushes saying "Smile, you are on candid camera!" Well, no such luck even though I had done my hair for the occasion!! But I did have very powerful and life changing experiences during the walk and the rest of the weekend! I met a tree who gifted me with a her beautiful story:
January 12, 2008
I found my spot at the Sach’s Bridge. It is high up past the fence on and in between a fallen tree. You can hear the sound of the water as it is on its journey. It is busily talking as it hurries on its way.
The birds are quietly enjoying their day as they chatter only when it is important. The fresh smell of mint growing along the ground mixes with the earthy smell of the damp tree. The tree has decided that its time for growing is complete as it moves into its next phase.
There are red buds of new growth on the wild rose bush that is the neighbor to my host tree. Interesting how the cycle of life flows so nicely together. The tree is showing me through its ever present patience that although it is finished its growing period it is not done here. Now is the time for different opportunities. There are places to live for wildlife, places for guests to come sit and enjoy and now is the time to give back to Mother Nature by shedding and becoming one with her.
My tree has spent many nights staring at the stars and many days watching the sun. She has born her babies and is now happy to become one with Mother Earth. She will never forget the days she watched but is very thankful for this time to rest and give back. ----The Tree
At the time - I didn't realize the sigificance of the tree, her story or meeting Sonya.
She (Sonya) came into our lives with beauty and grace. She had us all enraptured with her stories, knowledge and wisdom. She helped make sure that we were all a tightly knit group or the red buds of new friendships growing. She has gifted us with many treasured memories from her friendship but it was decided that her time in her physical body was complete and she moved into her next phase of her journey. She is showing me (despite my hardheadedness) through her ever present patience that although she has gone back to spirit form, she is not done here. Now is the time for different opportunities.
Out of my grief of losing (or so I thought) Sonya after only knowing her about a year - I went for another nature walk. This time to help process my pain and loss. While out walking, I was gifted with another story/thought. This time, I believe it came from Sonya.
12/28/08
How do fish grieve? They swim together moving quickly this way and that. Spending most of their lives together in schools. What do they feel when a loved one is taken from them? When we as humans get out of high school or college, we feel we are through with our schooling. But life is one big school, isn't it?! Learning to recognize that we are only 1 of the living things on this plant. We have our friends - the finned, the furred, the winged, plants and our beloved trees. How do they grieve? They lose loved ones, homes, and all the things we do. Maybe if we just listen a little closer to our friends - we can all comfort each other during our times of loss and grief. Maybe that will bring us one more step closer to understanding and peace.
To Sonya Barclay and 2008 - I bid you adieu for now!! You will both be treasured in my heart and memory forever!
To 2009 and all the wonders that await us..............Welcome, my friend, welcome!!!!
During the weekend, Deb had us take a nature walk to have us connect with our Mother and all her wonderous beauty. I set off on the walk not knowing what to expect and fully feeling silly! I was waiting for someone to jump out of the bushes saying "Smile, you are on candid camera!" Well, no such luck even though I had done my hair for the occasion!! But I did have very powerful and life changing experiences during the walk and the rest of the weekend! I met a tree who gifted me with a her beautiful story:
January 12, 2008
I found my spot at the Sach’s Bridge. It is high up past the fence on and in between a fallen tree. You can hear the sound of the water as it is on its journey. It is busily talking as it hurries on its way.
The birds are quietly enjoying their day as they chatter only when it is important. The fresh smell of mint growing along the ground mixes with the earthy smell of the damp tree. The tree has decided that its time for growing is complete as it moves into its next phase.
There are red buds of new growth on the wild rose bush that is the neighbor to my host tree. Interesting how the cycle of life flows so nicely together. The tree is showing me through its ever present patience that although it is finished its growing period it is not done here. Now is the time for different opportunities. There are places to live for wildlife, places for guests to come sit and enjoy and now is the time to give back to Mother Nature by shedding and becoming one with her.
My tree has spent many nights staring at the stars and many days watching the sun. She has born her babies and is now happy to become one with Mother Earth. She will never forget the days she watched but is very thankful for this time to rest and give back. ----The Tree
At the time - I didn't realize the sigificance of the tree, her story or meeting Sonya.
She (Sonya) came into our lives with beauty and grace. She had us all enraptured with her stories, knowledge and wisdom. She helped make sure that we were all a tightly knit group or the red buds of new friendships growing. She has gifted us with many treasured memories from her friendship but it was decided that her time in her physical body was complete and she moved into her next phase of her journey. She is showing me (despite my hardheadedness) through her ever present patience that although she has gone back to spirit form, she is not done here. Now is the time for different opportunities.
Out of my grief of losing (or so I thought) Sonya after only knowing her about a year - I went for another nature walk. This time to help process my pain and loss. While out walking, I was gifted with another story/thought. This time, I believe it came from Sonya.
12/28/08
How do fish grieve? They swim together moving quickly this way and that. Spending most of their lives together in schools. What do they feel when a loved one is taken from them? When we as humans get out of high school or college, we feel we are through with our schooling. But life is one big school, isn't it?! Learning to recognize that we are only 1 of the living things on this plant. We have our friends - the finned, the furred, the winged, plants and our beloved trees. How do they grieve? They lose loved ones, homes, and all the things we do. Maybe if we just listen a little closer to our friends - we can all comfort each other during our times of loss and grief. Maybe that will bring us one more step closer to understanding and peace.
To Sonya Barclay and 2008 - I bid you adieu for now!! You will both be treasured in my heart and memory forever!
To 2009 and all the wonders that await us..............Welcome, my friend, welcome!!!!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment