For many years and in many places living and working as an Environmental Educator/Teacher/Naturalist/Park Interpreter, I have led a hike I call my "Poetry Hike" for folks of all ages. The hike is set up as a silent semi- solo walk to encourage folks to walk slowly, looking up and down and in all directions to (hopefully) fully absorb the surroundings out in "nature".
Along the trail I would leave little cards in different places. On these cards would be printed various poems and (quotes) really, tailored to the age of the group, or not. This blog entry is set up to look at all of the pictures slowly and read all of the (timely) quotes. Just do it.
Since I was a young child I have also enjoyed the actual art of writing or calligraphy. My Mom had the wisdom to buy me some calligraphy pens sometime in my early teens. During the early 80's when I was living in Austin, Texas, I started writing down my favorite poems and quotes on some parchment paper that an old (and gone) friend and I had found in an abandoned old house. My little parchment book, as opposed to this my online book, still holds truth and meaning for me. This online book sure does hold truth and meaning for me too. It is only here to help facilitate UNDERSTANDING. I sometimes think I was some sort of "scribe" in another time and place, as I still love re-writing poems and quotes.
"As you think, you travel; and as you love you attract. You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you. You cannot escape the result of your thoughts, but you can endure and learn...
You will realize the vision (not the idol wish) of your heart, be it base or beautiful...for you will always gravitate towards that which you secretly most love. Whatever your present environment may be, you will fall , remain or rise with your thoughts, your vision, your ideal. You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration."
James Allen
"A feeling of fullness comes
but usually it takes some bread to bring it.
Beauty surrounds us,
but usually we need to be walking in a garden
to know it.
The body itself is a screen to shield
and partially reveal
the light that's blazing inside your presence.
Water, stories, the body, all things we do,
are mediums that hide and show what's hidden.
Study them and enjoy this being
washed with a secret
we sometimes know, and then not."
Rumi
