I begin this last day of writing a month in a minivan in a state of art-pray, thinking about snakes. As a young girl, I often caught garter snakes to play with for short times. Other than foul-smelling pee, they were harmless. You could find them under hay bales at harvest time, and every old … Continue reading Day 31: Arriving Alive (the final instalment)
Category: paying attention
Day 29: Nature Speaks
Words aren’t working today, so I’m going with images. Apparently, I’ve used up my word quota for the week, and I remind myself that communication isn’t restricted to words. So, I’ll take you on a visual journey instead. This first collection of photos were taken up a very night mountain in Cave Creek Canyon; 8,500 … Continue reading Day 29: Nature Speaks
Day 22: Close Encounter
We sat on one ridge, and the bobcat on the other. Kim had his binoculars, and I, my camera with zoom. Pippa lies beside me; as of yet, oblivious to our growing excitement. It is in a picture-perfect location for a photo. Something right out of a National Geographic. A sculptured rock overhang, sunshine … Continue reading Day 22: Close Encounter
Day 21: An Ode to Play
I used to hate climbing things. I would literally dread a hill or long set of stairs, bargaining with the universe to do extra sit-ups if I could be spared. Today I felt joyfully compelled to climb a rock. I climb slowly and purposefully, knowing this means a physical payment plan tomorrow, but I accept … Continue reading Day 21: An Ode to Play
Day 14: Honouring the Ebb
Life on the road offers many opportunities to experience being all in one place at the same time. I treasure this state of mind and call this being in the flow. In my experience, it opens a lot of my soul-doors. I’ve been delighting in this state for some time. But every flow has an … Continue reading Day 14: Honouring the Ebb
Day 12: The Sink & Tickle
It rained steadily all night. My neighbour from the valley came up to park beside me so he didn’t get stuck in the mud. It was a good move. Although mucky here too, it’s not “get-stuck” mud. Just squeeze-between-your-toes, mucky-muck. The kind a person can gently sink into, but safely get out of. During a very … Continue reading Day 12: The Sink & Tickle
Day 8: Live, from the Arboretum
Sue met me in the parking lot of the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, and before we could finish proper introductions we are caught in some kind of desert-spell. My travel guide points over my shoulder mid-sentence, and we pivot to witness a large Saguaro, it’s small root ball hanging vulnerably below, in the bucket of a … Continue reading Day 8: Live, from the Arboretum
Day 7: Involuntary Solitary Confinement
I was up at 3:00 a.m. as I often am. Not that I actually “get up” in my minivan. It’s more of a mental decision to leave sleep behind, and move on to something that agrees to happen. Since I’d begun writing in my head anyway, there was no sense doing it all twice. So, … Continue reading Day 7: Involuntary Solitary Confinement
This Vantastic Life: The Accidental Vortex
If you’ve been following my Sedona “mini-series” you know I worked on “letting Sedona come to me” rather than curating the experience; letting go of expectations for that Sedona energy thing. I need to finish my story now. Because, although it took a bit of time, Sedona did arrive. For three days I stayed in … Continue reading This Vantastic Life: The Accidental Vortex
This Vantastic Life: My Sedona
Because Sedona is commonly referred to as a very special and unique place, I’m tempted to grow all kinds of expectations around being here. Hopes for what I might see, feel and experience. Being a spiritually curious person, I might even be tempted to hope for a life-changing revelation or an out-of-body experience. Maybe I’m … Continue reading This Vantastic Life: My Sedona