Message from the Mountain

In late afternoon we took a picture of the ledge across the valley at a time when the sun shined a spotlight on it. I wondered what stories the ledge could tell of times when ancient shamans traveled through its portal to the vast Cosmos beyond. Support the show

Now that most of the leaves have fallen off the  trees, they have covered the places where we walk in the woods and there is a crunching sound with every step. Support the show

The pumpkin people are at work throughout the Valley, including our local rescue squad, and I recently watched two of them as they attempted to rescue a pumpkin cat stuck in a tree. Human people often rescue others who may be stuck in sad moods with a smile or a kind word. Support the show

I recently discovered the outline of a witch’s hat etched in a granite ledge on top of the Mountain. I wondered if it was an impression created centuries ago when shamans opened a portal for souls to pass back and forth into other dimensions. It is a special place. Support the show

The full moon, a couple of days before Halloween, showed intently through the trees in the early morning. It gave off a mysterious feeling as our minds thought of spirits that might inhabit the Mountain and wondered what stories they might be hiding from the past. Support the show

There is a cut off tree on the side of the old dirt road, leaving two stubs several feet above the ground. There is new growth covering the tops of the stubs. The tree is not giving up like many people that have been through dramatic changes, and it still has a purpose. Support the show

A single leaf colored by Nature may not stand out in the vast forest, but after much of the fall foliage has faded away, it stands out for those aware to appreciate. There are many people who go unnoticed because they are not “flashy” but make powerful impacts on lives. Support the show

When I saw a dark line of dead wildflowers/weeds lining the side of the gravel road, I thought of the popular band, The Grateful Dead, and their fans called “dead heads”. Nature provides so many opportunities to let our minds wander and relate to other parts of our lives. Support the show

There is a cold wind blowing from the snow-covered peaks that is turning the remaining leaves inside out. It is a sign that the first snow will soon be here. We also have intuitive signs of the future that we often dismiss. Support the show

I am not very technical. I learn slowly and think from one point to the next one. When I have learned that step, I go on. I know very little about my cell phone and recently got a small older digital camera to try. It worked so well that I took my first selfie. Every day a new adventure is waiting. Support the show

As the red leaves fade, the bright yellow ones still on the trees take over the color of the landscape. It is like being in sunshine even on a rainy day. Many people are influenced by color as evidenced in what they wear. Life has a lot of color in it. Support the show

We have special places on the mountain where we and others enjoy spending a little time, like the picnic table on top of Chamberlain Ledge. It is good for the soul to have these special places. It could be a park bench or a rock on the shore of the ocean. Support the show

As fall has finally reached its peak here, the view out my window is filled with colorful leaves. The show that I have been waiting for will now fade in a few days revealing the next one. Having a window to observe nature provides a special way to contemplate life.   Support the show

There is something about seeing the first snow of the season covering the top of Mt. Washington. It stirs the inner child in me and turns my thoughts to when the white stuff will cover the ground here in the valley. It rejuvenates my soul.   Support the show

As we approach the last two months of waning light, the sun’s angle has dramatically changed. Sunset lights the lower landscape and leaves the mountains dark. As we adjust to the season, we also adjust to the seasons of life. Support the show

Derek is here for a few days working on the gardens at the Center. His tool of choice is his trusty hoe. Watching him in action is like going back to another time when there were no modern powered tools to make it easier. There is nothing like old fashioned integrity. We all are gardeners of life. Support the show

While we were looking for places to exercise after hip surgery, we found a local shopping center called Settlers Crossing, and on starting our walk, we came upon an unexpected meditative area complete with a labyrinth surrounded by benches. It is so needed. Support the show

This time of year, as the leaves are fading, I become very aware of the vibrant green moss that brings color to the landscape. It reminds me of a soft carpet, and actually we do have a green carpet in our house that reminds us of the outdoors. Support the show

Many people have a favorite gemstone or crystal that they carry with them because it gives them energy, sometimes to connect to higher sources like the Cosmic mind. We live on a mountain that consists of granite embedded with quartz, and people feel its high peaceful energy. Support the show

I am so fortunate and grateful to live in a vast exhibit where Nature’s artisans are constantly at work creating beautiful things that may last a few moments or a few years. I wonder how many human attendees walk by without noticing what I have been privileged to see. Support the show

I saw something I had not seen before on a trail I had walked hundreds of times. There, a few feet into the woods, was the shape of a big bird. It was actually an old stump, but at that time it became alive in my mind. Nature often gives us a different angles to life. Support the show

I recently participated in a fall ritual that we hold each October here on the mountainside when I or other members of the family drive the field mower back and forth cutting the Lupine Field and the Orchard. It signals changes to come. Life is full of rituals. Support the show

There are a lot of trees in the forest that have been misshapen by the elements of Nature and yet they continue to survive despite all they have endured. Many people have been misshaped by the elements of life that still make major contributions. Support the show

While gazing at the sky, I saw a cloud sandwich, two long white clouds with a filling of blue. Some people might be reminded of eating and think of their favorite sandwiches while other might wonder what was hidden behind the clouds. Nature can stimulate our imaginations. Support the show

We have not had a frost in the foothills yet, and the growing season for some flowers, both domestic and wild, as well as some types of mushrooms, continues, creating great working temperatures as we prepare for the first frost. It’s all in one’s mindset. Support the show