Spring: A New Beginning

After a couple of close brushes with winter weather, even on the first official day of Spring, the season is finally here. In all its glory. Cherry blossoms, apple blossoms, bees, grasshoppers, butterflies, hummingbirds, finches,bluejays, hawks, desert quail, lizards, rabbits and the every present ravens. All are out enjoying the bright warmth.

Finally, I am back out on the trail, connecting deeply with the Earth. Breathing with the fresh breeze. Enjoying the fatigue in my legs as I climb. I feel alive!

As I hike around Chimney Rock and the Thunder Rock summit, I see some of my favorite hiking places from a new vantage point. I breathe and I am feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin, watching troops of butterflies dance around me. It is really magical as I meditate on the joy of being alive.

I ponder about the fate of our brothers and sisters in Japan, experiencing yet another earthquake. Spring is a time for new beginning, but I know that it must be difficult for them to imagine beginning again. I give thanks for my blessings, my health, my family, my friends, and above all, my purpose. I pray that the energy or money that we can send to Japan, can truly make a difference.

Ascension on Sterling Pass Trail

Ascension

I woke this morning from a dream
a dream of ascension
a dream of time with Mother Earth
observing the grace and patience,
the loving care and compassion
focused on me in a single ray
of light, of love
the lesson that love is not bounded
by time, nor hindered by space
I saw the need for me to express
and acknowledge the gifts of love
I walked through a burnt out forest
and saw life rebounding in dazzling color
climbing to the clef in the mountains
rising with the wind
I hear the echoes of my heart
the sighs of trees
the call of ravens and larks
I rise to the occasion of
the triumph of beauty
I meditate and chant
the songs of heaven
my body is one with the earth
my ascension occurs within

Training on the Mystic Trail

I am writing for several days worth of hiking here. The Mystic Trail has proven to be quite a treasure. From the entrances it looks like a nice neighborhood walking path. I see a lot of local people in the morning bringing their dogs. But if you follow the trees with heart shaped rocks in them (instead of cairns) you will find wonders.

I have really fallen in love with the canyon that can be found off of this trail. On Monday, I went farther along the rocks to explore it. Unlike the other canyons I have visited in this area, this canyon is reached from above. I haven't yet gone far back enough to climb down into the canyon. One local woman showed me the trail, but I know I will need at least an extra hour to get down there and back. I have found a nice plateau of rocks (they look like frozen lava) where I like to train. The peace and quiet of overlooking this canyon is a great atmosphere for meditation, ki gong and other energy training.

Today I followed a side path up to a tall thin outcrop of rock. It had been attracting my attention the last few times I hiked here. I felt a strong peace and protection up there and gained another view of the beautiful canyon below. Committing to hike here for 21 days is a good thing. I am starting to notice important things and I feel like I am establishing a relationship with the land. The weather is starting to change, cool breezes are softening the glare of the desert sun. The breezes carry the scent of those "cherry blossom"like conifers. I wish I knew what they were. New flowers are appearing. They look like little daisies and chamomile. There are also some tiny violets sprouting up in many places. I have also noticed more of the cliffs and drops below my path, taking more care as I travel.

Maybe it's the weather, maybe it was my timing, but I seemed to encounter more animals now than before. On Monday I saw a young buck with new horns. I am seeing ground squirrels and many rabbits--one curious enough to stop and eat in front of me today. In addition to the crazy desert quail, I am seeing more bluejays, smaller hawks and small birds that move too quickly for me to recognize.

I am grateful for this special time in the morning in this special place. Focusing on dahn jon and yong chuns, my lower abdomen and centers of my feet, I feel healthier and livelier with each step. Each step is a blessing.

Munds Trail Workout

Yes. Lot's of pictures here. Because the views along this trail were outstanding. I really didn't expect it. I had decided late in the day on Sunday to go for a hike. Normally, I think it is too hot to go out after 9am. But, I had to go. I decided to go back to Schnebly Hill Road, since it was a Sunday and I wasn't pressed for time. I was thinking to explore the road and check out a trail or two. I pulled off along the road and found what looked like a nice quiet spot.

When I set out on this trail, there were no signs save an thin vertical marker with the word "trail" and an arrow pointing in the direction of an entrance. The trail immediately descended into a grove of dead trees and large grey boulders. First thought in my mind was the Orisha Oya. It looked like a windswept graveyard. In that spirit, I said "Thank You" to Mother Oya; expressing gratitude for her energies and the destructive aspects of creation. What would I find on the rest of the trail?

Well, more gradual descent along a section of "Slip Rock," which a sign warned was dangerous. My limited experience on these trails is that the real dangers are never marked--that's the danger--and the signs usually referred to some limited, specific danger. I was right. This sign was for the equestrian users of the trail and, during times of heavy rain, everyone else. Today those Slip Rocks had little or no water. Just beautiful smooth steps and stones. The views from those rocks were magnificent and things just got better and better.

I had intended to do a short one hour hike, but I felt compelled to stay on the trail and enjoy the beauty. I ran into my friend and colleague EJ, who was hiking in the opposite direction. We both commented on how the unusually cool breeze made it a pleasant experience. Her photo is up above. She took a better photo of me. The other photos are self-portraits of me trying to include my camera in my ki gong practice.

So many beautiful spots for mediation and ki gong here. I had wanted to climb up some of those red rocks, but I did not see the side trail until my return journey. Some other time. Anyway, since I started my trail on a descent, the return was a gradual climb that was a really good work out. I was breathing pretty heavily at certain points and laughed at my naivete. By the time I got back to the car, I could feel the heat in every muscle of my body and covered in sweat. I was excited, happy, out of breath and pleasantly exhausted. So much for my Sunday afternoon stroll!