Beauty and Service

After all these months of hiking in Sedona I have finally hit the Soldier's Pass Trail. Maybe it was the influence of my last post. Maybe a weekend day in the fall is the only time that it is really accessible for me (limited hours for entry). Either way, Sunday was a good day to go. For the most part, I was on my own and when I ran into people later, I made some good connections. This place is famous for a pass that connects to other trails, a series of seven small natural pools, a set of caves and an arch. I didn't expect that the trail had so many offshoots, so I did not see everything. I enjoyed the cool air, the magnificent views and the plant life.

Unlike my trek to the burnt out forest, many of the plants on the Soldiers Pass Trail are pretty common to this area. It was the abundance that surprised me. Especially, the Century plants, a species of Agave that blooms once in 100 years. There were so many here that I lost count. Because it is deep autumn, they were all in various stages of death or decay. I took many photos and shared a few here. When they are in their prime, they are a beautiful shade of golden yellow with red piping. Early in the summer, they were surrounded by bees and birds and sometimes dripping with nectar. But I had not visited this trail in the Summer, so I had not seen this many Century plants in one place. I could only imagine what they looked like in the Summer.

Because I was on the Soldier's Pass Trail, and these trees stood up like guards at attention, I started thinking of them as Sentry plants. I couldn't resist the word play, and they inspired many creative thoughts.It was a beautiful climb. And then, there were some other surprise plant life. I have a photo here with an Arizona Cypress. I am told they only grow in this valley. This one looks pretty old and it was growing right out of the rock. I see that a lot with the plants here. I guess they have to take advantage of what little shade, soil or moisture wherever it is provided. I long to be that creative. I have said it before and will probably say it many times, that the beauty here inspires me. Beyond the aesthetic appeal. It's the inspiration of possibility.

And I walk on in gratitude to this beauty. I open my hands, my arms, my heart and I receive this beauty. This is my temple; the perfect place for meditation and contemplation. In this space, you don't have to believe in God or spirits or energy. You will feel something essential that renders discussions on belief moot.

On that note, this was a day when many people in this community transcended the boundaries of their own beliefs and worked together to help many local charities. It was called Mitzvah Day. Mitzvah is a good deed, also a commandment because it is the action that forms the basis of healthy society. I was touched by the hundreds of people generously donating their time. I was happy with the opportunity to meet some of my "neighbors." I was impressed by the way the people were reflecting the beauty of their surroundings. People of various ages and abilities. I chose to work at the "Peace Garden" and learned a lot about gardening in a short time. I took a photo of the medicine wheel some of us weeded, seeded and watered. I am grateful for yet another inspirational lesson in creativity.

A Time for Soul Searching

Many things to to reflect on during this time. Mid-term Elections, Dia de Los Muertos, All Souls Day, Halloween, Samhain. And last, but not least, National Diabetes month. As I was hiking on Sunday, I wondered if there was a conscious decision to have Diabetes month right after a national sugar fest. Because it is a time of Celtic New Year and time for remembering and honoring ancestors, Diabetes stayed with me. How many of my family members have been touched by this disease. Both maternal and paternal family members are prone to it.

Without consciously knowing it, I developed an odd relationship with sugar. As I became an adult, I noticed how certain "foods" made me feel and I didn't like it. I began to treat sugar with the same aversion some people have for alcohol or tobacco. Maybe somewhere deep down inside I knew that I was carrying this genetic time bomb, that would be detonated with a significant amount of sugar. Maybe I carried terrible memories of my paternal grandmother's amputation or the stories of how my maternal great grandmother had cuts that would not heal. Maybe, I was stifling the worry for my siblings, trying not to imagine them in Diabetic comas. These thoughts all flowed back to me like the little skulls and scary masks that are emblematic of this time of year.

Thankfully, I crossed the river of my fourth decade in pretty good health. Thankfully, my ancestors had given me hope and courage, despite the genetic time bomb. Thankfully, I made peace with my own mortality and I found a practice that helped me know and accept myself physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. I took a series of deep breaths and really began to live.

Each one of us carries some frailty or sensitivity that we inherit. Truly a lot of our personal healing involves doing the healing work our parents or grandparents didn't finish. So this time for remembering is also a time for accepting my responsibility, my part in the weaving a great cloth. And I breathe again.

It's been years since I gathered candy for Halloween. It's been years since I put on a costume. But I think this year I got to see the fun in it again. In lovely Sedona, not only is the weather pleasant, but everyone around town seemed to be dressed up on Sunday. At the grocery store, at the gym, at the coffee shop and on the streets. All sorts of costumes. It caused me to reflect on what, why or how I stopped celebrating life in this way, how I became so serious. I did a long hike on a new trail. Quite appropriate. I can start to take a different approach. I am seeing new ways for integrating my internal growth with connections to others.

I sat down to meditate in a cool spot. My spine charged with energy, my hands charged with energy, my lungs filled with the fresh scents of pine and juniper. My eyes filled with the bright light reflected on new flowers and leaves. My feet were tired from the rough rocky path, but my heart was full and grateful peace. I was happy to get back into town, to experience the energy of this time of year.

As I voted today, I marveled at how crowded the place was. I do not always agree with the politics of some of my new neighbors, but I do like their sense of civic involvement. I also appreciate their easy-going style. I have mentioned again and again how beautiful this place is and how blessed I feel to be with these red stone hills. But I am beginning to appreciate the beauty of the people here, too. Maybe the red rocks have softened my heart. I hope so.

By the way, two of these photos are from NYC. I couldn't resist sharing them.

Blessings and light,

Joseph

On Top of Boynton Canyon

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. So beautiful,I woke up long before my alarm went off. I guess it was the hills calling again. So I packed up my little pack and headed out to the edge of town. The drive down Dry Creek Road was exciting. I felt like a kid heading off to Summer Camp. When I got there I decided to head straight for the trail, without changing into my boots.

I only had a short time, and this is a very long trail. So, I took the shortcut to the top, near the beginning of the trail. The sun was rising high and so were my spirits. There is one main trail up there that is well marked and wide. It's where the tourists were heading. But I spied with my little eye, numerous other trails leading over the ridge or into the trees. I took one and walked until I found a big comfortable boulder (excuse the oxymoron). There I sat down to meditate.

Before I got started, though, I realized I leaned into a big cactus when I sat down. I laughed at myself and decided that removing the needles from my shirt would be the start of my meditation. Yes, anything can be a practice in mindfulness. It really was a good exercise for focus. After that I sat as still as the stone I was sitting on. A light breeze blew by me and shook the leaves on the alien looking tree (see the photo where leaves and branches are blended together). I admired its beauty and its resonance with the breeze. I felt the heat of the sun, and it felt like pure power. Yes, the weather is cooling off and I am gaining a new appreciation for the sun. How much life it generates, how generously it shares its energy. I felt its rays shining through my hat, my clothes, my sun screen--it is after all, only a screen.

Remembering the beauty and bounty of life on this planet was a great way to start my week. Grateful for the oneness!

Back on the Trail

Today I finally made it back on the trail after nearly two weeks. It was wonderful to be outside in the cooling autumn air. I thought of that Cole Porter tune,"You'd be so nice to come home to..." Yeah, this place feels really alive to me, almost personifying nature for me. I feel that once people spend time connecting with nature we develop a different sense of ourselves and our relationships. This may sound like the zeal of a convert, but I have been a nature boy all of my life. Only now am I expressing it from my heart.

I decided to approach the magnificent Cathedral Rock (part of which is seen in the photos above). But instead of doing that heart jolting vertical climb, I took a circuitous path around its base. Templeton Trail, it's called. I climbed to the back half of the trail twice before, but had not seen this portion. I was captivated by the beautiful combination of stark dry stone and lush pine forest. I felt like I was transported to another planet.

I spent some time meditating in the middle of a wide stream bed--mostly dry. It created its own mysterious path. If I had more time, I could have spent the whole day out there. Thankfully, I captured the memories in my heart and on my Blackberry. I hope you can get a sense of this special beauty. I am happy to be back where endless trails of beauty await me. But I have to say this place has given me a better eye for beauty. It has helped me see it more clearly. So I can be sure that I will not run out of inspiration while my feet are on this earth.

Peace and beauty,

Joseph

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Now playing: Margaretha Evmark - You'd be so nice to come home to
via FoxyTunes

Meeting the Mystic Trail

Dear Folks,

I have written in the past about how much I enjoy the beauty, ease and simplicity of Mystic Trail. Yes, this is all true, but I learned something new today. I learned it because I have decided to visit this trail for the next 21 days for special meditation. Since my intention was to go to meditate at a great spot overlooking a quiet valley of red rocks, I met an unexpected challenge.

I have been on this trail and its offspring so many times, I felt I could do it in my sleep. Well, I can't. This morning, I must have been a little sleepy. I was definitely distracted; thinking instead of mindful walking. When I say "thinking" I mean that activity in the brain where we roll something over and over again like a dung beetle, so that it grows in proportion and importance. I was awakened from this counterproductive cycle by a small row of flat stones. Hmmmmm. I had never seen those before. Usually, anything lying across a trail, be it stones or a log or sticks, indicates that you should not go any further. I looked up toward the rest of the trail and it seemed to disappear. The trail seemed to be leading down, away from the row of stones. But I was going up, wasn't I?

That's when I realized that I had gotten of the trail I was on. Instead of trying to forge ahead (which is what we do when we refuse to admit we are wrong) I turned around. Backtracked, retraced my steps. Oy veh! I was far off the trail. I didn't recognize any of the trees or stones or vistas. I can't believe I let myself get so caught up!

Well, I found my way back to the trail I wanted. I headed back toward the canyon. I had to laugh at myself when I looked at my watch. My time before work was running out. I only made it half-way to the canyon when I realized it was better to sit and meditate and then head back. That's what I did.

On the way back, I saw the slight turn on the trail which had taken me in the wrong direction. Very subtle. But even on this easy set of trails I learned, once again, the value of mindfulness. Clarity does not mean focusing on your concerns. Clarity is seeing the concerns in the context of the big picture. They are but tiny obstacles that will move or be moved in time. Effective action requires focus on inner stillness.

Peace and love,

Joseph

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!