......miracles

Yogis,
Isn’t spring amazing!

At this time of year the world around us is expanding and changing so quickly that my little mind can’t keep up! At the end of even a single day when I think back to all that I witnessed, touched, tasted smelled and heard I feel I could write a whole book!

Let’s take Wednesday as an example…..  Mommy wren has become accustomed to Phoebe and I hanging out directly below her home, which means we are serenaded each time she returns to feed the babies. A young fox trots out of the woods toward us until we are spotted. The toad in the hollowed tree stump allows me to capture a face only a mother could love. And as I walk up my front steps the face of a zinnia beams at me.

Fresh chives, arugula, sage and lambs’ quarters now available right outside my door for spectacular salads. My CSA box bursting with fresh dark greens, spring onions and asparagus make for tasty dinners.

I place tiny seeds in the dirt and a week later sprouts lift the heavy earth with their strong backs, finally freeing their heads to reach skyward.  My peony plants gift me seven incredible blooms, their petals so soft I long to dive in.

The aroma of fresh mint wafts through the house as I bring in daily cuttings for vases and smoothies and when I am submerged in the heady scent of honeysuckle on my run, I have to close my eyes to feel it. Too beautiful for words.

The meaning of the word ‘miracle’ is “amazing or wonderful occurrence," and it comes from the Latin word miraculum “object of wonder." Often described as an occurrence which cannot be explained by science or nature, and therefore is believed to be a work of the Divine.

Although science may be able to explain much of the above in formulas and hard to pronounce terms, it can’t describe the way my heart beats harder when a monarch flies close. Or how I tingle when the full moon shines on me while I in bed. It can’t explain the magic.

Isn’t the whole season of spring a miracle? Isn’t all of this a miracle? Is the fact that I get to play in it every day not a miracle? And the more you begin to look for the little miracles, the more are drawn into your path.

The other day I lay on the grass to photograph an orange butterfly. She patiently posed for several minutes as I shot from each angle only inches away. At one point she even demonstrated how she cleans herself. Two days later I walk out and there she is. I pull the phone out and get close. But this time she flies right on top of my camera and looks me in the eye as if to say ‘see me’ without the distortion of a lens. 

And so I did.

Spring! Isn’t she amazing…..
SARAH

.....the answer

Yogis,

First I have to share……. Those of you who read my ‘pennies from heaven’ a couple of weeks ago will get a kick out of this.

Getting ready to head out for a hike, I put my trail shoes on. As I’m walking down the steps I had that annoying feeling of my sock being sort of folded under my big toe. No big deal. After a couple more steps though I decided it was ridiculous to do a hike like that and took the shoe off. Out flew a penny!

I laughed, thanked Lakshmi (goddess of abundance) and stuck it in my pocket.  Fast forward to bedtime. As I am taking my pants off, the penny I had of course forgotten about came literally flying out of the pocket. My oh my. Obviously, this path, and my lesson have not ended. I decided a penny should travel with me throughout my day for now. Stay tuned.

On my Thursday morning run I was listening to the Universe for guidance on what to write this week. A couple ideas floated through but then I saw it. A bumper sticker which read ‘Tress are the answer’.

Cute I thought, but then the words poured in. Trees ARE the answer for so many of the things we humans are currently struggling with today.  Think about it:

• Our air now has more carbon dioxide then any time in the last 800,000 years…..Trees love carbon dioxide! And not only do they breathe it up by the gallon, they convert it into clean fresh oxygen for us!
• Flooding rains are causing havoc to our properties and homes…….The roots of the big old growth trees can’t get enough of it!
• The climate is warming……. Trees are nature’s coolant, blocking the strongest rays of the sun and keeping the moisture in. Think woods vs dessert.
• We are being bombarded with an elevated noise level of planes, cars, lawn mowers and blowers…… Trees are nature’s sound buffer. Why else would the word ‘hush’ be tied to the forest?
• Heating and air-conditioning costs are on the rise…….A house with a large tree strategically placed will stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Yes!
• Erosion has become an issue from storm water runoff…….. Once again, trees to the rescue, holding the earth in place!
• Issues with anxiety are rampant…….Being in the company of trees will lower the heart rate and calm the breath. ‘Forest Bathing’ is the new spa, and its free.  
• We are becoming less patient……. There is no better teacher of patience than a tree
• Pollution…..trees      Fewer species of birds….trees      Violence……Urban areas with more trees are shown to have less violence     Children spending their day looking at screens…..send them out to a big tree and their imaginations will bloom with the best playmate there is.

Tomorrow when you go about your day, please pause in front of one tree, ‘see’ it and give it the proper thank you it deserves.  And perhaps consider where in your yard one more could be planted……

A proud tree hugger,
SARAH

.....sly as a fox

Yogis,

My yard includes a large patch of woods with a creek at the bottom of a hill, so wildlife abounds.

Deer herds pass through and often hang out a few days, leaving behind telltale hoof marks in the mud of my garden. No mystery as to who ate all the heads off my black eyed susans. Deer are not known for their slyness. Nor are raccoons who make a raucous as they head home after a night of pilfering through our neighbors’ trash cans. Hawks cast shadows as they circle overhead while the chipmunks attempt to stay under the obvious leaf cover they prepared. 

And then we have fox.

We have always had fox. In fact, one year I stumbled across their den while walking the woods and was able to watch the four kits play. Another time I watched a fox catch a squirrel, it’s movement so quick it was a blur. But all in all fox sightings were spaced apart over time. They were something you remembered and mentioned to others. But all of that has changed.

Fox now are so prevalent they seem to ‘live’ amongst us. Where you used to spot them at dawn and dusk, any time of day is now fox time. There is one in particular that walks up the center of the street right smack in the middle of the day often. I now say hi and wave as if he were a neighbor passing by.

Another comes up through my woods and pauses at the fire pit before strolling through the grass almost daily. While quietly gardening the other day an adorable young one almost walked right into me, unaware of my presence until our eyes locked. Everyone on the street has stories and I am now hearing of other towns seeing foxes where before they were hidden.

So what’s up? Fox are known to be sly. When hunting they often go in pairs and pretend to play so the prey relaxes and watches only to have one sneak up behind it. When chased they lead you on a complicated path only to lose you and head back.  Why are they suddenly allowing themselves to be so visible to everyone?

I looked up the spirit meaning of the fox. Foxes represent stealth as their movements are agile and nearly silent. They signify that you are possibly being lied to, and cunningly led down a path that doesn’t serve you.  Leading you around by the nose. Hmmmmm…… Could the course we are on today as humans possibly need this fox message?

When fox crosses your path it can also indicate a period of big change coming, often one that is challenging and unpredictable. Yes, that feels about right……

Thankfully fox spirit can teach us to act swiftly finding new ways around the obstacles. Tuning into our awareness to see through any illusion and deception. Fox tells us to take wise action with discernment and quick moves. Some quick swift moves on our part are sorely needed these days……

The fox who laid down for me to take his picture has a message for us. Hopefully we are listening.

Cutting through illusion,
SARAH

.....it all began with a thought

Yogis,
It all began with a passing thought……as most things do.

I have always been attracted to the beat of a drum but never gave it much thought. That deep vibration enters my feet and fills me to my edges. There is something so primal about a drumbeat that I love. The drum is often referred to as the heartbeat of the earth which may be why it feels so natural.

I like to feel things and there is no avoiding a tactile sensation when in the presence of a drum. I remember being a child and feeling my own heartbeat quicken as the drums passed during a parade.  And there is nothing like being close to a drum roll to clear your thoughts away.  As an adult I have gone to a few drum circles to see what it felt like to be the one creating the beat. But it was always something ‘others’ do.

When I spent my week at Susun Weed’s for my herbal studies we were given the task one night of keeping a heartbeat rhythm on a ceremonial drum from sundown to sunrise. We each took two one hour turns as the fire keeper and then as the drummer. Having to slide next to the current drummer and hold the stick with them as the hand off was done so as not to miss a beat. Beating the drum alone in the dark while the others took turns sleeping.

Yet I never considered that I could be a drummer. But then I had a crazy thought……..

Why? Why am I always the observer or the visitor? Why can’t I own a drum and learn to drum? It was a novel idea. To me the ‘real drummers’ were much cooler than me. My perception of them was that they were somehow different than me. What was that all about? I had never questioned it.

So I threw caution to the wind and asked for a djembe west African drum for Christmas. And then at the last minute I thought ‘what the heck!’ and asked my sister for a hand drum as well. Both were under the Christmas tree.  Now I was a drum owner. Multiple drums!

The next step was to find a teacher. I put an add on our local listserv looking for a djembe drum teacher. A woman responded saying she had a drum teacher but we needed a few people. We each found one more friend and set up our first get together.

I lugged my djembe over…..only to walk in and meet Yolanda, a Native American woman who leads hand drum ceremonies! Thank goodness for multiple drums. We have now met several times and are learning the ways of the ancestors and hope to expand the circle. For the March full moon we gathered around the fire pit to sing and drum and were gifted with a visit from the owl. I paused to marvel at how now I was drumming on my own drum with others around the fire. A manifestation. Drumming feels amazing!

For the May full moon I will take another step forward and will be co-hosting a drumming event here with Yolanda. We will have drums and rattles for all, and we will fill the sky with the rhythm of the earth. Come and feel the vibration. Details on SerenityCircleYoga.com under 'The Events'.

And it all began with a passing thought……as most things do. What are you thinking about?

What you think is where you go,
SARAH