The  Sun  Stands  Still  Inside  Us  Now

Solstice is a direct reminder of our planetary reality

No control over this fading light, no hand in its return

Of this we can be sure ...
Because we can know

that we inhabit a place in space,

we also know
that we are small

and that we are very large

May the Light shine through you and me
Into this world

Into our home among the stars

A

solstice cycle

the sun stands still inside me now

wonder finds rest inside me now

all creation stands transfigured

by the radiance of an inner light
the light within the light
without
the luminous landscape opening

the mountains and the hills break forth before me into singing

and all the trees of the field now clap their hands

now drawing closer
veil thinning
through the darkness walking
reaching light
at the heart of the world
enchantment
by moonlight and by starlight
prayer and incense
by candlelight now turning
graceful turning
turn toward the sun
toward one another turning

drawing close in whispered knowings
listen

the eternal heartbeat

look

the sun stands still

inside me now

wonder finds rest

we journey long and long together

knowing the space within

the space

without

planetary beings in spiral dance

within

the living body of the sacred sun

david barnes

The  Spirit  In  This  Place  

A Cloud withdrew from the Sky

Superior Glory be

But that Cloud and its Auxillaries

Are forever lost to me

Had I but further scanned

Had I secured the Glow

In an Hermetic Memory

It had availed me now.

Never to pass the Angel

With a glance and a Bow

Till I am firm in Heaven

Is my intention now.

Emily Dickinson

The Rapture of a finished Day —

Returning to the West —

All these — remind us of the place

That Men call 'paradise' —

Emily Dickinson

(Anne: Hermetically Sealed by the Camera!)

 from Gary Snyder …

The poems speak of place,
and the energy pathways that sustain life.
Each living being is a swirl in the flow
a formal turbulence a 'song'

The land, the planet itself  is also a living being
— at another pace.
Anglos, black people, Chicanos, and others
beached up on these shores
all share such views  at the deepest levels
of their old cultural traditions
— African, Asian, or Europeans.

Hard again to those roots,
to see our ancient solidarity,
and then to the work of being together
on Turtle Island.

But if you do know what is taught by plants and weather,

you are in on the gossip and can feel truly at home.
The sum of a field’s forces [become] what we call very loosely
the 'spirit of the place.'

To know the spirit of the place
is to realize that you are part of a part
and that the whole is made of parts
each of which is a whole.
You start with the  part you are whole in.

The traditional harmlessness and refusal to take life in any form
has nation-shaking implications.
The practice of meditation,
for which one needs only 'the ground beneath one’s feet',

wipes out mountains of junk being pumped into the mind
by the mass media and supermarket universities. 

Gary Snyder

YouTube Video

Autumn  Jaunts

Before the snow flies, and travelling becomes less viable,

we have been hitting the road to enjoy the season.

Here’s a little story, taken from an email I wrote,

about one of our recent excursions.

Recently David and I came upon an obscure country road which we had mused we would explore one day. As we stared at the turnoff, It seemed that that day had arrived. A while back David had asked a local man about this road. Ya, it goes to Monte Creek. Oh… it’s about 17 km. Just make sure you stay on the main road. There are a lot of crossroads. What he didn’t mention was the condition of the road. But then he was sitting in a truck as he talked to us.

Pretty soon the road dwindled, from a fairly wide, well graded one to a gravelly, bumpy one lane mystery tour. Scrubby forest, swamps, a few open areas, abandoned barns, shed and cabins. A few raindrops started falling. At various points we passed massive clear cutting in the middle of nowhere, and held our breath as we chugged through some muddy sections where the road was ripped up by logging trucks. That prompted some nail-biting. I cheered David’s manoevres through these mucky parts, he was really good at it. Geared down, took the highest, often less used ways that were also onto brush on the side of the road,-- riding high ridges on at least 2 wheels. Sometimes the undercarriage scraped over packed dirt. Human habitations no longer in sight. David wondered if we should turn around and avoid getting stuck out there with no cell service. The one encouraging thing was that there was evidence of tire tracks in the mud and gravel; humans had come this way before, and even recently! Most likely in trucks and four by fours vehicles I thought darkly!! And yes, there were those enticing side roads that we were passing, similar in appearance, some even in slightly better condition! Those were the trickiest times, where we had to stop to make consequential decisions... was that THE road to follow or a road to… maybe  someone"s house? Obviously a hermit. Who had no phone. And no neighbours.

Definitely no signs were given. We noted that we seemed to be travelling in the right direction, into a familiar valley. We’d be encouraged and then the road would take a turn that disqualified it as hopeful. We hoped that at least we’d see a bear for our efforts.

But no bears appeared. We had seen a few isolated farm holdings especially earlier on the way. Seeing these places always makes me imagine. What would it be like to live out in the wilds? How differently would the day go? Forget checking your iPhone first thing in the morning. Perhaps satellite service, but I imagined not having any internet. Maybe not even a cell phone. Wood heat. No trips to the corner store for cream. Maybe some chickens, even a cow. And a truck with a plow. You’d have to plow your driveway and maybe the road. How to earn income? Raise some beef cattle? Heavy equipment operator for the logging we saw? Who is doing that? How would values evolve? Interested in American politics? Not likely.

I often wonder about those living in very different lifestyles than our urban one. The consciousness would be quite different, used to silence, more attuned to the natural world around. Slower. Less superficial attention. Grounded, focused on what is right at hand, right in front of you, in all those slowed down moments.

Well we didn’t see a bear. With great relief I spotted a big sign over a road entrance reading Paxton Valley Ranch. Yes, we were in the right valley.  Small signs on trees began measuring off km’s, 10, 9 etc. I’d cheer (with too much enthusiasm!) whenever we came to the next one. It seemed a long time between signs. Who knows why these signs had been posted? And what did they mean, really?

Very slowly civilization emerged. First older cabins or dark, weathered wooden houses with collapsed sheds, abandoned cars. Old paddocks. Then some mobile homes. Then newer mobile homes. Then painted bungalows. Then larger ranch houses with RV’s and trampolines for kids. And suddenly boing, we were travelling on blessed pavement and rolling into Monte Creek. Houses were definitely clumped close to town. These people wanted to know  they could buy cream!!

We later discovered that one of our tires had suffered and  produced a slow leak, the result of its rigours.  But it was such a fun hour or so, bumping out each mile or km, taking strategic routes through mud, visually noting that we were headed in the right direction (eyes stayed on the hills beyond), sending slightly doubtful but hopefully encouraging smiles to one another! Doing it together. There was something invigorating about it, the joy of navigating into the, seemingly, unknown together. And each knowing the other was up for it.

Take Home #1

For most of us, how utterly pampered our current generation is!

Take Home #2

Life’s journey is a lot like this road

This year’s salmon return has been less populated,

predicted as a slow year but reduced further by the warming waters.

Here’s a little YouTube video to give you a quiet moment

Here are some autumn shots, taken close to home at the ever changing Shuswap at Canoe Beach, and some other Travelling Blarneys shots.

NOTES  FROM  SELF

You learn a lot when you decide to grow a garden. Initially, you think that you are  deciding what will happen in this little plot of the planet. That doesn't last long!! Knowingly or not, you have entered into a personal partnership with Nature, and Nature's contribution often surprises the rather stiff mind of man.

Undeniably a relationship to be explored, in many ways, on many levels, beyond the borders of gardens. But gardens provide an excellent microcosm in which to explore some basic principles!! Like wonder, humility, flexibility, and most usefully, intuition!! Then intelligence is shared with Nature.

Above is the result of purchasing a small packet of "Wild Flowers". I envisioned a small grouping of 6 inch tall, sweet innocent wild flowers. We already had large grasses in this part of our yard. But to my surprise the innocent wildflowers leapt up and formed a 4-5 foot high wall, shielding whatever view of our yard had remained visible from the road. Interesting idea on Nature's part, at the same time providing an attractive display for passers by to enjoy.

Below is a collage of some of the blooms woven into this living wall.

   

  

   

Pretty nice!

Consider this:
"Nature is massive, intelligent consciousness group that expresses and functions within the many areas of involution, that is, moving soul-oriented 

consciousness into any dimension or level of form.

Nature is the conscious reality that supplies order, organization and life vitality for this shift. "

Machaelle Small Wright, Perelandra Garden Workbook II

I did consciously plant vegetables, and Nature generously partnered up. Here are some vegetables that I have gleefully breezed past in supermarket displays, knowing that I'm growing them at home. Growing one's own food and therefore not purchasing produce (grown in far off fields) never fails to satisfy, taste and pocketbook. 

     

  

       

Missing in photos are kale, beans, green zucchini, chives, and herbs

Consider this:
"The Cosmos is not a mindless machine, as depicted in the human paradigm of the universe. It is sentient. It embodies Identity. It relates to love relationships. And we can begin to experience the vastness of that as we are willing to bring it to focus deliberately with those elements present with us in the design in which we currently find ourselves." 

Alan Hammond, Our Divine and Cosmic Destiny

Below are some latecomers whom I dearly love, gracing the final floral performance of the season. 

Below the camera follows the Glorious Growth (and hence migration to another more secured location)

 of the magnificent, still-blooming Morning Glories!

  

  

  

Persistent Bloomers below, the final one (Bugbane) heralds the garden's approaching frosty sights. Now isn't that a lovely touch by Nature's imagination?

   

Changing Venues and Interests.

Here's another chapter to share. These are the harvest of a longtime planting, which I'll let an old time friend introduce:

Bill Bahan

Ten days ago my wife, Linda, and I flew from Atlanta to spend three days with five of our friends in the Rocky Mountains near Colorado Springs. This gathering included John and Pamela Gray from Southern California, Suzanne Core from Colorado, and David Barnes and Anne Blaney from British Columbia. The theme of our gathering was, “All Things New.” We rented a lovely mountain home tucked into the side of Pikes Peak at an elevation of about 7,700 feet. From the living room and large back deck there was a marvelous panoramic view of mountain peaks. It was a glorious setting.

Our gathering was a time of sacred communion. We each read transcripts of services and classes by our spiritual mentors, Lloyd Meeker (Uranda) and Martin Cecil to each other. We listened to audio tapes and viewed some videos. David Barnes did a wonderful job of selecting the materials we considered. The words we shared from these two men are as meaningful today as when first spoken.

During, or after, each presentation we took some time to share our thoughts and expand upon various themes. Our purpose for being together on earth at this time became vivid in my awareness. We are here to bring a new heaven, a sacred state that has not been known by mankind on any large scale for many thousands of years. One of the evidences of the new heaven is the experience of true friendship that we share.

Above left to right:
Linda Bahan, Suzanne Core, David Barnes, Pamela and John Gray, and me on the floor.
Bill took the photo.

   

Below are friends intently watching a video, Linda Bahan, Bill pictured in the middle, and David.

Below, one of the settings. We also gathered on the deck, and downstairs in the den.
Suzanne is watching with great interest.

The View from our bedroom in Colorado

The last evening we were gifted with a rainbow. (...Just saying!!) 
As I came tearing out of our bedroom to tell Bill and Linda next door about this, Pamela also came running from the Grays' bedroom. "Is it a bear, is it a bear?" Pamela exclaimed! Pamela and I had noticed the considerable amount of evidence of bear visits beside the house, and we had been hoping to catch sight of one. We were also hoping that we would not catch sight of one!! Alas, it was only a rainbow..!! We all broke into laughter at Pamela's enthusiasm for seeing a bear up close and personal!!

The After Glow

After delivering most participants to DIA, our gathering, David and I lingered in the home of Suzanne Core, and toured the area surrounding her property. Below are some photos around Turkey Hill and Creek, with the likeness of the feather spread of a male turkey etched by Nature, on the rock face below. 

   

Valley of the Gods (and Godesses)

After our sessions, Suzanne took David and me to The Valley of the Gods, near Manitou Springs. Here's some background information on this public park.

"The outstanding geologic features of the park are the ancient sedimentary beds of deep-red, pink and white sandstones, conglomerates and limestone that were deposited horizontally, but have now been tilted vertically and faulted into "fins" by the immense mountain building forces caused by the uplift of the Rocky Mountains and the Pikes Peak massif. The following Pleistocene Ice Age resulted in erosion and glaciation of the rock, creating the present rock formations. Evidence of past ages can be read in the rocks: ancient seas, eroded remains of ancestral mountain ranges, alluvial fans, sandy beaches and great sand dune fields." 

Wikepedia

This late morning walk around this ancient gathering of stone and Juniper was so joyful and special. I was in my element!! You know I love rock!! Suzanne waited in the parking area and noted all the licence plates from far away places. 

Suzanne made one more last drive to DIA (a 4 hour round trip!!) for our flights back to BC. Reluctantly I left Colorado, a state I have felt is a second home. I miss the sound of the wind in the pines surrounding Suzanne's home, and the warm welcome Suzanne offered us. And we very much appreciate the focused and deep communion our grouping shared with those dear mountain guardians surrounding us.