"I hold the most archaic values on earth ... the fertility of the soul, the magic of the animals, the power-vision in solitude, .... the love and ecstasy of the dance, the common work of the tribe."
Gary Snyder
"We will be passing from the terminal Cenozoic into what I call the Ecozoic. And the primary principle of the Ecozoic is that the Universe - and in particular planet Earth – is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects. If we don’t learn that – nothing is going to work."
Thomas Berry
And now that I've got that off my chest, I have to add that as a kind of benediction for all those suffering runners, I made it a point to sit for quite some time on my plump rear on a boulder, eating bagel, and thinking of absolutely nothing. I had some fine encounters with hawks, especially hawks seem to be speaking to me of late. And one comical roadrunner - I find the birds much more of a contrary than any serious, determined coyote I ever met. I have nothing magical to report to this journal today, just the magic that is already abundantly there. I wish, for those friends who are suffering the cold, I could bring this warm day to you.
"In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks."
— John Muir
"When we tug at a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world."
— John Muir
Ah, but magic you DID report! There is such magic in each photo, how beautiful, and that roadrunner, amazing. Cold here tonight, will go down to -1, but, not to worry some of us enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteMagic! That pic of the catus reminded me of Michael Crichton's experience with a cactus in Travels. Talk to me, Cactus. Teach me. Impart your knowledge.
ReplyDeleteThat's a bit like a shamanistic journey. The indian would go fo a wander, and then relfect on what natural features had impressed them on the trip.
ReplyDeleteSo, we have the cactus photo. I'd say there are two cactii in that photo, a male one (in a symbolic sense, should be obvious which one), and a female one. So that's about dualism.
As for the Road Runner. I'd say that's a tiny bit like a European bird called a Magpie. Noted for its contrasting black and white plumage. Also reputed to represent metaphysical dualism.
Robur, thanks for your reflections. The issue of dualism/non-dualism is very much found in many native American spiritual traditions, including the Zuni and Hopi traditions of the the sacred clown, or contrary. When I used to fascilitate ritual theatre, I would always be sure to have a "Heyoka" (from the Lakota) present at every event. Absolute necessity!
ReplyDeleteThanks Trish and Rob, I like that. I think in the Teachings of Don Juan he talks about talking with medicine plants also. Cactus often have a lot to say, although they're kind of slow to answer!
Valerianna, whew. Cold! But I remember only too well the absolute ecstasy of the sudden advent of Spring in Vermont.