Category: Nature’s teachings

Beauty is My Passion

Beauty is My Passion

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Ft Morgan 122912 (19)
Over the years there has been a narrowing of focus. I steadfastly have endeavored to serve and help humanity evolve, with the end goal of promoting planetary stewardship. Sound idealistic? Unrealistic? Did I drink hemlock-spiked egg nog?

Paying attention, listening, being still with a calm mind….little tools we can use to help us find our way. And as we progress through our trials, dead-ends, and times lacking in joy, and surrender to our life’s calling, we become more content.

Gulf Islands National Seashore (22)
My personal journey has led me deeper into beauty, most significantly the beauty found in nature. The glance of a pelican as it soars past, the gaze from a shark as it swims alongside, a sea turtle hatchling gazing up at me as she scoots past….the whisper of trees as they sway in the wind and countless moments spent outdoors call me to recognize beauty, to champion it and to celebrate it.

Over the years I’ve struggled with direction and purpose and wandering…and wondering. It comes down to this simple truth for me: Beauty is my passion. It is my sincerest desire to translate it to others through photography and writing. With no agenda, no push to make others see….because without this expression my life dries up and I feel off course.

Gulf Islands National Seashore (5)What is your passion? How does it influence your life?

Alive in the World

Alive in the World

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SimoneLipscomb (2)As tornadoes roared over Mobile, just 30 miles west, and Christmas day came to a close, I realized that we are witnessing more and more planetary shifts. The intense weather patterns give evidence to climate change. I sat gazing at the weather radar and imagined how this planet might have been when it was a babe, turbulent in its youth with dynamic and powerful changes that were constant. As it has aged, many cycles of change have presented but this time billions of humans are witnessing the shifting atmosphere and climate. In turn, there are social changes with people arising to claim freedom, love, peace and health.

I reflected back 30 years ago when environmentalists warned of over-consumption of fossil fuels….pesticides…chemicals….peace-lovers warned of the propagation of wars….and here we are moving through a most intense period of time where we are reaping the results of our carelessness, our ignorance. And during this time, which Joanna Macy calls The Great Turning, we are needed–more than ever–to be peacekeepers, earth stewards, promoters of good health, gardeners, artists….the talents and gifts we have will help us collectively move into a healthier place and help create a healthier planet.

SimoneLipscomb (1)If you are alive today, you are needed to help make this shift. Your gifts and talents are vital to the planetary transformation we are experiencing. This isn’t the time to sit on the proverbial sidelines. We are alive in the world and therefore we are necessary to its healing. None of us can do this alone. It will take all of us to make the leap to a more peaceful world, a healthier place. I am excited! How about you?

Enter the Light

Enter the Light

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Dawn 2012I stood in the chilly air awaiting the dawn. Not just of a new day but a new way. As I stood beneath old growth live oak trees, present with birds and cows awakening, I glanced over the metal roof of my home and saw a huge owl cresting the roof. She flew within a few feet of me as I stood in stillness. Silent was her passing, without a whisper of wind on wing.

Owls have amazing eyesight and can see in the darkest night. A timely reminder in this time of transition and spiritual awakening on our planet.

Bundled in warm clothes in the pre-dawn moments, I contemplated this auspicious day and remembered a conversation I had in the late 1980’s with a professor in graduate school. We were on a break and several of us were sitting around a table. The conversation turned to the end of the Mayan calendar. At the time, it was still 25 years in the future. He expressed fear and asked our opinion. I told him I thought it was simply a time of awakening, of moving from darkness into the light.

Dawn 2012

Through the years I have continued to hold that belief. And this morning I felt incredible excitement that people all over the planet were welcoming the light. Over the past few years there has been an apparent increase in darkness but what has appeared to be more darkness is perhaps light exposing the worst of humanity. Now, like the owl, we see more clearly the darkness and can make conscious choices to turn to the light.

With gratitude I saluted the Light and made my way back into my cozy kitchen for a hot mocha. Yes. This is the start of a new dawn.

 

Time and Purpose

Time and Purpose

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water (2) The concept of time has been on my mind a lot lately. For many years people across the planet have had various ideas about what the end of the Mayan calendar might bring. There are all sorts of scenarios.  The one I have held is that it is simply a time of change from one era to the next–and in my mind it includes a collective leap of consciousness. Regardless of whether they just ran out of room on their stone tablets or if their wisdom-keepers truly saw a time of global awakening, because so many people on our planet have held a belief that something is going to happen, it will indeed happen…even if it is simply the equivalent of turning the page to a new year.

Personally the idea of time has taken me on a deep inner journey of late. Several articles, books and videos have crossed my desk and have created fertile ground for this adventure. Some questions have emerged:

What if I could stop the inner dialogue that constantly keeps me second-guessing myself…that keeps me in constant motion of striving to make effective use of time?

What if I could end the inner voice that berates me if I am not constantly doing what I think is expected of me?

What if I could be still and silent and allow my natural gifts and talents the space to be…with no thought to production, saving the planet, and other ideals?

water (1)What if I simply stopped doing what I thought I should do and allow myself…my Self…to live organically doing whatever it is that comes natural to me?

I have come to believe, to know even, that this is when the real magic of life will occur. If I can do that, if you can do that, will the ‘time’ change?

What would your life look like if you allowed a natural expression of your strengths, gifts, talents?

I believe the possibility of healing our planet lies in one, simple step: Individual healing…allowing our true selves to shine and reconnect with our Earth Mother, live with Her, not on Her. It’s time we remembered who we are and let go of who we are not.

Now is the time.

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Down to the River…to Pray, to Laugh

Down to the River…to Pray, to Laugh

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It was 48 degrees when I got up and started my day at 5am. I had to wait two hours until sunrise so I could go boarding. I fueled my body with a big apple and yogurt and almonds and dressed for the chill. When the light popped out I headed out as well. Down the to river….to pray, laugh, dance on my board and be fully present in this glorious autumn morning.

When I am able to be fully present, in the moment, I receive the gift of beauty, laughter, joy. Nothing else but the river, mullet, alligator gar, osprey, herons, baby fish, kingfishers, and boats filled with jacket-clad fishermen staring at me as I stroked past like I was some sort of illusion from a wacky dream. I could almost hear their low droning voices as they said, “Check that out Bob. That one ain’t right.” Or, “What the heck are they gonna think of next?” But I’m booking past them, fueled by the chilly air and stroking fast, race-like and feeling strong.

Some days are like that. And when such a day comes along, I’m happy to say thanks and keep paddling. Joy, peace, beauty…we all deserve it, we’re all worthy of good things.

What are you claiming today that supports your joy? I hope it is something wonderful…you deserve it after all.