Tag: Eco-Spirituality
Noise

Noise

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As I descended into the shadowy forest, beams of light pierced the dark green of the fir and spruce trees as the sun illuminated low clouds hugging the high elevation. I stopped to take it in, to breathe in the wonder. Two hikers behind me, that had been mindlessly chattering and chittering, came up behind me and I actually shushed them. Not an aggressive ‘SHUSH’ but a gentle reminder that we were standing in a sacred moment.

They gasped and stopped to behold the wonder. How could anyone be oblivious to such powerful beauty? I guess this is why I prefer to hike alone and space myself away from others, especially those that never just ‘shut the heck up.’ 

My tolerance for noise goes down as I open to the gifts that silence brings me. And it’s not just talking or human-created noises, it’s background sounds like email and text pings…like the person in an astronomy club meeting last night that never silenced their phone. All through the program…ping…ping…ping…ping…ping…ping….ping. 

Robert C Byrd Green Bank Telescope

Interestingly enough, the program was on silence…a quiet zone. I am laughing out loud as I type this…ping….ping….ping went the cell phone as the film focused on a huge quiet zone. 

The Greenbank Observatory was the subject of the film.  The small community of people that live around it agree to no cell phone usage, no wify (wired ethernet is okay), bluetooth, or anything that would interfere with the world’s largest movable radio telescope. I was fascinated how much support the observatory has from the West Virginia community, even when they must maintain a quiet zone of 13,000 square miles. That’s 10 miles around the telescopes or about 107 miles wide and 120 miles long.

Green Bank

When is the last time you stepped outside the noise of your life? Do you remember the quiet at the center of your being? 

As our small group discussion about the film ended, the conclusion I drew? As humans, we are like the radio telescopes. We need silence to function properly. Why? We need to re-learn how to listen. To our hearts, to Nature, to the pulse of life beating within us. 

How can you create a quiet zone in your life? How does doing this create more space in your life?
Peace in a Rainy Forest

Peace in a Rainy Forest

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Probably my favorite hike ever. The forest was welcoming during a rainy day and I found such strength in the climb up the mountain and peace as I stood in stillness accepting the support of the mountain spirits.
Let the Light Out

Let the Light Out

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In these times of trouble and chaos, I find music is something that helps me calm and nurture myself. I generally create songs and store them in a folder until the album feels complete. I did that with the Realms album, which is being released July 22nd. But this morning…something different happened.

I was doing my yoga practice with Ernest and remembered what I heard during my meditation this morning: Let the light out! It’s so easy to get buried in the troubles of our times, to collapse into fear. When I asked, how do I make it through this time of darkness? The answer was like a bell ringing with clarity: Let the light out! During every stretch, I imagined light streaming out of my body, clearing away darkness and stuck places.

Then, I sat down with my harmonium, flute, and voice and two songs came forth. So a mini-album is also being released July 22nd.

Thank you to everyone streaming my music! I’m actually making a little money from this creative effort! Every time you stream my music, I get a little bit of money from the streaming platform. So thank you so much! Someone is listening!! YIPPEE!!
Humpback Whale Meditation

Humpback Whale Meditation

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I was trying to find an old license from decades ago that I might need for a job application. I looked all through my files and then had to look through storage containers. In doing so, I found a journal from my time photographing and swimming with spotted dolphins and humpback whales. I started reading and found a meditation written from my experience with whales.

The license wasn’t what I needed to find. It was the journal. Isn’t it wonderful how life works!?! The same messages I was receiving and recording 11 years ago, are coming strong now. Not only was it a validation for me, but a wonderful remembering of feeling dolphins push against my body as we swam in perfect harmony. And of humpback whales connecting with their calves. I still get goosebumps!

I hope you enjoy this meditation gifted from the whales to me…and now to you.