MID-MARCH MUSING

Kay, a wildlife rehabber and friend, shares "Ladybug," a unicorn

Too much is happening around here, and I don’t want to wait ‘til April to muse about it. So, I’m doing my first “Midmonth Musing.” Spring has lots to say to me these days, and she’s chattering away at a fast clip.

From my bedroom window, which looks out at a still-bare Gingko tree, the spring birds are arriving. I hear calls I’m not familiar with, and see flashes of color I haven’t seen here before. I carry my bird book from window to window and try to match the colors, tails, and face markings to the photos in the book. The gold finches are turning brilliant yellow (how do they do that?!), putting on their mating plumage. A bluebird visited the Gingko tree, and robins have moved from town out to my forest lawn.

In the yard, daffodils are finally blooming. Other spears of new growth are poking up and I don’t recognize any of them. Ah, the joy and wonder of a new landscape in a new season! So much to learn! On the forest floor, shallow streams ribbon across the old shale and limestone beds that course through miles of deep leaf litter. Tiny waterfalls sing with the twittering tinkle of an eagle’s voice. I put my fingers to every new, fresh leaf and vine pushing up through the dense leaf mulch, which is probably pretty stupid as I’m told these woods are full of poison ivy—another plant I would not recognize…

 

IT’S A MYSTERY TO ME…

Hannah, whose mantra is "More food please."

The above is one of my favorite mantras these days. Another is “I haven’t a bloody clue…” I know this has nothing to do with animals and nature, but this essay, sent to my by Paul my radio guy, expresses much of the confoundment I am feeling in these days of what seem to be great upheaval. Can you relate?

By Daniel Pinchbeck | realitysandwich.co

Recently, I have taken as my personal mantra the not very transcendent phrase, “I don’t know.” The list of things I feel unsure about seems to be steadily increasing. For instance, I don’t know if our solipsistic species will survive much longer, and sometimes I am not even sure how much I care. I don’t know if Barack Obama is a warm-hearted leader who will unite people at a time of adversity, or the most brilliant puppet ever put forth by the New World Order conspirators (who, as radio journalist and documentary filmmaker Alex Jones suggests, may be plotting a program of rapid depopulation)…

 

YUKON KERRY (When illness sends you to paradise. Funny how that works, sometimes…!)

Hi Susan,

Farley, Daisy and I live in the northern community of Whitehorse, Yukon, surrounded by some of the last untouched wilderness on earth. It is indescribably beautiful here. I came up here close to seven years ago as an ‘environmental refugee’. Always a big city girl, when environmental illness hit me hard I found that the options were to stay in an increasingly life-threatening situation, or take a chance on healing by moving somewhere clean. The requirements for healing were no industrial, urban, or farming poisons. Yikes! So here I am in the middle of nowhere. It was the right move and I’ve been healthy for a few years now…

 

SEND GOOD JU-JU TO OUR NEWEST MEMBER, CARLA JO

Carla and son Josh

Carla’s story touches me deeply. Her journey so very clearly and achingly demonstrates the difference between a healing journey and a curing journey. Carla, we are sending good ju-ju your way!

Hello Susan, I love the page where people can share about themselves and their animals. I would love to share a bit of my story. My friends started a site for me on Caring Bridge. It is a wonderful place to connect and share information.
http://caringbridge.org/visit/carlajo
About 8 months ago I found out I had breast cancer, it is a rare kind, very painful and fast moving. I have chosen to have a quality of life and do alternative therapy. I find myself in a very interesting place. I have moved to The Dalles which is on the Columbia River with my therapy cat Purr Boy. We have an economy apt with a million dollar view.

My quality of life has been very good for the past 8 months, I am always on the pain roller coaster but have found natural sources of relief. I just found out this week that the cancer has spread to both lungs and new little cluster of new tumors have emerged on my chest wall below my breast. I am doing some amazing healing things but feel as if I am not keeping up with the movement of this unwelcome visitor in my body.
I feel very much at peace with whatever Life’s next grand adventure will be. I just read a great book called “Grace & Grit” by Ken and Treya Wilbur. I was very inspired by her living & dying.

Purr Purr

My cat Purr Boy has become my constant companion, he thinks its really cool when I can sleep 15 hrs a day. I am finding joy and contentment and stay in each NOW as much as I can. Great amounts of fear and worry have completely fallen away and I am excited about this healing journey. I find that many Dr’s don’t recognize that death can be a powerful and natural form of healing. I have no attachments to the outcome embracing it all.
Keep up the good work so good to see all the photo’s……Blessings of Love, Carla

 

MARCH MAPLE MUSING–RIGHT TIMING

Mazel Tov ponders whether the time is right for him to begin his world takeover.

Recently, I crafted the last lesson of my winter web retreat, “Buffalo Dance: Exploring the Wisdom of Winter.” It has been a wonderful, three-month journey, taken by myself and nine fellow “winter travelers.” Our lessons have included chapters from “Buffalo Dance,” additional essays like the one below, and phone circles, all combined with a series of activities that have strengthened our connection (or reconnection) with the natural world both within and without.

As we ten complete our winter journey together on March 19, the last day of winter, I realized I wanted to share this last web lesson reflection with all of you for two reasons: First, to give you a taste of what you missed (shameless advertising…), and, second, to enfold all of  you into that winter circle we winter clan members created with such powerful intention. For many of you, spring has come to where you live. For others, the cold and dark hang on a bit longer. In this between time, consider the living spirit of Right Timing…

 

MORE GOOD MEDICINE

Stephen Levine (author, meditator, and really far-out, cool fellow that I had the pleasure to meet once) says ,” Healing is the growth that each person seeks. Healing is what happens when we come to our edge, to the unexplored territory of mind and body, and take a single step into the unknown, the space in which all growth occurs.”

I say, the small boo-boos of life require cures: colds, cuts, breaks, scrapes, and infections. The big things in life—big illnesses, big catastrophes, big sorrows—require healing. You don’t cure divorce, the death of a spouse, the loss of your home, but you can always find healing in these journeys.

Thanks to Kindred Spirit Denise, we are becoming a community that sends healing and blessings to our Kindred Spirit family members on Saturday mornings. Sitting in silent meditation, we know our energy may not provide “cures,” but always provides healing. Join in! (meet Denise in the “comments” to many posts—a natural born community organizer and healer. Okay, Denise—send in a photo and introduction so we may plaster you up in the “Meet the Community” category where you belong!)

To become part of our healing meditation circle, simply set aside 15-20 mintutes of time at 7am (in your own time zone) on the first Saturday of every month to send goodwill, healing energy, blessings, and/or prayers to our growing community!

Could you use some blessings yourself during a difficult time? Reply to this post. Tell us briefly what you could use some good energy for. Then, on March 7th, prepare to get some good medicine coming your way!