Fortunately, my friend passed out before he analyzed the streams
and tall trees... Anyway, sometimes as I walk on this trail I
imagine it to be early morning and I watch the mist rise from the
stream shortly before the rising sun begins to burn it off. Once
I arrived at dusk, just in time to watch a fabulous sunset on the
mountain, but then it got dark and I couldn't follow the trail.
So now I generally arrive at midmorning with the warm sunlight
filtering through the trees. I follow the trail for a while as it
twists with the stream, just
allowing myself to feel the quiet and be alone with nature.
Eventually I come to a small waterfall where the trail departs
from the stream and heads into the forest. Following it for a
short way, it opens up to a clearing at the base of a mountain
cliff. Looking up this immense slab of stone, I view giant
petroglyphs from some ancient race, and I quietly sit in awe of
all that was before. I can imagine some teenage artist risking
his life, dangling from a thin rope, as he finger-paints his
moment in time for all to see. I can also imagine his mother
below yelling at him to quit his foolishness and go hunting with
the rest of the tribe so they could eat. Even in my imaginings,
mothers tend to be practical.
At the base of this
mountain is a sacred circle of stones about ten feet across. In
the center is a fire pit with a glowing ember. I cautiously walk
forward with a bundle of twigs and gently coax the ancient fire
to life. (I occasionally thought about bringing a barbie and some
shrimp, but that would alter the mood. But what the heck, if I
can imagine petroglyphs, shrimp and a barbie should be a snap,and
it IS my spot.) Since
I'm not hungry, I turn my attention back to the fire. I reach out
my hands and feel the flames. I feel it warm the depths of my
soul. I reach out again and cup the flame in my hands and
experience a loving, glowing warmth. I gently bring it to the
center of my chest, where it enters my heart and bonds with my
heartbeat. I feel it permeate to every portion of my being, and I
am filled with love. Knowing it will never be extinguished, it
resides in me as pure as when I found it. It circulates within,
ready to be given freely to others,and knowing the more I give to
others, the more I realize its always there, always available. A
sense of peacefulness engulfs me, as I turn to follow the trail
back.
As for the walls, when I
return, they're still there, but I feel much
better about them. But then, this wasn't about how I handle the
walls, only about a favorite spot exercise of mine.
If you so choose to visit my spot, hope you enjoy. As they
say,take only pictures and leave only footprints....so don't go
carving your name on my rock wall HaHa.
Wishing your group well,
Rick
