Summers are my happy time being a warm weather creature living in the Northeast United States.
The comfort of warmer weather, longer days of light, and a slower pace are soothing to my soul. This combo also invites me to spend as much time outdoors as possible. And I get the thrill of rediscovering what I call my Sacred Pond in the Pocono mountains.
I call it mine because I am the only human inhabiting the space.
To be fair, this summer I shared the pond with a hundred thousand water lilies, a blue heron who was fishing, butterflies and bees gathering nectar, a white duck taking a meticulous bath, birds singing, trees dancing, clouds traveling above offering intermittent shade, a beckoning path, and a blank page. Even though I was the last to arrive and only visiting, I loved to claim it as my happy place. Settling in on the first of many mornings, I arranged my chair in my typical sunny spot.
I prepared to gaze upon the wonder of the space, but a damn bush was blocking my view.
I felt a surge of indignation (at a bush no less) for limiting my capacity to enjoy the natural arena. Recognizing that bushes have a right to grow, I settled my mind into an appreciative space. My body naturally released layers of stress as I simply looked around and followed the sounds of the natural world. All seemed to be in perfect order … until I’d glance through that damn bush to try to see a whole section of the damn pond. I noticed I “glitched” each time my gaze swept in that direction.
It was like trying to see the play on stage when a (damn) tall person was sitting in front of me.
I solved that one by limiting my range of vision. Again, I settled into a peaceful place. No longer bothered by the limit I refused to see. That was a fine solution until the hot sun started cooking me. No small breeze was offsetting that fire in the sky. So, I moved my chair up the path to the shade of the pine tree.
Wow! What a view! I had my pond back with no obstruction!
Who would’ve thought that a small elevation in my “view” – a shift in my perspective would reveal the solution to my dilemma of being stuck in the bushes?! Apparently Life knew it was that simple.
Shifting perspective. Elevating my point of view. I got the message.
Many luscious moments later, my eyes strayed to the sky where a magnificent bald eagle was circling. She flew in circles – coming closer to me with every loop. I stood to witness the majestic creature and I marveled at how clear her vision was to locate a mouse from such a high elevation.
It was as if nature was making a point of teaching me the benefit of changing my perspective.
As I stood to follow her flight pattern, I began to see the radiating energy patterns flowing in all directions from the eagle. Once I witnessed this, her flight pattern shifted. I was transported as she demonstrated the expanding interactive potential of energy when in a “flow pattern” – when one was in a coherent relationship with the surrounding environment. I craned my neck to gaze above me through the tree tops to track her movement.
And then I jumped out of my skin.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you” said a man as he walked past me. Seriously, where did this stealth walker come from? My new friend was out on his weekly mushroom foraging trip. Mushrooms? I thought I might get another level of the lesson about expanded perception – the psychedelic kind. I was wrong. Turns out he and his group of friends spent their weekends trapping turtles, foraging for berries and mushrooms, and some other “live off the land” activities.
I was gifted with a glimpse into a way of living that was foreign to me.
Bald eagle forgotten, I entered a fascinating conversation with this slightly hyperactive mountain man. We examined the berries nearby, looked at the painted turtle tracks, and discussed how to forage mushrooms without wiping out the crop (so selfish). I learned what it was like to grow up right up the road and how my magical pond was once a pristine swimming and fishing haven until my beloved lily pads invaded the lake. What I learned about beavers was fascinating!
And then he was gone as quickly as he arrived.
I settled back into my chair and found my perspective had changed again. I was more spacious. I felt part of the landscape as if I was now in a new conversation with the land, sky, and creatures which made up this pond. In the course of an hour, I was expanded.
I went from stuck in the bush to soaring like an eagle to finding myself a part of this Sacred Pond.
Everything here was part of the whole, including me. Settling in once again, there was nothing left to do but enjoy myself in the flowing conversation all around me.
And I spent some extra time loving that little trouble making bush that started everything.
I wonder what teachers are going to show up on your path to demonstrate the practical power of changing your perspective. Hope they come soon and help you soar.
Peace be with you and with all. No exceptions.
Project Reset, part of New York City’s court system, offers those charged with minor offenses a 3 hours art class instead of court. The courses vary from hands on creation of art, museum visits, and restorative talking circles. Reset was so successful, cutting low level misdemeanor processing by almost half, that it spread to New York’s other boroughs. Imagine the creative potential of close to 40,000 people given another change to avoid criminal records or jail time. Practical creative solutions. Now that’s a work of art.
Learn the one essential skill that allows you to face any challenge with confidence, sturdiness, and inner calm.
More than a technique. It’s a game changer.
When standing at a crossroad in your life, it’s natural to seek answers. To search for certainty about your next steps. To want assurance that the decision you are making will lead you in the right direction, with the best possible outcome. Here’s where your mind jumps in.
There are conversations you may instinctively avoid. Death. Dying. The journey beyond are among them. The final exhale. The closing of the body. The long walk home. The next place of being. In many ancient traditions, this is not an ending, but a sacred passage—a birth into new realms of being. Yet here, in this fast-moving world, death often remains veiled in silence, wrapped in fear, and avoided in conversation.
There are conversations you may instinctively avoid. Death. Dying. The journey beyond are among them. The final exhale. The closing of the body. The long walk home. The next place of being. In many ancient traditions, this is not an ending, but a sacred passage—a birth into new realms of being. Yet here, in this fast-moving world, death often remains veiled in silence, wrapped in fear, and avoided in conversation.
I was playing the game “Headbands” with my dog the other day. Playing board games and interactive games like charades are good fun. Given my kid has flown the coop, we hoodwinked our dog to play a rousing game of Headbands with us. We even let Milo choose the first card, but he seemed to have a hard time guessing what his card said.
As you celebrated the Summer Solstice and the New Moon this past week, our beloved shamans who are South of the Equator were celebrating the Winter Solstice in Cusco, Peru. Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, takes place on June 24th to commemorate the beginning of the Inca New Year and the Winter Solstice. Originating in the 15th century by Emperor Pachakuti, Inti Raymi was created as major Inca festival to honor the sun god Inti.
These past months have been filled with confusion, anger, and fear for many in this country. Witnessing deportations without due process, assaults on the courts and universities, flip flopping tariffs, and military action have shaken the foundational sense of safety and justice for many Americans. I’ve been listening to you and engaging in many conversations about how to live in balance during these times.
