After just winding down a fun, magickal, and integrative week with visiting friends, I’m back to finish up the second round of Yosemite adventures we completed before their arrival.

With what would have been Astrid’s tenth Earth birthday arriving just this last Sunday after her recent one year transition anniversary, indeed her energy has been highly present in my life. You’ll notice that in today’s share and the next to come. Recent longer blogs are also winding down after these next couple of shares, as I transition things on my end.

Things happened quickly and with a wink of the eye and twitch of the nose, we found ourselves transported back into the next chapter of our Yosemite Pages. This would be our seventh backpacking and camping trip so far this Summer season, and a nearly back-to-back journey from our first adventure in the park.

Our upcoming November cabin-based trip will mark eight, although we are making plans for more journeys between now and then and throughout Autumn, to milk this year for as much as we can possibly enjoy. We’ve really hit the ground running with this new addition to our life that’s been gifted to us by our fur children who now travel with us where ever our hearts are led.

So, just five days after our return home, we packed the car back up and hit the road once again. We hadn’t planned it, as we were going to just stick close to home before our friends arrival for the week following, but the All and Astrid had more in store for us.

Dave went online the day before we left, just to see what might be available in terms of campgrounds and one campsite had just been released from reservation that looked great. Usually everything is booked well in advance, so this felt like a sign. He asked if I was able to go, since I was immersed in work and a different trajectory in mind, but I said, “Yes, just give me today and I’ll be ready to go.” He booked it and then I had a feeling to ask what the campsite number was. He said with a lit up smirk, “Forty-four!” I smiled huge knowing all was in divine order. He knew too.

I completed my timely to-do’s and we went to bed with dreams of another adventure ahead.

Astrid visited that night before take-off and in the dream she came to sleep curled up by my side under the covers – just like the bears do. I learned later that this was her way of saying, “Watch for me by your side in the days ahead and for the messages of guidance.”

Another short road trip, loaded car, and veggie filled burger bun stop later, we touched down at site #44.

This week’s trip we opted for a campground base for day hikes to sample another way for these journeys. Without weight limit we could bring more things and so we were excited to try a new version of home-away-from-home.

Site #44 lived up to its magickal energy, as it had an amazing setting. Surrounded by a thick forest of trees to the left and back, a forest of stones to our right, and outcroppings throughout, it was an ideal location for our wild hearts. Not to mention it had a seasonal creek bed with late pond remaining, an outhouse right next to us, fire pit, and two picnic tables – all without sight of anyone, although there are fifty-five sites in this unexpectedly half full campground.

The moment I set foot out of our car, my eyes caught glimpse of a mound of mushrooms. I thought, how perfect as that very morning I had shared mushroom musings on my Instagram page.

Instant manifestation had just begun to match my focus.

After that, mushrooms continued to appear EVERYWHERE in the forest surrounding our tent. I was literally in awe of just how many there in fact were from tiny to giant sizes.

Every footstep I made was light as a faery, only barely touching the ground as my wings helped me to glide.

The entire floor of the forest rose through the old pine needles and brush, with every variety of mycelium consciousness readied for their debut before the sky.

The moss covered creek bed was also a playground for tiny ones to dance upon the green carpets.

And every tree base, root, log, and high grass were a gathering place for new and old arrivals to commune.

The Fae were felt strong here and I was tickled that #44 was a ballroom of magick mushrooms for me to waltz in.

And dance I did with a white and peach adorned moth matching many a mushroom knight in this enchanted forest castle. She appeared with Astrid in thought, then floated on the air and twirled around me and my hands, leaving pixie dust tingles at my finger tips.

And then my heart skipped three beats…directly behind our tent the wonder of Astrid awaited my discovery.

There, leaning into each other, a perfect pair of Amanita Muscaria mushrooms snuggled together.

Palest of yellow gowns loaded with white polka dots, they looked like a soft sunset merging with a star-filled night sky.

As you may recall, Astrid brought through these rare mushrooms the day she transitioned.

And they continued to show up last year when ever I was thinking of her.

Well, this trip in between her transition day and birthday, was the portal for more.

They were not your colorfully vibrant variety, but ethereal nonetheless.

I couldn’t get enough of these magickal ones and was inspired to give them their own enchanted photo shoot, as you can see.

The finding of a new owl feather right near them was icing on the cake of confirmation and a wink of stardust from the Cosmos.

AND, these were not the only ones to be found.

I had wondered if this year would bring any of these enchanted ones my way, as we’d seen none so far in Tahoe, and #44 was the angelic doorway for them to enter. Only this time it would be in Yosemite that they wave for my attention.

I spent our first lazy, late afternoon and evening foraging the area – and wonder upon wonder giggled forth from the Earth.

Literally hundreds of mushrooms, a bone, a new owl feather, and a third elder, etheric Amanita called out in a soft shade of gentleness.

It was a sweet welcome for my arrival in this hall of wonder.

I even discovered a magick stone that had been thrust to the light by mushroom trumpets piercing the air with their song. It hummed ancient chants in my hand.

My faery heart was fully satiated as if I’d just returned from a Beltane feast and gorged on the finest of Fae delicacies.

When I thought I couldn’t possibly feast my heart on more sustenance to strongly strum her beating chambers, the faery tale leapt off the pages and walked beside my biography of life.

Stepping out from the out house, my Fae senses turned me left, although my path led right.

Sweetness pierced my heart from the vibrations she emanated. She was smaller than my jolly marmot friend of the last week, but brave and bold nonetheless.

I felt Astrid immediately.

Soft words quickly uttered from my mouth to her ears and the dance began. Noises through the campground had her senses on alert, but the more I spoke, the more she desired to stay – and so the next story was written.

I called to Dave with lightness of tone to come see and bring me my cell phone, as I hoped to capture what I felt would be an extraordinary memory I’d want to return to and gaze upon to receive the energy exchange far after the experience faded.

It’s an experience I knew no one would likely believe, but me. Even if they saw it, what was happening in the unspoken realm ran so deep.

She moved about, unsure of the oncoming company, but stayed with me. After they said quick hello’s and Dave departed, she returned to lock hearts with mine.

Our telepathic communication was so tender and soothing.

You could see her nestle into the comfort of our connection even if no words were spoken from my mouth.

This continued for a while until a man came walking down the path. We both didn’t want to share the space of our connection, so she went off left to the forest and I followed to the right.

Dave and I both watched as she scuttled across the forest brush, feasting here and there. Then scrambled upon the royal rock gallery both of us had marveled about earlier – saying the stump looked like the throne and the rocks were the regal fortress surrounding and designating it sacred ground.

Queen of the Wild Woodlands she sat. And our rekindling of friendship continued.

She shimmied down back to the field of late Summer grasses, lanky field flowers and puffs gone to seed, and mushroom pathways she knew by heart.

We walked alongside each other as equals – as long lost friends – remembering the days this was not a foreign thing to do as it is to most now – a memory, a tale, or even a dream.

But no, we were living it – a reality without room for disbelief. The heart is the gateway to any dream come true.

She disappeared briefly and I stopped to wait and see if this was the end of our walk together.

Oh no!

She rose once again to the top of the next stone throne so that we could gaze eye-to-eye at the same level of mutual horizon.

Here we spent timeless space shared in conversation and exchange, connection, and even a song.

We spoke of many things and I told her stories and private thoughts, which she listened to intently – moving into greater and greater comfort upon her stone throne.

Her eyes spoke of wisdom, love, and kindness.

Sometimes she’d lean forward with belly flat across the top of the rock and head laid to rest to hear me.

At times she sat up and her eyes sparkled with understanding.

And I in my most marmot Fae way, mirrored the same to receive her transmission. My thoughts were vulnerable, my thoughts were caring. I shed some tears, feeling the immense beauty of this gift that was being given to me and gratitude for the channel that was opened for this movement of energy between us. We deepened into telepathic exchange of giving and receiving.

I felt Astrid close in this exchange and then I offered her our song.

Twice, in fact, I softly shared the words I sang to Astrid when she returned to the stars and this Queen listened and leaned into it, encouraging the second repeat caught in this video.

It was getting late and chilly although I hadn’t noticed the latter until Dave came looking for me. Time had slipped away from us, which was why he came to make sure I was okay and where I was. He saw the two of us together and stayed away so as not to scare the Queen.

Seeing we were alright, he returned to camp. I decided I should head back.

Reluctantly, I told her it was time to go, but I’d be here two nights if she wanted to return. I was not as lucky as she with thick luxurious coat to keep me warm. So off I must go to wrap myself in layers of warmth.

Although no comfort could be as warm as her heart wrapped around mine.

She understood and as I left slowly we shared one last soul-to-soul gaze and down the back of the stone she descended and scampered off along her Wild Woodlands realm.

I kid you not when I say we spent an hour together.

She did not return during our stay, but I knew this would be. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but the memory will last much longer than that. I knew Astrid had made this possible, as she always showers me with experiences to feel her with me in all ways. She’s a powerful one!

In fact, if you hadn’t already guessed, a piece of her essence had dropped into Queen Marmot so that this time together could be. It reminded me of when Joy channeled Nestor for me on one starry night overlooking Lake Tahoe.

The rest of the night was campfires and vegan S’mores, alongside large packs of coyotes calling to the rich power of the dark.

Everything I’d experienced in this brief window upon our touchdown here felt to be in the alchemical flames. I watched as the etheric smoke of transmutation released into the star portal above me.

Coyote ancestor howls rocked us to sleep and then woke us at pre-dawn continuing on through morning campfire soulfully sipped with the ambrosia of coffee and a life well lived.

A new day awaited with treks our feet have never traversed and our hearts and eyes had yet to drink in. On the way to break first morning’s sweat, a doe celebrated our start with a graceful prance across the road. I watched as her soft white flame of a tail flicked with each strong leap, bouncing with ease into the trees.

We ascended to May Lake and I discovered new stones along the path and lining the amphitheater to valley’s view.

Quartz of clear to smoky, with mica, and more – it was fun to watch sunlight twinkle in the Earth as a beacon for my faery heart to find.

The lake was beautiful as both a natural wonder treasure and way to start the day.

There’s no sight not to marvel here.

After descending we stopped along the drive to our second hike to take in the Olmsted Point vistas including famous Half Dome and beautiful examples of all of the glacial erratics that surround this area.

Onward we forged to our next destination winding up the mountain and meandering forest to lake number two.

The road there was also baptized by another leaping doe who stepped out from the trees just for us to lock eyes with – then disappeared back into the shadows of mystery once again.

This time we brought our new light weight chairs and upon arrival to lake’s edge, found a spot to land for a picnic and a while.

We followed the trail to find just the right spot and it was here in the grasses and forest wonders that a little one hopped.

So tiny and fragile this tree frog did seem and yet here she was braving the wide green yonder and everywhere in between.

I stuck out my hand and in she leapt, merging our resiliency and hope twice enhanced by our kismet.

Away to the forest floor she returned and after our lunch the rest of her clan had gathered, having heard of the faery who arrived.

I bent by the rocks where the water rolled onto Earth, to rinse our containers when what do I see? But another tiny tree frog looking at me.

He said a hello and then off he did swim with giant strokes and stretched legs like a shooting arrow to my heart.

But he was not alone, oh no! There were several with him and one by one they emerged from their camouflaged perches to share in leaps and lunges of joy to be seen.

So tiny they were and I marveled at how they owned their size without thought of their smallness at all. Their world is their way and they know nothing else different. To them, they’re not small, but just the right size and perhaps it’s me who’s too big!

Here and there leaps and splashes, swan dives and breath strokes – they were quick on land, but quicker in water. Oh how they moved and owned their embodiment.

I lost track of time, once again, as they stole my attention.

Dog Lake would always be Great Tiny Tree Frog Lake to me.

We wound along the highway through Tuolumne Meadows at the designated slow pace that saves bears, but this is in fact the pace a park like this demands if you ever want to know her land.

Slow and present I prefer anyway, and am curious why someone would bring city pace to the land of lost time.

Yet they do and that’s fine, but not my way, and we stretched out the day with some timelessness at Tenaya Lake.

Here lived a beach that said, “Come stay a while.”

With beach chairs in hand, it was not a hard invite to embrace.

Surrounded by majestic mountain wisdom keepers, we felt cradled in remembrance.

Glistens of glacial sand and alpine water refreshed us, as the crystalline soft waves flowed into us over and over.

I was amazed by how comfortable the alpine water was here and felt nurtured by this womb of creation.

The pebbles under my feet paved a pathway into the messages left behind by civilizations of another time that still linger here in the parallel reality that awaits recognition.

I could walk far into the liquid bliss, feeling my forever.

Here we relished in a bath, let the comfortable water ripple playfully around our seven-mile day legs and feet, and soaked in the late afternoon sunshine – enough to bronze the skin.

The water called me back in, over and over.

Immersing in the Piscean energies of the Full Moon not far off into the days ahead, I basked in the gateway to my native essence and noted how the once stranger named “Thrive” now was me.

Experiencing the power of water run through my hands, every droplet reminded me of the pieces of me strewn across the collective tapestry and how every choice and creation I make has far reach.

I felt the joy of fresh starts wash through me, while what was stirred up from last week now felt to come alive – brewing on embers of golden threads this world ignited within.

From forest faery to water nymph, I morph with ease where ever I am.

And back to #44 – Angel’s Landing – we went where long johns were a warm welcome to the onset of dusk’s light, plus a seat on Marmot’s anointed Queen’s throne surrounded by approaching night.

The promise was renewed and the mission and love now became as one.

But before I could settle in, one more forest forage called. More feathers and mushrooms not seen the day before now sang out, “Here! me!” to my faery senses on high.

That’s when the fourth Amanita variety was discovered and again an owl feather followed this find like number three.

It was such a special gift to find them for the first time this year surrounding our campsite #44.

With puffer jacket now on and my journal in hand, I wrote and I wrote until campfire time began.

Our last night this trip spoke of S’mores once again, as the smell of wood burning was like a warm friend. The fire’s sparks danced in the air as Dave kindled the flame and it reminded me of fire fly memories etched in my heart of our Magick Bus times in the hills of Colorado hot springs surrounded by their song at twilight.

Fresh pine and crisping pre-Autumn foliage all around, moist dirt and musk on the ground, skin and hair drenched in the fragrance of mountain life, and fingers smudged in sweet marshmallow divine – dreamland felt to be my awake time.

Our lullaby each night was the pulsing of stars across the crystal clear sky with unusual fast and erratic moving objects, red and blue glows, and shooting lights.

It took me back to the place this emanation of me is tethered.

Silence filled the campground, but the night vibrations were on high volume.

The next morning the Woodland throne called once more and it felt like a way to keep the portal open to all that is possible here through the heart.

When I looked through the photos Dave snapped by first dawning light, I found this one curious – a vortex captured of this realm we’d been led to.

We loaded the car and headed off to our farewell-this-time hike, which proved the most magickal of all.

Six miles of solitude between us and this mystical trail.

The day brought in sporadic clouds with potential of light showers, although we only felt a few droplets on our way out – just enough to know we were awake in this dream.

The trail wandered along hobbit-like paths through varied terrain and between dense forest the entire way up to our destination lake. And except for one man – not a soul shared the trek. And in fact he didn’t show up until Dave spoke the words, “It feels like a hobbit might appear anytime.” Then the bearded, plump man arrived on queue and didn’t speak a word, but a murmur of something as he passed.

This area was different than any so far energetically. So much so that Dave even remarked on this and said it was his favorite as there was a different quality he could feel deeply. I agreed and this was confirmed to me by my finding yet three more Amanita mushrooms along the journey.

The in between makes it easier for things to slip through.

Each sat right on the edge of the path, slightly hidden, but peeking out. Feathers appeared too, and beautiful stones, as well as the most clear and smoky quartz I’ve seen yet in the park.

I’d been watching for mushrooms and here again there were many. Then something white off-path caught my eye. I went over behind a tree to look and it was a hidden large quartz fully crystalline with etched lines down the front.

I knew the Fae and Astrid were dropping gifts for my senses to find – this forest was a treasure for believing hearts to see.

Everywhere was silence except the chatter now and then of chipmunks and little bird songs. The clouds came and went, casting shadows and light to add to the mystical haunting you could feel in your bones.

Dave was excited and said we should sit five minutes in silence just to see what may appear, as he felt any moment some creature or mythical one should walk out.

As we sat in shared stillness, we felt all around with our senses. I noticed two flying presences, but they were not birds, nor butterflies or dragonflies, not even bats. They were quick and unusual in flight, flitting here and there, but together always, then disappeared.

I then noticed a tall rock like a headstone or door in an opening that was off in the distance and light between dark, that felt like a space for a merging of realms.

I sensed we were in the middle of another time and space parallel to ours.

We proceeded on and came to two large stones facing each other on the path. I remarked at their faces and we both were in awe at these two rock guardians watching over this space.

One with pronounced nose and the other a profile – they reminded me of the Rock Chewers in The Neverending Story.

Up we continued through their rock stairway to the beyond and arrived out at the first lower lake without name – not our destination, but the place we remained.

This was a mythical lake that felt right to end our trek with and not continue on up to the lake with a name.

We climbed upon a rock to sit for a while, feeling the surreal quality of this space that had been carved out just for us without another visitor to alter the reality we created.

The sun played peek-a-boo behind the clouds, shifting the energy of this space each time.

After a dip into more silence of this world, we returned along the trail from which we came.

Back through glacial carved landscapes, forests, stone, and earthen paths, near creeks and along bedrock, micro worlds and vast realms, it was full of ancient energies surrounding us.

We each separately noticed all the portals and rounded limbs creating circles and protective markers and continually heard noises like taps and creaks, cracks and knocks.

We were not alone by any means, but we were the ones to be seen. And yet we felt invited in the most sacred and unusual of ways, as it’s not often a door is unlocked just for you.

We knew they were there and I was grateful for the gifts they kept laying out as a welcome.

Our journey came to end, but felt like another opening.

Seven in-the-wild trips now under our belt this Summer season…we’ve definitely embraced this new journey with every piece of possibility.

Here’s to a magickal Pisces Full Moon Partial Lunar Eclipse with Autumn Equinox’s doorway right down the hall of potential.

Wishing you an illuminating and waking-dream walk through these highly potent days for creative conjuring and liberating unveils.

All is possible!