Blog Archives
Making Wishes in Canyonlands
On the three hour drive to Moab, Utah yesterday I spent the time intuitively mapping out our extended journey across North America for likely the next couple of years, finalized the route for the next four months, and allowed myself to explore my heart callings and dreams without boundaries.
Everyday I’m in awe and grateful, but some days just seem to deepen those experiences and within that expansion of heart, I know the presence of limitless potentials.
And so I allowed myself to continue dreaming as big as my heart wanted and with each vision I explored, an intent automatically imbued it like a magickal wish.
What a perfect day for this journeying deeper within and beyond, as our time in Moab for the next almost two weeks will be for exploring both Canyonlands and Arches National Parks.
Canyonlands reflecting the depth and expanse of our inner and outer Cosmos and Arches taking us through portals and creating paths that cycle from intent to manifestation.
Our RV site is also pretty spectacular at Archview where we have this huge expansive view out the front and sides, as we look out at the snow capped La Sal mountain range and Arches, along with other rock vistas all around.
Since we face due East, we get to catch the beautiful sunrises here, which I imagine will be incredibly different each day, including the sunsets behind us.
This morning I watched the sunrise and just before the sun peaked over the horizon, a little rabbit hopped out to say hello.
But yesterday took us to Canyonlands first to set our intents and get our first introduction to this expansive area, much like the Grand Canyon.
We learned that there are three Districts to Canyonlands, but the one we will be focused on for this journey is the “Island in the Sky” District, as it is the closest for us to explore, even though it still is 25+ miles in and then extra miles to get to the trails you are drawn to.
I like the name Island in the Sky, as that feels appropriate to the energies I’m feeling.
So, on our first day we explored the four miles total of Grand View Point, Upheaval Dome, and Whale Rock Trails, which provided us the opportunity to become acquainted with the energy here.
I smiled wide when we came across this one rock formation along the path of the stunning vistas at Grand View Point that both Dave and I immediately said looked like Aladdin’s Lamp. But only from this one angle, as it shifts in form from all other vantage points.
We both felt drawn to go rub it and make a wish….well I may have made a bunch in one!
Afterall, I’d been focused on expansive dreams earlier, so this felt to be opportunity to receive a little help. đ
I couldn’t resist having Dave capture the moment of wish-making and dream visioning, which is the first photo I shared.
Grand View Point offers panoramic views along the canyon edge, echoing the Grand Canyon, as mentioned, but with its own unique features.
The area you walk out on has vistas on both sides and lovely red blossoms along the way.
Then we were off to Upheaval Dome, which is a shorter steep trail leading to clear views into the Upheaval Dome structure and its unique geologic features that have yet to be confirmed as to how the remnants of this impact crater was created.
The exhibits at the end offer two theories – Meteor impact or that it is a Salt Dome, which occurs when a salt diapir is pushed up by the weight of overlying rocks.
Either way, the colors here were stunning (and don’t really show up in the photos), as the sandy looking piles were a sea green and bluish gray color inside of the crimsons all around.
There are vistas along the entire drive that are spectacular and places you can get out to take it all in.
We finished off with Whale Rock, which is a giant sandstone dome rock that ends with broad views of the Island in the Sky in all directions.
Here we climbed to the very top and sat for a while, taking it all in.
We also laid back on the sandstone and looked at the clouds above us.
It did in fact feel like we were on an Island in the Sky and this whale was our nurturing friend who let us hitch a ride for a while.
I loved the energy here so much and felt a song just had to come through.
And being that no one else was around and I had purposefully let Dave descend so I could be with the energy of the whale on my own, I instantly began to sing what I was feeling as the essence here.
I’ll share the sound channeling video separately.
The song felt like a communing, reverence, and deep healing, as well as a celebration. I was swimming in the cosmic abyss with these ancient giants and sharing their wish along with my own.
I felt complete after that and like there was much support around the wishes and intents created today, which is always the case when I get the urge to do sound work. I just “have” to let it flow through or I won’t feel right and when I do it is like a huge release that centers and clears me.
Can you see and feel the difference between the energies in this photo of me below at our first trail vista on Grand View Point and the one above on Whale Rock?
After our first day of exploring felt complete, we said our goodbyes for now to Canyonlands, as we won’t be back until next weekend, since the drive is too far for us during our half work/play days during the week.
So we’ll be off to Arches exploring until then.
We then drove into Moab to pick up some groceries and found an amazing little treasure of a natural grocery store there – Moonflower Community Cooperative. I loved the name right away and then got so giddy with all the wonderful all organic produce, vegan, raw, etc. goodies in this store. What a treat!
One thing that makes me really happy is good food and lots of fun variety and options.
We stocked up indeed and will return.
Today was a reminder of revisiting our dreams and intents and asking ourselves if they reflect the shifting energies within us and if they are big enough.
Dare yourself to take down the walls around your hopes and intents to allow for greater possibilities.
Allow yourself the vulnerability of exposing your heart’s dreams to All That Is that loves you and won’t judge you for the things you wish.
The expansiveness of Canyonlands and the giant Whale Rock reminded me to go bigger.
And just as time has been needed to erode these lands and formations, so too might it take time for us to manifest, but that isn’t reason to stop dreaming, or to give up, as along the journey many other things will manifest and you and your dreams will take on continuously new forms that will be equally as magnificent every step of the way.
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” ~Lao Tzu
Dancing on the Edge of Divine Madness
I think that anyone who decides they are going to forge their own way, live in their own reality, channel the energy that moves through them at any given moment, and create the world they choose to experience, dances on the edge of madness.
They walk a fine line between silly chaos and uncanny order where the method of their madness is divinely inspired and in harmony despite how it seems.
I walk the edge of that madness, which does make life quite interesting and along with that comes the willingness to walk into the darker challenges as well as the lighter flows.
While my journey on this adventure we’re taking (or my life in general) may seem easy, the only easy part truly is in knowing this is my nature to follow what is in my heart and soul to do.
We are exploring a lot of beautiful, magickal, and amazing things every day, which is fun and freeing, yes, but there are many energies one must be willing to face and embrace when you are walking the path of deeper embodiment and conscious, ancient explorations of Earth and beyond.
To experience the freedom and empowerment, there are a lot of dark, womb, inner Earth and ancient mysteries within the deep chasms of her body and within your own that you welcome in with this intention, or perhaps run from.
A little of that came through in the sound channeling, Releasing the Crimson Dragon, as you may remember.
Every day is a new experience where I don’t know what will be met next….constant retrievals of my parts and the cycles of collective parts reawakening.
This is where you’ll find me channeling sound or inspirational messages.
Another example was in Channeling the Ancient & Womb Earth Energies.
Needing to move the energy through creatively, or sometimes it’s deep emotions to release, giggles, or profound silence needed to be with it all and remove myself from thinking about it in any way except to allow it space to move through.
So while I am having the time of my life, which comes with all both sides of the coin and beyond, and you see me playing in my videos and photos, I do want to make mention that there is a lot one decides to embrace when they wander into the beyond intentfully.
Our Earth Mother holds the mysteries we search for within ourselves. And through the journey of getting to know her more intimately, you will undoubtedly come to know yourself in an incredibly intimate way.
The photos in this post are from yesterday’s adventure on the three and a half mile Chimney Rock Loop we hiked.
A hail cloud was looming just as we began the journey and just as we ascended, it was upon us, later turning to snow flurries, back to hail, snow, brief rain, and snow again.
Everything changes at the drop of a dime and one must be prepared to embrace that flow of energy whenever it shows up, just as we have energies, emotions, and experiences as a reflection of them that continuously move through us to embrace, deny, repress, or run away from.
We embraced the experience and it was such a magickal one because of this.
No one around.
Just us and the land and fresh crystallizations of the elements around us sharing their own feelings, cycles, and creative expressions.
We were bundled up and just trekked along, immersing in the winds, flurries, and mystic clouds that engulfed us in a void of beingness…lifting us off into another dimension and reality.
And along the way we came upon a surprising gift we had no idea would be there….a small sacred area of rainbow petrified wood!
So incredible to discover them, again with the wetness the colors stood out, but being that this isn’t a petrified forest area, it was quite a treasure to find in the middle of nowhere where no other pieces are.
A gift from our embrace of the journey?
Or simply our presence that made all things clear and revealed with awareness, whereas would otherwise have been overlooked?
I took a couple of short, fun videos as we reached near the top and the summit of our hike to let you experience a piece of the fun we had in this sudden change of weather yesterday…an otherwise perhaps disappointing experience for others, we were grateful and kept trekking on with embrace.
And of course we ended the day picking up two more fresh peach and cherry pies, because we can. đ
Playing With the Ancient Energies of Grand Wash
The wind and wash whispered of times long ago.
At times softly.
At times dramatically.
On our hike through the dry, deep streambed of the Grand Wash at the rocky sculpted heart of Capitol Reef yesterday, we were surrounded by ancient spirits and guardians watching us.
The deep canyon and narrows kept close eye as we explored.
Footsteps echoed between sandstone cliffs looming hundreds of feet above.
Blossoms and lizards greeted us along the way.
Naturally sculpted rock gardens invited us onto their sacred grounds.
Creatures etched in the stone walls came alive.
The Fremont River chimed in with the wind’s flow at the end of the wash.
And although we could not see the Bighorn sheep that are said to grace the high sandstone terraces of the canyon, we could sense them near and “seeing” us.
There was an air of majesty and mystical eeriness, especially when the wind suddenly spoke with a wild howl and burst through the canyon upon us with great force, only to disappear again from the nothingness it came from.
The flow shifted back and forth from tailwind to headwind constantly, as if the wind was playing with us, blowing my hair wildly around me and knocking off Dave’s hat.
It seemed excited for us to be there and tickled our souls with its ancient voice.
Once again we were taken to times long forgotten, but now once again remembered.
Sweet Magick & Majesty ~ Choosing Our Experience of Life
Each day and moment offers us an opportunity to choose how we want to create our experience. We can ask ourselves what energy we are needing more or less of in our lives and we can listen to what calls to us or what is yearning for us to let go of.
Yesterday I was feeling a need to balance some of the more rugged, raw, and deep energies we had been experiencing with sweetness, flow, and grace.
I do this tuning in each time we decide on what we want to explore each day in our new environments, not to mention when I want to find out what is most important for me to invest my energy in throughout my day.
And so I chose our hikes yesterday that reflected this energy desired, after I worked on my inspired painting project I’ve been called to work on recently.
That led us to explore Goosenecks, Sunset Point, and Fremont River. An easy 4 miles of enchantment.
The Goosenecks Overlook is like a mini Grand Canyon with 800 foot high viewpoints above serpentine Sulphur Creek, which continues to shape the dramatic canyon. This canyon has formed tight curves, known as the Goosenecks, over millions of years of downward erosion.
Goosenecks is adjacent to Sunset Point, so you can quickly hop across and take that short mile round trip hike to panoramic views.
We’ve had rain in the distance, which has been creating beautiful skyscapes and lighting that makes these vistas incredibly majestic and mystical.
This trail has a couple of benches at ideal spots to just take it all in, which we did, enjoying our solitude with the grandeur around us and soaking in the sweetness of nature, life, and love.
Most of the time it’s like we’re in our own world and in a space and time that is its own reality we have been invited in on to experience like welcomed guests.
After our time at these grand vista points we went further in to find our next trail along Fremont River.
The river is right by the Gifford House, which we had wanted to stop by anyway, as we’d seen the signs for fresh pies, hoping they were vegan. đ
So, we stopped in there and explored the small museum and shop and then I asked about the pies. Luckily they had a list of the ingredients and to our delight the pies without crumble tops were in fact vegan so we picked up two – a peach and cherry pie.
These are locally baked pies you can get while in Capitol Reef National Park at the Gifford House, which is surrounded by beautiful orchards.
You get to meander along both the river and the orchards on the trail, which was just lovely and blossoming right now.
The Gifford House used to be the heart of the small Mormon pioneer village of Fruita settled in 1880 and these historic orchards are the largest in the National Park system.
Anyway, it’s a lovely central area and we explored the amazing trees on the beautiful grounds here, saw our Marmot friends again – I believe they are a couple that live here and scout their tunnel entrances – and enjoyed the rolling river that is lined with more lovely trees next to the orchards.
The blossoms were so fragrant and the trees so magickal….I loved this stroll along the river, listening to the water flow, feeling the breeze blow, and discovering little wonders along the way including this little Faery door.
There are two giant Fremont Cottonwood trees called “Silent Sentinels” that are incredibly amazing.
As saplings they witnessed the arrival of Mormon pioneers in the 1880’s. In 1918, the largest tree by the road became known as the “Mail Tree” where mail was transferred from a carrier in Torrey to another carrier downstream. Later mailboxes were attached to the tree to give settlers a convenient location to maintain communication with the outside world.
I love these trees!
Anyway, after our pie collecting, stroll with our tree, animal, and Faery friends, and journey up the river, we then took the more strenuous, short uphill Spur Trail to some more vistas above the river overlooking another canyon to end our day.
There was a huge dark pending rain cloud ahead, which I used Reiki to direct it to go around rather than upon us for this hike, as the steep climb and edges of the cliff would not have been fun with a downpour of rain. Happy to report that worked. đ
Our day was just the right blend of energies and experiences we were both needing.
And upon returning home to our beautiful pastures we look out upon from where we can watch the cattle and horses grazing and the horses rolling and laying in the grass, we were reminded of the simple life we’ve chosen where time doesn’t exist except the moments we embrace.
I love the quiet of our lives, the abundance of nature time, and limited connection other than with the natural world, the few exchanges with other nature enthusiasts along the way, and touch-ins with loved ones.
Days like this are the sweet nectar of life that reiterate why we’ve chosen this path at this time to move the energy in our lives and to deepen our connection with what truly matters and is of most value to us.
Our experiences in nature mirror everything we need to know about life and reflect to us the lessons that presence and stillness open us up to.
There are days of both bitter and sweet…but like nature, we can be assured it is all just a natural cycle inviting us to flow in dance with rather than try to own each moment with some sense of needless and wasteful attachment.
Exploring Calf Creek Falls
Yesterday, our last day in Escalante, ended with a beautiful six mile roundtrip hike to Calf Creek Falls – the 126 feet high lower falls.
This is an incredibly beautiful hike that has 14 interpretive stops along the way, leading you to the cool, shady haven of the falls.
It follows Calf Creek the entire way, meanders over cliffs and through canyons, which at this time of the year was full of beautiful purple blossoms and purple cactus that almost looked painted at times with splashes of yellow.
The area is also home to the North American Beaver, so we did see evidence of dams and lodges.
Above the canyon ledges were several granaries built by the ancient Fremont Culture that inhabited Utah from AD 700 to AD 1300.
There were also incredible painted figures at the bottom of one of the smooth cliffs. These are three large figures done in red pigment and have a trapezoidal shape (hard to fully see them in the photo, as it is across the canyon, but which also shares how large they are). The three figures are typical Fremont-style rock art with elaborate head dresses and seem to be holding hands together. Only speculative ideas on their meaning are available – religious ceremonies, deities, lineages, information, maps, or even warnings.
Interestingly we saw our only snake of our trips so far, on this hike.
Not sure of the type, but was not a rattlesnake and likely not poisonous, but it slithered quickly across the our path ahead and into the brush quickly, then made its way out from the brush back toward us and hid under a rock.
It moved quickly and seemed to time its appearance with us in order to see it, but then quickly disappeared back to the shadows.
Snake medicine is powerful and last night I also dreamed of black panther that kept coming at me….so a lot of shamanic and deep shadow, mysticism, and cosmic energies abound. Still making sense of all of the messages.
There was much lush vegetation in this wetlands habitat due to the creek, which makes it an ideal home for many animals, bird varieties, reptiles, fish, and plant life.
It was much colder near the falls that are set back in the shady canyon. Scarlet monkey flower, maiden -hair fern, and Easter flower are said to bloom near the seeps in the cliff walls here at certain times of the year.
We started our day with lunch at Kiva Koffeehouse, which is a unique and secluded spot outside of the main town of Escalante on the way to our hike.
It sits atop a hill with great views all around. And to our delight, which I had called ahead to make sure of, they had a couple of yummy vegan options including a vegan fire roasted corn and potato soup and veggie sandwiches with carrot salad, fruit, home made vegan bread and hummus on the side.
Even their hot drinks like lattes, mochas, and hot chocolates all had vegan options with choice of almond, oat or soy milk… So I enjoyed a chai latte with lunch, warming up from a cold morning that was just finishing off from rain all night and first part of the day.
We have lucked out with everything, including weather, as the rain started the day before, but had only sprinkled during our time at the petrified forest, which made the wood vibrant for us. Then rained hard again after and all night and morning.
But it didn’t rain once while we were on this hike and the sky in fact opened to lovely blue skies.
We talked to others coming back from the falls, as we were heading to them, saying that it actually was freezing and hailing at the falls when they were there right before us.
We didn’t experience any of this, but the sky did darken and gray once again when we finished the hike and made our way home, although did not rain again and today the sun is shining.
I love the image of this portal in the sky and glowing rain off in the distance, as we drove back last evening.
Another door has opened for us from our time spent here in Escalante and all that has been received.
And from the snake and black panther medicine, something big seems to be initiating and needing my embrace in a bigger way again.
I wonder what will be next as we continue our journey with three more Utah National Parks, heading off to Capitol Reef today.
Climbing, Challenging, Centering & Soaring ~ Making Peace With Fear at Angels Landing, Zion
Saturday was our last day in Zion National Park and we decided to end our time there with a bang by taking on Angels Landing.
This is one of the most famous and thrilling hikes not just in Zion, but in the national park system.
It is a stunning 5.4 mile roundtrip trail with views from the top of the Virgin River and Zion Canyon below. Doesn’t sound like much, but it rises 1500 feet steeply and quite rapidly in the 2.7 miles, which for some can be quite strenuous in and of itself.
Then the last half mile is the truly gut-wrenching part, which is not for the faint of heart.
Six people have died on the trail since 2004, which indicates the need for confidence and presence.
Many will just stop at the top, where you can still enjoy wonderful views, without trekking the half mile of more challenging trail that has anchored support chains to assist you up and around the fin where you have 1000 plus foot drops on both sides of you.
In most of the literature they say the round trip hike takes 4 – 5 hours. That day I heard some people say it took them 5 1/2 hours.
Somehow we managed to do it in 3 hours, which included waiting at the congested areas along the scary parts, since only one person in a line at a time can pass safely.
To give you an idea on timing for this if you decide to do take it on as well at some point, we hiked up the switchbacks in 45 minutes to the top before the last half mile of craziness. And we hiked back down in 45 minutes after we finished the chained area.
So it took an hour and a half to do the normal trekking and an hour and a half to do the last half mile roundtrip, carefully and even with the waiting time.
But it was so worth it in so many ways for me, helping me to embrace my inner Capricorn.
I have Capricorn Rising and a Capricorn North Node, the latter indicating this is what I’m working into empowering and grounding for the next part of my life.
And that is just the energy I called upon in order to accomplish this hike, as normally it would be terribly fearful, perhaps to the point of paralyzed fear at times, and maybe not something I’d have wanted to even try.
But I have been working diligently on integrating this energy, processing and facing my fears in the way I know how to work with them, and ready to step into the next phase of my life.
The interesting thing is that my fear isn’t consistent. I have no fear of paragliding, sky diving, or flying…I go on big roller coasters and all. I love high altitudes and my desire is to live in high altitude and alpine areas.
However, when it comes to standing at the edge of a cliff or climbing something steep with drop offs, it’s a whole other thing.
I feel it boils down to self trust and feeling grounded and fully Earthbound. I’m very comfortable with flying and lightness…so for me, it has been a process to come fully into my body and ground and integrate the physical and spiritual. Something that is really balancing out more and more now for me and especially with all of the Nature time we’ve been spending and integrating the energies.
And being with the animals and deepening into the Earth experience on this adventure of ours is supporting all of that quickly.
So synchronously, every single day of the three days we were in Zion, we saw the Bighorn Sheep twice a day, which is incredible. They embody the energy of that steadfast goat/Capricorn that I have within me to embrace.
Interestingly also, at the ancient ruins in Page Springs where we stayed outside of Sedona, I had received a vision of a white Mountain Goat alongside an ancient Indian – the Rocky Mountain Goat of the alpines that is a sure-footed climber on cliffs and ice.
So I know the spirit of the goat has been with me, especially with all of the hiking and climbing we have been doing, but also because it symbolizes the energy of my new path in life.
And so, when Dave told me about this hike (he did it 26 years ago with his dad) and how challenging it was, I knew I should prepare myself.
Oddly, this day I had felt called to braid my hair, which made me feel like a Native Indian – we kept calling me Pocahontas and Sacagawea – and also seemed to connect me with my ancient roots for integrating further Earth connection to keep me grounded and call up my strengths.
I was determined to face it and so I did a lot of Reiki energy work, not only protecting myself, but strengthening myself and with intent to embody the sure-footedness of the Mountain Goat. I called upon the white Rocky Mountain Goat and the Bighorn Sheep to be with me and then worked with the fear as I have done with the skiing and the mountain biking.
I not only steadily and consistently went up the switchbacks without need to stop for a break (which has become normal now for me), but when we reached the top where the people not continuing further on to the chained steep last half mile, I was given a choice.
When we saw the amount of people trying to make their way to the top and asked how long it took some coming down, we were contemplating if it was worth going up.
Maybe since Dave already did it, he said to me that we could just as well hike the other side and see nice views without wading through that last part, or we could just do it.
He left it up to me.
That was perfect, as I got to make the empowering choice. And I said, “Let’s do it. I didn’t come up all this way and prepare myself for nothing.”
So we did.
And along the way there were a few people that did become paralyzed with fear and couldn’t move, and needed supportive help back down even from only having gone a tiny way.
I understood their fear and felt the best thing I could do for the collective pool of energy would be to work through the energy myself in order to help shift things.
And so I stayed completely focused, present, and in the moment. Once again, blocking out everything except what was only right in front of me, taking one step at a time. I didn’t focus on the drops to both of my sides, didn’t let anything around me into my experience.
But I also allowed myself to enjoy and praise myself for each part.
I didn’t try to rush. I didn’t have to stop. I kept steady, focused, centered, consistent, and present. Every step counting. Calculating the rocks in front of me and the best way my feet would securely support myself.
And yes, when there were chains, I indeed held on. But the chains were also needed to climb up and pull with your arm strength, as you pushed off with your legs. Full body workout indeed.
I really enjoyed that and got into the climbing, which took me out of thinking about the edge of the cliff I was hanging off of, or what was below.
The other thing I really appreciated was the fact that there were many others around – which also was interesting to us that so many did brave this area.
Many I’m sure had no issue with it at all. Others were likely similar to me.
There weren’t any children, as that isn’t recommended and they really can’t do it. There were mostly a younger and mid-aged group of people.
And what I loved was humanity again shining through, as everyone was working together like a team.
There wasn’t anyone to stop those coming down and up from pushing their way through.
There wasn’t anyone to coordinate anything.
And yet everyone worked together seamlessly waiting, helping, supporting, one another.
A helping hand was always outstretched to help everyone, especially in areas where you had to go around people waiting up against the stones and you were cradling the edge of the cliff to get around. There were also helping hands up and down if needed and just extended even if you didn’t. People would said you can hold on or grab on to me….no one knowing each other or afraid to be close.
So much camaraderie…so much care for one another.
That was really a gift to experience, besides the personal triumphs I was experiencing.
I won’t say I wasn’t scared, as I was, but I felt confident in my ability to do it and that I knew my process.
And I did do it. And was quite proud of myself.
Even Dave said he had fears at times with the shear drop offs and seeing people so close to at any moment falling off with one wrong move, or that others could fall off due to someone’s wrong move.
He said he remembered it being challenging, but not quite like this.
Yet, he had less fears than I to work through, so he took tons of photos of me, while I was too focused to take photos until we were at the top and once we were heading down.
I’m grateful he did, as I’ll always have these to show myself of what I’ve accomplished.
To some it may be nothing, as we all have different fears, but to me it was huge and I am very proud of myself for working through and overcoming it.
I did become that Mountain Goat and embraced my inner Capricorn a big step more on that day.
And when we reached the top to take in the view, it was as if the Angels were shining down upon us, as this amazing rainbow light was all around us when I shot this photo from our place of accomplishment – where we were soaring in our integrated embodiment of human and spirit merged and in synergy.
The photos Dave took don’t really even show how steep the edges are and how challenging parts of this really are, but they give you an idea.
I do remember on our way up that this tiny butterflies were flying around us. Ones like I’ve never seen before. They had three white wings and one yellow wing. Incredible! All of them were like this. And even a Swallowtail once made an appearance before we headed off on the last challenging half mile.
I definitely felt the support and know that we were being watched over and supported.
The views were stunning at top and all along the trail, including down below at the Virgin River.
I was feeling quite refreshed and renewed as we returned to our car…this is me beaming.
And on our way out of the park another gift.
We had seen many Bighorn Sheep, as mentioned, twice a day.
We’d seen some that morning on the way in, but I said as my intention out loud to Dave that I wanted to see them up close right by us on the road.
And so it was that that is what took place.
The Bighorn Sheep were right at the edge of the road coming down off the rocks right when we were coming through. So we stopped the car and took it all in. Some of them crossing in front and behind us and then we got out and some right next to us on the other side of the road.
It felt like they were celebrating with me and I felt like one of them.
Enlivened & As One With Nature
What I love so much about this adventure we are on is how balanced our lives are by time spent immersed in nature, flow, and feeling as well as our time focused on our paths, home life, and exercising our minds with our chosen pursuits.
Life has increased tenfold in enrichment and there is instant recharge and renewal at our door.
I feel enlivened and more “me” than ever.
I do have to admit that even still I have to maintain focus, as John Muir’s words are always in my heart, “The mountains are calling and I must go.”
Nature beckons me all the time, which is supportive for the creative things I’m focused on, as ideas and inspirations come to me while I am out hiking, as well as the continual retrieval of parts of my ancient self keep on integrating.
Yesterday was one such day, as we did a little hiking and exploring. We went on the Watchman Trail and the short Archaeology Trail just below it that takes you to the site of where an old Pueblo ruin once stood on the hill overlooking the vista.
The rest of the day was just meandering about.
We found ourselves a Collared Lizard friend and butterflies kept coming at me and flying across my path in between Dave and I, and above and around me when I was on my own. A lot of Swallowtail, but also small white and yellow butterflies, as well as one darker black one.
I definitely felt the presence and support of many souls and the connection with the elements, especially the Wind.
When we got to the top of Watchman Trail I felt called to bring forth a short song from my heart that moved through me gently, in reflection of the beauty around me, singing the song of Nature that I saw and felt…not with the same force externally, as can usually happen, but evidently had a force, as once I got deep into my heart expression with it, the Wind suddenly blew through with a force.
A short video was captured of what took place, which I haven’t listened to yet, but will likely share.
There had been no Wind until that moment. Just little gentle breezes. I felt that my song was being reflected and answered and it brought chills and a smile…feeling similar to the time when I sounded in the Great Pyramid of Egypt in the King’s Chamber.
Dave said, “What happened? The Wind suddenly came through like a crazy Wind storm blowing sand everywhere.”
I said, “I was singing.” đ
The second time this Wind answered me was while we descended and I was receiving some inspirations for my book and when something came to me that I was feeling out, the Wind again roared through…and I actually had to stop because it again brought up the sand, giving me an exfoliation on my back. LOL!
I said, “Okay, I got it….that’s my answer. Thanks!”
It was a lovely day and we again saw the huge herds of Mule Deer and two herds of Bighorn Sheep….which just tickles my heart and soul.
It would be easy for me to get lost outdoors and not return.
Which reminds me of Everett Ruess, the young artist, poet, and writer who was an explorer of nature and did so alone, disappearing without a trace at the age of 20.
While you explore the photos from yesterday, I’ll let you wander through the words of Everett Ruess.
âI have always been unsatisfied with life as most people live it. Always I want to live more intensely and richly. Why muck and conceal one’s true longings and loves, when by speaking of them one might find someone to understand them, and by acting on them one might discover oneself?â
âAs to when I shall visit civilization, it will not be soon, I think. I have not tired of the wilderness; rather I enjoy its beauty and the vagrant life I lead, more keenly all the time. I prefer the saddle to the streetcar and star-sprinkled sky to a roof, the obscure and difficult trail, leading into the unknown, to any paved highway, and the deep peace of the wild to the discontent bred by cities. Do you blame me then for staying here, where I feel that I belong and am one with the world around me? It is true that I miss intelligent companionship, but there are so few with whom I can share the things that mean so much to me that I have learned to contain myself. It is enough that I am surrounded with beauty….Even from your scant description, I know that I could not bear the routine and humdrum of the life that you are forced to lead. I don’t think I could ever settle down. I have known too much of the depths of life already, and I would prefer anything to an anticlimax.â
â…while I am alive, I intend to live.â
âI’ll never stop wandering. And when the time comes to die, I’ll find the wildest, loneliest, most desolate spot there is.â
âI must pack my short lifer full of interesting events and creative activity. Philosophy and aesthetic contemplation are not enough. I intend to do everything possible to broaden my experiences and allow myself to reach the fullest development. Then, and before physical deterioration obtrudes, I shall go on some last wilderness trip to a place I have known and loved. I shall not return.â
And he didn’t.
A perfect hidden owl..
We found this amazing naturally carved perfect chair…so comfortable too! Like Nature’s Throne
A Warm Welcome To Zion
Yesterday began our Utah National Park circuit, which will continue over the next five weeks. So excited! And if the rest of the weeks exploring are anything like yesterday, it’s going to be a fantastic adventure indeed!
We will be visiting Zion until this Easter Sunday the 27th of March, then off to Bryce through April 3rd, Escalante next through April 10th, Capitol Reef following that through April 17th, and then staying in Moab the last two weeks to visit both Canyon Lands and Arches between April 17th and April 28th.
So it will be an incredible five weeks and being that we are full-time living in an RV, taking the extra time makes it more relaxed with partial work days mixed in there and being able to explore at our leisure, rather than trying to squeeze things into a day or two.
Part of Checkerboard Mesa
Of all of these National Parks the only one I’ve visited is Zion, which was almost exactly two years ago when we decided to add on a day to our return from skiing Park City so that we could do a little hiking there. We did two hikes that time, entering from a different park entrance than we are staying near this time.
So I’m looking forward to continued exploration here during Spring, as last time it was Winter – beautiful to see different seasons indeed, but challenged some hikes with ice at the time.
And what an amazing first day we had, even just for a couple of hours in Zion.
After we settled in to our quaint little park that enjoys these views (the first is the view out the right side of the RV):
had lunch, did some work, I got laundry going and transplanted some plants, we set off to Zion.
And with longer days, we’ll be able to enjoy more sunlight while exploring, which is perfect. Spring also makes for a wonderful season with blossoms, great weather for hiking, and the opportunity to see little ones amidst the wildlife, which we did!
We were so excited to be greeted by such stunning beauty and so much wildlife in our first short day. We always like to touch in with each place when first arriving, as a way to anchor in the new energy and say our hellos.
And what a warm welcome we received indeed!
We saw several herds of Mule Deer, like over a hundred, with young ones prancing along the fields at the entrance to Zion.
There was also a large herd of Bison at a ranch near the entrance, which was really cool to see these amazing creatures.
And we were super excited to see two herds of Bighorn Sheep with babies at different areas…one baby was even nursing, as they climbed steadily along the edges of the mountain.
It was our first time seeing Bighorn Sheep and we have been so hoping for a while to get the chance to experience them, so this was a big treat.
And I love the energy of mountain-climbing Sheep and Goats, as it speaks to my Capricorn Rising and North Node, reflecting so much perfect symbolism for me that I am integrating.
We then decided upon Canyon Overlook Trail as our intro hike, which was perfect and offered some stunning vistas and rocks.
And on our way out we were so blessed to see a giant Condor perched on a post (I was driving at this time, so couldn’t snap a shot, plus couldn’t stop with cars behind us). But wow! It was so huge and amazing.
I’d seen them skirting the cliffs at the Grand Canyon before, and I saw one up close and personal on Lake Titicaca in Peru back in 2008 (a rescued Condor they were helping back into the wild that had a love for our Shaman Guide), but hadn’t seen one just perched in the wild.
Since there are roughly 70 condors living wild in Arizona and Utah, where Zion rests in the middle of this realm, it was quite a gift to see this one.
We will continue our Zion explorations today and tomorrow and look forward to what other gifts will reveal themselves along with the total stunning beauty that this amazing place has to offer all around.
Some Silliness and Nature Keeps the Doctor Away
Barbara's Lake - the largest of only 3 natural lakes in the OC at the James Dilley Preserve
Today, Dave and I made time for our hiking, which we enjoy doing (sometimes biking or beach strolls), even amidst a very busy schedule we each have. The photos throughout are from the lovely surroundings we were able to enjoy on our afternoon jaunt.
Not only is sunshine important to get the needed vitamins and joyous energy (of which I became recently aware I needed to up my dosages of – vitamin D – due to my not getting out on my travel vacations I used to do more often especially in winter and the amount of sun I used to be exposed to since I’ve  been very focused on creating). But I always see and feel the difference when I DO make the conscious effort to balance out my days, as I am more invigorated and the work I channel goes faster and is infused with a refreshing perspective I gain from my inspired and nurtured time in nature balance.
Some Benefits of Vitamin D-3 which you can get from a good healthy dose of at least 20 minutes a day of direct exposure to sun or through supplementation:
Affects Muscle Strength and Coordination- Maintains Tissue Function
- Affects Energy Production
- Affects Immune Function
- Affects Gene Expression Vitamin D-3 affects Cell Development, Cell Growth and Cell Function
- Plays a role in Cell to Cell Communication
- Has been shown to be effective in Depression Therapies
- Has been shown to be effective in Autoimmune Disorder (MS) Therapies
- Has been shown to be effective in Therapeutic Cancer Programs
- Has been shown to be effective in Cancer Prevention Programs
- Has been shown to be effective in Lung Health Therapies
- Influences Nervous System Functions, central and peripheral, through its modulation of Neuronal Calcium
- Is involved in the creation of neurotransmitters. Vitamin D-3 possesses
anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to be effective in Rheumatoid Arthritis therapies.
The same goes for always having silliness in my life, which is a need for me. It truly makes life lighter when you can find the humor in everything and laugh at yourself. I can entertain myself all the time and grew up in a family that enjoys laughing and playing like kids, which is a blessing.
It’s extremely important to find balance in our moment to moment lives in order to experience the vitality of life. It is a time when we need to be ever more consciously present in each moment with how we are reacting to things and how we can shift perspective to a place of empowered responding.
I am one who is guilty of being an extremist in life, which in some ways went with the territory of being a healing artist – choosing to experience the full spectrum of life in order to bring the full vulnerable depth to the work I channel in every realm and to  be able to truly understand with love and compassion what the highs and lows feel like so that I am able to relate energetically and bring that into my creations. In this way, also learning every day to master my personal processes so that I am able to know how to maneuver in any circumstance because of allowing myself the experience. Not sheltering myself from the storm, but walking in the middle of it and knowing that I can emerge renewed.
It isn’t always the easiest thing, but with practice, the process quickens. I know many do not understand parts of my life, but when I step outside of the ego place of my raw reactions, I am able to see the perfection of what I have chosen to create and all of the ingredients have been creating a master piece that will make sense one day, even if at the moment I can sometimes appear as the Fool.
And the Fool I do enjoy being. In my silliness and giggling, fun and play…I remain always the innocent faery child who sees the world through a rainbow kaleidoscope and enjoys seeing life from a light perspective and in communion with the animals, elements and the magickal world. It is this part that always keeps me sane, as when things get rough, it can be easy to get caught up in the crazy downward spiral, but I always know my inner child is my strength and she never stops believing despite anything anyone ever tries to strip away from her or cut her down with or tries to flush out of her.
It is no longer a luxury to forego the need to integrate balance and to find the calm amidst the chaos, as life speeds up and more things come into our experiences. Finding time to be with nature, to let yourself have fun, giggle, laugh, play, dance, run, roll in the grass, feel the sand in your toes, the wind in your hair, sit in silence amidst the awe-inspiring grandeur of our beautiful Earth, and even to stand out or on 
your own in the middle of a crowd, is all so vital. Letting go and letting yourself be without care of what others may think. Letting your uniqueness shine through in the creative way it wants to express itself and above all, having the integrity to be authentic in every situation and no matter what anyone else thinks of the choices you make. When you learn to unconditionally love yourself that will empower you to spread the same to everyone, everything, every being and every experience you encounter. It all starts within. This is the way it always has been and always will be. Nothing outside of you will ever be the answer.
Me at Rabbit Run!!! Yay rabbits! Saw a bunch today and one giant one!!!
So find anyway you can to have some fun, allow yourself time for uninhibited expression, and to let yourself have some time in nature whenever you can. These things can truly make a difference in your life and not only help balance out the time you’ve spent doing everything else but this, but will make a huge impact on your health, well-being and the amount of joy, love and passion you feel and express in your life.