Moonbeam

Moon lit silver linings

Gentle distant lightning

Journey through the atmosphere

Illuminating cloud and sky

Softly traveled moonbeams

tap the earth below

sparkling star

between outlined clouds

luminescent glow

infiltrates the senses

permeates the soul

gift from the heavens above

nondual

perfect love

Your Life

Your life has an effect on this earth and without you here, this world would truly not be the same. 

~Patrick Mathews

For those who want the most in life and are willing to listen (and for you, Em)

Life can be difficult, challenging and painful. It can also be magical, wonderful, amazing and brilliant. It is my belief that the difficulties we face have a purpose. They have something to teach us. They have something to give us which will help (or make) us grow and understand. I'm a firm believer that if you ask for guidance and information, you will receive it. However, you must clear the mind and set out an intention in order for it to happen. I believe we receive messages and guidance all the time, but we often fail to recognize it as such or are too busy or preoccupied to hear or see it. I ran into a post from Melissa Van Rossum this week that explains this very well:

Intuitive information or divine guidance comes in many and varied forms to us each and every day.  The problem in receiving it, however, is several-fold.  First, we’re busy.  Too busy.  We’re busier than we’ve ever been and we continue to look for ways to be more effective with the time we have.  Our minds are often overloaded and focused on other things such as goals, deadlines, kids, spouses, issues from the past, dreams of the future, and all the things that we don’t want in our lives.  Rarely is our attention in the present simply noticing and listening without distraction.  We need to make time to listen...The simple art of being and thus being aware, is rare indeed...When your mind is crowded, busy and distracted, your creativity and intuitive abilities suffer.  Creativity and the receiving of guidance thrives upon the natural ebb and flow of life.  There is a time to strive forward and a time to rest and receive.  If you’re regularly distracted, you’re sending the message to the Universe that you’re not interested in receiving any information. And so you don’t.  The Universe will always honor your intentions and desires...Begin to listen and watch – your thoughts and feelings.  Listen more closely, allow your awareness to open.  Become receptive.  Let the Universe know that you are willing to hear what you need to hear.  See what you need to see.  Change what you need to change.

This came at just the right time for me. Do I feel lost, confused, alone, not sure which way to go, what to do in life, strapped down by certain aspects of our society that absolutely suck and are absurd? Definitely. But I also know there is much more to life and I'm determined to make the most of this short time I have here. If you listen, the Universe will guide you, if that is what you truly want. From this day forward, I'm going to try my best to make an extra effort to ask where I need to go and what I need to do to best fill my life's destiny, overcome my challenges and enjoy peace and happiness. This requires me to slow down a bit, figure out what is most important, prioritize and stop and listen. I'm sure it will also require the painful experience of letting go of old patterns, thoughts, beliefs and sources of comfort. A death of self, if you will. Is it easy? No. Is it a necessary part of life? Yes, if you want to grow and live life to the fullest. What is worthwhile does not come easily. The more darkness we process within our selves, the more room there will be for light. Our society has mostly lost it's connection to "spirit" to "nature" and to that which is "sacred." This has had a tremendous toll on the human spirit. No wonder so many people feel lost, alone, confused and dissatisfied. Yet, we can still access this wisdom and magic of the Universe if we tell her we are ready and we believe...

Traffic In the Sky

There's traffic in the sky
And it doesn't seem to be getting much better
There's kids playing games on the pavement
Drawing waves on the pavement
Shadows of the planes on the pavement
Its enough to make me cry
But that don't seem like it would make it feel better
Maybe its a dream and if I scream
It will burst at the seams
This whole place will fall to pieces
And then they'd say...

Well how could we have known?
I'll tell them it's not so hard to tell
If you keep on adding stones
Soon the water will be lost in the well

Puzzle pieces in the ground
But no one ever seems to be digging
Instead they're looking up towards the heavens
With their eyes on the heavens
There are shadows on the way to the heavens
It's enough to make me cry
But that don't seem like it would make it feel better
The answers could be found
We could learn from digging down
But no one ever seems to be digging
Instead they'll say...

Well how could we have known?
I'll tell them it's not so hard to tell
If you keep on adding stones
Soon the water will be lost in the well

Words of wisdom all around
But no one ever seems to listen
They're talking about their plans on paper
Building up from the pavement
There are shadows from the scrapers on the pavement
It's enough to make me sigh
But that don't seem like it would make it feel better
The words are still around
But the words are only sounds
And no one ever seems to listen
Instead they'll say

Well how could we have known?
I'll tell them it's not so hard to tell
If you keep on adding stones
Soon the water will be lost in the well

Utopia

Within the dream of my Utopian world:

Everyone would have their basic needs met; clean water to drink, food to eat and shelter over their heads, none of which would need to be paid for. Why have we turned our basic needs into something to be purchased?

Mother Earth and humankind would live in harmony.

There would be peace and no wars.

Money would not exist and thus people would not steal from one another nor harm each other.

Humans would die, not at each others own hands, but rather as a result of the natural order of things. When any species becomes overpopulated, they become much more vulnerable and prone to disease and illness. People would be mindful of and prevent overpopulation. 

People could do the work they love and not worry about making enough money to put food on the table or a roof over their head.

Health care would be universal. 

No one would pay for an education.

Art and creativity would be encouraged.

People would live and thrive within localized communities.

People would help each other.

People would work together.

People would learn from their mistakes and strive to make the world a better place for all.

City lights would not block out the heavens.

All food would be organic.

All life would be considered sacred.

“All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them.” – Henry David Thoreau

Arctic Light and Aurora

The Arctic Light from TSO Photography on Vimeo.

The Aurora from TSO Photography on Vimeo.

Aphelion

View of the sky from atop Mt. Bierstadt, July 3, 2011

July 4th marks the day that the Earth is farthest from the sun in it's orbit around the great star.

Fracking

A small, yet important victory: 
http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-01-worlds-first-fracking-bans-come-through-in-france-and-new-jersey

Every Moment

Miracles in every moment

There are miracles in every moment if you’ll just take the time to see them. There is value in every circumstance if you’ll simply make the effort to appreciate it.

Even on the most ordinary and tedious days there are magnificent and extraordinary treasures to be lived.

They are yours when you open your mind and your heart to the possibilities.

There is no need to long for some distant bright day on which everything will be perfect. For you can make this very day as bright and shining and fulfilling as you choose.

Open your eyes and realize what a miracle it is that you know you are here. Choose in this very moment to make the most of your awesome good fortune.

The wind blows, the sun rises, the snow falls and the ocean relentlessly pounds the shore. Life rolls on with fresh new possibilities at every turn.

There are miracles in every moment. What a privilege and joy it is to be a part of life.
— Ralph Marston

This week's trip to RMNP -  I love the duality of this photo; the dark trees against the bright sun

Our star

Alberta Falls

Trail to Sky Pond, which unfortunately is still not accessible due to snow

Approaching Loch Lake

Loch Lake

An afternoon storm rolls in and the river rises, full of power

The beautiful darkness of an afternoon storm

 
 The root of all miracles lies in nature, in creation. Whenever I have doubts, whenever I'm lost, whenever I'm confused, nature reminds me that not everything is in my control, the troubles and worries are of no real significance. Everything in place is the result of divine timing, of divine circumstance...from the tilt of the Earth that gives us our seasons and turbulent atmosphere, to the expanses of this universe and beyond that we have no comprehension of. Every life and existence has its battles within this grand design and that is what gives us life.