The Mighty Mountain Lion

Most friends are aware from firsthand experiences with me, that I have a huge appreciation for animal totems.  

I’m a hippie dippy believer that there is a deeper, symbolic meaning associated with animals, 

and that quite a bit of information related to our spiritual nature can be derived from any critter or creature that cross our paths: large or small, feathered, finned or furry.  

My parents and aunt challenge family members to consider what we are thinking about at the exact moment a circling hawk catches our eye, or what larger meaning is being represented by the grizzly bear in our dream. It’s powerful stuff!

I’d guess this curiosity sprung from my parents’ interest in Native American culture. Growing up in a historic colonial house in Connecticut, you’d likely be surprised to see all the Hopi Kachina dolls, beaded jackets and woven baskets in our home. 

My childhood dresser drawers and bookshelves are filled with old buttons showcasing Chief Joseph, tiny beaded Indian dolls and Zuni animal fetishes. 

(family collection) 

When my sisters and I were little, our  family vacations consisted of car rides through dusty deserts and red rocked canyons. And at the time, we found it all a bit goofy – can’t we just go to Club Med like everyone else in the 5^th grade?! But with a little distance between the Arizona desert and myself, I realized a handful of years ago how lucky we were to grow up in a family that put a strong emphasis on respecting all living things. We were raised not only to appreciate nature, but also to learn from it.

This past weekend friends and I were up in the Sierras, closing up our winter ski lease. 

On our way to lunch, we saw a mountain lion. 

Guys – I know. I freaked. 

We couldn't be sure if our eyes deceived us, so we turned around and high tailed it back to where we saw him. He was gone by the time we got back to the sighting, but I peppered people with questions about mountain lions in the area, and we took to the Internet and confirmed what we saw. 

A rare spotting in North Lake - but saw one, we did. 

The message being sent through this animal  is a powerful and personal one – most applicable to me, is the reminder to act in a way that is true to self – and tune out the noise from others.

Here is what we can derive from seeing the mountain lion: “Be graceful and easy in all you do; build your courage and use it to follow your heart, not allowing others to control your actions. You must claim your leadership abilities and start down the path you know is right. Trust the process and live your life with pure integrity. Incorporate the courage, strength, integrity and power the mountain lion represents.” 

Amazing. 

Happy, Monday friends. 

... To Make Everything Okay Again

When I was little and something was troubling me,
I would seek comfort outside.
Our backyard borders a pretty big forest,
and although I wouldn't go far,
I'd walk far enough to feel the coolness of the shade
 and to find a soft cushion of moss upon which to sit.
When I felt that the quiet of the woods had calmed me,
I'd turn around and head back to the house.

Something happened this past week that rattled me, big time. 

It brought on a surge of emotion: panic, angst, confusion, sadness, guilt and regret.

It stirred up some nerves that I didn't even know were there, 

deep down,
 in the core of my core.

image

And then, as the uncertainty started to uncloud, 

and the unknown began to piece together into the known,

came relief, hope and gratitude. 

A lot of the initial nerves have dissolved,
in part because I know where I am heading.
It's off to the mountains I go.
To get a little distance from the week- in both miles and memory.
To surround myself with good friends and happy thoughts.
To fill my lungs with fresh air
and to let the sun and the stars and the sierras,
make everything okay again.
xo

. 

Rise Free

It's been a while since last I posted.
For that, forgive me.
I've got thunder in my heart, and I'm heading north
where the mountains will echo my triumphant shrieks of glee.
And so, in the meantime,
I leave you with a simple thought for Thursday.
Be well, my friends, and do as Thoreau says.

"Rise free from care before the dawn, and seek adventures."

-Henry David Thoreau- 

image 

The Girl and a Wolf

I was lucky to split my time this Thanksgiving between the beach and the mountains.
That’s pretty dreamy, eh?

I was invited to a Thanksgiving feast set outdoors among rolling hills where coyote and bobcats likely roam.  

From my seat at the table I could steal glimpses of the ocean, 

and watch the sun dip away from its waltz with the sky.

The trees were treated to a chorus of our laughter throughout the night. 

For that alone, I give thanks.

With my belly full and my heart even fuller, 

I headed to the mountains where I counted fish in the lake and scouted for eagles in the trees.

I probably could’ve drank a little less, and used my brain a little more… 

but that’s what New Year’s resolutions are for.  

image is my own, Lake Tahoe

All said and done, I'd rather have a collection of stories to share, 

even if it means a little repentance in the morning.

I tuck those stories away in my back pocket for a rainy day.

You see, a few weeks back I was the girl who cried wolf.

And I feel lighter in step because of it: because of this reversal in course… but.

But there are people I care about that I think I might have let down.

And all I can offer you is this:

I will always be guilty of falling in love with places I haven’t been; with people I have yet to meet.

It’s a fickle fortune that I’ve been dealt by the universe.

And all I can hope is that you won’t fault me for it.

Because all things considered, I think it’s a pretty sacred fate.

And after months of confusion, I figure my path doesn’t need to be so clear.

I will let my heart be guided by the sun and the stars and trust that the other pieces will fall into place.

Have a happy week, my friends.

xo

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

It's been an unusual winter,

one that leaves me scratching my head

and wondering aloud,

It's mid-March already?

In a matter of days, 

I went from mild nights in Manhattan,

to snow in the Sierras.

There are so many tales to tell,

so many words to craft carefully...

But, I can't quite do my thoughts justice just yet.

 image is my own

And the snow and the quiet of the mountains this morning

 offer me a perfect pause.

This first half of the month, 

I found I'd taken on the role of Lioness of March,

and as we round out month's end,

 I'd like to be a little more lamb.

Until then,

happy wintering, friends.

xo