A Language Older Than Words

At the moment I am reading a very powerful book;  A Language Older Than Words,

by Derrick Jensen. It has brought tears to my eyes more than once. He writes about nature, our relationship to it and our collective history of trauma.

There are times that I have to put the book down because it stirs something very deep within my core. There are sentences that make my heart ache with their truths, his words are polished, clear and direct. 

I have added Derrick Jensen's website to my 'sparkly people' list on my home page because 

his message is important.

I am about to start my three year training in Somatic Experiencing (a healing modality for trauma) in August and I wonder about how much of our collective traumas are acted out and imprinted on the natural world. The deeper that I go into the writings and context of Derrick's work, the more I see how these cycles of trauma have been carried on for many generations on so many levels. We have repeatedly dampened the natural world through our unconscious consumption and behaviors.
I am waking up, again.

I believe that the 'language older than words' is one that I know deep inside my soul. It is what the plants speak when we walk into a garden, or the trees sing when they are dancing in the wind. It is the gossip of the cat birds in the early morning hours,  the communication between colonies of mushrooms on the forest floor and the creatures of the canopies. It is a language spoken during my encounters with dolphins and whales in the open ocean.  I have learned that each part of the natural world has its own specific and perfect dialect, this form of communication is open for all of us.  

Derrick Jensen's work is encouraging me to speak with more confidence about what I see and experience through the lens of my camera. 

Just yesterday, the moth below visited my office window and stayed while I was giving treatment. The pen and ink illustration of moth antennae was found in an encyclopedia and all of these little treasures were found just outside my front door. 

I am inspired.

The Nature of Dampness

We have had incredible rains the past few weeks, the kinds of rains that drench the earth, make small rivers and encourage the growth of green plants and mushrooms everywhere. While everything is very beautiful and expanding with the new moisture, there is a lingering dampness in the air and the ground.
In Chinese medicine, this dampness in excess can become pathogenic.

As the heavens opened last night and the rain seemed never ending... I thought about adding a post on the topic of 'Dampness' from a different perspective. In Chinese medicine 'Dampness' is considered a 'yin evil' meaning that it can create internal imbalances and be difficult to eliminate. The greatest causative factor is living or working in damp climates or conditions. Diet can also cause internal dampness. The organs that are most affected by dampness are the Chinese Spleen and Stomach. Over a prolonged period of time it can cause what is referred to as 'bi-syndrome' or obstruction of the channels.
This pattern may appear in the Summer and appear as a lack of appetite, a feeling of leathery, heaviness in the limbs, poor digestion, oppression in the chest  and mental fogginess.
There are more specific patterns of Dampness that manifest in different ways, differentiated by Heat, Cold, and location in the body.
The past few days I have been giving a lot of moxa in my treatments to offset the dampness in the climate. Next, I will start suggesting some dietary modifications and herbal remedies for this especially moist season.

This morning, as I was taking my walk a white egret flew over my head. It felt like such an amazing gift to see one this far from the water of Accabonac harbor. It was flying over the oak trees! This is truly a beautiful and magic place. The rose in the picture is from Gerard Drive, one of my favorite places during all seasons of the year.

Once Upon A Time...

Once upon a time, in a woodland far far away, the rain fell for days and the winds blew in circles making the tree tops sway to and fro. After the waters receded the warm yellow sun finally reappeared. The peony flowers opened gracefully, the mushrooms grew very very tall, the ferns created gullies, the moths fluttered in the sunlight and the lady bugs leapt for joy.  

All of these lovely images are from the just outside my front door with the exception of the lady bug, she came from a local bay beach. 

More rain today! 

Enjoy.

Turtle Medicine

Today this beautiful woodland turtle appeared at my garden gate. The colors were brighter than I have ever seen, the head was a deep orange and it's eyes were coral red. I stayed with this shy creature in the rain long enough to make contact.

The designs on the shells of these turtles always impress me, they are each so unique and intriguing. 

After spending time with this turtle, my interpretation of it's medicine is discernment, patience, stepping back to make space, protection and diligence. It took a while for it to gain enough trust in me to peek its' head from beyond the safety of the shell. I also thought about boundaries and how delicate this balance can be between two beings. The moment that I got too close for the turtle to feel safe, it would retreat into its' shell after letting out a hissing sound. Once we were comfortable with one another, I felt the same quiet and patience in the eye of this turtle as I encounter while swimming with dolphins and whales in the wild. The wisdom of this animal went right into my heart today so I decided to post these pictures. 

The rains have not only brought moisture for the turtles but also flowers of many colors, shapes and sizes. The Siberian Iris and Allium are in bloom now and colors are stunning. 

These pictures below were taken with my iPhone. 

I was just reminded that turtles are symbolic of water, the earth, longevity and that they are the 'keepers of doors'.  Additionally, they are traditional reminders that the way to heaven is through the earth. 

Tree Peonies and the Magic of Light

These breathtaking beauties were in bloom this week. I had to cut the flowers because I was concerned that the wind and the rain would damage the delicate petals. We have had very cool and windy weather. The past few days have felt more like March than the end of May. 

The winds have been fierce and I have felt the energy of change coming through the cold winds.

Before the peony buds opened I took pictures of water droplets caught in the leaves. If you look carefully you may see my reflection as well as the tree tops. The water droplets look a lot like mercury. I was amazed by how clear the reflections are. In a single droplet

 you can see the sun, the clouds, the tops of the oaks and me. It is an unconventional self portrait!

Everyone who smelled these peonies fell in love with their light and generous scent. I dream of  reproducing it in botanical perfumery. It is sugary and delicate while elegant and soft.

More beauty from the garden.

Peony love.

Narcissus Love

Five hundred new Narcissus bulbs were planted last Autumn, and the rewards were captured in the beautiful Spring light with my cameras. I have been sharing them with friends and clients and everyone has fallen in love with the intoxicating new scents.



There is fresh soft energy in the air that is welcoming. Even as I write this post we are having a soaking rain which will help the lilacs bloom and the the ferns unfold.

My own personal unfolding is taking form in the enrollment in a three year study of Somatic Experiencing, a method of treating trauma, designed by Dr. Peter Levine. I have read Waking the Tiger  numerous times and resonate with the approach of natural healing of the nervous system. I feel that this will be a wonderful new modality to incorporate into my practice and my everyday life. There is more information about this work on the website www.traumahealing.com.

Again, I am turning to nature for a deeper understanding of how we can heal and live more authentically in our bodies with ease, grace, expansiveness and joy. 

In my quiet time I sit with the flowers and watch them open. These blooms have inspired me for weeks now with their different colors of yellow and orange. This Autumn another 500 bulbs will go in the ground for more magic next Spring.

These lovelies inspired me so much! They remind me to stay in the 'beauty way'.
They are delicate and so full of grace, like elegant women.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Inspiration

Today I found this written piece within minutes of taking the pictures of the fading peonies on the wall. These pink lovelies were a birthday gift from a dear friend, they are still filling the air with their amazing scent. After reading this quote I was so deeply moved that I decided to post both.

Enjoy.