A CALL TO THE UNIVERSE

A few years ago, I came across the mystical prayer "make the invisible, visible." And ever since then, I have practiced it whenever I'm outside among nature's bounty. It may sound silly, but this simple and brief invocation has really worked wonders for my senses and ability to become aware of nature's lessons and mystical web of details.

Yesterday was no different, while my partner and I hiked through an ancient rainforest, hanging with moss and ferns, on our way to Tonsina Point in Caines Head State Recreation Area near Seward.

As we hiked and once at water's edge, I put out a silent call to the universe, and waited as the wonder unfolded within my senses of sight, smell, hearing, and feeling.

Tonsina Point on January 28, 2017

The heights of the spruce and fir trees struck me like never before. Their towering trunks and canopies reflected the firmness and majesty of the mountains that they grew out of. 

The textures of dead trees, their inner workings exposed and folded in intricate ways, exuded such complexity and subtlety of color. 

The raindrops hung from the tips of evergreen needles, decorating the woods and trails in sparkly curtains. 

The snow, oh that white wonder and solidarity of the universe. It humbly folded beneath our feet, pressing deeper into the soil, while allowing us to pass through its pearly gates. 

Alaska's waters, what more needs to be said? 
Their purity, power, and reflection of wind's motion are at once soothing and mysteriously out of reach,

continually exposing deeper and deeper revelations. 

And there they are, the body of Mother Earth reaching out to Father Sky. 

The ancient, the sacred, the grandmothers of HERstory, 

at once swimming among the clouds and growing out of Earth's core. 

When their peaks are covered in alpine glow, surrounded by clear blue skies,

one can only stand still and stare, 

catching a glimpse of the divine.

Happy communing with Mother Earth!

~Modern Akhmatova 

REMEMBERING

Remembering those who fought, sacrificed, and paved the way forward, 

for the betterment of all life on Mother Earth

Remembering those living today, 

who are suffering, or feeling scared and voiceless

May we have the awareness of history, 

strength of vision, 

and love for all life

To come together in solidarity,

and to work toward bending the arc of the moral universe 

toward justice for all that lives on our beloved Mother Earth

~Modern Akhmatova

SPRINGTIME

Our front door decoration in honor of the Spring season. 

It's only now, after 29 years on this planet, that I am becoming fully aware of the infinite beauty and wonder that the Spring season gifts us with. During my walk today around the neighborhood where we live, I encountered life springing forth all around me and was overcome by the magic of it all. Here is a poem I recorded and some of the photos I took to capture the feeling.

A Magical Dance

The branches dance in the crisp April wind

While the sun shines bringing the colors forth

The flowers and the leaves slowly open up

Embodying the creative genius of the universe

Leaving the observer in awe of their intricate beauty, vulnerability and resiliency 

A magical dance unfolds

Between the wind, the sun, the flora and my being

it is Spring,

full of Promise

full of Beauty

full of Light

full of Wonder 

 

A mystery at once inexplicable and yet so satisfying.

~Modern Akhmatova

Simplicity

A small candle in the room - 

all the light we need.

A clean bed for us to make love in - 

all the comfort we need.

A rain-filled evening or snow falling from the sky -

all the romance we need.

A sunlit morning with birds chirping us awake -

all the peace we need.

A day spent outside among nature's magic -

all the wisdom we need.

A memory made with our loved ones -

all the joy we need.

A moment spent in your arms -

all the love I need.

~Modern Akhmatova

Panorama shot of the sunrise that we enjoyed from
the top of Old Rag Mountain's first peak.

time to breathe 

the holidays required of us to "engage with the world"

we are blessed with a big family

blessed with togetherness 

but our minds and souls needed rest

we needed quiet

and that required of us to "be away from the world"

we sought fresh air, open spaces and closeness with the earth

we found these, and much more, among the Shenandoah mountains

everything gave us time to breathe - 

the foggy trails

the mist covered rocks

the glistening tree bark

the squishy mud beneath our feet

the sound of rain falling on our tent and the forest around us throughout the night

and then there was that magical sunrise

as it came up over the horizon

and we stood on top of Old Rag Mountain

I realized that everything that breathes, moves and is alive was focused on that light.

Happy breathing!

~Modern Akhmatova

Seeking something and finding it in nature

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." Robert Burroughs

A cycle of manifestation

A seeing

From what I can remember

my spirit began as a flower

Innocent and blooming toward the sun and sky

Eventually I dried up

I fell off and tumbled down

The moist and dark soil took me

I went ever deeper

Not realizing I was becoming a seedling

A world of extremes

a fight to see the sun again

a fight against the darkness

But nature held and nurtured me

and eventually my spirit grew strong enough

I broke through and looked up

The sun shone and I was smiling

up, up, up I yearned

Back to the canopies and the heights I had experienced in my youth

The sun continued to shine

the rain fell, and night and day appeared

At some point

I realized

I now had roots

Looking up, growing

I stopped fighting

I accepted and embraced 

the present conditions

Never ceasing to look up

Except now I see something different

I see the wonder of all that's around me

I feel the stability of my roots

I feel the growth  of my spirit -

into a tree trunk I become...

~Modern Akhmatova

A RAY OF SUNSHINE

Source

People that affect us deeply

People that we think of often

People that inspire us

People whose spirits are connected to ours

People that make our hearts smile

They are like rays of sunshine

Bright, warm, otherworldly and immense in our lives.

They are there everyday

in spirit

Present in the most beautiful and necessary way.

Their energy shines on us from above.

And all we have to do is look up, recognize, and enjoy.

~Modern Akhmatova