Having just come down to about 5000 feet elevation in New Mexico from 9600 feet elevation when I took this peak climb on my last day in Colorado, I have had some time to reflect
on this first 7 weeks of my journey. I wish I were more poetic in my writing so I could represent
the serenity I have felt being in the beauty of the nature around me. In my last two days, I took 3 gorgeous hikes, took a mountain drive, and visited the Colorado Wolf and Rescue Center.
Each hike had it's own flavor in terms of length, terrain, and spiritual moments. Luckily, Colorado protects it's wildlife much better than many states, and I was able to "be" with the animals as opposed to feeling frightened or separate from them. My favorite encounter was on my longest hike.
I was climbing a long, winding path, and all of a sudden, a red fox, about the size of a small coyote,
rounded the corner. We were both startled ever so slightly and then continued our walk tentatively but not in a frightened way. The fox looked sidewise at me and I at him, and we each swayed a bit to our right sides to create a wider berth. At that point, we were about six feet from each other. We kept looking at each other from time to time as we passed. My first thought was that I must get a photo, but as I looked back and realized he had proceeded to trot slowly on without fear of me, I realized that we were equals. This was not a time for a photo. I did not want to steal his spirit, and I truly felt that it would be wrong to do this. About ten paces further down the path, I found a tuft from his tail, and felt that he had given me a gift.
Hike Number 1
Hike Number 2
After my second hike, I took a beautiful drive for awhile, and stopped at Cripple Creek for a cold and wonderfully satisfying ice cream cone, but with only a little time left before my reservation at the wolf center, I hurried back through the mountains with delight. This was initially going to be my first stop on my voyage, but due to snow and high elevation with my camper, I saved it until the last couple of days. It was a perfect way to end this time. I had already learned a good bit about the plight of the wolf in America, and this was a wonderful way to cap it off. The staff people were incredibly passionate and educational, and getting a chance to see wolves being fed was very special. These are magnificent animals and are, as the fox, our equals and deserve to live on this planet. Not only that, if they are completely gone due to thoughtless killing and misunderstanding, our country will suffer an imbalance. It already is.
Where am I emotionally and spiritually? What have I learned? I have learned that the natural world is something magnificent to appreciate, respect, and be part of...not to stand on the side and observe. I have learned that solitude is a wonderful experience that must be a part of our lives so that we can take the time to be still. I have learned that to be still allows me to empty my mind, which in turn, fills me up with something so beautiful that it is sometimes indescribable. Something that we can never feel when we are busy "doing" all the time.
Do I know what my future plans are after Bali? I have absolutely no idea, but I also feel that these decisions will come with more
solitude, more experiences, and more quiet listening to something greater than myself....my
intuition, a spirit greater than me, the universe. Everyone has their own version of what this is.
I am OK with not knowing. One of the tattoos on my left arm is a haiku I wrote a year ago...
Night travelers walk
Beneath the pure white full
moon
Embracing mystery
My most recent tattoo is taken from the introduction to "Women Who Run With the Wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola Estes...
No matter where we are, the shadow that trots behind us is definitely four-footed.
I will hopefully be blogging from Bali. I hope to be able to continue this journey with you.
Thank you for all your support and love thus far. Namaste.
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