If you want to explore and discover the true serenity of wild places, you have to push past the comfort of staying. You have to make the commitment in the first place, and then you have to do the hard work of getting there. You have to say yes when the call comes because it might not come again. And you have to embrace danger and discomfort as gateways into the sublime.
If you are lucky, you will find friends who will come share it with you. Because together is almost always better than alone. And if you are extremely lucky, you will find a friend who plays well with your rhythms and tempos, who can go to the places you want to go, both outward and inward, and who lets you truly be yourself along the way. (Thank you @wakanzb 🙏🏼) Cherish those people. Do everything in your power to protect and nurture those connections.
I feel so grateful to have been able and willing to make these excursions to the edge-lands during my time on earth so far. For me, these have become so much more than “backpack trips”. These are soul pilgrimage spirit journeys; opportunities for direct visitation with the infinite and unknowable; ceremony in motion, within an ultimate cathedral.
Seven Devils 2024
I brought back treasures.
No promises, but… I am starting to feel some energy around releasing new @totempendant collections. So much ancient beauty to share.
This lovely perfect creature went on to be with the ancenstors last night.
We gathered the family together and spent a lovely afternoon with her in the yard. We looked at photos and videos and reminisced and pre-grieved together.
The vet came around dusk and we all sat with Lusa out in the grass, said our goodbyes, and held onto her until she departed. It was peaceful. All hearts present were open and flowing with love and tears.
She faded into the big dream as the light faded.
Then later, when it was gone entirely, my brave strong beautiful tenderhearted son and I donned headlamps and dug the grave, laid her in it, and said final words.
Hug your pets and humans today.
Be grateful for the time you have with them.
Recall that life on earth is short, Love is eternal, and grief is but a deep and beautiful shade of it.
❤️
Went to Sedona for a week with my perennial adventure comrade @wakanzb . Naturally, I took lots of pictures of trees and rocks. (Will be bombing the @i.lovetrees feed with lots of details and videos.) The landscape in this area is insanely vibrant and vital; full of the most amazing manzanitas, cypresses, junipers, oaks, cacti, and stunning red rock in every shade imaginable. I’ve officially fallen in love with the Southwest and truly can’t wait to go back.
