Autumn Light

Mid-morning walk in Memory Grove

Autumn leaves, pick a few to bring home

Butterflies

Children in strollers or walking with adults

Dogs running, playing in the pond

City Creek tumbling over rock waterfalls

The joy of it all.

Cougar Light

* Using leadership power wisely and without ego
* Balancing power, intention, strength
* Gaining self-confidence
* Freedom from guilt
* Cunning


For the Zunis of Turtle Island (Southwest United States), Cougar was the Master Hunter, known for its high intelligence, its knowledge of other animal and life forms, its physical prowess, its strength of will, and its intuitive ability. Cougar sees the maintenance of its territory as essential for its survival. Poshaiankia, the father of the Medicine Societies, designated Cougar the duty of carrying messages from humans to the higher spirits, because of this animal’s personal power, superior knowledge, strength of will, and steadfastness. Therefore, Cougar represents the link between ourselves and the most powerful spirits in Zuni Mythology: Mother Earth, Father Sky, and the Originator of All.

October's Light

"Crispy air and azure skies,
High above, a white cloud flies,
Bright as newly fallen snow.
Oh the joy to those who know October!

Colors bright on bush and tree.
Over the weedy swamp, we see
A veil of purple and brown and gold.
Thy beauty words have never told. October!

Scolding sparrows on the lawn,
Rabbits frisking home at dawn,
Pheasants midst the sheaves of grain,
All in harmony acclaim, October!

Brown earth freshly turned by plow,
Apples shine on bended bough,
Bins o'erflowed with oats and wheat,
And satisfaction reigns complete. October!

Radiant joy is everywhere.
Spirits in tune to the spicy air,
Thrill in the glory of each day.
Life's worth living when we say, October!"
- Joseph Pullman Porter

More Duck Stories

Yesterday morning, while walking in Mt. Olivet Cemetery (aka Nature Preserve), three adolescent ducks approached to be fed. Have watched them since they were little fluff balls and know that the cemetery manager feeds them bread crumbs... They came up expecting to be fed and I was emptied handed. Two of them tried nibbling on the white toes of my shoes.

Duck's Wisdom Includes:

* Grace on water
* Water energy
* Seeing clearly through emotions
* Spirit helper of mystics and seers

Zoo Magic

For all of you who live in the vicinity of the Salt Lake Hogle Zoo, it is worth visiting NOW. Not only can you see an enchanting baby elephant but three tiger cubs, a snow leopard cub and a baby giraffe. What more can you ask for?

Falcon Magic

Falcon wisdom includes:
Assisting in soul healing
Accompanying the soul back to the soul world
Teaching swiftness
Learning the aerobatics of life
Controlling speed and movement
Understanding magic

Just before sunset a falcon was sitting on the top of a telephone phone appearing to watch the traffic on the street below. What magic to be able to look out your window in the middle of the city and see such a sight.

Impermanence

"Nothing remains the same for two consecutive moments. Heraclitus said we can never bathe twice in the same river. Confucius, while looking at a stream, said, "It is always flowing, day and night." The Buddha implored us not just to talk about impermanence, but to use it as an instrument to help us penetrate deeply into reality and obtain liberating insight. We may be tempted to say that because things are impermanent, there is suffering. But the Buddha encouraged us to look again. Without impermanence, life is not possible. How can we transform our suffering if things are not impermanent? How can our daughter grow up into a beautiful young lady? How can the situation in the world improve? We need impermanence for social justice and for hope.

If you suffer, it is not because things are impermanent. It is because you believe things are permanent. When a flower dies, you don't suffer much, because you understand that flowers are impermanent. But you cannot accept the impermanence of your beloved one, and you suffer deeply when she passes away.

If you look deeply into impermanence, you will do your best to make her happy right now. Aware of impermanence, you become positive, loving and wise. Impermanence is good news. Without impermanence, nothing would be possible. With impermanence, every door is open for change. Impermanence is an instrument for our liberation."

-Thich Nhat Hanh