Recognition and David Treuer

Dear Friends,

May this email find you well!
Sending a smile, and a pause.
May you find something of interest in this little missive!

A while back I read this article by David Treuer about returning the national parks to a consortium of tribes--- not to take away from ---to steward for all of us. 

I was very intrigued by this idea. 

And then last week I got to listen to this interview with him on Oregon Humanities-- Consider This!

This was one of the most interesting and thought provoking interviews I’ve listened to in a long time!!

Thank you Oregon Humanities.
I encourage you to give it a listen and see what rises in you! 

I was drawn in by many of his perspectives. 

And.

The one that tugged at my heart and soul this weekend, and brought me full circle to my 32 years in this part of the world (The Cascades), was his sharing that place can recognize people just as we recognize each other.

The Edges of Mystery and Magic

Listening as the wind swept through the knotty pines.

It’s prayerful sound reverberating to the tips of my toes.

As a resounding hello passes between us. 

The cells in my body lifting off to dance with.

The dazzling morning light and 

The mist lifting and stirring the lake just after dawn. 

Greeting me as it passes over my body.

My paddle strokes move me from narrow, tall silver green reed bordered channel, to wide open lake.

South Sister's majesty comes into view. 

A pause. A breath taken together. 

Hello there, beauty.

Her quiet stillness shining brightly into the lake waters.

Through my tingling body.

One evening as the light was putting itself to bed 

We moved through thousands of cerulean blue dragonflies. OMG.

Numbers I have never experienced before.

A freshly minted gift.

And the wildly, amazingly, silently beautiful reflections at dawn and dusk. 

My body does a visible sigh, even now, writing about that kind of awe and beauty.

The lived memory of gazing at all that is reflected--

And all of them gazing back--

Silver green reeds, tall knotty green pines, water lilies, red winged black birds, mallards, 

Dragon flies, swallows dipping and swooping, and the ever present mountains.  

The magical and mysterious quality of letting my eyes rest and not knowing which is sky or water reveals something freshly resonate, familiar and miraculous.

Mirror or reality?  

Do I need to know?
Or can I bask in what the moment offers to the whole of myself
Which is in lockstep with the whole of the universe in these moments.

A deep trill becoming a tidal wave---a welling up of love for this world that is
Unstoppable.

 
And lastly.

The conversation the last morning with an older fisherman docking, and the tears we both shed as we expressed our love for this place and the world. 

Recognizing each other

The first time we met. 


Here are A few books by David Treuer 

May you be well.

May you awaken to the places that recognize you and you them!

May we become devoted to those relationships.

Love,

Carol

Need some reflective support? Click here or here for our free tasters!  Invite a friend to join you!!