Huntington Beach State Park, South End — Aug. 21, 2015

Pre-walk reflection: Sanskrit Salutation to the Dawn

Listen to the salutation to the dawn,

Look to this day for it is life, the very life of life,

In its brief course lie all the verities and realities of our existence.

The bliss of growth, the splendor of beauty,

For yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow is only a vision,

But today well spent makes every yesterday a dream of happiness

and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well therefore to this day.

Such is the salutation to the dawn.

Chosen and read by Denise P.

The choices we make today will affect our yesterdays and tomorrows.

Reflection and photos by Denise P.

Today’s intention, more like a prayer: to direct my energy to sustain what most matters. I chose to walk on the pine-needled dirt, side of the sidewalk, to feel the ground. Its unevenness forced me to slow the pace, take care. As I stopped to look through the trees at an area of green green swamp, I found myself peering through the circled web of an enormous banana spider. I watched that exquisite creature, at first still, poised, move onto one of the outer radials and go to work. All body parts were active, engaged in a coordinated motion to strengthen the weave. When finished with this task, she returned to the center. Ah, yes, the diligence to attend to what one has created, reinforcing as needed so it sustains, and the wisdom to know when to center, rest, and wait. Reflection and photos by Amy W.

My intention for today was focused on inner peace and “being in the moment”. As I stood on the tidal pond overlook, the soothing breeze washed over me and my attention was caught by the marsh reeds. They were blowing in the breeze — moving and dancing gently with the wind — flexible and resilient. Yet, this movement was only possible because their roots were firmly anchored in the cool, deep mud.

On another part of the walk I was drawn to the mystery, stillness and peace of the swamp. Even the ducks were still – looking more like decoys or models for a serene painting. But within this peaceful setting the swamp was certainly teeming with action, struggles, life and death…