Opening Poem

Inside You and Far Beyond You

The road seen, then not seen, the hillside

hiding then revealing the way you should take,

the road dropping away from you as if leaving you

to walk on thin air, then catching you, holding you up,

when you thought you would fall – and the way forward

always in the end, the way that you came, the way

that you followed, the way that carried you into your future,

that brought you to this place, no matter that

it sometimes had to take your promise from you,

no matter that it always had to break your heart

along the way: the sense of having walked

from far inside yourself out into the revelation,

to have risked yourself for something that seemed

to stand both inside you and far beyond you,

and that called you back in the end

to the only road you could follow…

Excerpt from “Santiago” – David Whyte

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The stillness, peace and tranquility that I felt today while I walked was incredibly nourishing to my soul. My attention was captured by both the macro environment of the stately oak, and micro environments of the spider web, moss and dancing plumes. And this feast for the eyes was joined by the cicadas and birds singing in jubilation. I am so grateful for the wonder and diversity of this place and our planet – its people, flora, fauna, art and so much more.

Photos and reflection by Nancy L.