Heaven, Hell and the Inbetween

Staring down at a burning sea of glistening lights.
Black plateaus protrude and break up the sparkling chaos.
A loan beacon in the distance, beckoning passers by - land here.
Draw closer.
A field of black rock where lava once flowed.
Draw closer.
Enter Snow Canyon where wind's swept path creates it's vast formations.
One light glows in the darkened distance and I wonder:
Do they see my light?
Massive moonlit cliffs rise above the charcoal valley floor.
Drawing closer.
A lone dead tree perched at the edge of the clifftop.
Closer.
The fire's dimming embers radiate.
Wood hisses and pops while it combusts, it's transformed remains
flowing over the edge and through the valley.

I am.

An owl speaks to me in the distance.
Bats circle over head.
I stare up at the moon as the morning light begins to erase the stars.
One by one, they fade into oblivion.
Only to return with the next passing night.
The sky takes on a faint illumination.
Birds begin to sing of the approaching new day.
The coldest part of night is just before the morning breaks.
A trail to my left.
A trail to my right.
I think today I'll go right.....

I like trees. I can't help it.

So I was driving thru the mtns. and this tree said "Take my picture.

I'm pretty.". So I did. The End.

Red Mountain Solo Adventure

The Red Mountain was calling me.  I couldn't help but listen.  It said "Do you really want some alone time?"  I responded "Desperately".  So it told me "Then come play on me.  And try not to die."  Off I went.  I climbed on and on through the dark.  I tried to take pictures, but they looked liked this:

[picture a black image here]

I finally reached the top, just after I reached exhaustion.  I set up camp here:

I got settled in my tent and the rains began immediately after I zipped it shut.  As I lay there in meditation, the winds picked up.  My tent began to shake.  I could hear the wind swirling around the top of the mountain.  It was like a great flying beast- I could pinpoint it's location and hear it move through each tree and bush.  I worried the tent would not hold and I said out loud "Be still."  -and it was.  I was amazed.  I began to write.  As the words came out, the wind picked up, but just enough to make itself known.  The mountain, the wind and I were one.  

I finished writing.  The wind stopped.  And I drifted off to sleep.

I woke in the morning and stepped out to see where I had camped:

I climbed up a little higher to get a better idea of my surroundings:

This place is beautiful.  There were no people anywhere to be seen and only the animals to keep me company.  The animals were everywhere.  Rabbits, coyotes, lizards, bugs, birds, and so much more.  They were all around me.

I threw on my pack and my silly hat (don't know why, but I really like my silly hat) and headed out to explore:

I started across the top of the mountain and found even more surrounding beauty:

I turned around and saw a cool tree.  I couldn't help myself:

I decided to visit the cool looking rocks across the way:

The rocks were made with perfect little steps for me to climb so I could sit on top of them, feel epic, and think:

I sat atop my rock and took the standard mandatory five finger pic:

Then I couldn't help myself and had to take another one:

I decided that you might like to get a better idea of what it looks like from up here, so I took a little video:

I started to head back and nature decided to teach me a little lesson about frequency by using this fly(yes, that's what very fast wings look like through a camera):

I wandered a little farther and found this cool tree.  Being up here was really tough for a tree whore such as myself.  There are so many cool trees and it's hard not to take pictures of them all.

Then this bush showed me something cool:

After that, I found a nice little sand hill.  I will now perform a stoopid trick for you:

After performing my stoopid trick, it was time to hike down.  Here's what the hike down looked like:

Can you see my house?

Here's a little map of the trail:

Now, for those wondering what I wrote in the tent, here it is:

What I've Learned So Far:

1. The environment we are raised in does affect us.  It's up to me to choose it's effect on my Self.
2. I do know myself.  the qualities I see in others are indeed a reflection of self.
3. Fear occurs.  It's an emotion that can be released.  One cannot choose for it to exist or not exist, only to be.  Let fear be.
4. Zen can be experienced in some very surprising ways.  I love nature.
5. Synchronicity is a clue that I am creating my path.  Synchronicity = Flow.
6. I have freedom to choose my environment.  I have no obligations.  Everything is choice.
7. I am not the collective unconscious.
8. The fundamental aspects of the world are the same, no matter where you go.  Silence is silence.  Still is still.
9. Beauty is everywhere.  Beauty is everyone.  Beauty is everything.  LOOK.
10. Express. Create.  I love art.
11. I do not have to live a role I am assigned.
12. Sleep does not have to be an avoidance tool.
13. If I work too hard, I become unhappy.  Nothing about life should be work.  It's all joy.  Allow joy.
14. I lose myself when I live to please.
15. Forgiveness is Key.  Let go.
16. Intuition exists at every age.
17. I am gifted.
18. I care about others around me.  When I see someone who is down, it is in my true nature to lift.
19. I am different.
20. Searching for myself is not necessary.  I have always been here.
21. There is no such thing as good or bad. 
22. Pain exists.  It is not necessary to seek it to prove this is true.
23. Great control over the physical body requires integration with mind and spirit.
24. It's ok to allow people to love me.
25. As within, so without.

Thanks for reading.

Tif Photography

A good friend  of mine took this pic. When I mentioned to her that I liked it, she was kind enough to have framed (and quite nicely, I might add) and gave it to me as a gift. If you get a chance, you should definitely check her stuff out here: http://tifphotography.blogspot.com. Enjoy: