The last pull of the ebbing tide carried my kayak seaward as I paddled through the salt marsh channel. My destination was Bear Island, a pristine, four-mile-long barrier island facing the North Atlantic Ocean in Hammocks Beach State Park near Swansboro, NC. For twelve autumns while on vacation I had followed this marked paddle trail out to Bear Island where I walked the wide sandy beach, gazed at the blue ocean, listened to the rolling surf, looked for seashells,…
Threshold I stepped across a scattering of large gray rocks, remnants of an old stone wall, a threshold to mark my departure from home and yard and my entry to an hour long sit spot. Once across the threshold I would slow my pace, shift my awareness into noticing, and proceed slowly to my destination. Crossing the threshold was the easy second step in conducting a sit spot. The first step, forming the intention was much more difficult. Why, I…
On an early, misty, chilly September morning Ellington joined me for a shared sit spot at Browning Beaver Meadow. As a nature photographer and landscape painter she was practiced in seeing details and vistas. As an acupuncturist she understood the natural waves and energies of healing. As a long time practitioner of yoga and meditation she knew about mindfulness. And as an avid hiker she enjoyed the outdoors. And, most importantly she volunteered to join me All of these reasons…