No Push

Sunset view of the Lighthouse and Wharf,

 from Seabright Beach, Santa Cruz, California.

No Push

10/5/09

Perhaps it's procrastination

a deep laziness

or core unwillingness

that's entered bones

from being older,

though believing otherwise,

it's really wisdom

which has infected

my conscious mind

so there's awareness

of body state,

tired or not,

and emotional equilibrium,

what needs expression

plus spiritual connection,

All as One,

where menial tasks

societal money concerns

even love relationships

pale in comparison

to merging rhythms,

mine and Source,

into creative synergy

allowing for unknown

uniquely timed occurrences

opening my heart

with no push.

Two Years

Dragonfly, and it's birthplace at Castle Lake, near  Mt. Shasta

Two Years

10/4/09

Some messages come boldly,

while others, subtle as air

gently caress side of face

titillating hair on skin

igniting momentary presence to life

it's haunting mystery and magic,

for me, I like big signs,

even though still misinterpreted

until later viewed in hindsight

wondering how I missed it,

like my sore shoulder saying 'Stop!',

look, listen, take physical break,

and slow work scene means 'recharge',

imagine possibilities besides construction

do the little things at home

plus dream a bigger vision,

well... Dragonfly visited in Shasta,

pointed me toward buying art

of itself pinned by kestrel talons

directing me to read in 'Animal Speak'

about 'nymph stage' time period

the metamorphosis from water to air

that startled me with clarity,

this is what I am to do

by coming to realize my transfiguration

into author, teacher, innovator,

as my new self, at two years end.

Unveiled

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with veil of Sunday morning fog in October.

Unveiled

10/1/09

Without measured expectation

life can show up,

perform in surprising ways,

give us new information

through curiosity and questions,

or offers, devoid of inquiry,

like scenes in a movie

where nothing is wasted,

every conversation perfectly in place,

while carrying a foreboding

linked to what will come

 because of past connection,

years of friendship through sports,

business, or extended relations

that give plenty of opportunity

to surmise a person's character

get a feel for their integrity

as to trustworthiness and more,

which makes for percolation of ideas

thoughts rubbing along side possibility

sparking miracle blaze of potential,

whereupon comes a sudden revelation

with no real advanced pre-condition,

then synchronicity and serendipity unite,

find themselves pulling the cord

in concert with lights, camera,

aimed at next act unveiled on stage.

Coolness

The 'guest trailer', much like the one I lived in 31 years ago when moving to this land.

Coolness

9/30/07

Yesterday's north wind

cleansed redwood trees

of old leaves,

their tiny pods,

gave good shake

to every limb

of oak, madrone,

eucalyptus, bay, others,

so morning litter,

the natural kind,

covers road, ground,

and my cats

now given chance

find warmth inside

kitchen, living room,

still without heat

as is upstairs

opting for layers

instead of fire,

taking me back

remembering 'trailer' years

many fall seasons

winter's wet weather

plus crisp dawn

which invigorates blood

filled with vitality

while coolness descends.

Retreat

Gentle Thunder sharing Castle Lake with 'Dragonfly', Mt. Shasta, California

Retreat

9/26/09

It may seem counter

to common sense society

born around work ethic

Protestant ideals and more,

that when stressors multiply

the cure is opposite,

letting go manufactured need

for premature decision making

not having all information

or burdened by expectations,

assumptions, forgetting the wisdom

of loving 'what is',

embracing and 'being it',

seeing past illusory permanence

situations given exaggerated importance

where leaving things alone,

all the detailed projects

on long priority list,

allows for new thinking

when settling into ease

discovering everything can wait

while paddling mountain lake

blessed by dragonfly medicine

reminding of veil between,

what seems real isn't

yet peace, joy, love,

find substance in retreat.

Behind It

Raven kayaking Castle Lake with Mt. Shasta in the distance

Behind it

9/25/09

You can say 'underneath',

however we truly realize

world beyond the 'veil',

call it 'true reality',

even with invisible nature

that takes trained eyes,

heart, head, plus spirit,

to filter out cacophony

of life's nervous energy

so associated with living

which obstructs calm perception

the subtle essence vibrations

prevalent when in wilderness,

Mother Earth's raw beauty,

whether in magical forest,

paddling on mountain lake,

swimming in the same,

or just imbibing magnificence

like Mt. Shasta's grandeur,

her majestic inspiring vistas

easily seen and photographed,

yet offering feeling experience

for those willing participants

who allow quiet moments,

stop the mental chatter,

listen for deeper transmission,

behind it, in it.

Floating

Gentle Thunder floating on Castle Lake, Mt. Shasta, California

Floating

9/24/09

In order to survive,

flourish, reap life's rewards,

often we must stop,

rest, not make decisions,

more like 'just be',

without the frantic kicking,

flailing of arms, hands,

when keeping head above

waves of turbulent circumstance,

granted it's not easy

being calm in storm

trusting from vulnerable position

even as demise looms,

always a real possibility,

call on 'all potential'

to show another way

coming to miracle rescue

because we believe such,

wouldn't succumb so easily

no matter dire predictions

or how history demonstrates

past weave of mankind,

inevitably change will arrive,

original happenstance showing itself

for everyone to marvel,

recognize, as evolutionary shift

forever floating in consciousness.

Ancients Watch

Buddha in my backyard with succulents, early morning.

Ancients Watch

9/23/09

From hawk, eagle perspective

when viewing my life

soaring above mundane concerns

I imagine ancestors observing

commenting on every choice

made over the years

that show a worthiness,

or failure, to shine,

depending if there's embrace

of genuine spiritual aspects

contrary to base decisions,

noticing how care translates

to loving myself, family,

friends, neighbors, land, animals,

from wise grandparent nature,

higher self, collective consciousness,

Great Spirit, seeing offspring

in each evolutionary stage

wanting to help guide

by sending specific messengers

both subtle, and blatant,

as birds, people, experiences,

so wisdom finds home

within my human heart

able to sincerely greet

new day living joyously,

powerfully, as ancients watch.

Another Turning

Santa Cruz Lighthouse from East Cliff beach after early Sunday radio.

Another Turning

9/22/09

Fall Equinox bodes change

as air smells shift

coolness has new quality

light continues to lower

leave earlier in evening,

and I smile anticipation

for the coming rain,

wind, tree limbs swaying,

putting on warm layers

having wood stove fires

while forced to accept,

be with, 'what is',

no matter the circumstances,

able to follow through

on dreams that arrived

during summer, spring musings,

from past year failures

harvesting the rich lessons

when feeling in deeply

to where Spirit leads,

entertaining original vital thought

laying groundwork for future

so dependent on 'now'

my abilities to co-create

with Source Energy forces

realizing evolution always happens

through another turning inside.

While Hot

My portrait 

(photo by Art Durand Photography)

While Hot

9/21/09

Revelations come and go

starting off so grand

like I'll never forget

as if seared within,

felt as cosmic prod

to advance in direction

toward creating original piece,

whether written as story,

poem, commentary, and like,

or perhaps a prototype

for workshop wood project

and lately, poetry cards,

with picture and verse

on both sides, together,

where people access one

which inspires for day

then put at bottom

perhaps on meditation altar

only 'sitting' height tall

with a 'reflection' mirror

so I can witness,

be intimate through eyes

seeing beyond physical facade

into Spirit incarnated 'me',

who finds life's resonance

offers path to explore

while hot to trot.

My Mom

Dorothy Marie Hayes  when married to Robert Franklin Spitzer

My Mom

9/16/09

It has been 86 years

since Dorothy entered this world

to Leo and Grace Hayes

in Buffalo, New York area,

followed by her brother Patrick,

sharing room until leaving home

when marrying my father Robert,

a most handsome joyous couple,

they soon bore twin boys,

then, after many more tries,

came three more future men

until first girl broke the mold,

paving way for last angel

at ripe age of 42,

I still wonder, in awe,

of how that was possible

thinking of the daily trials

that would test anyone's sanity

and the kind of faith

so necessary to navigate life,

trusting, one step after another,

persevering, as their inevitable choice,

tapping into the deepest well

only Spirit can freely offer

through prayers for protection, guidance,

doing the best they could

my Mom led with love.

However

Dragonfly like the one that visited while kayaking Castle Lake in Mt. Shasta.

(photo by chiropractor Steven Stewart)

However

9/16/09

I don't care how you do it,

what gets you there to realize

the importance of inner landscapes

this space constantly lived in

that is often filled with junk

second hand thoughts about life

passed down through generations

of family, education, society, nation,

where spiritual core is buried,

it's quiet wisdom is drowned out

by cacophony of influential voices

which needs clearing to perceive

insights of an expanded knowing

born from Truth, Nature and Presence,

so if you must drink, smoke pot,

take hallucinations, or simply meditate,

in order to understand holistic concept

saying we are 'all One teeming energy'

miraculously diverse in unique design

here to express as a joyous entity,

then we can begin the transformation

playing each part in Great Turning,

inspired, motivated, given Guidance

through every interaction existence offers,

able to sit with, accept, interpret

each 'God sent' message you receive

however it manifests in experience.

Navigating Turns

Advertised as the 'best car rally race in the world', on the Isle of Mull, Scotland.

Navigating Turns

9/12/09

Keeping a cool head,

calm, collected, clear,

race car driver presence

is a necessary condition

when taking life on,

snaking through sneaky paradox

whose twisty revelations startle,

eyes shine in headlights

blinded as pupils sharpen,

dilate next dark corner,

constantly adapting to conditions,

quick leap into roadway,

or vehicle crossing line,

next, lulled to sleep

from distance being travelled,

forgetting to pay attention

thinking all is familiar

though never really noticing,

taking deeply descriptive notes

described in narration form

searching words to discern

what's really being lived,

otherwise it's one dimensional

just miraculous protoplastic magma

we push ourselves through

stimulating as it touches

senses for navigating turns.

Transitioning

Friends of mine riding the Big Dipper roller coaster

at the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz, California

Transitioning

9/11/09

It's what's happening these days,

the disheveled economy exacerbates

every doubt and human angst,

folks are thrown into turmoil

as things 'depended on' dissolve,

fail to have any substance left

in the way of sustaining reality

while smoke and mirror security

is seen as the thin facade

that people tried to root into,

so changes begin to happen

where most wail and gnash teeth

crying for the loss of old dreams,

foreclosures, bankruptcy, break ups,

which create a deep introspection

an opening for connection to Spirit,

that unending source of peace

we're able to find in tragedy

when turning our eye toward beauty,

this miracle of unpredictable life,

continuing to roll on unimpeded

whether we suffer or not

depending our thoughts and attitude,

ably shifted from higher perception

a consciousness of All being One

immensely diverse in it's singularity

in constant transitioning to the new.