Trees purify the air; they also purify the mind . . . if you want to save your world, you must save the trees. – The Trees of Endor, J.R.R. Tolkien

(Photo: Scrub Pine at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

I am blessed with the knowledge each day, that my life is filled with love; that I have great love in my life. Like the new growth on trees in Spring, I am abundant in my love and in my life. I bless the love and the loved ones I have in my life, today and everyday.” – Pamela J. Leavey

(Photo: Spring Buds at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

“I welcome the chance to learn from every person with whom my life interacts. I recognize that I am green as the new leaves that grow upon the trees, and in my learning I too will grow.” ~~ Pamela J. Leavey

(Photo: Shades of Spring Leaves ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2011)

When I look to the skies, I often see very magical formations in clouds like the one below that looks a bit like a rainbow colored lightening bolt seen through the the bare trees:

When I see rainbows, my heart lifts up to the heavens in a sort of communion with the universe that fills me with joy.

It’s so important to find joy in the little things in life, as I have noted here in my Daily Affirmation today, and my Food For Thought post yesterday.

We go through life sometimes in a very numb state of mind, in that we forgot to look to the skies for rainbows or stop and smell the flowers.

I learned a long time ago that in being in the moment, you place your heart and soul in alignment with the opportunity to experience and feel joy. To be in the moment takes constant work and practice on living with an open mind and an open heart.

Awakening to joy, seeing rainbows is a great balm to the soul when we learn to look to even the littlest things to fill our hearts and minds with love and gratitude.

(Photo: Rainbow Bolt Through the Trees ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

Today, I will take time to be grateful for the little things that make each day special. Crocus blooming early in the garden, the river glistening in the sun, the birds singing in the trees, the ever chaging cycles of Mother Nature which inspire and awe me each day. ~~ Pamela J. Leavey

(Photo: On The River ~~ c. Pamela J. Leavey)

Today, I look to the colors of nature to remind me of how colorful and rich my own life is. I have been so blessed throughout my life, with the gift of not only colorful family and friends, but also a colorful and diverse life that has filled my soul with so much appreciation for all the colors of nature and inspires bountiful creative energy. I am grateful. ~~ Pamela J. Leavey

(Photo: Berries, Brambles & Trees with Smudgestick Effect ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

When I look at bare trees, I see ever moving, ever changing limbs of life that are preparing to bloom again. For, they have their seasons just as we do. Our lives are indeed ever moving, ever changing and in that movement and growth we grow as a tree grows.

Sometimes we feel as though our lives are caught in some strange vortex, in which we liquify, as the bare limbs in the photo above have been.

We feel our selves spinning around, flowing in every which way, unable to grasp a bare branch and hold on. It takes our breath away. It confuses our senses. It is ego, fear manifest. Be it brief or lingering, we simply want the whirling to stop.

Give in to the vortex, take the ride… Understand that all things in life happen for a reason, and there are lessons to be learned.

I always know, deep down in my heart and soul, that if I am lost, I will be found. And I will be stronger for the wild ride in the vortex of life…

Namaste… Pamela

(Photo: Hawk Silhouette in Vortex Tree ~~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

Through the web of the bare branches of the trees and the electrical wires, this sky was such a gift to watch outside of my desk windows a few nights ago…

I am always grateful for the ever-changing canvas that is the sky.

(Photo: My Evening Sky at Point Shore ~~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

It’s been three and a half weeks since I last walked On The Parker River Path. The beaver dam pictured above was a familiar sight as we hiked Hellcat Swamp at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

I learned while walking the Parker River Path to watch for nature’s changes each hike, as nature’s changes were life’s changes.

Sometimes we build a dam around us for protection. Sometimes we soar over the trees filled with joy. There are days when our lives are filled with turbulent winds and days when we light up like the sun.

I keep the lessons of the Parker River Path close to my heart right now, until I can walk that path again. The lessons of the Parker River Path give me faith that the Great Mother Goddess is always with us. She is the primal heartbeat within us all.

Reflections on now…

I find myself now in a place forced to stay some what less mobile (an understatement), than this fiercely independent woman is accustomed to enduring. My bottom line has always been, I just don’t stay down well. I’ve always had to do for myself in life, and my daughter, as I raised her alone. So what to do now that I am in this forced state of limited mobility?

The universe sometimes gives us a shove when a gentle push doesn’t work anymore… I’ve now been gifted with the time to clean up some serious procrastinations that have been hanging up my life.

That’s the blessing… If there is one to be seen in this mess…

First, I am taking some time and heeding the message that sometimes when the going gets tough, the tough do need to slow down and take some time to heal.

(Photo: Reflection Through the Trees at Hellcat Swamp ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)