Another great day in the Bluff

Another day in Bluff ... Easter Sunday and on a more spiritual note the rugged cone ridge , the back bone that projects upward from the land, created 63 million years ago (no joke). How spiritual can you get. Last year I had discovered a quiet shrine built long, long ago. Inside of this shrine my eyes fell upon blue bird feathers... I knew it was powerful medicine. A few feet down I discovered a large pottery shard...of the Anasazi people. These people disappeared long ago and left no trace. They call them the ancients here. They left behind ruins and beauty of which you can feel as you walk the land.
Today we rediscovered the land. Sunshine filled every nook and cranny. It was 75 degrees today, clear and beautiful. The desert sand drifted into our socks and shoes. Enya's pads were a wee sore but she enjoyed every water hole that we encountered. This was followed by rumps, rolls and tosses into the red sand which is in every crevice of her body...hmmm.
We headed down to the San Juan river to breathe in the cottonwood smell and take in the sunset. Spectacular.
Thinking of loved ones, thinking of how fortunate we all are on this beautiful planet. Every place on this earth  holds great mysteries abound. There is an incredible artist who lives here and works with willows and vines. He weaves them and creates symmetry. The fence picture is one of his creations. Beautiful.

Bluff on the mind

Well here we are in this beautiful, magical country again. It is primitive and quietly reverent with spiritual qualities. We explored for 5 1/2 hours today.... exhausted and happy!! Poochie was one sore puppy. She loved the river beds and exploring for rocks! Then when we ventured out into the sage and thistles her poor pads were going ouch, ouch. But what a tough dog. Proud of her and us. We were so frigging hungry when we got in. We left with one egg and toast, had a bar and apple on the trail. Thank God a cold brew was waiting for us along with some awesome chicken fajitas!!!

The agates were thick in the river bed. Beautiful and bold filled with clarity of greens and oranges. The lizards scampered around us darting through  our pathway as if to say catch me if you can.
The wonderful alcoves were filled with birds of every kind chattering and flickering through. The wonderful thing about this country is that it takes a hardy tourist to come here and hike. Primitive conditions and not many facilities keep most at bay. Unlike Moab where hikes are small and you can tear around in jeeps to see most everything, here it takes an effort and nature holds many secrets around you.
The San Juan runs through camp with tall ridges jutting up across it's very banks. What a blessing! And at night the hot tub waits under the stars with lights twinkling around the stone pathway.
Peaceful

Quest

The hawk was dead, he lay before me a mass of feathers and curled talons. There in the silence of the forest, on the forest floor with the canopy of ancient large trees ... laid the spirit that would set my spirit reeling.. the metamorphosis had begun. I had sensed it in every bone, every muscle of my body. I sit writing ...staring at the reflection of the moon in the upper window, at the reflection of myself dimly lit in the south window... the quiet tired girl who is so eager for life to unfold. I have been on a quest since I can remember. I have questioned all that surrounds me since I was small. Now, at long last, I'm aware that these are good things. These two words contain good matter, good molecules, good vibes: quest and question.
Today held many joining puzzle shapes which emerged and centered for me as I grew quiet. It seems that solitude is the answer as of late.. quiet... all one..alone.
I was painting a great cat, a black panther who contained spots. As I painted I knew I needed to walk in the woods. There as we walked in the woods were large cat tracks.... leading the way. The river called our names, just as it always does. Rocks and ripples awaited, sounds and smells surrounded.. the sunshine filtered in lifting our spirits, settling our nerves just as the silt settles in to the water currents. All was right in the world.
As I read Meinrad's words tonight, I realized that there were three pictures (paintings) that held secrets from today...Death..which represented a release, an opening, a fount.....Wind which represented freedom and flight with wings given and presented by the death of the hawk....and finally Night which was given by the crow family and settled into our bones just as now knowing that night surrounds me in a thick dark layer, engulfing me and settling my spirit. Night will be my friend. It will hold secrets and share them wisely once I learn to settle in... acceptance of the night air is needed. The moon and my reflection are of utmost importance... all one... alone...settling in to the fount.

Sometimes I need to breathe..and leave it all behind, that is when the magic happens. That is where the images can emerge.