When I hold these days of silence I often spend a fair amount of time outside listening to the wisdom of the trees and birds and whoever comes to visit me on my walks.  I take those visitations as messages to deeply listen to, and today was rich with visitations. And it is not only flora and fauna that speak to me, but the earth herself, the dirt, the snow, the wind, yes, often the wind carries words and images that seem to emanate from those who have passed on before me.  But today it was the light with her wisdom and warmth that repeatedly spoke to me.  The sparkling snow as it drifted down through the early morning sunshine seemed to carry a song on its many faceted wings.  A song of joy, of knowing, of trusting, and of hope. And midday as I filled the bird feeders, checked on my bees, and brought my compost out to the garden, the sun danced upon the ordered rows of my dormant strawberry patch, on the still standing stalks of withered kale, and spoke of the summer sun that will come once again. It spoke of its dedication to bring forth abundance in the form of food.  It’s message being: yes I will nurture and give warmth, but you must tend and harvest and share to strengthen the faith in your community. There was a song and a weaving of reciprocity in the sun today—she seemed to say to me that it may look like a one way giving, but she was warmed by my smile shining back at her. My seeing her for her loving abundance helped her want to shine all the more brightly for our troubled world.  It made me remember the power of gratitude and attention. And yes, today was a day filled to the brim with gratitude. And filled with the wisdom of the sunshine filtering through the trees and dancing across the snowdrifts in the fields.

On my afternoon ski, the caresses of the sunshine seemed to soak into my bones and say “I have your back”; “I will light your path”; “Have faith that each new day shall bring hope”.  I literally soaked the sun’s hope into my bones.

And now as the afterglow of the sun has faded, and the multitude of stars shine their magic down on me, I am reminded of the vastness that surrounds us, of the great unknown that is our destiny, and that evolution happens in sudden leaps of change. It gives me perspective.  It gives me hope that despite the chaos we witness in these troubled times, there is also a rightness in this world that is holding us.  There is indeed a true north made visible in that north star that shows up in my sky every night.  There is a song of hope that is carried on the winds that wrap around this fragile planet.  We must all lift up our ears to catch this song and then lift up our voices to speak its truth—that there is indeed abundance if we let go of greed, there is indeed peace and understanding if we let go our fears and misconceptions, that we are blessed beyond measure if only we learn to start our days with gratitude.  May the sun shine down its warmth upon us all, and may the stars remind us of the magic and power of gratitude and attention. Here’s to faith and hope and love and light! And what a gift to pass this mantle

of attention on to my dear sister Peri. May your day also be blessed sweet sister.