CHOLLA AT ME
New Mexico
~ Written Word of the Soul ~
Becoming… (WHOLE)
Becoming…
There is a sense of running hard
Step after step
Yet home seems so far…
Do not fret, fear, or fall forlorn
For each one of us has a part
To play, in this great game
Omit the desire for pointless fame
Bring God’s reality into frame
And YOU- yes you,
Be the impactful change
That connects our human links & chains
Into one universal brain
As we all are -
One and the same.
…
May the frequency
Of the written word
share the soul
to make us WHOLE
Nature Story
Cottonwood Carries On
When life pulls at your roots, yanks at your foundation, how will you respond? One day maybe, the wind may blow over your trunk - now what?
While exploring more “hidden gems” of beautiful New Mexico - Pecos Canyon (and its descending Pecos River) was spontaneously discovered. (Shout out to Cole Daugherty, my uncle, who led the way with his insatiable fly fishing zest).
About 7 miles up into rocky-style river terrain, with piñon and pine trees galore, we found an epic river spot to swim (a much needed cool-down from the August heat). Deep in our nature-discovery bag, we found something unexpectedly sustaining life, defying all odds.
There it was - a collapsed cottonwood fallen over the top of the river; yet it still is alive (and well)! The entire roots are pulled out from the ground, stretched and slanted, yet still breathing and growing leaves! (Do trees “breathe”? If so, can we hear it)?
A truly extraordinary feat of resilience, fortitude and persistence to live beyond an otherwise unfortunate circumstances. How does a strike of “bad tree luck” still land beauty and growth?
This also merits another question going deeper - cottonwoods in New Mexico almost exclusively grow only close to water. Did this tree actually mean to fall over, to be constantly in touch with the life-giving gift of water? What do you think?
Do you think the elegant cottonwood tree intentionally fell over, or this happened to it, and its simply making the best of these circumstances to sustain life?
Regardless of which way the river runs - there is certainly a deeper lesson behind the bark here.
It seems (I am no tree scientist) that the neighboring mother tree (matriarch) whom is still standing is sharing nutrients with the fallen son. Also, she is giving rise to new saplings, while simultaneously supporting her much bigger boy, in dire need.
What’s so genuinely cool about trees (and much of nature, at that) is the way it simply “makes it happen” - no matter the circumstances. Maybe if trees could talk - they would complain a bunch like we do! However, with no vocal cords built into the bark - there is no room for such squabbles - it must carry on and live, in anyway whatsoever.
Persist and Uplift
From the dark nights of antiquity (now) the bright lights of modern - this ability to persist, keep moving & grooving, regardless of circumstance has been fading. Many only know how to count the bad times, and quickly dismiss away any good happenings… why is this? (To hash out this why, we will need a whole other day and chapter)!
Let’s instead slam this dunk with a simple leap - there certainly is ancient wisdom all around us to respect, recognize, and reap. We don’t need some grandiose plan, a $10K ayahuasca retreat, or coaching course to re-direct our trajectory to truth. It’s right around us, if we open our eyes to see, and ears to listen.
One more touch - Molly, fiancée, made a great point about the matriarch - it gives endlessly to support its tributaries (no matter what)! What a beautiful, pure sentiment that we also can absorb and apply.
Find the givers, and ride with them. There are enough takers - do not let them bite your hand (that feeds). BE the cottonwood, ride steadfast - for the long haul.
P.S. This is also how people are re-connecting to our deepest human traits - intrinsically motivated moves are scientifically proven to benefit long-term drive, mental and physical health, and strong relationships. Source: “Drive” by Daniel H. Pink
FROM THE MOUNTAINS
THE REPORT:
SIGHTINGS:
Exquisite caterpillar crawling on the river ground floor in Pecos!
Happenings:
The Burning of Zozobra, Santa Fe - Fri, Sept 4 · Fort Marcy Park, Santa Fe
The 102nd burning of Old Man Gloom. Fifty feet of marionette, a crowd of thousands, and a century-old ritual of writing down your worst year and watching it go up in flames. Gates at 4PM. If you do one thing on this list, do this one. GET TICKETS
Fiestas de Santa Fe — Sept 5–13 · Santa Fe Plaza
The 314th. Nine days of parades, processions, mariachi, food vendors and dancing on and around the Plaza. One of the oldest continuously celebrated community festivals in the country. FULL SCHEDULE
TAOS Studio Tour— Labor Day weekend, Sept 4–7 · Taos
More than 30 Taos artists open their actual working studios. Not a booth at a market — the room where the work gets made, with the artist standing in it. The best way to buy art and the best way to understand it. MAP & ARTIST LIST
Michael Hearne's Big Barn Dance — Sept 10–12 · Taos (Art Stroll Sept 9)
Twenty-plus years running. Songwriters in the round, under the Sangre de Cristos, with a crowd that actually listens. As close to a Taos institution as live music gets. LINEUP & TICKETS
Taos Fall Arts Festival Opens — Sept 18 – Oct 4 · Taos
Just past our window but worth planning for — the big one, running two and a half weeks and drawing artists from across northern New Mexico. DETAILS
