Honoring the Earth on Earth Day 2021

I live ten minutes from Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey.  The order of monks that reside there have been so gracious to share the trails of their large natural area with the public.  It’s a treasure- one of the few places left closeby where one may take a quiet ramble in nature. I set off solo early in the morning for an Earth Day hike.  It’s pleasant with friends but by oneself you have the opportunity to notice so much more and the birds and other wildlife are much more willing to present themselves.

The main Guadalupe Loop is a steep one- about 1.5 miles up.  At the top of the mountain is a primitive shrine to Our Lady Of Guadalupe where visitors can meditate, admire the view, and leave offerings- Catholic or not.  It’s the kind of a hike where you can leave with a storm in your brain and then come down with head full of sunshine. 

It’s good to remember where we come from especially now- the earth needs our attention and love more than ever.

Here is a poem I wrote along my hike…

Walking up the Mountain

How can I honor

you who feeds my body

and my soul

who provides me respite

from this troubled word?

I will walk up the mountain

through the meadow

through the wood

I will nod to your blessed

the iris , the camas, the fawn lilly

the flicker laughing unseen

the fern unfolding

I shall inhale your sweetness

and when I reach the top

stow these treasures in my heart

then walk back down the mountain

to  share them with the others

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Drop by my other blog on sustainable living at oneseetearth.art.blog