Intriguing to read about a different concept of directions. A lot of important ideas to mull over and think about how I and we orient our lives. Naturally, people who live close to the land with a different, and I dare say deeper, respect for it have a profound and broader view of time and our place in it.
All those parks sound breathtaking. I've been to Death Valley only once. It was a family vacation when I was in eighth grade. My father hitched a trailer behind the Ford station wagon and drove down the eastern side of the Sierras. Unfortunately, I don't remember much of the scenery because I had buried my head in Gone with the Wind. "Get your head out of the goddam' book and look at the scenery!" my father exclaimed.
I'll have to go back and do that. These beautiful photos and compelling descriptions tell me it's not to be missed.
I remember the first time I went to the East side of the Sierra for our first high school backpacking trip. I was stunned by the beauty and have always loved returning since then. It is a wild and gorgeous landscape: I am confident that you would love it!
Death Valley was gorgeous too, although I loved it slightly less than the east side. But I would like to return to see the stars one night as it is a Dark Sky sanctuary. Our timing and places where we were staying made that not work out this trip.
I loved your story about your family trip! I remember loving to read on long trips too and not wanting to get out of the car. 🤣
Welcome home! I enjoyed travelling vicariously through you 😊 The photos are gorgeous, as always. And I loved this: "Moving forward I hope to practice noticing these directions in my life: Up, Down, Past, Present, Future, and Myself, in addition to the European tradition of North, South, East and West." Beautiful.
Thanks Jayne! I'm glad you had fun on "our" travels! And thank you for the kind comment about the photos.
Those additional directions are so interesting, aren't they? I'm still trying to figure out how to use them to orient myself on a consistent basis. Repeating them feels almost like a kind of meditation...
I think indigenous tribes world wide follow similar traditions. Certainly in Australia where the landscape has sung to them for 60,000 years and where they have followed the seasons and wildlife in order to survive. I'm noting the ten directions down for future reference. It just makes sense.
I think if one is a gardener, blue skies or not, one can become attuned to land and plant song. It's amazing how it can transport one on grey days and blue.
We've had some grey cool days lately and in many ways it's a reprieve, but who doesn't love a blue sky? It's uplifting. Unless its above 25 degrees and worse, humid. Then I'd settle for cloud any day...
I agree-I believe that most people who live close to the land will have developed a similar set of directional practices. I had just never heard it so clearly expressed (or have forgotten if i learned it in the past).
My heart is full from this morning's session in the garden - it has been many weeks since I've gotten my hands dirty from my garden soil. What a tonic! I know as a fellow gardener you can relate. I have been learning so much from our gardener about English plantings and rhythms, as they are so different from my California traditions.
It's all about getting in tune with the local landscape. It is the best way to get re-grounded in the place where we are.
The Ten Directions are fascinating and thought provoking Sabrina - I love them! Thank you for sharing that with us, and I’m going to be mulling them over with great interest….
And so happy that spring is springing in your garden!! 💚
Thanks Martha-I'm happy to hear you found the Ten Directions as interesting as I did. And yes, another day of full sun here and I spent it in the garden. Happy girl! Can't wait to get updates from the sea!
I've never visited the Ash Meadows. Sounds worthy! I'm glad that at home the new sunlight is spilling into what had been dark corners, and that your garden plants are quickening.
Thanks Tim, and yes, I heartily recommend a visit to Ash Meadows. I just spent the last four hours this morning in the sunshine in the garden: my heart is full.
Sabrina, my brother Eric was the refuge manager at Ash Meadows during the 1990s. He oversaw the construction of the boardwalk during his time. It's a little blue gem in the middle of the desert. :)
Wow, that is cool! What an amazing job he did! We were so impressed with the Interpretive Center and the staff, as well as the landscape itself. You are right-a true blue gem!
Intriguing to read about a different concept of directions. A lot of important ideas to mull over and think about how I and we orient our lives. Naturally, people who live close to the land with a different, and I dare say deeper, respect for it have a profound and broader view of time and our place in it.
All those parks sound breathtaking. I've been to Death Valley only once. It was a family vacation when I was in eighth grade. My father hitched a trailer behind the Ford station wagon and drove down the eastern side of the Sierras. Unfortunately, I don't remember much of the scenery because I had buried my head in Gone with the Wind. "Get your head out of the goddam' book and look at the scenery!" my father exclaimed.
I'll have to go back and do that. These beautiful photos and compelling descriptions tell me it's not to be missed.
I remember the first time I went to the East side of the Sierra for our first high school backpacking trip. I was stunned by the beauty and have always loved returning since then. It is a wild and gorgeous landscape: I am confident that you would love it!
Death Valley was gorgeous too, although I loved it slightly less than the east side. But I would like to return to see the stars one night as it is a Dark Sky sanctuary. Our timing and places where we were staying made that not work out this trip.
I loved your story about your family trip! I remember loving to read on long trips too and not wanting to get out of the car. 🤣
At least it was books that stuck us to our seats in the car and not our phones :). Though it's easy to see why it's hard to put phones down too, alas.
Welcome home! I enjoyed travelling vicariously through you 😊 The photos are gorgeous, as always. And I loved this: "Moving forward I hope to practice noticing these directions in my life: Up, Down, Past, Present, Future, and Myself, in addition to the European tradition of North, South, East and West." Beautiful.
Thanks Jayne! I'm glad you had fun on "our" travels! And thank you for the kind comment about the photos.
Those additional directions are so interesting, aren't they? I'm still trying to figure out how to use them to orient myself on a consistent basis. Repeating them feels almost like a kind of meditation...
I think indigenous tribes world wide follow similar traditions. Certainly in Australia where the landscape has sung to them for 60,000 years and where they have followed the seasons and wildlife in order to survive. I'm noting the ten directions down for future reference. It just makes sense.
I think if one is a gardener, blue skies or not, one can become attuned to land and plant song. It's amazing how it can transport one on grey days and blue.
We've had some grey cool days lately and in many ways it's a reprieve, but who doesn't love a blue sky? It's uplifting. Unless its above 25 degrees and worse, humid. Then I'd settle for cloud any day...
XXXX
I agree-I believe that most people who live close to the land will have developed a similar set of directional practices. I had just never heard it so clearly expressed (or have forgotten if i learned it in the past).
My heart is full from this morning's session in the garden - it has been many weeks since I've gotten my hands dirty from my garden soil. What a tonic! I know as a fellow gardener you can relate. I have been learning so much from our gardener about English plantings and rhythms, as they are so different from my California traditions.
It's all about getting in tune with the local landscape. It is the best way to get re-grounded in the place where we are.
The Ten Directions are fascinating and thought provoking Sabrina - I love them! Thank you for sharing that with us, and I’m going to be mulling them over with great interest….
And so happy that spring is springing in your garden!! 💚
Thanks Martha-I'm happy to hear you found the Ten Directions as interesting as I did. And yes, another day of full sun here and I spent it in the garden. Happy girl! Can't wait to get updates from the sea!
I've never visited the Ash Meadows. Sounds worthy! I'm glad that at home the new sunlight is spilling into what had been dark corners, and that your garden plants are quickening.
Thanks Tim, and yes, I heartily recommend a visit to Ash Meadows. I just spent the last four hours this morning in the sunshine in the garden: my heart is full.
Sabrina, my brother Eric was the refuge manager at Ash Meadows during the 1990s. He oversaw the construction of the boardwalk during his time. It's a little blue gem in the middle of the desert. :)
Wow, that is cool! What an amazing job he did! We were so impressed with the Interpretive Center and the staff, as well as the landscape itself. You are right-a true blue gem!
Love the idea of the enhanced, comprehensive set of directions. Thanks for enlightening me!
You are most welcome! I'm guessing the PNW tribes may have a similar philosophy.