Open in Light and Shadow

Open on Friday left me noticing 

Light & Shadow.

It found me reflecting on Marti's comment on my last post.

"Open can also let in that which tests us, which can bring us to our knees, which can make us want to close up."

I am not brought to my knees, but the news received has me practicing remaining open, so I can respond thoughtfully, patiently and with kindness for all of the players invloved.

This becomes easier for me as the years go by.

But, on the other hand, I do feel a sense of 'testing'...a level of challenge as I consider the information or lack of it.

It's a lot to think about.

Light & Shadow

So, for right now, I am living the questions.

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2015

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer."

― Rainer Maria Rilke

Keeping Open

Silhouetted Opened Spaces

Today, this is what 'open' looks like.

What it feels like.

Today spaces represent open.

If there is no open, there is no space for that seed.

No seed, no growth.

So, open.

Light Filling Open Spaces

I've received news.

And partly because I've been considering open,

I am in a good place to receive this news.

“And the day came when the risk to remain
tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
-Anaïs Nin

As I go about considering this, I remind myself to remain open, to look for the spaces.

I remind myself to rest there, in the spaces, and breathe.

Spaces and Beyond

Open Spaces.
Keeping open.
 Leaving space.
Being open.

“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.”
~Albert Einstein

I have a sense of change about me.

A sense of growth taking place,

even when I'm not even fully aware.

And when I am totally present and focused too.

I have a sense.

Really Open

 Because open also comes from the seed itself.

It can be juicy and wonderful.
It can be a deep kind of open.

It can be sweet.

It can be fruitful.

Open Can Be Deep

As a friend said to me today,

"Life is good".

~Nancy

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2015

Open to Our Sunday Hike

Even though I was wheezing a bit, we went for a hike.  I'm glad we did because now I feel like I've got my usual cold thing coming on.  Blech.  And just in time for some "Weather" and a week with two after work meetings.  We may get some rain this week, so I best prepare!!  Please read the sarcasm into that last comment.

Anyway, we went for a short two hour exploration in the same general area as last week.  Just on the other side of the mountain.

The area is called Elsmere Canyon, you can read about it here.  

There are lots of trails to choose from.

If you look at the map, you will understand how amazing it was to find the same rock twice...in the 1200 acres (even if it was in the same general area)!!!

*click on photos to enlarge*

I've left them some of them smaller so the post will hopefully load quicker for ya'll.

On the left, August 2013 & On the right, January 2015

I am in love with this story!  I am telling anyone who will listen the Rock Story.

When I picked it up last week, I felt like I was greeting an old friend.

I left it right there on the log.  Maybe we will meet again.

Anyway, today we thought we'd set the goal of hiking to the "knob".

Heading up the dirt trail

This part of the trail was an easy walk.  Along an old paved road, under the freeway and then up the dirt trail we went.

We continued up...up..up.

Looking back down on the trail in

A scattering of wildflowers

Amazing views

He disappears down this opening for a few minutes, but that story will come later!

Well Hello!

King of the hill!

OPEN!

We climb a small hill...greet more views and discover remains of those that lived here in years gone by.  I reflect that I am so darn happy I was open to hiking today.

Broken tile cairn 

This is the point where we have surveyed the land, looking for the best, easiest, quickest route up to the knob.

The thing is, there isn't one.

We decide, another day, with earlier start would be a good idea!

So, we head back down the hill.

J. tells me that the little nook he explored had some odd signs of mankind.

What I see is a house roof.

A typewriter

Got ironing?

Writing in rust

Found button

We find another treasure while walking the rest of the way out!

Stay tuned for our next installment of Sunday Hike!

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2015