Trail Blazes.

I once dreamed of the full-time job of walking trails and being the painter of trail blazes like this one. While this hasn’t come to fruition yet...trail blazes serve a very important purpose to us all.

To show us the way.

If you a hiker...then you know that many times you’ll be toodle-doodle-oodlin along and then everything just looks like a forest floor in front of you. Like the trail disappeared.

An easy example of this is in the fall after the leaves fall and the trail is covered over which makes everything sort of look the same.

Yet another example of this is at a river crossing. (Which is why before I cross the river...I’ll look across for the trial on the other side and where it picks up so I know where I’m headed once I get across).

There have been many many times...I just can’t tell where the trail continues...yet I know to shift my gaze up and study the trees looking for the painted blaze that will show me the way.  Often you’ll see...blaze, blaze, blaze.  One tree behind the other...showing the path.

Other times you may only see one blaze...and not until you get to that one can you now see the next one.

This is exactly why one of my favorite taglines has been “Just follow the blazes on your trail.”  Is also why you’ll find this in the header images on my website at RachelDickson.com.

There are many times in life that we wish we could see further down the trail when faced with a decision. And well, sometimes we cannot.  We can only see the next blaze...so we have to trust and then move forward in that trust. And sure enough...when we get a little ways forward there is some more information for us.

Of course, for me, built into that trust is my practice of tuning into my inner knower...much like looking to a compass for confirmation of the right direction.  I am blessed with some rather stellar directional sense...but much of this is directly related to tuning into intuitional awareness and listening to direction from the other side of the veil.

I also want to say here...I just love seeing a trail blaze markers. Feels like art to me in many ways and carries a feeling all its own. It means I’m in the forest!

Stay true to your heart by friends and followers.
Would love to hear your trail blaze stories here.

Namaste.

Come with me...into the wild.

A strange phenomenon occurred to me this past week while I was pet sitting in the city.
I felt like I was in a foreign land.

No really...it was very strange...but I’m so glad this was all revealed to me so I knew how I needed to respond. It never occurred to me that the wild (the forest, rivers and mountains) has become a home signature vibration to me (a very comfortable place...easy for me to engage with) until I found myself in the urban jungle.

I felt out of sorts...like there was a void I couldn’t explain.  So what does one outdoors person do when they find themselves in the city?  Well, ya go to Outdoors World (Bass Pro), REI and Academy Sports all in one fell swoop.

Yes, yes...I know I wrote about this in a previous post. But here’s what’s so interesting about this.
My friends who I was pet sitting for were in Alaska. And they shared w me a story about arriving in Anchorage after traveling all over in the wilderness and how out of sorts they felt being in this city.

I immediately knew the feeling. And I’m not kidding when I say...after your body had been exposed to nature’s magic and silence and calm and sheer beauty and acceptance and will power and awe...when you find yourself surrounded by its opposite it is nothing short than off putting.

Ask anyone who has ever thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail.  They’ll tell you the same thing about having to re-acclimate back into “civil life” again.

When I walked into that REI coop store and looked to my left...on the wall was a HUGE black and white image of Looking Glass Rock in Pisgah Forest.  (It’s important to note...this was in SC...a hot minute away from Pisgah).  

But let me tell you something...the warmth and familiarity that flowed over me while viewing this mural...brought me a rush of calm and the feelings of “home.”  I know this place! I’ve stood on this very rock in Pisgah where this photo was taken.

So no...you’re not crazy at all if you absolutely HAVE to walk in the forest every day. Or if you HAVE to go to the river a minimum of a couple times a week. Or if hiking to waterfalls and sitting there staring at them brings you an enormous amount of joy.

Nature is medicine my friends.  Your body already knows this.
Get outside as often as if possible.

Turn off the noise and listen to the stillness that will surround you out there. Even if just for a few hours. And it will change you.

Namaste my outdoors friends! 
Namaste.

Reading the River.

 

Two summers ago I was new to guiding whitewater kayak trips down the Upper and Lower Green River just outside Saluda, NC.

We were assigned to guide one of two trips in the morning on the Upper and then one of two trips on the Lower in the afternoon.

I had paddled the top half of the Lower Green numerous times at this point a gentle class I and II river and very family friendly. But I had not once paddled the bottom half of the Lower Green and on this day I was assigned to guide that trip.

I felt somewhat unqualified because after all...aren’t I expected to “Guide” this trip down the river? I was nervous and apprehensive...and felt a bit like an imposter.

But then...the owner of the company walked past...and asked me what was up. I described my misgivings about this...and he said something that I have never forgot.

“Rachel, read the water. You’ll guide this trip in ways you don’t even know you know.”

A lightbulb went off in my head...because he was right. This was something as simple as reading the river.

Rivers have a way of showing you the path through them. There are tells. If you’re tuned into them and are looking ahead.

And just this morning I was reminded of this story while thinking about the future.

What may come? What may go?

And then… “Read the River” popped into my head.

You can’t paddle through rapids that are two miles down river, because you can’t see them. You’re not there yet.

But you know exactly how to paddle through what is right here right now...because well...it literally is all about reading the river.

Countless life lessons like this one I’ve learned from the mountain river. And if you’re reading this still...I’ll bet you too are a river lover.

Cheers to the river lovers and to the rivers!

Photo Credit: Fotari70DX from pixabay dot com