Amy Collette

I was on a hike the other day, when I got a strong message about being around water. So for my next hike, I found a large reservoir nearby and went to explore. As soon as I started my walk around the lake, Eagle appeared above me. At first I couldn’t believe it – I don’t see eagles every day. But this bird was unmistakable. The white head and tail and the enormous wing span was definitely bald eagle.

Seeing this magnificent creature is an omen of new things to come. It’s a quiet, waiting time of year, waiting for the rebirth of the new year and, soon, a new spring. Eagle symbolizes creation and the Spirit connection between earth, water and sky.

I have a much better time when I go seeking adventure rather than just a workout. This morning I felt the pull of nature and knew I had to get outside, so I decided to explore an open space area called Rabbit Mountain. I had planned to do the loop trail – but so had everyone else. I wanted quiet, so I took the other trail. It was rocky and steep, so I had to concentrate on every step. And that meant that my thinking mind had a chance to shut off. Thank you! The planning and the spinning got quiet, too. And Spirit stepped in. Ahh. The clarity I had been looking for crept in when I least expected it: let go of the planning go and stay open to Wonder.

When I got to the top of the hill, there was a lone bench waiting for me to take a rest and absorb it all. You can’t plan moments of awe. Even in meditation, they don’t always come.

But keep waiting. Ask for those moments and the awareness to know when to listen.

I had the blessing of some idle time today. My goal for the day was to take a nice, long hike – what ambition!

I was celebrating the victory of making it to the top of the mountain, when I saw a cool rock outcropping and went to explore. It conveniently had a me-sized slab on the top – perfect to lie down on.

I settled in to my comfy rock spot and got to spend long moments staring at the clouds. It took me back to days as a kid, when this was a perfectly productive way to spend an afternoon. Remember finding faces and animals in the clouds?

After a while I could feel that familiar slipping “out of my mind” that happens in meditation. It’s a safe and happy place to be, one where Spirit has more room to move and plant seeds.

In this expansive place, it came to me that clouds give us an easy way to connect to each other and our planet. Clouds move freely over the Earth, over every living thing. In moments like this, how could I doubt that what I do affects the whole? Clouds are a way to connect every day to knowing that we are all one.