Have you ever seen trees twisted like this?  I never have, until I came here to Sedona.  They appear in certain places called "vortexes" where there seems to be an especially powerful feeling or energy.  The twisted tree phenomena is a "sign" of this energy.   

So what does this mean to me?  

Metaphorically, it reminds me that when life takes an unexpected twist, when things seem all twisted up, or when I get a new twist on an old truth, something powerful is going on, and I should pay attention.  

Here is a poem I wrote about this:

Here, a twisted tree

formed by mysterious energy

unexpected sign

I finished this pastel two days ago.  When John saw it he said, "It looks like Machu Pichu!" There is a resemblance. I have seen this red rock mountain often on hikes I take in the seven canyons area near here, and I never made that connection--which goes to show how often we can miss what is obvious to others.  And we see what they are missing.  Clearly, many perspectives are likely to see reality more fully.  It seems wise to value perspectives different than our own, rather than dismiss them, as happens too often in religious and political discourse especially, but also in personal arenas.  

Here is the poem that came to me as I pondered this pastel:

Red rock mountain

pyramid of mystery

guardian of the land

Many other eyes

have gazed at your majesty

seeing what I do not 

Someone built a little "altar" at the edge of Dry Creek in an area I often go for my afternoon walk with our dog Leo.  

It is just one small way of honoring a place, of showing a kind of reverent feeling for nature.
When we are out here in Sedona, in such incredible beauty, it is easy to feel reverence and awe
for the beauty and mystery and majesty of creation.
But in everyday life, especially in urban settings, it is all too easy to see this great gift of God as simply a backdrop to our life, and to treat nature as an object, failing to realize how interwoven we are with all things in creation around us.  What happens to it will happen to us.
Our physical welfare, and yes, the welfare of our souls, depends upon out attitude towards and treatment of the places we live.  
    How many ways can you, and I, think of to care deeply for and treasure the place where we live, and beyond? 

Native American tribes of this area have ancient stories of how their remote ancestors emerged from the under-world into this world.  One such story locates this place of emergence at the small sunlit hill in front of the mountains in this picture.  I painted this pastel inspired by a picture I took of this scene, which John and I drive by every time we go from Sedona to the nearby town of Cottonwood.  Here is my poem about it:

SIPAPU: PLACE OF EMERGENCE

A small womb-like hill

framed by towering mountains;

golden fields; new life

emerging from dark shadows

deep below life's bright surface.

THE CAVE OF THE HEART

WHERE PRAYER'S INCENSE ARISES

FOR MOTHER EARTH'S GOOD

The first time I walked the Willow Loop Trail near here, I thought this structure was a barrier preventing my going further.  I assumed it was a way of marking the end of the trail.  So I turned around and retraced my steps back to the trail head.  The next time I walked this trail, I was in a mood to continue.  A closer look revealed this to be a horse gate, and I could easily wind my way through it to take the rest of the loop trail, which led me to an enchanted forest! 

Huge old growth trees…a white moon hanging over a gorgeous white sycamore tree…a beautiful old stump-sculpture…a snake-branch…and much more.  What a great metaphor for the way we often allow obstacles to stop us from going further on a pathway of life that might lead to wonders…  And often what we thought was an obstacle was just a test of our determination to go forward.  I am glad I kept going!  (see pics below)

In the wilderness behind our house there is a remarkable red rock formation I call "The Singers."

This is a pastel I painted based on a pic I took of them one morning at sunrise.  I added the shadow of me playing the flute, of course!  This pictures what I was doing on New Year's day morning.  

Here is the poem I wrote to go with this pastel.

On this New Year's dawn

even the rocks sing praises

for the Light's coming.

I play praises too

as my flute turns breath to prayers

of adoration.