• quotes

    In harmony with the Tao…

    July 27, 2023

    In harmony with the Tao,
    the sky is clear and spacious,
    the earth is solid and full,
    all creatures flourish together,
    content with the way they are,
    endlessly repeating themselves,
    endlessly renewed.

    when man interferes with the Tao
    the sky becomes filthy,
    the earth becomes depleted,
    the equilibrium crumbles,
    creatures become extinct.

    Lao Tzu

    And to think the Old Sage Laozi or Lao Tzu (Old Master) wrote this around 400 B.C. This translation is from Tao Te Ching: A New English Version by Stephen Mitchell. I believe this to be a juba skipper who was hanging around my ponds, so I shot photographed it. But, I don’t believe I interfered with the Tao.

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  • Avian,  quotes

    Some are heading south

    November 23, 2022

    “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

    Lao Tzu

    A flock of geese flew overhead a couple of days ago on my walk creating that lovely music of theirs. Not sure why it’s music to me when they are flying above and noise when they’re waddling everywhere turning my walks into a goose-poop-boogie dance floor. Some will head south and some will stay for the winter. I’ve come to accept these rituals and behaviors of my feathered friends over the years.

    A few years ago on Thanksgiving Day I was taking a walk through the neighborhood when thousands, maybe millions, of geese began flying overhead. There were so many and they were so loud people were coming out of their homes to stand in the street, on the sidewalks and porches looking skyward. I have never experienced anything like that since. Happy Thanksgiving!!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  quotes,  storm clouds

    Changes

    October 9, 2022

    “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

    Lao Tzu

    Friday I turned on the new furnace. It worked nicely and quietly. The leaves are letting go as they embark on their final stage of this season in life. The Canada Geese are back in town. Had to scrape frost off the windshield on Saturday morning. The days are shorter and nights longer. Cold temperatures are replacing the cooler fall temperatures. Snow will arrive shortly.
    Changes.

    I’m finding it more difficult to pull back warm blankets in the morning. It’s a fact I don’t handle the cold as I did in my younger days. I no longer stay up late but go to bed earlier and rise earlier. Conversations with high school classmates now includes medications we’re on. I now keep medication in a weekly pill dispenser. Both granddaughters are now married. Reality.

    Yes, life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. The seasons of life along with the reality of life.

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  • flowers,  Plants,  quotes

    Be Yourself

    September 9, 2022

    The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself.

    Lao Tzu

    Rode the bus and then walked to a coffee shop. I found this yellow daisy among the smaller white flowers and needed to accept the gift of this image. A light rain fell last night. It is cloudy and cool this morning. We may see rain this evening and into tomorrow. Hoping so! May you enjoy your day and be yourself.

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  • Avian,  clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Saving the world…

    April 12, 2022
    Red-tail Hawk soaring above Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Would you like to save the world from the degradation and destruction it seems destined for? Then step away from shallow mass movements and quietly go to work on your own self-awareness. If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself. If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.

    Lao Tzu, 4th-6th century BCE

    Seems we were not being very good guardians of the world even back then. However his solution is quite simple: work on our own self-awareness, offering the greatest gift we have.

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