One of my favorite things to do is to go out in my backyard and pick up the small twigs and branches that fall from the canopy of trees surrounding my home. There is something very calming about the rhythmic movement of wandering barefoot through the messy grass – – -bending, grasping, collecting in my hands – – – each sacred stick.

Much of my life is spent reflecting on the experiences and connections I have created, and the spiritual lessons that I gain from each one. Often, I will try to step out of myself and become an observer so that my perspective is less reactive and personal. In this space of in-between, I am able to connect with the true knowing of who I am, a Soul Being of Light, who is very grateful to enjoy the physicalness of this earthly world.

In this way I am able to understand the steps that I need to take in order to continue my life of Walking in Beauty. If I choose to become unaware of the ways in which I am becoming, inevitably, I will be diverted from all that I want to be.

This is my belief, and I try to be mindful.

The rest of my consciousness is mostly tied up in planning the daily actions necessary for me to care and provide for my family. With all of this high-powered awareness, sometimes I crave the absolute nothingness of just being.

This is why picking up sticks is so quieting for me. There’s something freeing about inhabiting my body fully, with my senses completely engaged, and my mind drifting with the clouds in the sky. I find this time soothing to my nervous system while also being gently pleasurable.

The touch of the ground on the soles of my feet, the songs of life from the birds fluttering overhead. A grasshopper makes itself known in the tall grass, and a butterfly sips from a bright flower.

A little toad hops out from the garden clover hidden from my eyes until suddenly, here we are together, sharing in this sacred moment of just being.

I have been practicing the art of stick removal for many years. As you can see, I have accumulated a lovely stack of offerings that I have placed next to our outdoor fire ring. It’s an ongoing artistic collection that shifts and changes with every season.

I have no intention of creating a yard of perfection as I prefer the natural beauty of untethered nature. My main goal is to create a safe space for our beloved dog Skadi so that she can run from end to end on her daily barking patrols, and to also create a peaceful woodland-lake vibe.

Picking up sticks is the least I can do for my beautiful sanctuary.

The bigger branches are carefully added to the archway of my garden.

Everyone needs a magic portal to get from here to there, and then back again.

Each of these branches come from one of the guardian trees around us, thus making my garden archway more than just what it appears.

Sometimes, especially at night, I will stand directly underneath the highest point of the arc so that I am neither here nor there, but somewhere in between. I gaze quietly out into the nothingness around me, and smile.

As a Soul Being of Light – Picker Upper of Sticks – this is one of my favorite places to be.

Thank you for reading my blog. I would love to know how you find tranquility in nature, please share if you are so inclined.

In Peaceful Mindfulness, Raven

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