Some years ago I was holidaying on a small Scottish island with my family. We had read that there was a spectacular waterfall to be seen in the interior of the island so decided to make a day of it. To be honest we weren’t well prepared for the terrain which was quite rough in places, but struggled on. It was hard going with one child in a pushchair and several small children! Eventually we came to a clearing and there was a waterfall! However, I don’t think that it could have ever been described as ‘spectacular’ as it was just a small outlet falling over some rocks. We were all quite disappointed as making the effort and the difficulties we encountered didn’t seem worth it! I questioned whether this was the waterfall but the map seemed to confirm it was and so we turned around to make our way back home. As we began our journey back I thought I could hear the sound of rushing water and suggested maybe we should go further rather that going back. No one seemed keen and the majority were sure that we had seen all there was to see. I decided that I would go on alone and report back while they retraced their steps. I went on and after just a couple of minutes I could definitely hear the thundering of water. Not long after I turned a corner and there was a magnificent cascade! It was truly spectacular and I wished the rest of the family had been with me! I took photos and reported back as instructed but it wasn’t quite the same as sharing the real experience.
Now this isn’t quite the same as your discovery of a ‘magic path’ but your story reminded me of this and the lessons I learned. To press on and ‘listen’ for the invitation to the extraordinary. To be prepared to depart from the map or the ‘safe’ option and not to be content with an imitation! Also, it is better to experience the ‘real thing’ than to just look at a photo!
This beautifully written piece of hope and positivity is exactly what I needed this morning (especially since I, too, am a southern Indiana woods walker, and it’s a critical part of my mental health strategy). Thank you for shining a light on the darkened path before us, and giving us the hope and courage to walk it. As Gail S. Haile said in a previous comment, “sometimes a phrase or line is just what I needed to hear,” and truly your words and music get me through again and again, “calm me down”, “lift me up”. Yes to all that. And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all the sustenance you keep pouring out on the rest of us, from your heart.
I’m rereading your book “A Permeable Life Poems & Essays” again. I bought it years ago when you first published and loved it. I rediscovered it a couple of weeks ago when I was looking for something inspirational to help settle my soul in these traumatic times. I’m in a different place than I was back then when I first read your poetry and stories and I have found it calming to understand what is happening. Thank you again for nourishing my soul.
thank you for this powerful post, carrie. it serves as a gentle reminder of how easy it can be to think we know all we need to know. this cognitive distortion can dangerously stunt our growth and lead us to our edges but never further. mister rogers, one of my biggest heroes, used to muse, "did you know that when you wonder, you're learning?" may we all keep wondering and learning. more importantly, may such learning lead to navigating our own personal and collective thickets in a loving, kind manner worthy of this wondrous world.
"Love is still the greatest power..." handwritten card propped up by my mirror. As always, thank you for sharing your Light... and your wonderful wanderings in the woods, and poems, and songs!
I am pretty new to your posts--well this may be my first one :-) Anyway, I read your Magic Path post and loved it. (I always read posts rather than listen if it is available, because I can enter the thoughts better.) I lead a contemplative class in a church in Birmingham AL and will use your poem "A Permeable Life" in the next month or two. It is perfect for what we try to do. So, I will be reading you more often! Thanks and Peace, LaMon
Magic path ,I found some knowledge,and perhaps hope in this.
Semi retirement approaches,Feb27 th 2025 last day of full time work.
Therein is my hope of this magic path ,as I literally don't see the entrance,what it is,and when it arrives I'll bet ,and hope it will be similar to what you both saw .And as I travel it truly hope and believe the possibility of it being as special and good as the one y'all found .
Carrie, thank you so much for this post. I have been racked with rage and my heart is just sore with the sadness and the pain from the anger that rises in me. I used to live near the woods and after my husband died I had to move and I can’t tell you how much I miss it. I feel like a vital limb has been cut off. As I read this post and listened to your song, I sat at my dining room table, crying like a little girl as I played the video. Thank you for the beauty of your work. And I made the little love note and put it on my mirror like you suggested.
As the outer world darkens, my soul seems to have the capacity to gather more light from my own inner landscape and from others. It is the will of living, the desire to survive. I am thinking of the tomato plants growing on the roof I occasionally spotted growing up in a tropical island. A bird may have carried the seed to the roof. With very little soil, the amazing plant clings to the roof, not only survives, but flowers and fruits.
Thank you for the reminder that "Love is the greatest power." I feel a little bit like Frodo in The Hobbit. The Ring of Power is corrupting many people, but the hobbits continue to love each other and find the strength to resist and even find moments to celebrate friendship and life itself.
PS: The incantation "I call forth Love" sounds like something Gandolf would say. May we all work that magic in our own circles.
Discovered a creative win/win solution to partially help immigration this week. Housing prices and shortages are high across the US, so why not offer annual work permits or green cards to more immigrants and refugees with home building skills?
Also discovered the nausea diet and diarrhea diet are significantly different and make a big difference...live and learn!
Recently discovered my greatest joy in decades after suggesting and funding unspecified Christian radio broadcasts in South Sudan. Before God introduced me to the equality of Quakers needed for sustainable peace, God introduced our mission team and church to global missionary co-workers.
The rest of a great story of local empowerment for peace building after civil war is here:
Thank you so much for this!!
Some years ago I was holidaying on a small Scottish island with my family. We had read that there was a spectacular waterfall to be seen in the interior of the island so decided to make a day of it. To be honest we weren’t well prepared for the terrain which was quite rough in places, but struggled on. It was hard going with one child in a pushchair and several small children! Eventually we came to a clearing and there was a waterfall! However, I don’t think that it could have ever been described as ‘spectacular’ as it was just a small outlet falling over some rocks. We were all quite disappointed as making the effort and the difficulties we encountered didn’t seem worth it! I questioned whether this was the waterfall but the map seemed to confirm it was and so we turned around to make our way back home. As we began our journey back I thought I could hear the sound of rushing water and suggested maybe we should go further rather that going back. No one seemed keen and the majority were sure that we had seen all there was to see. I decided that I would go on alone and report back while they retraced their steps. I went on and after just a couple of minutes I could definitely hear the thundering of water. Not long after I turned a corner and there was a magnificent cascade! It was truly spectacular and I wished the rest of the family had been with me! I took photos and reported back as instructed but it wasn’t quite the same as sharing the real experience.
Now this isn’t quite the same as your discovery of a ‘magic path’ but your story reminded me of this and the lessons I learned. To press on and ‘listen’ for the invitation to the extraordinary. To be prepared to depart from the map or the ‘safe’ option and not to be content with an imitation! Also, it is better to experience the ‘real thing’ than to just look at a photo!
Carrie you are a cool running river during a chaotic fire. ❤️
This beautifully written piece of hope and positivity is exactly what I needed this morning (especially since I, too, am a southern Indiana woods walker, and it’s a critical part of my mental health strategy). Thank you for shining a light on the darkened path before us, and giving us the hope and courage to walk it. As Gail S. Haile said in a previous comment, “sometimes a phrase or line is just what I needed to hear,” and truly your words and music get me through again and again, “calm me down”, “lift me up”. Yes to all that. And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all the sustenance you keep pouring out on the rest of us, from your heart.
Robert Frost...two roads diverged...
Thank you!
Listening... and speaking truth. Takes a lot of grounding work!
Many thanks for all you do and share!
I’m rereading your book “A Permeable Life Poems & Essays” again. I bought it years ago when you first published and loved it. I rediscovered it a couple of weeks ago when I was looking for something inspirational to help settle my soul in these traumatic times. I’m in a different place than I was back then when I first read your poetry and stories and I have found it calming to understand what is happening. Thank you again for nourishing my soul.
Love, Love, Love!
You're the Best!
thank you for this powerful post, carrie. it serves as a gentle reminder of how easy it can be to think we know all we need to know. this cognitive distortion can dangerously stunt our growth and lead us to our edges but never further. mister rogers, one of my biggest heroes, used to muse, "did you know that when you wonder, you're learning?" may we all keep wondering and learning. more importantly, may such learning lead to navigating our own personal and collective thickets in a loving, kind manner worthy of this wondrous world.
"Love is still the greatest power..." handwritten card propped up by my mirror. As always, thank you for sharing your Light... and your wonderful wanderings in the woods, and poems, and songs!
:)
I am pretty new to your posts--well this may be my first one :-) Anyway, I read your Magic Path post and loved it. (I always read posts rather than listen if it is available, because I can enter the thoughts better.) I lead a contemplative class in a church in Birmingham AL and will use your poem "A Permeable Life" in the next month or two. It is perfect for what we try to do. So, I will be reading you more often! Thanks and Peace, LaMon
Happy belated anniversary y'all.
Magic path ,I found some knowledge,and perhaps hope in this.
Semi retirement approaches,Feb27 th 2025 last day of full time work.
Therein is my hope of this magic path ,as I literally don't see the entrance,what it is,and when it arrives I'll bet ,and hope it will be similar to what you both saw .And as I travel it truly hope and believe the possibility of it being as special and good as the one y'all found .
Thanks🐧☮️
Carrie, thank you so much for this post. I have been racked with rage and my heart is just sore with the sadness and the pain from the anger that rises in me. I used to live near the woods and after my husband died I had to move and I can’t tell you how much I miss it. I feel like a vital limb has been cut off. As I read this post and listened to your song, I sat at my dining room table, crying like a little girl as I played the video. Thank you for the beauty of your work. And I made the little love note and put it on my mirror like you suggested.
Your song and writing land on my heart like this:
A blooming flower
its fragrance lingers long after it's faded
A bell
its sound can be heard long after it's rung
A candle
bringing lasting warmth and light,
illuminating the path in the dark.
My contining gratitude flows out to you
As the outer world darkens, my soul seems to have the capacity to gather more light from my own inner landscape and from others. It is the will of living, the desire to survive. I am thinking of the tomato plants growing on the roof I occasionally spotted growing up in a tropical island. A bird may have carried the seed to the roof. With very little soil, the amazing plant clings to the roof, not only survives, but flowers and fruits.
Thank you for the reminder that "Love is the greatest power." I feel a little bit like Frodo in The Hobbit. The Ring of Power is corrupting many people, but the hobbits continue to love each other and find the strength to resist and even find moments to celebrate friendship and life itself.
PS: The incantation "I call forth Love" sounds like something Gandolf would say. May we all work that magic in our own circles.
Discovered a creative win/win solution to partially help immigration this week. Housing prices and shortages are high across the US, so why not offer annual work permits or green cards to more immigrants and refugees with home building skills?
Also discovered the nausea diet and diarrhea diet are significantly different and make a big difference...live and learn!
Recently discovered my greatest joy in decades after suggesting and funding unspecified Christian radio broadcasts in South Sudan. Before God introduced me to the equality of Quakers needed for sustainable peace, God introduced our mission team and church to global missionary co-workers.
The rest of a great story of local empowerment for peace building after civil war is here:
https://bobandkristi.blogspot.com/