#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

FIRE

ICE

Morning of fire and ice. Frank and I awake early talking and talking. Too early. He left; I sort of fell back asleep. I did not want to get up. I thought, I will not get up. I’m too tired. I will stay in bed all day. And then I got the text from my son, encouraging those of us in the family who had said yes to a morning forest bathing session to dress warmly. And, he said, he was building a warm fire in the outdoor pit. I knew I had to show up. And, so I did. And I was glad, of course, that I did. My daughters and the special one and Charlie came to. And the fire was warm. And the air was quite cold. And he is taking a course in leading forest bathing sessions in the woods, and this is what he was doing for us. And what a lovely job he did. He sent us off to contemplate what we notice, about things in motion and about befriending an animal and what does it mean to be alive. We meandered around; we went on our own, to the river, to the brook, and then kept reconvening to share our discoveries. Certainly, I was very cold. And glad to get back to the fire for the final reflection. Warm my toes. it was quite powerful to hear the reflections of others and get to share my own. At the vey last, he lifted his tea kettle out of the fire pit where it had gotten boiling hot. And he told us about the tea he had made from his foraging, of white pine and hemlock. Added some natural honey. Gave us each a steaming hot cup to drink at the very end. I took a few sips, appreciating the symbolism more than the taste. Some very good swallows of tree energy into my body, mind, spirit. It was the best way to start a grey and cold and low lit, too short December day. Sweet pleasure tonight. Returning to this comfy bed with visions of the forest bathing to sleep by.