Experiencing a Sense of Place

"There is a serene and settled majesty to woodland scenery that enters into the soul and delights and elevates it, and fills it with noble inclinations."
- Washington Irving
Have you ever thought or even felt there is an incredible richness that comes from getting to know a place in an up close and personal way?
I’ve had such an opportunity to ponder this thought as I regularly hike a beautiful forested and red rock location in Sedona - Fay Canyon. This place holds such beauty and wonder in all the vibrant life it holds; and how every time you visit this area it reflects yet other gifts to behold.
It’s not that it’s a long hike, although you can easily take different tributaries off this hike to add more expansive views. This reminds me of an insight I received once while in the forest - It’s not how far you go - it’s how deep you go.
I’ve found many trees within this hike have become like kindred spirits through life’s journey.
“The sacred place of silent minds and deep souls is the depths of the forest!”
- Mehmet Murat İldan
It also made me think of the Artist, Claude Monet and his love of his haystacks through the various seasons.
Even though I’ve lived in different places, I’ve always found a way to commune with the natural world. Trees have been my protectors, they surrounded me as I played, and I loved to create along their horizontal branches, when they presented themselves. I loved talking with them and receiving insights from them as well. Now, through my new direction, the forest and the trees and actually all of nature fill me with inspiration on what to create next.
“But I’ll tell you what hermits realize. If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you’ll come to understand that you’re connected with everything.”
- Alan Watts