We start around a campfire at Ahimsa Village on a cool morning. Sitting feeling earth holding us, sky opening above, forest around, and, with alert, soft, wide-open senses, the sounds, smells, and air on our skin. A few more sense- and awareness-opening activities and we were away to Black Moshannon State Park. “Moose Creek” it means, and black from the tannin colored waters, or perhaps the darkness underneath the dense foliage of original hemlocks and white pines lumbered long ago, then devastated by fire.
The trail. Using a soft-focused seeing that brings the world dynamically alive and fresh, we walk on a narrow trail in a small pretty valley. It lies between ancient mountains reputed to be higher than the Himalayas once, but now worn way down. The route is undoubtedly an old Native American trail.A full stream flows with assurance, black with tannins, slightly flooded, and with shining fast moving bubbles. It is edged with rhododendrons whose trunks bow, then reach, in vivid rhythmic curves seeking light beneath second growth of hemlocks, oak and birch. Fallen leaves and toadstools dot luminous green moss. Original growth has left an occasional large, colorful, and slow-rotting stump.
Being still. We come upon a pool in which bubbles break forth from a white sand bottom, a natural spring that rushes through mossy rocks to the creek. There are strangely no mayfly or even caddisfly larvae under the rocks, but the water temperature does feel warmer than the main creek. Here we go to separate places that call us, and sit waiting for the landscape, the families of trees, the fold of the mountains, the sky, to accept us, before investigated our space with each of our senses. Returning we share our perceptions, many in common. The moving threads of shining fine cobwebs in the breeze; the complex and beautiful spreading of plant life arrayed in deference to the sun, each in its own delicate form accommodating each other; bird song…
A steady hike getting to know each other, looking for animal, insect and bird life, noting the scents, and sounds, brings us to a large rock gently sloping to the stream. It is a perfect spot for sharing a lunch of eggs, homemade bread and apples in the sun. We share information too on how ecosystems, trees, and birds, support, protect and feed each other in the natural cycles.Then onward, quietly, using the Native American silent fox walk, now through more recent forest as indicated by many young pine trees.
It is Sunday when hunting is banded. But still the shots ring out. We blow a shrill whistle and they cease, at least for a while.Expressing stillness. Again we find separated spaces. This time, on the theme “all is one,” we draw, photograph and write our connection. (How could we do otherwise?) The sun is low and reflecting very brightly. A shape depicted by several of us is a horizontal circle with a growing form emerging from the center.
weeds sparkle,river sparkles,
leaves sparkle,
the bare twigs shine,
giving back
the one light enfolding.
On our way back we stop to investigate a recent beaver dam. The leaves are still green on the woven branches and teeth marks are evident on nearby, nipped-off shrubs. A beaver slide traverses the slope to the still, reflecting water, but no animals appear as we wait silently.
A beautiful walking stick, stripped of bark and marked all over with beaver teeth presents itself lying across the dam however.We end around a small fire with a sage smudging to enhance and transform our energies, and a circle of appreciation for the rich and beautiful day together. We honor the elements of earth, air, fire, and water; those who had gone before (including the Civilian Conservation Corps that, during the Depression, replanted the forest we now see); and those who come after us to take up the consequences of how we live our lives. We vow that such wilderness experience will be available to our great-grandchildren.
Dedication. Later, sadly, we learned that the day before our hike, a young woman out hunting had been killed by being shot in the chest in Black Moshannon Forest Park. She was apparently the primary witness in a pending rape trial. We offer our deepest sympathies to her family and community and to all those whose lives have been thus broken. May all beings in distress experience the healing power of our interconnection (as we did in wilderness that day) to bring peace and gratitude into all the activities of our lives!
Please join us on our next mindful awareness Green Appalachia hike! It may well be to the shopping mall. Phone 610 833 8027 if you are interested.
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