Beneath My Feet

Myrrh incense burning  in an outdoor plant pot. Dec. 2022 A packet of myrrh incense was Rich's winning. Cool! It seemed a timely prize during Christmas season, considering the story of the Wise Men and their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. My research revealed that frankincense and myrrh, derived from the resin of then scarce trees, were as precious as gold. These essential oils have both ritual and healing properties in so many cultures. Not typically fond of inhaling drifting smoke, I find the aroma of copal incense pleasing. During our recent trip to an ancient indigenous site near Oaxaca City, Mexico, I rubbed sap from the living copal tree on my hands and enjoyed its lingering scent. (photo below). Though symbols and beliefs may differ greatly, one universal element in many spiritual traditions is the use of smoke. Beyond its aromatic qualities, smoke may be viewed as a bridge or veil between the world we can see and the one we cannot. Not surprisingly, smoke plays a vi...

Tracks of partridges and Rudolph the reindeer! It's magical to walk in nature to see and feel things. It’s magical to make a gingerbread house with a child. It’s magical to be invited over, to get a phone or video call... or just to be thought of.  The magic is in appreciating beauty and connecting with one another. Through sharing, you may learn that anyone can be struggling below the surface of what seems a good life. They might be dealing with health issues, grief, finances, relationships, anxiety or loneliness. We are all capable of producing magic with our lives, with our thoughts, and with how we care about others.  In this season of giving, it's worth remembering that ... "The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers ." --Thich Nhat Hanh Thank you for the photos taken by my beautiful sister, Agnes Dennis. Last Mountain Lake, SK, 2022. (also known as prairie chickens or hens) ...

Huatulco, Mexico. February, 2022 The sun shines hot in Huatulco, Mexico. We were happy to see that our Airbnb provided an umbrella -- a necessity if spending time on a beach there.  What the *$%#!!?? Our not-so-shady beach umbrella poured out of its casing onto the sand like a game of Pick Up Sticks . Disbelief flooded over us. Was this someone's idea of a joke? Then wait, maybe we can fix it! As we struggled with the umbrella's fabric flapping wildly in the breeze like a sail tangling with a spiny sea urchin, we noticed we had an audience. One local onlooker was trying to be polite by holding in his laughter as his body jiggled. The ridiculous  situation let us give-in to laughter, too! We all laughed and laughed until the next burst of laughter bubbled up minutes, and even days later. Everyone has experiences that don't work out as expected. If you can find humour in a situation gone wrong, laugh with others, and especially at yourself. It will create a memory you...