Opening the Path
“Listen to the wind, it talks. Listen to the silence, it speaks. Listen to your heart, it knows.”
— Native American Proverb
When I step onto the trail, I am not just walking—I am beginning an adventure, a lesson written by the earth itself. Each hike is a doorway to answers, peace, and insight. The forest speaks, though never in words. Its language is wind through oak leaves, the hush of pine, and the distant call of a hawk.
My Companion on the Journey
Mazikeen, our husky-mix, trots ahead, his presence steady and sure, like a trusted guide. His ears flick toward the song of a Carolina wren, and I catch the shadow of a red-tailed hawk circling above the limestone bluffs. Together, we wander the green corridors of the Shawnee National Forest, where every stone feels ancient and every tree hums with memory.
“Nature is the greatest teacher; her lessons are infinite.” — Shamanic Wisdom
Sacred Landmarks
Garden of the Gods
Sandstone pillars rise like altars to the sky. Here, the wind carries stories older than time, and I pause to lay my hand on the cool rock, feeling its quiet strength.
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately.” — Thoreau
Trail of Tears
The path feels heavy with ancestral grief. Sycamores stand like sentinels, their mottled bark shimmering in the winter light.
“The land is sacred. These words are at the core of our being.” — Mary Brave Bird
Little Grand Canyon & Beyond
The cliffs cradle secrets, moss glows like emerald fire. Trails like Rim Rock, Bell Smith Springs, and Jackson Falls weave me deeper into the mystery. Chickadees dart through the underbrush, and the earth’s heartbeat thrums beneath my boots.
“Man’s heart, away from nature, becomes hard.” — Chief Luther Standing Bear
Lessons from the Earth
Hiking is my medicine. It is where the noise of the world dissolves, and quiet truths rise like mist from the valleys. Here, I remember that I am not separate—I am part of this great, breathing organism called Earth. Every step is a communion. Every breath, a blessing.
“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” — Native American Proverb
Closing Reflection
As I walk, I recall John Muir’s words:
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
And it is true—I come searching for answers, but I leave carrying something greater: a sense of belonging, a deep knowing that the forest and I are kin.
Each step in nature is a step closer to the divine.
Thank you for visiting with us. For more Poetry or Literature related content, visit our blog at The Ritual. Copyright Mind on Fire Books.
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