* Lost – in the forest – Find Your Middle Ground

Consciousness, Inspirations, middle ground, Mindfulness, New Perspectives, Spirituality

* Lost – in the forest

July 22, 2014

Forests, tress and finding ourselves are themes that keep calling for my attention. The redwoods in California have a soulful impact ❤

Redwood photo by Kevin Faber

Lost – by David Wagoner

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.

This is haunting and draws me back to it again and again. I feel the power of the forest and the vibrant connection to Here.

What does it say to you my friends?

Val T Boyko

be present, being, centering, consciousness, David Wagoner, deeper self, forest, inner connection, inner wisdom, inspiration, lost, meditation, middle ground, pause, poetry

22 responses to “* Lost – in the forest”

Hariod Brawn

July 22, 2014 at 8:04 am

‘The forest knows where you are. You must let it find you.’

Perfection Val; thanks for alerting me to this exquisite work.

LikeLike

Reply
1. Val Boyko
  
  July 22, 2014 at 9:58 am
  
  Thank you Hariod. I’m glad the forest calls to you too.
  ❤
  Val
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Rainee

July 22, 2014 at 8:33 am

It speaks about being present and mindful – that is what it says to me 🙂

LikeLike

Reply
1. Val Boyko
  
  July 22, 2014 at 9:58 am
  
  Yes indeed Rainee, Bringing us to that special place of mindfulness and inner connection that is always there.
  Val x
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
nrhatch

July 22, 2014 at 9:26 am

We are HERE and it is NOW . . . what else is there?

LikeLike

Reply
1. Val Boyko
  
  July 22, 2014 at 9:57 am
  
  Yes indeed Nancy! I feel I have been away in many ways … and this has helped me find my Middle ground again.
  Val x
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
ivonprefontaine

July 22, 2014 at 9:40 am

Reblogged this on Teacher as Transformer and commented:
Similar to Val, this is a poem that draws me back to think about it and its meaning. Parker Palmer used this poem in his work to help readers and participants turn inward finding their inner spirit and wisdom that is revealed in moments of quietness and stillness. When we look closely, are present and mindful in life, we see no two trees are the same. It breaks through a statistical malaise of sameness allowing us to see and celebrate the uniqueness that is right in front of us and within us.

LikeLike

Reply
1. Val Boyko
  
  July 22, 2014 at 9:56 am
  
  Thank you for the re-blog Ivon…. and for your insight into Parker Palmer’s work. Having been away for a while, I find this piece grounding and nurturing.
  Val
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
2. Marie Hunter Atwood
  
  July 28, 2014 at 8:27 pm
  
  What a courteous and welcoming tree! I love that we can learn from all of nature and this is a great example. I am aware that everyone would not consider that a tree can be courteous and welcoming, but look and listen as it is suggested. The tree lives only for what it can do for the rest of God’s creatures. Shelter, oxygen, limbs for the birds, rest for all who linger, shade for the weary. I love trees for all that they are and all that they do. My thanks to you, Ivon, for introducing me to yet another poet.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
  1. ivonprefontaine
    
    July 29, 2014 at 11:59 am
    
    You are welcome Marie. The Hassidic scholar, Martin Buber, has a beautiful passage about a tree in his book I and Thou.Thich Nhat Hanh suggests people hug a tree each day
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply
karinconway

July 22, 2014 at 9:44 am

Reblogged this on Karinconway's Blog and commented:
I love getting “lost” in the forest!

LikeLike

Reply
1. Val Boyko
  
  July 22, 2014 at 10:17 am
  
  Thank you Karen for the re-blog. I appreciate it! Thank you for you stopping by.
  Val
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
SwittersB

July 22, 2014 at 9:52 am

Very nice, thank you!

LikeLike

Reply
1. Val Boyko
  
  July 22, 2014 at 10:04 am
  
  Glad you enjoyed it Gary.
  Val
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Louise Gallagher

July 22, 2014 at 11:05 am

Where you are. You must let it find you. — love. love. love.

LikeLike

Reply
1. Val Boyko
  
  July 22, 2014 at 2:38 pm
  
  Yes Yes Yes … and exhale 🙂
  Thank you for this Louise!
  Val x
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
lisa thomson-The Great Escape…

July 23, 2014 at 1:53 am

This is so beautiful, Val. I am always drawn to a forest. As a child, I would play for hours there. It’s magical, thanks for reminding me. 🙂

LikeLike

Reply
1. Val Boyko
  
  July 23, 2014 at 1:35 pm
  
  me too Lisa. Forests are truly magical places!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Carol Balawyder

July 28, 2014 at 9:25 pm

Forest and trees are healing friends for me. 🙂

LikeLike

Reply
1. Val Boyko
  
  July 28, 2014 at 10:14 pm
  
  They are magical aren’t they Carol…
  Val x
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
noellevignola

August 14, 2014 at 10:03 am

That photo just dropped my heart rate ten points. Loved this piece.

LikeLike

Reply
1. Val Boyko
  
  August 14, 2014 at 10:07 am
  
  Thank you Noelle! You can feel the stillness in it can’t you …
  Thank you for stopping by and the follow!
  Val x
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply