“On your next walk,” a friend suggested, “keep your eyes open for objects along your path — leaves, pebbles, sticks: whatever draws your attention. Bring some home and arrange on a piece of paper. Notice what happens when you move them around, add some, take others away, sideways, upside down. Keep it simple and work quickly. Avoid “making art.” Then take a photograph and send it to me.
“What did you experience: your feelings, thoughts, and sensations?” my friend wants to know.
I remember opening the car door for the dog to jump in. Being a terrier, he decides otherwise, turns to follow his nose. Watching him go, my eyes see pine needles under a tree, and mushroom caps from under bright green grass. I bend to gather different shapes and find them cool, whet, and slimy in my hand. For a few moments, pure presence. No thoughts of this or of that.
suddenly autumn
the dog wanders off
the scent of mushrooms
Thank you, Peter. A sweet reminder to have every sense aware and present in each moment.