Happy in Montana : Teachers

 Some winter visitors to the yard. Early in the week we had about 16 inches of new snow. It has since warmed and the snow is compacting in the warmth. The deer come by a couple of times a day. Always a good thing to look left and right coming from the shop . We don't want to startle the "herd".  Although deer are fairly passive if they feel threatened they will stamp their feet and move towards you aggressively.

I was thinking this week , in gratitude , for the teachers past and present. Those individuals that have left a path of bread crumbs that lead to the next insight. There are a handful of individuals as well as many authors. Most of the wisdom from these teachers rest on the same principle . Think for your self. Test all information that comes into your sphere and make sure it is real and you are not being manipulated. In this day of grande media, ( my term for the invasive smart phone, laptop, satelite environment) we are easily led by the nose to believe what ever is the present day menu. I ask you to instead , research, read, test internally if what is being put out there is real . Is it helpful towards a compassionate loving functioning world? Does the prevalent thought inspire you to action , to creative productivity and does it make your life and community more cohesive and functional? Or does it numb your brain and immobilize you? Considerations for today ' Question everything' a Zen master once said.  Are you thinking clearly ?

" If you ask Zen people they will say tea is not something that you pour with unawareness and drink like any other drink. It is not a drink , it is a meditation; it is a prayer. So they listen to the kettle creating a melody , and in that listening they become more silent , more alert ."                                    ~ Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

Happy in Montana: Being a good steward of the Land

A small herd visits the yard .

 I was listening to Montana Public Radio this morning and there was a short piece on a rancher who worked to live side by side with the wildlife of Montana. He had moved here from Virginia I think and had figured a way to fence his land but make it so the Elk did not get caught in the top fencing . He replaced the top line of barb wire with a straight wire line that was white so the Elk could see it.  His philosophy was that you didn't have to be perfect but simply make something better. This of course led me to think of Land stewardship.

Early morning visitors

 As we share this beautiful country with the wild creatures that preceded us, You have to think about how you solve problems. How are the water resources handled? This is a state that has designated certain plants as noxious. Do we spray them with out a care about toxicity or do we find perhaps more difficult solutions without so much toxicity at the end game.

Grazing the Rocky Mountain Maple

 In the morning light the deer have a surreal beauty in their honeyed brown summer coats. The adults graze on the underbrush moving closer to my rose bush. The baby catching every slight move I make capturing their morning meal.

Baby fawn is aware of being watched

Mr Fuzzy Antlers

Proud buck . He probably would not like me calling him Mr Fuzzy Antlers. Either way it was nice to see him this morning , his coat sleek with a summer of plentiful forage . When we are good stewards of the land everyone benefits. Our balance is maintained and life thrives. The Ma'at the personification of truth , cosmic order and justice is maintained. We celebrate our connectedness . When we live life with this knowing in every one of our cells we move forward to create beauty in this world. Beauty and abundance that manifests from an appreciation of all creatures and their contribution to life here on the blue gem .