Srucara's blog

I decided to do something different today. Rather than walking the path, I took note of some unfamiliar changes to the surrounding area and the way the site itself appeared today. The sky is very cloudy and the wind has a strong, chilly current - probably because the region is in its last few stages of recovery from the hurricane. Inevitably, the winds have stripped the trees surrounding the labyrinth of most of their leaves. When I last walked the labyrinth, there were a few leaves on the path but the path was still easily visible and my walk lacked a deep "crunching noise". Today, however, the path was filled with leaves, especially in the regions closest to the trees. Taking a few steps in the labyrinth, I noticed my feet crushing the leaves under me.

I also wondered about two lines of white paint drawn from alongside the main, walkway towards the library - alongside the labyrinth - and finally to the wall enclosing Rhoad's North (directly behind the Labyrinth). The lines turned into arrows and letters I did not understand by their end. What are the plans for this paint? How will this affect the labyrinth and the trees surrounding it? Maybe I will try and find out.

Image taken from: http://themarkonthewall.blogspot.com/2011/02/morning-reading-dark-glory.html

Anne had shared this piece earlier as a reply to Smacholdt's Thoreauvian (Labyrinth) walk but I just wanted to expose this a bit further and share once again - Jeanne-Rachel Salomon is the creator of the Labyrinth that sits next to the hill in front of Rhoads. She had an interest in Shamanism, cured herself of cancer (not suprisingly) and states, "If one has travelled long enough and the distance between the onset of the journey and the moment of reflection is sufficient, one gains understanding of the journey’s meaning." A frequent visitor of the labyrinth myself, I invite you all to "be and become" more in tune with your lives and take a few moments of reflection and journey through the labyrinth and through life with a renewed awareness.

http://www.brynmawr.edu/alumnae/bulletin/mcbride1.htm#salomon

Difficult To Be Really Present With a Headache

ORIGINAL VERSION: GENRE: NONFICTION

I'm currently sitting on the third step from the front of the fountain at taft garden. I have never noticed these peculiar bugs before but they are tiny, tiny flies or mosquitoes of a creamy tan color. They are floating so gracefully, so carefree, gliding around in circles. I wonder if they have any agenda or if they are simply enjoying themselves, enjoying their life. They don't seem in pursuit of anything but rather just trailling around and around in a random motion. But of course I'm not certain. The sun is peeking through the clouds, trying to force its way through so that although the light around me is a grey-white, I still cannot comfortably look up because the sun is still bright. Maybe I could find a deeper meaning in that. I wish I could but at the moment, it is difficult for me to be truly present because all I can feel is either

Chief Yellow Lark

"Oh Great Spirit - whose voice I hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me. I am a man before You, one of Your many children - I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Made my hands respect the things You have made, my ears sharp to hear Your voice. Make me wise, so that I may know the things you have taught my people - the lesson you have hidden in every leaf and rock."

 I agree with Meeker's idea that genre is a continuum. I don't feel that you can really distinctly separate one from another - because if you do - you may miss a few intrinsic overlaps. With respect to which genre may be most hopeful and the kind of stories that may initiate greater interest in the future of the environment - there is no restriction here. Storytelling is a powerful form of communication and any form of storytelling that inherently delivers a message will work in initiating greater interest in a subject. Preference in the medium of communication through storytelling may also need to be modified as per the interests of various peoples. Little children, of course, would want a short, simple, and relatable story. Adults may prefer more realistic tones perhaps with more complexity. I, however, prefer nonfiction. I would rather read Ishmael Beah's memior - A Long Way Gone than read a fictional story about a similar experience. I would rather read William Kamkwamba's - The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, than read a fictitious portrayal of a similar event. I also enjoy and am moved when learning about critical current day issues through film and interview. I would rather watch the film "Elemental" - (http://www.elementalthefilm.com/) - a film devoted to sharing the stories of environmental abuse and other troubles from three continents) than read a depressing newspaper article on a similar subject.