Autumn in the woods

Being in the woods in autumn can sometimes be a little overwhelming.  Mother Nature puts on such a grand show that it’s difficult to know where to look first.  There is color everywhere, from the tops of the trees that are still retaining their leaves to the forest floor carpeted with the multicolored leaves that have let go.

I love the sounds in the woods in autumn.  The rustling of the leaves underfoot.  The snap and crack of twigs and branches hiding under the carpet of leaves.  The trees swishing and creaking in the wind.  The occasional caw of the crow,the jeer of the blue jay, or the whistle of a red-shouldered hawk (which might in fact be a blue jay mimicking the red-shouldered hawk).

Bo in the woods

I took a variety of photographs yesterday while walking in the woods with Bo.  Sometimes I took photos of the same thing, over and over again, using different settings on my camera.

It’s always interesting to see what the camera can do in manual modes versus auto settings.

In manual mode, white balance set to open shade. f 8.0, 1/80s,

Auto setting: "Landscape"

Day 36/365.  A couple of days ago I started reading the book Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates and Katrina Kenison.  As I mentioned in a previous post, I decided to do more than show up on the mat each day.  I want to use this year to learn more about the history, philosophy, and spirituality of yoga.

As with most things of this nature, I don’t know where it will take me, but I’m sure it will be an interesting journey.  If nothing else, I’ll at least learn more than the physical aspects of what I’m practicing.

Auto

Manual. (Not much difference, is there?)

This morning I decided to start keeping a daily yoga diary.  It may well replace the Morning Pages, something that went by the wayside during our trip east.  So far, I have used my yoga diary to take notes about things I’ve read (I retain information better if I write it down), to clear my mind prior to yoga practice, and to write down thoughts that emerged during or after my practice.  And if you were to flip through it, you would also find the occasional small collage, a playful practice I find to be meditative.

Today I read this:

To practice living in the truth, or satya, the second yama, we must have a mind that has let go of the habit of distraction and developed the habit of concentration.  ~Rolf Gates & Katrina Kenison, Meditations from the Mat

What struck a chord with me as I read this was the phrase “the habit of distraction.”  There are so many ways we practice the habit of distraction.  It seems to me our society cultivates this habit (the internet, television, etc.).  On a personal level, I have my own ways of fostering this habit.  Procrastination comes to mind, the granddaddy of all habits of distraction.  It’s amazing where the mind can go when you’re putting off what you should be doing.

My intention for at least the next few days is to pay attention, to look at my own habits of distraction.  No analyzing.  No judgments.  Just observation.

Thanks for dropping by the Bogs today and joining me in my musings and meanderings.  Don’t worry about getting lost in the woods.  Just find a path (there are plenty to choose from). It will lead you somewhere.  🙂

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