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Her Odyssey
  • Speaking & Engagements
  • HER ODYSSEY
    • MISSION
    • BIO & ARCHIVES
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    • FINANCIALS
      • Budget
      • Pay it Forward
      • SHOP
    • PARTNERS
  • EXPEDITION ARCHIVE
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August 26, 2012August 26, 2012

Cruxes & Clarity

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there wandered a Warrior Princess. Every morning since her last adventure, she opened her eyes and gave thanks, then asked, “so, what’s next?”

Each morning was the same, she awoke and noted no change in the landscape. Now, everyone knows that wandering warrior princesses are prone to being impatient and easily bored; so, in a blink she instead became preoccupied with feeding an Otherworld maelstrom. The kind to swirl a girl until she slipped Reality. But time grinds ever forward and schedules must be kept.

The mornings kept coming and she began to detect only but an odd sensation of something approaching; nothing definable. Like a whiff of rain on the wind. But where and what was it?

A recent conquest of the mighty Capitol Peak, one of Colorado’s ‘most challenging’ 14ers had left a sediment of immortality in her. A dangerous magic, she knew, by the very nature of its allure. Humility and humanity keep a warrior’s compass True; without them, one becomes a rogue. Condemned to hunt without purpose, eventually lost to the Dead Marshes.

She shuddered to flirt with such a fate. Particularly when these attentions were in lieu of preparing for the fast approaching future. She thought it best to check her compass. In a bit…

Ballroom Dancing Classes.

These thoughts were quickly cast aside when the Bugle of her Homeland sounded. Returning to the flatlands, she just missed most of the Clans, though the Vikings had not yet lifted oar and set sail north.

The cause of commotion in the Homeland was that Little Sister and Tim had returned from their ventures to the Far Reaches of the globe for an interim visit. Home for a short span, kin and kind had come from all corners to aprovechar de este oportunidad.

For one precious day the nuclear Hughes Family were reunited. It took some 45 minutes for them to return to a collective brand of most awesomely normal weird.

Public tours of such lofty establishments as the aquarium, Plaza, Church of Resurrection, and local Sonic were balanced by mega cuddle fests, off-brand yoga parties, and a great surfeit of feasting within their castle walls.

Here our Warrior listened and asked. She soon came to appreciate that in any vibrant community change and growth are a most treasured and life-long pursuit. We steadily learn and prepare while Opportunity moves to its own rhythm. There is naught but to be open for it.

Gathering amoung most trusted Counselors and confidants, she presented quandaries and triumphs. Both were met with an undeserved degree of assurance and affirmation. Women as wise and kind as these. Well. They are exceptional.

She returned to the Mountain Realm, edified. Another morning came, right on time, like those so many previous. Today, however, she finally realized the terrain HAD changed! With focus centered inward she had missed the land folding up tall and steep. The climb had been gradual but suddenly all about stretched daunting tracts of fields and peaks of Opportunity. Challenges and Chances.

And here she was, straddling a Knife’s Edge. Wearing wings of imaginary immortality.

Posted in Community
Tagged Capitol Peak, Fairy tale, Family, Home, Kansas City, Missouri
2 Comments
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Comments (2)

  • gkendallhughes August 27, 2012 at 2:09 am Reply

    surfeit? Is that some kind of parfait? I like parfait. Everybody likes parfait…

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    • Fidgit August 27, 2012 at 5:26 am Reply

      Have you ever said, “hey, let’s go get some parfait,” and they say, “No, I don’t want no parfait!”
      Parfait must be the best dessert on the planet!

      Loading...

Leave a Reply to gkendallhughesCancel reply

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Patagonia - Arctic 18,000+ mile women led #humanpowered Expedition - connecting stories, bridging perspectives across Americas👣 🛶🚲 🌎

Wishing you coziness, friendship, and all the swee Wishing you coziness, friendship, and all the sweetness this season!

From our gingerbread and graham cracker village in Keystone, CO to you and yours. ❄️
10 days in silence at Suan Mokkh Hermitage ~~~~~ 10 days in silence at Suan Mokkh Hermitage

~~~~~

Excerpts from 'Going Home' by Thich Nhat Hanh:

When you practice the bell of mindfulness, you breathe in, and you listen deeply to the sound of the bell, and you say, "Listen, listen." Then you breathe out and you say, "This wonderful sound brings me back to my true home. Our true home is something we all want to go back to. Some of us feel we don't have a home.

Does a wave have a home? When a wave looks deeply into herself, she will realize the presence of all the other waves. When we are mindful, fully living each moment of our daily lives, we may realize that everyone and everything around us is our home.

Isn't it true that the air we breathe is our home, that the blue sky, the rivers, the mountains, the people around us, the trees, and the animals are our home? 

A wave looking deeply into herself will see that she is made up of all the other waves and will no longer feel she is cut off from everything around her. She will be able to recognize that the other waves are also her home. 

When you practice walking meditation, walk in such a way that you recognize your home, in the here and the now. See the trees as your home, the air as your home, the blue sky as your home, and the earth that you tread as your home. This can only be done in the here and the now.

Sometimes we have a feeling of alienation. We feel lonely and as if we are cut off from everything. We have been a wanderer and have tried hard but have never been able to reach our true home. However, we all have a home, and this is our practice, the practice of going home.

When we say, "Home sweet home," where is it? When we practice looking deeply, we realize that our home is everywhere. We have to be able to see that the trees are our home and the blue sky is our home. It looks like a difficult practice, but it's really easy. You only need to stop being a wanderer in order to be at home. "Listen, listen. This wonderful sound brings me back to my true home."

What is the home of a wave? The home of the wave is all the other waves, and the home of the wave is water.
Grateful to work with brands like @toaksoutdoor wh Grateful to work with brands like @toaksoutdoor who keep it real.

#womenownedsmallbusiness #outdoorgear #biofuel #womenoutdoors #backpacking #woodstove
Temples around Chiang Mai. 🐉 🛕 #traveltip: bring Temples around Chiang Mai. 🐉 🛕

#traveltip: bring shoes comfy for walking and easy to slip on and off, as you take shoes and hats off at the entrance to all temples and most homes.

Travel tip for women: have clothing which covers your knees and shoulders before entering temples. Bring a wrap or something easy to pack along for a day of hoofing it!
⛱️ in the ☃️ and the Pacific was good to me. Lon ⛱️ in the ☃️ and the Pacific was good to me. 

Long strolls and sits, digging for hot springs treasure in beach sand, kayaking coastline, and so much more.

Ever grateful to México for being generous and welcoming neighbors.

Doy gracias a México por ser vecinos tan amables y generosos. 🌊 🇲🇽🙏🌽
Faith Evolving On these new moon nights, I warm m Faith Evolving

On these new moon nights, I warm my heart thinking through matters of gratitude since the last full moon. Approaching Solstice, may we do the same with the revolution of the year; ReflecT, while those of us in the northern hemisphere are wrapped in darkness. Shine, for those in the southern.

A few of my dark & lights:

Best laid plans going horribly awry, sitting still with the fear and hurt, trusting my gut to lead the way through uncertainty to unexpected delights and the sort of folk who nurture and reconstitute joy, hope, and spirit rather than prey on and drain it. Practicing boundaries with both.

-Cozy @farmtofeet socks just right for the season
-Holiday celebrations and getting to elf around on stage for kiddos
-New friends on fun jaunts
-Engaging with the health and wellbeing of my faithful body, having all I need within walking distance, collecting herbs for tea along the way
-Honoring Beings like mountain agave and rich books
-Y mucho más (Patreon Peeps, holiday missive coming out soon!)

May you be warm, may you be healthy, may you feel loved. 
💚 🌑 🌲
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