Desert Mirror

When I’m out here, I feel like I fade into the openness and become it.  I can hide from all the nonsense of man made illusions of what’s important and not be limited in my growth by their glass ceiling.  I can instead see, hear, and receive nature’s true message of what’s really important.  I can learn the humility and courage of a desert mouse, the perspective and freedom of a hawk, the boundaries and endurance of a cactus, the wisdom and healing power of sage, the strength and lessons of a storm, the discipline and resilience of the sun, the calm and grace of the moon, the adaptability and integrity of the land, and the nurturing and growing ways of the earth.    

If Charles Horton Cooley’s Looking Glass Theory is correct, and We become who we think they think we are, then I want my they to be the desert.  If we, as humans, are influenced by the culture we surround ourselves in, if we are affected by our environment, if our surroundings have power over us in who we become, then I want to immerse myself and stare into the desert for as long as I can until it becomes my mirror and shows me who I am.  Until my reflection transforms me into what it reflects back at me.  Until my body, mind, and soul are all aligned and are seeing and feeling the same thing.  Until my reflection becomes undeniable and turns me into the person I want to be.

A waxing gibbous in Marble Canyon.

Blending in.

Color me in canyons, sun, and shadows - let me fade into the sand - so no one can tell the difference - between my spirit and the land.

Cactus do not sway like trees that get water and nourishment from their environment.  They are still.  Strong.  And efficient.  They use their own energy to be hardy.  They don’t rely on their environment.  They use the strength from within and must be consistent and clear holders of boundaries to maintain their energy.

 
A storm, as dangerous and terrifying as one can be, is also necessary for life, bringing water, nourishment, and shaping the course of the land bringing depth and beauty with it.  Though sometimes painful and uprooting, storms are necessary for change and growth, and a vital part of life.

If home is where the heart is, the desert is my home.