Holding space for the unknown

Unknown goose-sized bird perching on the rail of the footbridge

Yesterday, following my usual path and deep in thought, I started to cross the footbridge. Only then did I realise an unusual bird was perching on the handrail. But here’s the thing: it didn’t fly off at my approach. Sometimes, the visiting grey heron will pause there and fly away before I am near. Not … Read more

Seen on another golden pond…

Golden reflections and ripples on lake around the swan

Yesterday morning offered a beautiful gift in the early sunlight. ON ANOTHER GOLDEN POND Ripples –overlappingcircles of life.  Drawing togetherand fading awayas each seeks for foodin the lake’s storehouse.Comfortable in eachother’s company.Not scurrying away,  nor fear in waterycompanionship.One swan,two little grebes,a family of moorhens,the bevvy of ducks.And then me.Smiling. + Sue Heatherington Pause. See differently. … Read more

And why am I standing here?

Autumnal view up the overgrown green path with trees on either side

Yesterday, I wandered up the valley where the small conifer wood drapes the hillside, echoing its contours. Instead of going to my usual place, by the watergate, I was drawn to stand on the green path below the trees. And listen to the water tumbling down from a neighbour’s spring across the valley. Why am … Read more

What astonishing skill

spiders web with dew drops

Every day of the last two weeks, I’ve tried to perfect my alpaca fibre processing… And then I come across these beautiful webs. And weep. All around us are demonstrations of beauty in action. If we will only pause and notice. I have so much to learn… Pause. See differently. Re-story 🌿

The difference a day makes

the-difference-a-day-makes

Yesterday, these two – Rhoslyn and her daughter Tabitha – looked like Perl on the right. No longer. They’ve had their annual trip to the hairdressers… We’re partway through shearing our 36 alpacas, and it never ceases to amaze me how different they are. As we began 15 years ago with a small starter herd … Read more

Delighting in the abundance of nature

delighting-in-the-abundance-of-nature

The riotous abundance of buttercups on the old paths underneath the old trees expands each year. Re-wilding gives nature a chance to breathe. NATURE’S OFFERING Beautiful spacecreates beautifulspace createslife createscolour createshope. + Sue Heatherington Pause. See differently. Re-story 🌿

Only in the quiet place

only-in-the-quiet-place

There’s something about being in the natural environment that reveals our humanness. And this isn’t just out in the wilds, it’s also in parks and gardens. Being quiet in the more-than-human world paradoxically both amplifies and puts into perspective who we are as human beings. We see ourselves more clearly. This weekend as I and … Read more

Standing, but not alone

standing-but-not-alone

In the woodsI stand,by a treewhosecompanionshiphas grown.I stand,yet,I am notalone. ~ I am part of a conversation later this week entitled ‘Is there any intent in nature?’ This poem expresses a little of my appreciation of nature.

Shifting our natural gaze

shifting-our-natural-gaze

We’re in such a hurry. We want answers now. Or at least the promise of a solution by tomorrow. Yet, the seasons are not in a rush. They ebb and flow with a gravitational pull beyond our making. And what’s our contribution? It’s hard for us to look deep enough to see how separate we … Read more