| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Clare |
Posted - Sep 19 2004 : 11:06:24 AM
Jeannie, what a terrific idea you had about this topic for a future edition of the magalog! In the meantime, we can share our experiences here and expand on them in this category, whatja say?! 
I had mentioned in the other topic of having sensitivies to the nature of places, like old houses and old barns. Their history just feels so vivid to me... like it is not wanting to be forgotten, but at the same time it wants to be respected. That requires a delicate balance. Yet some objects do speak to me, ask to be reclaimed, and I do my best to honor their former lives and repurpose them if appropriate. Some I just display in my kitchen, which is honoring their original purpose.
My father remodeled an old abandoned house in the late 60's. Now that had a definate spirit of place about it. I was about 13 or 14 and remember it still. I claimed an old fashioned vanity from the house and painted it up, and I have it still in my bedroom. It is comforting too!
Love to hear stories from y'all, too!
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Eileen |
Posted - Sep 22 2004 : 12:38:47 PM
Rhonda,I can almost smell the fresh bread cooking in the wood stove oven. Did it ever have a wood cooking stove?
Root cellers. This is another topic that I think should be in MJs new book how bout you?
Spirit of place. Everyday I am given glimpses of the spirit of this place. Yesterday it was in the form of a huge bird party! There must have been 1000 birds of many varieties congregating in the trees here surrounding my home. It was a joyful symphony that seemed to be celebrating the coming of the fall and the change. They all seemed to be shouting and singing "See you next summer" The aerial ballet was exquisite.
Eileen
songbird |
| Rhonda Perich |
Posted - Sep 19 2004 : 3:11:16 PM
Our old farm house was built in the early 1900's. We are only the third owner of it and I actually knew the orginal owner who was a 95 year old woman whose husband brought her here in a covered wagon and they homesteaded this place. She died in this house and then our neighbors bought the house remodeled it and took out the root cellar which I would have loved to still have and the out house. When they retired and wanted to move we bought it. I have a picture hanging on my kitchen wall of the orginal house and when I look at it...I think of Vi and watching her take shuffling steps to the mail box to get her mail and sitting and listening to her awesome stories and I feel like she is still here in a way. This house has a lot of history and I love it. Blessings, Rhonda |
| Clare |
Posted - Sep 19 2004 : 2:43:37 PM
Jeannie, I agree, we have only but to ask and we receive these gifts of place, don't we? Whenever I travel anywhere, I always ask to be surrounded by light and love and protection... and it never fails, I am. This same Spirit fills everything. You have seen it in wildlife, and nature, as have I. For many years I had a career in the travel business. I was blessed to travel to a few really beautiful natural places toward the end of that career. In particular I will always remember the beauty of the Archipelago Islands of Sweden and the lush, richness of Costa Rica. These are places where nature has been allowed to flourish in its original state. Regretably I have not traveled to very many of our own national forests, but they are on my list. When I have visited the forests near me, there is always something that calls out to me... to notice its beauty and wonder and marvel at its perfection. I think as long as we are open to receiving these gifts, we will find them wherever we are... and if the Spirits of past lives know we are open, there are bound to be other special times we will be favored with.
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Sep 19 2004 : 1:02:44 PM
Thank you so much, Clare, for creating this category! It will be a great place to continue sharing the gifts we have been given by the past.
The spirit of a place is what I remember when I look back at places I have been in my life. Not the meals we ate, or the rides we rode, or the stuff we bought.
This sensing is hard for me to do in an urban atmosphere, although many love New York City for that reason. But that does not speak to me.
What speaks to me is wind through long-needled evergreens near the Grand Canyon rim. What I remember is the pungent warmth coming off big dairy cows filing into a small barn at milking time. What I hear is fiddles being played on porches in the mountains. I stand in awe of genius and worker mentality when I look at abandoned cave dwellings. I want to call these spirits near so I can learn!
When I go to beautiful places, I ask God to show me a delight. In Sun Valley, Idaho it was a beautiful red fox in the headlights of a national park at night. In Grand Teton it was a huge elk at dawn as we rode to the airport. In North Carolina last week, it was a coyote bounding across the road in front of us in the Nanatahala Forest. At my mother's funeral, it was two horses running and playing in the field near the country cemetery. I knew it was a symbol of mama and daddy together again.
I know this is a little off track of the spirit that we feel of those who have left us legacies, but when I sense those spirits, it is the same sort of feeling - one of awe, of messages to be heard if we listen, and lessons to be learned if we look beyond the tangible. I have many stories, and I cannot wait to hear yours.
jpbluesky
Love those big blue skies and wide open spaces. |
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