What a beautiful telling, Frances! There is something about mountains (and hills and munros) that envelop us in deep healing. When I was looking for this place, still living in the city, my mantra was "I want to live somewhere where I can walk out my door into the woods, and I can see mountains." I don't even remember when or why I added the "see mountains" bit. I'd never lived near them before in my many years. Now, they're the first thing I see every morning when I wake up. What a blessing. I caught myself holding my breath while reading this. So lovely. xo
Oh, and p.s. I'm going to try that with the black flies and deer flies next spring/summer...
This reminds me of wandering around the foothills of the Pyrenees, near the Gulf of Roses, in far northern Catalunya. The mountains there are quite wild, very steep and rugged, and filled with ancient “dolmenes” - dolmens or burial sites - some of them thousands of years old. There are powerful spirits in those mountains. I became sort of obsessed with finding dolmenes hidden in the mountains, these beautiful stone slab burial houses. With the winds always blowing wildly. I am sort of still obsessed with those mountains even though I haven’t been there in 20yrs.
I know that area! So dry, windy and rocky! The locals say that the rocky outcrops into the Mediterranean were hewn by Hercules himself and more recently Salvador Dali grew up there. When I was touring all the mountain ranges of Spain, looking for a home, my dogs went crazy in the van, anxious to get out and explore. I could not see why this place had excited them so much - it was desolate and bare. My cat loved it though! Lots of lizards to catch for her lunch. I am glad you reminded me of that place. It is very different from all the other mountain ranges in Spain. Quite harsh and uninhabitable which gives it a forbidding atmosphere.
Oh I love that you know the place. You’ve captured it perfectly, including the contrast w the other mountains in Europe. That stretch of earth is just really something else. It is so full of the old real wild energy. There’s a village in the area called Cantallops and I almost moved there 20yrs ago. Perhaps one day we shall meet there and go for a walk. Blessings to you, Sister Leader.
The best people I've ever met have been rock climbers- they worship creation everytime they climb. You want to know who you are- climb a mountain, big or small. It's a moving meditation and your connection to the source is profound, if you let it.🤗🙏🙏
i find allowance and acceptance an important attribute which is so often either minimised or even ridiculed in our societal search for the positive. i shut myself off to so much when i avoid discomfort or even pain. thank you for reminding me yet again of this.
Very beautiful, and we must all come to terms with life in the way appropriate to us and our situation. Not everyone can be as forgiving ,concerning ex husbands. There are truly demonic people in this world, and I have met and dealt with more than my share. It isn't a matter of forgiving, but of being grateful they didn't destroy me, and I learned things I might not otherwise have known . I have a mystical streak. But I am basically a hard-ass commie, and I feel we can solve the most pressing societal problems, had we the will , in a fair, equitable and lasting way. But we much prefer illusion, even delusion, to reality. For me, it is this realistic vision that most inspires me to go on.
That was beautiful, Frances. Thank you for sharing these ordinary/extraordinary moments- we are always in relationship with life, nature, the divine (I think these things are separated only in language, not in fact) and what a way with expression you have. A gift. Best to you.
❤️❤️❤️
What a beautiful telling, Frances! There is something about mountains (and hills and munros) that envelop us in deep healing. When I was looking for this place, still living in the city, my mantra was "I want to live somewhere where I can walk out my door into the woods, and I can see mountains." I don't even remember when or why I added the "see mountains" bit. I'd never lived near them before in my many years. Now, they're the first thing I see every morning when I wake up. What a blessing. I caught myself holding my breath while reading this. So lovely. xo
Oh, and p.s. I'm going to try that with the black flies and deer flies next spring/summer...
Thanks for an amazing literary ride today!
Gorgeous writing, simply breathtaking! I was there with you through all of it. Thank you for sharing yourself in this way. Such inspiration!!
So happy you liked it! xx
This reminds me of wandering around the foothills of the Pyrenees, near the Gulf of Roses, in far northern Catalunya. The mountains there are quite wild, very steep and rugged, and filled with ancient “dolmenes” - dolmens or burial sites - some of them thousands of years old. There are powerful spirits in those mountains. I became sort of obsessed with finding dolmenes hidden in the mountains, these beautiful stone slab burial houses. With the winds always blowing wildly. I am sort of still obsessed with those mountains even though I haven’t been there in 20yrs.
I know that area! So dry, windy and rocky! The locals say that the rocky outcrops into the Mediterranean were hewn by Hercules himself and more recently Salvador Dali grew up there. When I was touring all the mountain ranges of Spain, looking for a home, my dogs went crazy in the van, anxious to get out and explore. I could not see why this place had excited them so much - it was desolate and bare. My cat loved it though! Lots of lizards to catch for her lunch. I am glad you reminded me of that place. It is very different from all the other mountain ranges in Spain. Quite harsh and uninhabitable which gives it a forbidding atmosphere.
Oh I love that you know the place. You’ve captured it perfectly, including the contrast w the other mountains in Europe. That stretch of earth is just really something else. It is so full of the old real wild energy. There’s a village in the area called Cantallops and I almost moved there 20yrs ago. Perhaps one day we shall meet there and go for a walk. Blessings to you, Sister Leader.
Other mountains in “Spain” - not all of Europe.
Your writing was 'haunting' in a good way, uplifting, whether or not I subscribed. There definitely ARE supernatural
experiences. I live in Western Canada, a relatively 'new' country, with not so much history as Spain, Ireland.
I like it. The Newness. I can 'wander off' in those old places, even reading about it!!
As a Christian, I connect the dots differently, but I we are where we are, from differing backgrounds.
Remembering all the decent things, the good things is definitely strong medicine against what is
going on. Some are just drawn to the 'dark side'. I don't like it. So I don't 'go there'.
Thanks for your writing.
The best people I've ever met have been rock climbers- they worship creation everytime they climb. You want to know who you are- climb a mountain, big or small. It's a moving meditation and your connection to the source is profound, if you let it.🤗🙏🙏
Thanks Frances.
Beautifully exquisite, as always.
Cool. Good post.
i find allowance and acceptance an important attribute which is so often either minimised or even ridiculed in our societal search for the positive. i shut myself off to so much when i avoid discomfort or even pain. thank you for reminding me yet again of this.
Very beautiful, and we must all come to terms with life in the way appropriate to us and our situation. Not everyone can be as forgiving ,concerning ex husbands. There are truly demonic people in this world, and I have met and dealt with more than my share. It isn't a matter of forgiving, but of being grateful they didn't destroy me, and I learned things I might not otherwise have known . I have a mystical streak. But I am basically a hard-ass commie, and I feel we can solve the most pressing societal problems, had we the will , in a fair, equitable and lasting way. But we much prefer illusion, even delusion, to reality. For me, it is this realistic vision that most inspires me to go on.
That was beautiful, Frances. Thank you for sharing these ordinary/extraordinary moments- we are always in relationship with life, nature, the divine (I think these things are separated only in language, not in fact) and what a way with expression you have. A gift. Best to you.
Many thanks, Kathleen! How kind of you to say that! xx
Is this a misplaced comment? It does not seem relevant to the post!
That is such an empathetic view! You may be right! xx
I feel the same on all points you mentioned J.R.🙏😌