"We All Have Them Within Our Dreams..."

We all have blue mountains within our dreams, and distant endearing islands too,
Hidden wild places we very much hope to see, with so many possibilities awaiting there...
We all have blue high mountains within our dreams, and hidden islands too,
Elusive experiences we simply call adventures, our personal journeys of effort, mind, and spirit...
We all have blue stormy mountains within our dreams, and misty islands too,
Such ephemeral memories that are yet to be, true paths and trails we are each destined to share...
We all have countless blue mountains within our dreams, and endless islands too,
Always echoing from our ancient selves, while we forever seek such horizons to this very day... DSD
Composed during a long winters day adventure.
A bit tired and sore I will be later.
Yet many smiles amidst the snow storm were found.
While composing simple new years poetry we all may share.
Journeys out there are always like this.
Inherently more than only challenge and adversity.
For our wanderings always take us farther.
Then we ever first really understand.
Dedicated to your new years dreamings my Friends..... DSD

"Our New Years Odyssey..."

"Make this tale live for us in all its many bearings, O Muse...".  Homer's Odyssey
So many bearings for us to ponder,
New directions to envision so,
To dream, to muse, to wonder, then wander,
Here's to our new year adventures Dear Friends..... DSD

"Say It Is Thus..."

"Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead... But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me...".  Ebeneezer Scrooge, Charles Dickens, "A Christmas Carol".
Time for celebration and enjoyment,
Moments of such connection and remembrance,
Then out upon courses we all hope to set,
So renewed in our enthusiasm and commitment.
Happy holidays to you all my Friends!  DSD

"Echoes Of Our Inner Selves..."

Very deep down, I think we all sense, that we 'hear' many things more closely out in the wild places. We often discover ourselves listening for them on our journeys, actively seeking out these messages within our quests, even surprised by their quiet unexpected whispers so many times as well. But I think as adventurers, we all truly sense them being as much a part of the experience out there as any other element.
The wild places inherently, naturally, resonate with such echoes, especially those personified reflections of our inner selves...
Our adventure experiences echo as answers to our questions, assents of that which is most important for each of us, close invitations of the way we hope things can be, and representations of the adventurers we want to become...
Echoes among echoes, resonating from within our efforts and dreams, revealing why we do what we do out there and the significance this has for our lives.
In those canyons we first heard words, but now know meanings.
On those distant coastal islands, we began to truly understand the echoes of what at first we only see.
The resounding experiences upon mountain summits provides endless vistas of perception and echoes of messages never to be forgotten.
Our northern lakes quietly, calmly, release their secrets too, as we listen for the echoes of our loons and their longings for the connections we all seek.
So, let's all take some slow precious moments this season Dear Friends, and listen a little more gently and closely out there, for those quiet but sure echoes, reflecting from our inner adventure selves too..... DSD 

"Struck By Lightning But No Storm..."

"I have had the world lie beneath my clumsy boots and have seen the red sun slip over the horizon after the dark Antarctic winter. I have been given more than my share of excitement, beauty, laughter and friendship...". Sir Edmund Hillary
When we climb on further, as we then attain such altitude, in those long moments along the way, and then finally up there among the ancient rock, maybe snow and ice, clouds and winds, of our chosen summit - we can be struck by so many things, even when no passing storm is present...
It doesn't matter at this point how hard it was, or what efforts and endurance were asked of us. We have paid the price and often see how inconsequential this is now. For we would do it all over again, because of those meanings are worth every step.
In these forever moments too other things of significance hit home as well. Those insights, those epiphanies, that awareness, which takes us beyond ourselves and the vistas before us.
Within those lasting seconds, in however we each define this, the inexpressible now becomes illuminated, the physical is now transcended.
Such philosophical time up at altitude within our adventures is indeed so very striking...
We begin to truly realize how lucky we are to have a body, a mind, the ability, will and spirit, which takes us upon such wild place experiences.
We have all felt that depth of appreciation when at such heights of emotion.
Then to remember those connections for those present with us, those who have gone before, and even those yet to come. Now we too, are of that family, whom the mountains' embrace...
There is indeed an elevating hopefulness and thankful gratitude that at times surpasses explanation up there. For suddenly, surely, completely, these heartfelt moments take us away and we stand in awe and wonder, as if struck by lightning, yet with no storm passing..... DSD

"The Giver Should Be Thankful..."

"It is written even still... that the giver should be thankful; only then is it a sharing... Somebody accepted you through your gift...".  Osho
"In becoming a giver... we establish an affinity with all creatures in the world...".  Dogen
My sincere gratitude to you all Dear Finders, and Partners In Placing , for your having allowed me to gift you with a small Summit Stone..... DSD

"The Trail Always Meets Us Where We Are At..."

This is true, regardless of wherever on our maps we begin, or whenever we finally set out on those paths. However we start, full of anticipations & excitement, possibly a touch of doubt or anxiousness, maybe even wanting to leave behind some of the distractions from back here, and surely seeking out fun & freedoms out there.
Wherever, whenever, however - the trail always meets us right exactly where we are at...
This is not only a profoundly simple metaphor we mused over back on Outward Bound, nor only some kind of symbolism we have pondered over longer years since. For whatever adventures we choose to embark upon, we each can always be assured of the endlessly hospitable invitations of the wild places. These are our very own quiet accepting callings from far away...
The consistent greetings from the wind are always there. The embracements of both sun and moon forever present. The close connections around our campfires are truly lasting. Then there are the welcoming affections from the waters, the stone itself, and from all the elements then blending together.
The reception we are given, the genuine greetings always made, are the ways wherein the wild places truly make us feel at peace and at home out there...
What initially may only seem like terrain under our boots, becomes depths of emotion and such lasting memories, reflecting the experiences of every unfolding step thereafter.
Oh, the trail does indeed always meet us just exactly where we are at, and forever gladly received do we then forever feel..... DSD

"Breathe......."

I was reminded recently by Andra about taking moments to quiet oneself, and to remember to breathe... Our breath is both means and an end, a way for centering so that we may then embrace many meanings. Here is a favorite poem my Friends, for you to breathe in and enjoy this adventure day, from Deng Ming-Dao...
"You breathe,
Frosting mountains white,
Exciting trees to verdant flame,
Dancing sparrows on your wing,
Swirling waves into long sighs,
You breathe,
And all things live...".
Remember to breathe..... DSD

"As We So Journey....."

Countless dreams, endless visions, like eternally polished stones,
As we so journey, very far away, we then discover home...
Hand worn wooden staff and paddle,
Ancient trails of rock and water,
Along paths of such immense beauty, enduring memories then to share...
Elusive summits, among open valleys,
Overlooking deep canyons, at first so very hidden,
Islands of wonder, wild rivers and oceans,
Seeking the whole mystery, becoming even quieter still...
We are able to discover, so much eternal wonder,
While musing and pondering, lingering and wandering,
Seeing with new eyes, within our many adventurous ways...
Finding such connections, along our shared paths,
As we so long journey,
We will surely then discover home..... DSD

Dedicated this early holiday season to all you Fellow Wanderers, who are out still 'Adventuring For Another Reason'.