A Few Books I have Read This Summer and Recommend:

A few books I have read this summer and highly recommend:

 

1. The Highly Sensitive Person, by Elaine Aron, Ph.D -

I cant say enough how this book was helpful for me. Lets just say, it answered all my questions that no, I’m really not nuts, I have an inherited and highly sensitive nervous system and just process sensitivity differently. If you think you may be an HSP, check out the self test check on her website.

 2. The Field, by Lynne Taggart -

Interesting, scientific information regarding proof of a “Life Force,” universal interconnectedness, and scientific theory regarding supernatural phenomena. It was a fascinating read.

3. The Cosmic Serpent, DNA and the Origins of Knowledge, by Jeremy Narby -

This was a fascinating read and it wasn’t what I expected at all. Jeremy Narby, Ph.D in Anthropology, goes on a personal journey regarding the connection between consciousness and intelligence. His work is inspired by studying Ashaninca ecology, people in Quirishari in the Peruvian Amazons Pichis Valley. This book is written in a very practical, neutral and academically format.

4. Inspired by a dream I had, I just bought and finished this book (it’s a very short read): Simurgh, A Journey In Search of the Truth, by Azar Aryanpour.

Simurgh is based on “The Conference of the Birds,” a long narrative poem written in the late 12^th century by Fariduddin Attar, a Persian Sufi. This Sufi mystic inspired the works written by “Rumi,” a famous mystic poet. This is a beautifully written, short piece of work.

5. The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch Ph.D -

I have just started this book and already it has captured my attention. If you don’t want to read the book, you can watch Randy’s lecture on You-Tube. Its 45 minutes long but well worth it. Randy whilst performing his lecture had only a few months to live due to a diagnoses of terminal pancreatic cancer. His lecture (and I’m sure his book), is incredibly inspiring and thought provoking.

Next: “The Crone, Woman of Age, Wisdom and Power,” by Barbara G. Walker. I’ll let you know soon how this one turned out.

 

Pictures of Caela and I’s Mini Vacation

I’m going to start with this picture.  We just arrived at Coombs when Michaela and I discovered a place on the side of the highway full of quaint stores with all sorts of neat, hand-made stuff.  Yep, I couldn’t help myself.  When I discovered the hand-carved penis chair (carved from one large block of wood), I had to sit on it and have my picture taken.  Needless to say, Michaela was horrified.   I noticed the red faces, pointing of fingers and whisperings of others as they passed the chair.  Michaela’s autistic mind could not make sense of the innappropriateness of the whole thing. So, I attempted to redirect the negative energy by her and others, by making it funny.  I sat on it and demanded that some one take a picture of me on it.  Its crazy, because once I sat upon it, there was a line-up of others who also wanted their picture taken with it!  Michaela still thinks I’m nuts- but she is the first one to tell people that I sat on it- all the while laughing!  My ploy worked needless to say.

 

This is me.  We had arrived at our first campsite and discovered that Englishman River lay beside the campsite.  Caela and I immediately headed down upon setting up our campsite.  After being up since the ungodly hour of 3 a.m., I enjoyed a nap near the water.  Caela took this picture when I woke up.  There is nothing like a sound nap induced by the movement of water. 

 

This is Mackenzie Beach that lines up with Long Beach along the Pacific Rim National Park.  We are now at our second campsite located above this beach.  The past two days were hot and sunny.  Now that we are technically in the realm of the Vancouver Island rain forest, it is much colder and very damp.  Others along the beach told me that it is not always this overcast- but its definitely not uncommon. 

 

Mackenzie Beach:  Its always nice to see Michaela having a genunine good time since most of the time her anxiety disorder gets in the way.  She was in her glory, discovering new shells and other unusual things on the beach.

 

Mackenzie Beach:  Michaela finding another bloody muscle shell.  I have to admit, I can see why she was interested.  They were the length of a womans hand!

 

Mckenzie Beach:  Michaela discovered a dead squid on the beach.  And then we discovered six more.  They were huge- approximately 2.5 ft. long.  When we arrived home, we discovered on the news that the day we left, there was dozens and dozens of them (along with huge sardines) lying dead upon the beach.  Marine biologists have no idea what is causing the deaths. 

 

Rainforest trail walk, across from Long Beach (Pacific Rim National Park):  I thought the moss growing on this 500-800 year old cedar tree was interesting.

 

Rainforest trail walk:  I think this 1,100 meter walk was one of the most interesting parts of our trip.  It felt like you were in a whole new world.  During our walk, there was a raven following us the whole way making the most eerie “popping” sounds.  No kidding.

 

Rainforest trail walk:  This is Michaela being funny. 

 

Ucluelet, B.C.:  Ucluelet and Tofino are only a few miles apart in opposite directions on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.  Ucluelet is is nestled in a small harbour to the south and Tofino is on the northern tip of the peninsula.   Despite the fact that they are close in distance to each other, it is like walking in different worlds. Ucluelet is a fishing/logging town and Tofino is full of surfers/hippie-like people.  I fell in love with both towns.

 

Wickininnish Beach:  This was my favourite beach along the Pacific Rim National Park as it was untouched by development.  Forest lined the upper part of the beach and the beach was full of interesting things.  Michaela discovered a dead sea lion in the water but my camera had run out of battery!  I definitely want to come back here one day. 

 

~ Travelling along the coast line was amazing and we will do it again.  I do however, have one piece of advice for anyone traveling along the west coast of Vancouver Island:  Bring clothes that accomodates various types of weather!  The last two days in the Pacific Rim area was extremely cold.  Down south, was no problem!  And, expect to possibly see bears, cougar and wolves!  Yes, we were definitely not in Kansas anymore, lol.

A Mystical Welcome

 

My daughter and I were on Vancouver Island the last four days. We travelled from Parksville right up to the Ucluelet and Tofino. We visited many beaches from Mackenzie Beach to Wikininnish Beach and of course Long Beach.

To her absolute joy and pleasure, Michaela collected various shells not otherwise found on beaches near where we live. And as we made our way up to the left side of the beach, I came upon this little island. The island had a little cleft as an entry way. And within this cleft, stood a twisted, knarled tree in the shape of some ominous figure with its arm stretched outwards to bid some willing person welcome.

The scene immediately reminded me of a favourite tune of mine sung by Loreena McKennitt:

Where dips the rocky highland
Of sleuth wood in the lake
There lies a leafy island
Where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water rats
There we’ve hid our fairy vats
Full of berries
And of reddest stolen cherries.

CHORUS
Come away oh human child
To the waters and the wild
With a faery hand in hand
For the world’s more full of weeping
Than he can understand

Where the wave of moonlight glosses
The dim grey sands with light
By far off furthest rosses
We foot it all the night
Weaving olden dances
Mingling hands and mingling glances
Till the moon has taken flight
To and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles
Whilst the world is full of troubles
And is anxious in its sleep.

CHORUS

Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above glen car
In pools among the rushes
That scarce could bathe a star
We seek for slumbering trout
And whispering in their ears
Give them unquiet dreams
Leaning softly out
From ferns that drop their tears
Over the young streams

CHORUS

Away with us he’s going
The solemned eyed
He’ll hear no more the lowing
Of the calves on the warm hillside
Or the kettle on the hob
Sing peace unto his breast
Or see the brown mice bob
Round and round the oatmeal chest.

For he comes, the human child
To the waters and the wild
With a faery hand in hand
For the world’s more full of weeping
Than you can understand.