Great connections, Amanda. Who knew that mountain lions could reduce your risk of Lyme disease and reduce your auto insurance bill by reducing auto & deer collisions?!
Thank you. While we should value them regardless, some are more pursuaded by the idea of a monetary impact. I look forward to the day the insurance companies lobby for more mountain lions and wolves.😊
I liked how you have weaved your observations into into this poetically beautiful essay. I felt like I was on that path too. And thanks for sharing the beautiful images of the forest and its inhabitants.
Our cousin lives on an acreage outside the city and runs the country roads regularly. One day, she saw someone she initially thought was a deer until she saw the long tail and realized it was a cougar. She called the wildlife officer for information and advice. He said, “If you’ve seen that cougar once, it’s seen you a hundred times.” Our cousin was disturbed by that idea but I found it comforting; most animals want nothing to do with us and the fact that these beauties live near us without us even seeing them proves it. I enjoyed your perspective.
From one drawn to The Quirk ... Thanks, Amanda. And a good helping of vital information along the path you describe.
Even here in bear country, it's almost always thoughts of lions that have me stopping to scan the woods behind me through "odd black goggles", as if a stalking lion couldn't easily remain hidden from my mediocre eyes.
I wrote last week of seeking wisdom from a giant cedar tree while describing a walk I took. Funny, I too asked the question, 'is this true or a story?' It can be both. I love how you invited us into a deeper dimension with this piece. And I saw a clip of John Baptiste talking about letting yourself be free with the words you write. Make up language, make up anything. Don't we love fantasy where wise ones speak out of trees, dragons and caves because we sense they do but often we just can't hear?
I have been with Douglas Firs today and they brought me back to a more generous patient sense of time.
My husband sent me this beautiful quote today,
"Shauna later revealed that in his last weeks, Redford had recorded a private message for his great-grandchildren. In it he said, "This world can overwhelm. But if you slow down, and sit under a tree long enough, it'll tell you everything. And if you forget who you are, draw something. Or go walk alone. Nature remembers you."
I have a very rational part of me that struggles to accept the idea of 'heart to heart conversations with trees', yet I keep having them! You inspire me to get brave and write more of this though as you say, it can be hard to express. I love what you've done here. Thank you.
Yes, to all of this, thank you! Particularly this: "I have a very rational part of me that struggles to accept the idea of 'heart to heart conversations with trees', yet I keep having them!"🙌🏼
Combined with the facts on the impact of top predators, it is a powerful piece. Have you read 'Prodigal Summer' by Barbara Kingsolver? I think you'd love it.
First thing I read this morning had me tumbling down a wondrous rabbit hole, following a lioness. I highly recommend it. And I thank you for such a lyrical invitation, dear Amanda. Bravo.
You transition from human to lioness, allowing sensory awareness to be the conduit along which mind, body, and spirit travel. Thanks so much for bringing me along with you in this thoughtful, delicious essay!
Excellent essay and photos Amanda! As we build out the wilderness I hope that we can teach, at all levels of education, about the how nature balances itself. The fear of predators is mostly a fear of predation of young domestically raised cattle, lamb… When we share territory with large predators we need to know how to do so without encouraging the instinct they have of chasing anything that is running. One we start to understand the cycle of life we can enjoy it carefully and with joy.
Great connections, Amanda. Who knew that mountain lions could reduce your risk of Lyme disease and reduce your auto insurance bill by reducing auto & deer collisions?!
Keep doing the research and
Connecting the Disparate Dots!!!
Thank you. While we should value them regardless, some are more pursuaded by the idea of a monetary impact. I look forward to the day the insurance companies lobby for more mountain lions and wolves.😊
I liked how you have weaved your observations into into this poetically beautiful essay. I felt like I was on that path too. And thanks for sharing the beautiful images of the forest and its inhabitants.
Thank you Ankita🙏🏼
Our cousin lives on an acreage outside the city and runs the country roads regularly. One day, she saw someone she initially thought was a deer until she saw the long tail and realized it was a cougar. She called the wildlife officer for information and advice. He said, “If you’ve seen that cougar once, it’s seen you a hundred times.” Our cousin was disturbed by that idea but I found it comforting; most animals want nothing to do with us and the fact that these beauties live near us without us even seeing them proves it. I enjoyed your perspective.
Thank you 😊
We may need to invent spiked collars for runners as we have for small dogs to protect them against coyotes.
I think you’re on to something brilliant there, and I think our cousin is just punk enough to pull off that look!
Wow. What a wonderful piece of writing Amanda. I was transported as I read your words.
Thank you for coming along 😊
From one drawn to The Quirk ... Thanks, Amanda. And a good helping of vital information along the path you describe.
Even here in bear country, it's almost always thoughts of lions that have me stopping to scan the woods behind me through "odd black goggles", as if a stalking lion couldn't easily remain hidden from my mediocre eyes.
Bears, wolves, bobcats ... no other predator leaves us wondering if they are there like the mountain lion does.
I was captivated and smiling through reading this piece. It had me gripped in the spell of your story, suspended in another space and time.
I'm excited to notice more and more of these kinds of threads here on Substack. A friend shared a piece behind a paywall that talked of nature connection coming when we stop trying so hard (I just read the opening) https://open.substack.com/pub/deepecology/p/how-do-birds-help-us-remember-who-we-are-deep-ecology?r=2qzxbd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web.
I wrote last week of seeking wisdom from a giant cedar tree while describing a walk I took. Funny, I too asked the question, 'is this true or a story?' It can be both. I love how you invited us into a deeper dimension with this piece. And I saw a clip of John Baptiste talking about letting yourself be free with the words you write. Make up language, make up anything. Don't we love fantasy where wise ones speak out of trees, dragons and caves because we sense they do but often we just can't hear?
I have been with Douglas Firs today and they brought me back to a more generous patient sense of time.
My husband sent me this beautiful quote today,
"Shauna later revealed that in his last weeks, Redford had recorded a private message for his great-grandchildren. In it he said, "This world can overwhelm. But if you slow down, and sit under a tree long enough, it'll tell you everything. And if you forget who you are, draw something. Or go walk alone. Nature remembers you."
I have a very rational part of me that struggles to accept the idea of 'heart to heart conversations with trees', yet I keep having them! You inspire me to get brave and write more of this though as you say, it can be hard to express. I love what you've done here. Thank you.
More please Amanda!
Yes, to all of this, thank you! Particularly this: "I have a very rational part of me that struggles to accept the idea of 'heart to heart conversations with trees', yet I keep having them!"🙌🏼
Combined with the facts on the impact of top predators, it is a powerful piece. Have you read 'Prodigal Summer' by Barbara Kingsolver? I think you'd love it.
I haven't, but I'll check it out. Thank you.
Lovely.
Thank you!
You have created an incredible and gripping story and so within the perspective of the lioness. You should enter it for an anthology.
Thank you!
Lucid, breathtaking, and vivid. Thank you, Amanda.
Thank you, Clark! 😊
Great intro to this article. Loved the poetry and narrative that intertwined in the story.
Thank you!
First thing I read this morning had me tumbling down a wondrous rabbit hole, following a lioness. I highly recommend it. And I thank you for such a lyrical invitation, dear Amanda. Bravo.
Rabbit hole, indeed! Thank you for joining the walk, David. 😊
A wonderful conversation between you and the lioness. Thank you for including my piece in this essay too 🥰
Parallel universes! Sending my best wishes for progress in your neck of the woods.
You transition from human to lioness, allowing sensory awareness to be the conduit along which mind, body, and spirit travel. Thanks so much for bringing me along with you in this thoughtful, delicious essay!
Thank you for understanding my translation of the conversation!😊
This is incredible. I love every single thing about it. The way you become the lioness with your words and paint such a powerful picture. Amazing!
I can always count on you to get these odd pieces of mine, Amanda. Thanks so much 😊
I’m finding that they are my favs. Great minds perhaps. Lol.
Excellent essay and photos Amanda! As we build out the wilderness I hope that we can teach, at all levels of education, about the how nature balances itself. The fear of predators is mostly a fear of predation of young domestically raised cattle, lamb… When we share territory with large predators we need to know how to do so without encouraging the instinct they have of chasing anything that is running. One we start to understand the cycle of life we can enjoy it carefully and with joy.
Thank you, and very well said.
Exactly, this: "why certain trails felt more 'alive' than others"
Thank you.