An awareness experience in Santa Fe, New Mexico

In a courtyard in Santa Fe, I sprawl in a sun-bleached, wooden chair, caressed by the warmth of this afternoon's sun. I'm enthralled with the beauty of this surrounding area where gravel roads and the absence of street lights and power lines, evoke a feeling of attunement with nature.

Through squinted eyelids, I observe the landscape's muted hues of gray, green and lavender, which are punctuated with splashes of red and yellow. Nearby, unfamiliar birds chirp and fuss amongst unfamiliar trees. The beauty of these intermingled desert shrubs and trees, accompanied by the strange bird sounds, awaken a sudden alertness, and a strong desire within me, to paint again; to feel brush and canvas in hand.

This gorgeous landscape has evoked such pleasant feelings within, that I now feel I should somehow capture and preserve its essence, and that of the long, low adobe styled homes that peek out, here and there, from behind the profusion of trees and shrubbery.

Here in Sante Fe, the elevation is high and the air is thin, and being only a recent visitor, I am unaccustomed to this altitude. I suddenly feel strangely excited and "light-headed" as I become immersed within a drifting, dream-like state, feeling as if I were afloat in some distant, timeless realm.

A scurrying lizard startles me from my reverie! The little critter seemingly touches my foot as it races past me and across the yard, disappearing so fast, that I'm now uncertain that it was ever actually here.

I retreat into the house and return with a note pad and my camera. A fragment of a poem is formulating in my mind as my creative urges flare! A restlessness agitates and motivates me as I become aware of an extraordinary energy that seems to envelop this time and place. I snap pictures and then feverishly sketch an abstract of beauty; a drawing and reminder of this splendid afternoon and this lovely location.

I feel humble, yet fortunate that I'm so aware and appreciative of nature, especially during this period in history when earth and life seem threatened by mankind's inability to live together harmoniously while embracing the values of love and respect for life's diversity.

During this time of mind-boggling scientific advancements and unfolding universal knowledge, mankind is on the threshold of feats of unparallel creativity that will perhaps answer some of our greatest questions; such as, "Why are we here?" and "What is our purpose?"

We are steadily unlocking the secrets of our universe and of the human brain and body, yet sometimes I wonder if we will survive long enough to benefit from this knowledge? Will we evolve, reaching our greatest potential, or will we recklessly cause our own species' extinction? Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, I'll continue to enjoy and honor earth's majestic beauty, and the physical and spiritual beauty of its inhabitants.



Copyright © 2005 by Gwen Dickerson
All rights reserved.