Walking in the Winter
by Carrie Anderson
The brown, tan, and russet hues of autumn are still present. It’s now past the solstice, and this part of the world is awash in swirling colors of mud and leaves. Traversing a trail, the fallen leaves are inches deep. In various stages of decomposition, the crunching under our feet makes our journey slightly more perilous. Each leaf slips against its fellow leaves.
Following the edge of the creek, we can hear the roar of the waterfall as it cascades down the curvature carved into the earth. Winding our way past a small grove of wizened trees. Each twist of a branch offering a helping hand so that we don’t slide down into the rushing water below.
Switchbacks and steps offer a respite from the upward climb. Small pines welcome with their scent. Ferns, a personal plant of safety and sanctuary, spill over and brush against our bodies. Fern always calms and grounds me. Her presence is the warm embrace of maternal love built upon a deep ancestral knowledge of trust.
Birches beckons as we crest the mountain top. One lone holly bush, resplendently shining green, stands out amidst the tawny beige. A reminder of the current cycle of the ever turning wheel.
Boulders become a cliff edge with an uninterrupted view of this land’s great river. Climbing so high that vultures are eye to eye as they float past on the waves of wind currents.
Distant shapes, glowing white, rustle as the wind caresses. A mating pair of bald eagles. The courtship is over, and the nest is built. The eggs will not be laid for at least a month. They take flight soaring over the water looking for food. Winter is here.
Carrie Anderson is an Intuitive Consultant focusing on nature-based practices. She created Green Wisdom Reiki to blend nature spirits with energy healing. Working closely with plant spirits, Carrie also offers divination services that are also nature based. She is the author of several books. Her most recent, Green Memories, intertwines childhood memories with plant spirit communication. A deep respect guides all of her work, offerings, and writings. You can view her work at www.caresreiki.com
