Mountains teach us to remain grounded in our own True Self.

In Wilderness Mysticism, the solid "thereness" of a mountain teaches us that we must be grounded in our own deep identity before we can ever hope to have anything to offer to the world. This identity does not define itself in accordance with the ever-shifting opinions of other people - or of society - but according to its own true and unique nature.   I don't mean this in a linear, once-and-for-all sense, but in a spiral manner. In other words, we must be grounded EACH TIME before we give. As the spiritual adage goes: "You must HAVE a self before you can GIVE AWAY your self."

We get in touch with this interior groundedness through spiritual disciplines like silence, solitude, mantric prayer, journaling, reflection, and times of fasting from the media-and-entertainment culture. These practices then enable us to give from our own deep center, an experience which is also deeply fulfilling :)

Photos: (Top) Early Fall colors; (Second) Reflections in a pond; (Third) Partridgefoot and misty Mt. Rainier; (Bottom) Lewis Monkeyflowers; All four photos were taken in Mount Rainier National Park, WA on July 28-30, 2015