Lichen sanctuary

Some of my best ideas start out as jokes. Such as, the lichen sanctuary.

The lichen sanctuary would rescue wayward lichen. There would be ample space to relocate displaced lichen. This place would be a safety net for lichen that has been pushed out of its habitat, fallen out of a tree, and unable to survive on a busy footpath. It could include lichen that was well attached to a branch but then the branch fell off the tree.

The sanctuary would offer tours. It would host weekly “meditate with lichen” events. 

I don’t have the lichen sanctuary at this time. But, I did make a sign. This was in the spirit of frivolity. I made that sign too. We need the spirit of frivolity!

See Lichen walk blog: http://www.maryannpetersen.com/?s=lichen

We all hang in the balance.

Sometimes we might ask a question to someone we trust about our impact.

To ask for honest personal feedback is fierce. It is badassery. I just learned this is all one word. No hyphen.

When a friend asked me a few days ago, “hey I need to ask you a question, I need feedback and I need you to be honest with me. It won’t help me if you’re not honest.” I paid attention. I felt alert, alive, asked something important.

I listened to the question. There was a small moment of pause, a moment where I had to choose to be honest or deflect and redirect and say something she would rather hear. But, I didn’t. I told her probably what she already knows, I was honest.

She is courageous. She models courage and strength for me and I am grateful for that. Because it asks me to also have courage. To meet her I have to respond on her level.

Earlier this month I walked through a filbert orchard and under incense cedars, next to the middle fork of the Willamette river. It rained hard much of the time.

I came home and took an aromatherapy bath. To forest bathe, go to the forest.

If not possible, add these three essential oils to your bathtub: cypress, fir needle, and cedar. Soak. Feel free to try others. I used about 10 drops of each.

It keeps raining. I keep walking in it. Today I wrote this while walking in Hendrick’s park:

I walk upstream, water runs down 

I see a dog in a rain coat

Gallons of raindrops falling

A man walks holding a little dog under an umbrella

A sign says CHOOSE KINDNESS

Another sign says STOP EATING ANIMALS

Mostly all I hear is rain

The sword ferns take it in stride.