i have need of trees these days

When I Am Among the Trees

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.

I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
   but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."

(mary oliver)

 this is a magnificent tree i came across while hiking in scotland.

all things to mend with bite-size lifeboats.

(Imogen Heap is one of those artists that I always come back to. Her music is so captivating.)

 TO SEE THE WORLD, THINGS DANGEROUS TO COME TO, TO SEE BEHIND WALLS, TO DRAW CLOSER, TO FIND EACH OTHER AND TO FEEL. THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE.  

 (that quote is from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. go see it.)

In which the things that aren't real serve the things that are.

Often I feel silly for still being so fascinated and captured by fairy tales and myths and folk stories. I sometimes feel I should live more in the 'real world' and be more in touch with all that it entails.
However, I've been reading an essay of Tolkien's in which he expounds upon ... well, fairy tales. I'm not far in, but i found this quote whilst reading it. It made me feel justified in my love for the fantastical, and rung true in my heart.

' Fairy tale does not deny the existence of sorrow and failure: the possibility of these is necessary to the joy of deliverance. It denies (in the face of much evidence, if you will) universal final defeat ... giving a fleeting glimpse of Joy; Joy beyond the walls of the world, poignant as grief.'


Also I'd like to wish the Old Hobbit a very merry 121st birthday. Though you are long gone, I have one wish for you:  May the hair on your toes never fall out!

(A drawing of Tolkien's for The Hobbit)

hello, year of newness

this year i would like to have more good thoughts.