Stones
Stones are the inner foundations of meaning that we carry. The metaphors, memories, and truths we carry that anchor our journey and guide our next steps. These reflections offer grounding, perspective, and strength.
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The Threshold Season: What Mud Season Doesn’t Name
The bloodroot isn’t up yet.
That was what I went looking for on my first hike of the season in mid-April. My first hike in months and since receiving CAR-T treatment and spending several weeks in the hospital. I wanted to see if the bloodroot was peeking through in the spot where it always comes up, in the woods near the grassy stretch where the trail bends back toward Lake Champlain at Point au Roche park in very upstate NY. I was a little early. No bloodroot. No trillium. No wildflowers of any kind.…
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Encountering the Unexpected on Familiar Trails
Glimpse Ahead: Even the most familiar paths can surprise us. Sometimes what blocks our way becomes the very thing that reveals resources we didn’t know we were carrying. This essay looks at how things change when we don’t know what’s coming, and how the things that seem to hold us back can show us how we adjust to new situations.
When the Familiar Becomes Unfamiliar
I’ve walked this trail dozens of times. The same loop, the same landmarks, the same spot where I let the dogs wade, the same comforting sense of rhythm.…
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Three Kinds of Stones: What Hinders, Grounds, and Guides Your Journey
Glimpse Ahead: The trail we walk is never just about distance. It’s shaped by what we notice, what we carry, and what we choose to mark. Stones are not just obstacles in our path, they are meanings, memories, and messages. They’re weathered by time and transformed by presence. In this reflection, I explore the soulful symbolism of Stones: what we carry, what we stumble over, and what we place with intention. And maybe, you’ll notice that the stones beneath our feet are also within us.
When the Trail Speaks in Stones
You’re walking a trail you’ve never taken before.…