What The Mask Keeps You From Seeing

When you are wearing a mask, it does two things:  It keeps the world from seeing you, and it limits the view you are able to have of the world.  The mask provides a feeling of safety, as "nobody knows" who you are.  This can be a comforting thing in times when things are difficult, when you may feel threatened in some way.  Yet, the mask also stops the flow of energy to and from the world, and so you are then limited by who you feel yourself to be behind it.  Safe, silent, unknown...

Is being "safe" good for you as a person?

Are you wearing a mask?  Most of us do, at least part of the time.  It can be hard to find the confidence to take off the feeling of safety and breathe the fresh air, feel the breeze of life's unknowns.  It's so worth it, though!  Letting yourself make the deeper connection to life that comes from letting go of your ideas about who you are and who you can become is such a gift to yourself, to those around you, and to the world.

How would your life be different if you took off the mask that keeps you apart from feelings that are challenging, and you took the risk to become a larger version of yourself, one with more authentic ways of making your way?  What one step can you take today to free yourself of some role that doesn't serve you any longer, to redefine a piece of your life to be more in tune with your true identity?  Who will benefit when you do that, people you care about?

Would you like a little help along the way?
I am ready to be your support person, and guide you to the tools that will allow you to access your own deepest knowing, to find your power, and to live more completely in your vision of who you want to become.

Click here to schedule a time to talk with me, and get some resources for moving forward.  You deserve support.

Let's do this!

Betty

About me:

For over forty years, I have lived in the back country of Big Sur, gathering experience to share with you.

My service orientation drives my successful food distribution business, and is key in the high quality of my fashion items, known for their originality and quality.  

As part of my life’s vision, I have served on various boards and community organizations for many years, including the school board that established an independent school district in this area.  Currently, I serve on the Executive Committee of the Planning Process for the California Coastal Trail, Big Sur section.  In June of 2015 I joined the Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council as local representative.  As the founder of Monterey Area Writers, Photographers and Artists Meetup, I work to bring new opportunities to creative people in the area.

I am a member of the Professional Women's Network of Monterey, and a VIP member of the National Association of Professional Women. My business is honored by the Better Business Bureau, with a rating of A+.  I am listed in the registry of Continental Who's Who.

Do You Hear your Heart's Wisdom?

What is the wisdom of the heart?  It is that of knowing you are a valuable part of life, that you have something to offer, and that you care for others.  
It is being able to receive the good things that life brings, with an open heart and ready to express gratitude.  It is the essential power that makes your life worth living.  When you are truly filled and overflowing with wonder and gratitude, ready to recognize life's gifts and your place within them, there's no room for fear, worry, or any other negative influences.  You are one with life, moving in the flow.  things open up for you, and you feel a sense of being able to do far more than you had thought you could.

How does recognizing that power give you a feeling that you want to do more with your life?

I want to talk with you about it, and find ways to expand what your life can mean for you.

When you free up your energy to really flow into your greater vision, your life opens up a whole new way of being for you that is lighter, richer, and more filled with meaning.  A life with your full potential expressed, and the world made better for it.
No more feeling stuck or undervalued, no more wondering if it has all been worth while.  Ramp it up and get a full sense of who you are, and who you can become!

Get in touch with me and let's chart a course for your next steps.

Enjoy your day!

Thanks for being here,

Betty

About me: For over forty years, I have lived in the back country of Big Sur, gathering experience to share with you.

My service orientation drives my successful food distribution business, and is key in the high quality of my fashion items, known for their originality and quality.  

As part of my life’s vision, I have served on various boards and community organizations for many years, including the school board that established an independent school district in this area.  Currently, I serve on the Executive Committee of the Planning Process for the California Coastal Trail, Big Sur section.  In June of 2015 I joined the Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council as local representative.  As the founder of Monterey Area Writers, Photographers and Artists Meetup, I work to bring new opportunities to creative people in the area.

I am a member of the Professional Women's Network of Monterey, and a VIP member of the National Association of Professional Women. My business is honored by the Better Business Bureau, with a rating of A+.  I am listed in the registry of Continental Who's Who. 

 

Woman, Act III: Truly Connecting With Vitality

All around you the world is showing the vast variety of forms, moving in vital patterns, filled with secret messages about life.
 Each color and shape has something to add to your day, creating feelings within you that call you to respond.
As  a grounding force for the woman in the third act, nature is a wonderful model.  Do you agree?

Let's talk about what nature says about life.

Plants and animals show us the simple ways of adaptation, and we can clearly see the life cycle of seed, growth, harvest, and completion, change of form, end of life. 

In our lives as women, we have the same cycles:

Beginning as maidens, we grow our feminine forces, preparing to unfold them.  

As women in the middle of life, we nurture, grow, and give to others in all the ways we are able to do.

Later in life, in the third act, women have a vast storehouse of experience and wisdom to offer.  We want to continue to grow and to give, yet the cycle of the second part of life is completed.  the need for a new process, a new way of looking at life, emerges. 

And in these times, we have an opportunity to give back to life that has never existed before.  How to invent this new type of role for the older woman?  No longer content to simply sit quietly and be told what to do, older women now have authority and a need to express a deeper sense of purpose, to align with a higher vision.  We want to keep going!

Yet, we need to find our bearings, to get comfortable with who we are now and are becoming, and to identify what comes next.  Using the life cycle image, we are like fruit trees that have grown up and are now laden with fruit.   We don't want any of what we have done in life to go to waste.  This takes reflection, and an examination of values, priorities, and goals.  Want some support for this process?  I would be so honored to be your companion in the journey.

Please contact me for a free consultation about what's next for you.

Thanks for being here,

Betty

About me:

I have spent over forty years in the back country of Big Sur, gathering experience to share with you.

My service orientation drives my successful food distribution business, and is key in the high quality of my fashion items, known for their originality and quality.  

I have served on various boards and community organizations for many years, including the school board that established an independent school district in this area.  Currently, I serve on the Executive Committee of the Planning Process for the California Coastal Trail, Big Sur section.  In June of 2015 I joined the Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council as local representative.  As the founder of Monterey Area Writers, Photographers and Artists Meetup, I work to bring new opportunities to creative people in the area.

I am a member of the Professional Women's Network of Monterey, and a VIP member of the National Association of Professional Women. My business is honored by the Better Business Bureau, with a rating of A+.  I am listed in the registry of Continental Who's Who.

The Way Life Fits Together

Each moment in life has a meaning and a feeling of its own.  Think of how your experiences flow from one to another, forming a pattern.  They fit into your life like pieces of a puzzle, challenging you to make the most of them.  The way you percieve your experience in this moment is the doorway to what the next moment can hold.  Are you making the most of who you are, becoming the best version of yourself?  What do you want more of in your life, and what would you like to transform into something better?
Contact me at
Get in touch with Betty 
and let's see what steps you can take right now to get more out of your life.

Who can  you help by becoming stronger, more vital, and gaining a deeper appreciation of who you are and who you can become?  Will you inspire others to do the same? We are all related, and there is always a way to make things better.

Take a little time today to connect with nature and feel yourself as part of the larger realities of life.  There's an infinite number of connections waiting for your unique perceptions to build on them.

Step into your purpose!

About Betty:

I have spent over forty years in the back country of Big Sur, gathering experience to share with you.

My service orientation drives my successful food distribution business, and is key in the high quality of my fashion items, known for their originality and quality.  

During my time in big Sur, I have served on various boards and community organizations for many years, including the school board that established an independent school district in this area.  Currently, I serve on the Executive Committee of the Planning Process for the California Coastal Trail, Big Sur section.  In June of 2015 I joined the Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council as local representative.  As the founder of Monterey Area Writers, Photographers and Artists Meetup, I work to bring new opportunities to creative people in the area.

I am a member of the Professional Women's Network of Monterey, and a VIP member of the National Association of Professional Women. My business is honored by the Better Business Bureau, with a rating of A+.  I am listed in the registry of Continental Who's Who.

What's Really Important Here?

How can you tell what's important and what is not?  
All day and night there are signals coming in to demand attention, things to notice, and decide what action is needed. 
 It could be a family situation, something at work that needs to be handled, or your own feelings and thoughts ...or all of the above, at once.  Want to talk about it?

Meet me at  
 Act III: Charting Your Life Purpose
for a free strategy session.  I'll share resources to help you get int touch with your direction in new ways.

Ask yourself what purpose is being served by each of the signals, and they will become easier to decipher and prioritize.  Are you being asked to be in a role that is out of touch with your values, in order to make things work for someone else?  How much value does that add to your life and that of those you care about?

You are the one who will make the priorities that shape your life and relationships.  When you are clear within yourself about your values, you can see that the urgency that is often projected about small things is an energy drain. It keeps real solutions from being generated and obscures the light of inspiration from reaching you.  Life does contain truly urgent situations, but they are relatively few.  You, and those around you, will be better served by taking the larger view of matters, not letting yourself be distracted by things that don't contribute energy.  How important will the situation you see today be in five years?

What is your purpose in doing what you are doing today?  Is there one thing you can change about your situation, even in a small way, that will make more room for the things you really care about?  Make that little change, and see what opens up for you. 
Make room for yourself...

Talk it over!

Visit www.bettyofbigsur.com for more information about coaching, books, retreats, communities.

Contact me at

info@bettyofbigsur.com.  Take the time for a free consultation to find resources to support your growth and discover a deeper vision for your life.

Or call me at (831) 667-2314.  I’d love to support your growth.  Have a great day!

Best regards,

Betty

Lighten Up and Live

It's summer in Big Sur, and things can get pretty full, with more to do than there is time to do it.

Highway 1 at this time of year is a challenge for me, as I go from my mountain home to Monterey and back once a week.  Going north is easy, very early in the morning with very little traffic, and the soft light of dawn showing the beauty of the hills, lighting the ocean, rolling back the fog.

going south in the afternoon, however, it's a different road altogether.  Long lines of cars wind in slow motion, or so it seems.   Occasionally someone even stops in the middle of the road to take a picture, oblivious of everyone else.

Recently a friend asked me if I get angry about conditions on the road, and here is what I said:

I can remember getting angry at times, and occasionally I do get annoyed.

But then I have to stop myself, and say, "You can pull over to avoid the person who is tailgating. You can just slow down, and enjoy this magnificent place." And most of all, I remember that I get to do every week what so many people save up all year to do, and for many, it's the only time they will ever see these amazing hills.

So I lighten up and live, and express my gratitude to all the wonderful forces of nature that I am so privileged to be a part of, as I live here.

And wherever I go, I make an effort to remember the same thing.  Slow down and live, lighten up and live.  Let things be okay, and they will.

Welcome video on YouTube

http://youtu.be/XmcVpeYVL3E/

Come and visit!

www.bettyofbigsur.com  My web site, where you will find information and updates about events and my work,

www.retreatcampchecklist.com,

a checklist about camping retreats, to let you know what is here, and let me know what you would like to have, and to do, in Big Sur!  Fun, quick, instant feedback!

About Betty:

I have spent over forty years in the back country of Big Sur, gathering experience that I would love to share with you.

My service orientation drives my successful food distribution business, and is key in the high quality of my fashion items, known for their originality and quality.  

I have served on various boards and community organizations for many years, including the school board that esatblished an independent school district in this area.  I currently serve on the Executive Committee of the Planning Process for the California Coastal Trail, Big Sur section.  In June of 2015 I joined the Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council as local representative.  I am the founder of Big Sur Visionary Life network.

I am a member of the Professional Women's Network of Monterey, and a VIP member of the National Association of Professional Women. 

Natural Guidance

The picture at left shows plants interacting creatively and with a true ability to adapt.

When you feel a need for guidance, look to nature for the best messages.

Plants naturally find the right position, and grow into the shapes that reflect the energy of their chosen spots.  They arrange themselves in patterns that show natural truth, of strength, interdependence, dominance, or adaptation.

Each one of these truths has a time and a place in your life.  There are moments when standing tall is the best truth, and other times when blending in to the moment makes a lot more sense. 



Sometimes independent action is the only way.  Other times, asking for help will bring about a much better result.  No two situations, places, or people are the same.  Take the time to examine what's really happening for YOU in each moment or situation, what's best for all, and listen to what comes to you.

As you go through today, listen to the messages of nature, and know that there is great peace in the movements of life.

All the best,

Betty

Get in touch with me today!

 

About Betty:

I have spent over forty years in the back country of Big Sur, gathering experience that I would love to share with you.

 

My service orientation drives my successful food distribution business, and is key in the high quality of my fashion items, known for their originality and quality.  

I have served on various boards and community organizations for many years, including the school board that established an independent school district in this are.  I currently serve on the Executive Committee of the Planning Process for the California Coastal Trail, Big Sur section.  

 

In June of 2015 I will join the Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council as local representative. 

 

I am the founder of the Monterey and Big Sur Visionary Life Network.

Elemental Energy in Big Sur

The jasmine at left is growing on the west side of my house, and when it blooms the whole yard is filled with a fragrance of heaven. 

It is huge and covers the entire wall with its vigorous enthusiasm, and joyous expression of beauty.

What a great example of the power of cheerful energy it is, twining over itself into ropes, becoming so energetic that it needs to be cut back vigorously each year.

Nature in Big Sur has a way of taking over and going beyond the boundaries people thought would be happening.  It's just part of the terrain, with its steep inclines, hidden valleys, and isolated peaks.  Nothing here is ordinary in any way.

The forces of earth, fire, water, and wind move on a huge scale.  It's not too far-fetched to say that humans are lie an afterthought, here.

We do have the power to think, and interpret, and feel the forces, and Big Sur has inspired many types of poetry and writing.

My experience here has been a catalyst and inspiration for my new book, soon to be published.  It's called "Prevail: Seven Keys to Create A Personal Victory".  It's about taking what there is, and making out of it what you can.  Much as pioneers have always done, I used this point of view to make my life here in Mill Creek, and the book tells about the interior mental and emotional knwoledge that I have gained by my experiences.

You can read about my feeling for Spirit in Big Sur here:

The Voice of Nature Speaks to Your Spirit

Come and visit!

Welcome video

 

All the best,

Betty

About Betty:

I have spent over forty years in the back country of Big Sur, gathering experience that I would love to share with you.

My service orientation drives my successful food distrubution business, and is key in the high quality of my fashion items, known for their originality and quality.  

I have served on various boards and community organizations for many years, including the school board that esatblished an independent school district in this are.  I currently serve on the Executive Committee of the Planning Process for the California Coastal Trail, Big Sur section.  In June of 2015 I will join the Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council as local representative. 

I am the founder of the Monterey and Big Sur Visionary Life Network.

 

Redwood Forest in Mill Creek

Looking to the west from the ranch house, the tops of a large group of redwoods are visible.
The lower elevations of Mill Creek
contain many of these huge and wonderful trees.

During the last thirty years, the area where redwoods grow has expanded up the slope, much closer to the main pasture area.

Deep in the forest area, a silence of the ages is so thick that it fills the area with a feeling that silence would be better than talking.

 The fragrance of the trees has a fresh and gentle feeling, while the sheer size of the trees makes a person feel very small, indeed.

The effects of fire on the landscape are profound.  Many of the old oak and madrone trees are cracking and falling, years after the large fire of 2009.  Some of the redwoods were killed by the fire at lower elevations.  Some were damaged but now have new growth.

The continued drought also has a visible impact on the environment, with many areas of the land very stressed.  There were late rains which have given new life to the grasses.  In some places, wildflowers have bloomed vigorously, their vibrant colors making a refreshing display.

The birds have arrived in great numbers.  At dawn, birdsong fills the air.  After dark, the calls of turkeys pipe out as they find mates for the spring season.  On warm nights, frogs may be heard.

It's a great time of year to get out and be in nature.

My mission is to support you in having a wilderness experience that you will always treasure.

Let's get started!  Get in touch with me today at info@bettyofbigsur.com

About Betty:

I have spent over forty years in the back country of Big Sur, gathering experience that I would love to share with you.

My service orientation drives my successful food distrubution business, and is key in the high quality of my fashion items, known for their originality and quality. 

I am the founder of Monterey and Big Sur Visionary Life Network. 

I have served on various boards and community organizations for many years, including the school board that established an independent school district in this are.  I currently serve on the Executive Committee of the Planning Process for the California Coastal Trail, Big Sur section.  In June of 2015 I will join the Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council as local representative.

All the best,

Betty

Beautiful Spring! Big Sur wakes up

Big Sur wakes up!  The picture at left is the white Banksia rose in my front yard, festooned with blooms training to the ground from the top of the arch.  this picture was taken during the "white flower" ment, when it seems that every flower blooming is white.

Whether it's apple, pear, apricot, quince, or plum,
this year the trees are loaded with flowers, promising a huge crop of fruit later on.  the avocado trees are also making blossoms in profusion.

Lizards and salamanders are crawling to new positions, and once or twice the sounds of frogs have pointed out that spring is really here.

The birds are beginning to arrive.  At night the owls are quite vocal as they assert their territories and conduct mating rituals.  As the owls slowly fade out in the dawn, the doves call to one another.  Then, one by one, other birds begin their songs.

This is the opening of the "tapestry of song".  Within weeks, many types of birds will arrive and begin nesting.
This is the overlap of the northern and southern migration routes, so in nesting season the many songs converge and rebound off one another early and late in the day.

Flocks of small finches, robins, colored canaries, and many others join the woodpeckers and the jays.  The woodpeckers have already been busy for some time, rat-tat-tat-ing away at the acorns they have stored in the trunks of trees, as they sprout and become prime food.

There is already a pair of wood ducks on the pond, who glide away each morning when I walk by.
They have a nest, and I am pretty sure I know where it is, but I don't let on.

It's a great time to visit the back country.  Come on out and get some spiritual nourishment!

Get in touch with me about planning your time in nature.  Cal me at (831)667-2314 to schedule a time to plan your inspiring and refreshing time for renewal.

I'd love to get together and make new stuff happen!

Have a lovely day,

Betty

About Betty:

I have spent over forty years in the back country of Big Sur, gathering experience that I would love to share with you.

My service orientation drives my successful food distrubution business, and is key in the high quality of my fashion items, known for their originality and quality.  

I have served on various boards and community organizations for many years, including the school board that esatblished an independent school district in this are.  I currently serve on the Executive Committee of the Planning Process for the California Coastal Trail, Big Sur section.  In June of 2015 I will join the Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council as local representative.

Mill Creek: The Big Picture

Here is the view of Mill Creek from one of the pullouts on Nacimiento Road.

This watershed is home to a large creek, fed by many small tributaries.
A popular hiking trail leads from the bottom of the canyon for several miles.

The road is a long and winding one, as the Beatles song described.  For me, it is the road home, which I have driven thousands of times, and is so familiar.

The rocks hold mysteries, as the road crosses an important geological interface between Franciscan and Laurentian formations.  (I'm not a geologist, but a friend explained this to me in great detail.)  what it means for the observer is that there are stripes of limestone and formations that stimulate the imagination.  The sides of the road are decorated with wild flowers.  The rains this year have give me a sense of expectation that a good wildflower display will appear. 

In this photo, the ridge on the right hides from view the place where Big Sur Retreat Camp is located, on the flat pasture ground, just above the ranch house.

The difference between the southern and northern exposures is profound.  On the left, the southern exposure, you see how the land is steep, and dominated by scrub brush, rocks, and thin grass.  This is because of the heat of summer, keeping plant growth in check.

On the right, the northern slope, trees grow huge and the shade of green is deep because of the density of leaf growth.  the various gray trunks are those which were burned in the fire several years ago.  Many of these trees were killed, but not all.  Some are putting out fresh growth at the base.

 It is wonderful to see green on the hills this year.  I hope to enjoy the company of visitors, and to be able to share this treasure of Nature.

Get in touch with me to find out how to get out into the back country in comfort and style, and have an amazing experience in Mill Creek!

Have a lovely day,
Betty

Click here to visit Big Sur Retreat Camp by video!

Visit my web site for more information!

I have spent over forty years in the back country of Big Sur, gathering experience that I would love to share with you.

My service orientation drives my successful food distribution business, and is key in the high quality of my hand made fashion items, known for their originality and quality.  

I have served on various boards and community organizations for many years, including the school board that established an independent school district in this area.
I recently founded Big Sur Visionary Life Network, a forum and support group for local creative and visionary people to gather and collaborate.  You can learn more about it here:

Monterey and Big Sur Visionary Life Network

I currently serve on the Executive Committee of the Planning Process for the California Coastal Trail, Big Sur section.

In June of 2015 I will join the Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council as local representative.

Mountain Magnetism

Driving out the other day, before dawn, I came up on this vista and felt so fortunate to see it.
With all the soft colors and the movement of the fog through the canyons, the scene was full of softness and I felt a sense of wonder.  I knew it would be a great day.  Big Sur has a way of bringing things to visible form, and giving silent messages of Grace.

The magnetic feeling of the love of Nature is unmistakable.  Recent rains have brought out the greens and new shoots are forming.  Some of the older trees are breaking and falling.  Change is in the air.

Plans for new activities and ways to share this magnificent treasure are appearing.  What a great time of year!

If you are in the area, and would like to join a new meetup, check out this link:
Big-Sur-Visionary-Life-Network

This is a monthly event on the fourth Tuesday of every month, from 3 to 7 PM, at the Grange Hall in big Sur.  It's a chance to hang out and share ideas, create support for one another in our creative and visionary lives.  Hope to see you there!

Best wishes for your magnetic and dynamic enjoyment of your day,
Betty

Welcome to Big Sur! YouTube welcome video

About Betty:

I have spent over forty years in the back country of Big Sur, gathering experience that I would love to share with you.

My service orientation drives my successful food distrubution business, and is key in the high quality of my fashion items, known for their originality and quality.  

I have served on various boards and community organizations for many years, including the school board that esatblished an independent school district in this are.  I currently serve on the Executive Committee of the Planning Process for the California Coastal Trail, Big Sur section.  In June of 2015 I will join the Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council as local representative.

Feel the Bridge of Spirit and Connection

The span at left is at Pitkins Curve, just north of Limekiln Creek.  I took the photo on the last day of the bypass before the bridge was opened. 

It's a special place to me, since my son Hart worked on the bridge for a number of months, building forms for the concrete that supports the main structure.

Before the bridge and its rock shed were made, rocks from the cliff sometimes fell on the road, on the narrow curve, and the road could be blocked for long periods of time.  Now, the driver goes over the elegant bridge and continues down Highway 1.

It's like that with the Bridge of Spirit.  When your own idea of what is happening is the only way you have to see life,  the curve is narrow, and unknown things such as rocks may block the way.  With a connection to your Spirit as your reference point, a larger way opens up and you are given the support which helps you to get where you are going with a far better chance of getting there smoothly.

So how to build the bridge of spirit?  How to connect with that level of support?  Just ask, and the first steps for you to take will appear in your mind.  You already know! Asking for help means asking for your own mind to open up.  Real answers are there, waiting for you.

Connect with another person in a positive way, and you have built a firm foundation.  Each person is a bridge to our universal spirit of unity.  Each moment of your life is a time to create further strengths, and to take bolder and bolder steps on the Bridge of Spirit.

Find connection and inspiration in Big Sur.  I'd love to be part of that!

Visit www.bettyofbigsur.com to learn more about ways to experience the great teachings of nature.

I'd love to help you plan the ideal retreat for your needs.

www.retreatcampchecklist.com will help us get started.  

Have a beautiful day,

Betty

Moonlight on the Ocean

The photo at left shows the first full moon of the year setting over the Pacific, just before dawn.  As the light began to grow, the beautiful lavender and purple hue came out, shimmering in the ocean waters.

The sky lit up with amazing color vibrating, as the majestic mountain scenery became visible.  This is the kind of scene that makes me so grateful to live in this magical place in Big Sur.  The currents of the sea are visible, with the light of a boat on the far right of the photo.

This position of the moon is the northernmost it will be until the same time next year.  As the seasons progress, moonset takes place moving leftward over the ocean, until it is hidden behind the mountain folds of the next creek to the west.

The colors play through the seasons, giving a delightful variation to the scenes.

At this time of year all of nature is recharging and taking on new forms.  Old leaves have dropped, and buds are forming.  The songs of birds are absent, as the main songbirds are still in the south.
Many of the animals have a new generation being born.

New ideas and plans for the future are an important feature of the season.  We wait as the time of contemplation continues, taking stock of what has been, and creating our hopes for the future.

The voice of inner truth speaks to us in our hearts, waiting for us to take action.
I make plans for the coming year, and think of my friends and family, and those new times.
Lots of great things ahead!
Want to find a visionary time in your life?

Visit www.bettyofbigsur.com to learn more about ways to experience the great teachings of nature.

I'd love to help you plan the ideal retreat for your needs.

www.retreatcampchecklist.com will help us get started. 

Best wishes, 

Betty

Natural Energy and You

How is your natural energy doing?  Are you in tune with yourself today?  Take a moment to notice how you are feeling as you think about this.  Step into that feeling...

Each time of day, each time of year, in Big Sur, has its own type of energy.

Just before dawn, the temperature drops.  As the sun rises in the morning, the clouds are painted with color, which slowly shifts to the blue or gray of the daylight.  Animals wake up or go to sleep, according to their habits.  Each has a pattern for its life, involving a routine that has worked for its kind throughout the years.
 Territory, food, and "making the rounds" are the basics for the wild way of life.  Not so different from our own lives, in a way.

This deer is waking from its nightly bed, and will soon move on, leaving only a soft impression in the grass.

You could be only steps away from the wildlife of the area, and not know it, as you are watched by the creatures who stay hidden, with all the time in the world to observe their surroundings.  For them, there is never a hurry..unless fleeing a predator.  Most of the lives of the wild animals are lived in silence, except for the calls relating to the rhythms of life: mating, territory, danger.

As the seasons progress, the play of light and shadow takes on new forms, the seasons grow, ripen, and change.  There is message in each moment, a deep connectedness that is always ready for you to discover it. 

As you make your rounds, make an effort to feel the guiding hand of natural forces that move through your life.  Look up once in a while from your usual patterns and see the bigger picture.  Your day will be more enjoyable, and you can see a chance to get more in tune with your own feelings, your own life.

Visit www.bettyofbigsur.com to learn more about ways to experience the great teachings of nature.

I'd love to help you plan the ideal retreat for your needs,
welcoming you to the wild in comfort and style.

www.retreatcampchecklist.com will help us get started.  

All the best,

Betty

Forest view above the pond

 

The forest changes through the seasons, and here you can see the way that fog and chill have muted the colors above the pond.  Moss grows on the trees, mushrooms sprout up, and all the creatures of the forest come to drink and make nests.  

A small group of water fowl breeds here, including herons, kingfisher, and some different types of ducks.

This forest is a bird-watcher's paradise.  

 In early spring, a cacophony of birdsong rises with the light to awaken your spirit to the joys of nature and renewal.  Finches, woodpeckers, jays, hawks, and every other type of bird create nests and raise their young in a wonderful display of wild life.  In winter, the scene is different:  the many frogs are in hibernation, and the lizards and salamanders creep under shelter to hide and sleep through the cold and damp times.  They are the first to awaken at the end of dormancy.  

You can see more of this lovely area by going to the following links:


Visit www.bettyofbigsur.com to learn more about ways to experience the great teachings of nature.

I'd love to help you plan the ideal retreat for your needs.

www.retreatcampchecklist.com will help us get started.  

All the best,
Betty