Sophia's Children

“I took the other road, all right, but only because it was the easy road for me, the way I wanted to go.

If I’ve encountered some unnecessary resistance that’s because most of the traffic is going the other way.” ~ Edward Abbey

It’s been one of those weeks when the Muse is busily gestating some gathering of insights, not yet ready to be sent forth in any cogent stream of words.

So for now, since it’s Father’s Day here in the U.S. and the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere as well, I’ll share these wee bits of perspective from Edward Abbey, the American iconoclast, writer, and ardent and loyal knight in service to Mother Nature.

These quotes from Abbey remind me of my own father, who was in his own way an iconoclast more comfortable in his painting studio, or in a chair by the fire with a history book on a favorite era, or out wandering in Nature, or fixing something in a seemingly (to us) miraculous and MacGyver-esque way, than he was in the ‘normal’ containers defined by the culture in which he lived.

My father did, in fact, take the other road, as Abbey says, and I do admire and deeply respect that about him (and anyone else who ‘hazards the fierce edges of life’ as the poet David Whyte says!). There’s an integrity to it, and that continues to be an inspiration and encouragement to me.

When he was still alive, we celebrated his birthday just after Father’s Day and the Solstice (June 23rd). So happy birthday and Father’s Day, Dad! (And yes, Dad, my feet are on the ground!)

“Each thing in its way, when true to its own character, is equally beautiful.” ~ Edward Abbey

Whatever you’ve helped father into existence from the authentic core of your own being — whether children or art or writings or a house you built or some bit of Nature or the sacred that you’ve stood as worthy knight in protection of, or some lesser-traveled road you’ve courageously taken — let’s take a moment and honor that expression of what my Qigong grandmaster called ‘healthy Yang’ creation, or Sacred Masculine.

“We are who we protect, I think, who we stand up for.” ~ Sophie in The DaVinci Code

Wherever you are in the world, may this Solstice bring blessing, generosity, joy, heartfulness, honor, and insight — Fire element and healthy Yang qualities one and all.

And as we stand for a moment in the balance of Light and Darkness, may we resolve to stand for and bless and celebrate into ‘normalcy’ those very healthy Yang or Sacred Masculine qualities in these transformative times.

Big Love,

Jamie