Tag: Magic Moments

A Magical Walk in the Park

A Magical Walk in the Park

Today I want to share an intriguing snippet from a truly magical (yet utterly ordinary) day.

The magic moment happened when I was taking an afternoon walk after filling up a few water jugs at a spring in the park. As I waited for the jugs to fill, I sat in my car and read a few pages from a book I’ve been working my way through for the past few weeks. The passage was about the importance of being receptive to, rather than blocking, the well-being that flows in our direction and the role of emotions in gauging whether we are allowing or restricting that flow. It’s an idea I’ve really been focusing on and experimenting with lately.

It was cold outside, and I had been planning to exercise at the gym. However, something told me to take a walk in the park instead – and to strap on my camera gear. And for some reason, I found myself walking in the opposite direction from my usual route. As I walked, I thought about how amazing it is that, at this dark time of year, I feel so light! I felt wonderful and contemplated the importance of feeling what we desire as if it already were actualized. Regardless of what happens in the future, feeling good is a reward in and of itself and is well worth cultivating!

I gravitated toward the Gideon Putnam Hotel, where I captured a few images that had commanded my attention. Then my intuition nudged me to turn around and look behind me because there might be something even more incredible there that I’d miss with my back turned to it.

So I did, and here’s what greeted me:

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Feel transformed. Those two words summarized as succinctly as possible exactly what I was experiencing and contemplating! The message felt unambiguously like a nod from the Universe confirming that I’m on the right track. I was dazzled! What are the chances of that happening – receiving such a clear “sign”?

I walked some more, energized and inspired by what had just happened. And eventually I felt compelled to write a love note in the snow about magical moments. The shadows make it a little hard to read the words in the photo below, but I wrote: “PAY ATTENTION. You might stumble upon Magic!”

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Before I finished writing the word magic, a woman came along and read what I’d written so far and asked me what “you might stumble upon.” I told her, and then she wanted to know what it meant, so I explained it. It seemed like we were both open and receptive channels of communication at that moment and formed an instant connection. It turns out that we had several things in common. Like me, she recently had left a job that was very unhealthy for her and was looking for new work opportunities. We went on to talk about a book we both love, and she shared with me a simple, holistic remedy for an ailment familiar to both of us. I found it interesting that the remedy was something I intuitively have been practicing for several months now, but with an extra step that just might make a difference. From talking with her, I also was reminded to explore a healing modality that I had been curious about but hadn’t yet tapped into.

By the end of my walk, I felt so uplifted from receiving a sign, expressing love (which in turn might be a sign for someone else to discover), and what I imagine was a mutually beneficial interaction between this woman and me.

That’s what it feels like to be open to the flow of well-being. When you’re open and allowing it (and following intuition seems to be part of the equation), magic moments tend to arise! Or maybe they are constantly happening, but we don’t notice when we have our heads down or are otherwise impeding the flow.

The magical snippet I described above happened within the context of an absolutely magical 24-hour period of ordinary moments supercharged by what felt like being aligned with a higher vibrational frequency. That alignment seems to happen when I feel good and rested and walk around radiating love, feeling grateful for what I have, and envisioning hopeful dreams for the future. In that mind-space, the chance meetings, signs, inspirations, and possibilities that take shape leave me expecting life to be juicy and abundant. I feel connected to and supported by the universe, and such feelings enhance the present moment and shape the future. The bottom line is: It feels good! So when these moments come along, I drop everything and write about them, to remember what they feel like. And I share them, to remind you, too, of how extraordinary life can be when you engage the magic!

© 2016 Susan Meyer. All rights reserved. To use any or all of this blog post, include this exactly: Susan Meyer (SusanTaraMeyer.com) is a photographer, writer, clutter coach, feng shui consultant, and mindfulness mentor whose work is infused with a deep interest in the nature of mind and appreciation of the natural world. She lives on the Hudson River in Upstate New York. 

Transcendent Wildlife Moment

Transcendent Wildlife Moment

I had the most transcendent experience at the labyrinth this afternoon when I was blessed to witness something I have longed deeply to see – an image I have not been able to let go of since it was described to me a year ago by the gardener. There has been something magical about the conversations I’ve had with her, and I always walk away feeling blessed. Well, this particular afternoon, she told me she had seen a turtle emerge from the pond, move across the labyrinth to lay its eggs, then return back across the labyrinth to the pond.

I know. It doesn’t sound all that exciting. But for some reason, it planted a deep longing in me (and must have meant something to her, too). I love turtles – especially painted turtles – and I love labyrinths. I walked away wishing I could have witnessed it. I thought about it so much over the past year. I wondered if I’d be so fortunate to see the baby turtles cross the labyrinth later in the summer en route to the pond, and even calculated approximately when the babies were likely to emerge. No such luck. But I could not let go of the image of a wise, old turtle in the labyrinth. I visualized it through the winter. I visualized it through the spring. I wondered why this image fueled me with such deep longing. I realized the likelihood of me being there at the right time to see a turtle cross the labyrinth was very slim. I almost wished I had never heard about it because I couldn’t stop longing for it! Perhaps I’d need to camp out at the labyrinth all day when the temperature was right, and keep watch. Even just a few days ago, I wished I were more talented at sketching or painting so I could reproduce the image that had made such an impression on my heart and mind.

Unless someone were inside my head and able to read my thoughts and feelings, it’s probably impossible to understand how profound and meaningful this image was to me. I can’t explain it.

I never did camp out at the labyrinth. I just continued longing and wished I could have been blessed as the gardener had been with such perfect timing. I decided that experience was meant for her, and if it were meant for me, I would experience it, too.

So, this afternoon I went to the labyrinth with no expectations other than to clear my head after a busy day at work. I crossed the labyrinth to look at the flowers, as I always do prior to walking the path to the center and back. And then I noticed a painted turtle off to the side of the labyrinth!

Well, you can imagine my excitement. I took out my camera ever so carefully, hoping to photograph it. Simply achieving a decent, closeup shot of the turtle would be gratifying enough.

But after several minutes, the turtle turned around and maneuvered toward the labyrinth. My excitement turned to astonishment. When the turtle began to plod along the outer circuit of the labyrinth, I whispered softly and repeatedly, “Oh. My. God,” as tears dripped down my face.

This was even better than the gardener’s description of the turtle crossing the labyrinth, for this turtle was following the labyrinth path!

With nearly breathless reverence, I watched the turtle as it continued to navigate the outer circuit.

Then it turned and exited through the threshold!

Before it slid into the pond, I thanked the turtle for giving me this incredible blessing. Then I walked the labyrinth in the turtle’s footsteps, filled with awe and reverence. After that, I took an exercise walk on a nearby trail, and what I had just experienced hit me again. How profound that I was able to experience the sight for which I had longed so deeply! I cried reverent, grateful tears for quite some time as I walked along the trail. It simply was the greatest gift I could have received.

I had to write about it before falling asleep because such experiences need to be remembered and shared. To have such a deep longing fulfilled so unexpectedly is the most incredible feeling in the world. It’s grace. I don’t understand why the turtle in the labyrinth was such a powerful image and experience for me – only that it was. Before going to bed tonight, my son gave me a hug and, despite not fully understanding my excitement hours earlier, told me that he’s glad I got to see what I needed to. That sums it up perfectly.

© Susan Meyer and River Bliss Photography, 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material, including all text and photos, without express and written permission from this website’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Susan Meyer and River Bliss Photography (www.susantarameyer.com) with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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