Archive for the ‘Ralph Waldo Emerson’ Tag

Inspiration   4 comments

“Inspiration” Stained Glass Art by kenne, of kenne

“It behooves any of us who would mediate on the subject of artistic inspiration to open the doors wide into the night
and welcome into the house the spirit of inhabitable awe.”
— Edward Hirsch

What can be truer than the doctrine of Inspiration?

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thurber Cinquefoil Wildflower   Leave a comment

Thurber Cinquefoil Wildflower — Image by kenne

 “Love is like wildflowers;

It’s often found in the most unlikely places.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Peace   1 comment

Cactus Blossoms — Image by kenne

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Acorn   2 comments

Acorn — Image by kenne

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Red-Top Mushroom Photo-Artistry   1 comment

Red-Top Mushroom — Photo-Artistry by kenne

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”

—  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wilderness of Rocks In Pusch Ridge Wilderness   Leave a comment

Wilderness Trail August 2011 - 2011-08-12 at 12-22-35-72Wilderness of Rocks In Pusch Ridge Wilderness — Images by kenne

Words by:  Edward Abbey, Aldo Leopold, Ralph Waldo Emerson,
John Muir, and Wallace Stegner

 

Wilderness FloorWilderness Floor

World Book Day   4 comments

Prescott Old Sage Book Shop-1826-72Old Sage Book Shop (Prescott, Arizona) — Image by kenne

Yesterday, April 23rd was “World Book Day.” Knowledge is power, and one of the best ways to obtain knowledge is through reading. When’s the last time you visited a library, or a bookstore? Any day is a good time to relax and read a book. 

“When I find in people narrow religion
I find also narrow reading.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

White-Lined Sphinx Moth   2 comments

White-lined Sphinx Moth-Edit-2-blogWhite-Lined Sphinx Moth — Photo-Artistry by kenne

I heard a poet answer
Aloud and cheerfully,
‘Say on, sweet Sphinx! thy dirges
Are pleasant songs to me.
Deep love lieth under
These pictures of time;
They fade in the light of
Their meaning sublime.

— from The Sphinx by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Out On A Limb   2 comments

“Out On A Limb” — Photo-Artistry by kenne

“I become a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part of God.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Clouds Racing Over Horizon   2 comments

Mt Bigelow 07-15-13Clouds Racing Over Horizon — Image by kenne

“The health of the eye seems to demand a horizon.
We are never tired, so long as we can see far enough.” 

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Rainbow Clouds   Leave a comment

Rainbow Clouds (1 of 1) art blogRainbow Clouds — Computer Painting by kenne

All life is an experiment.
The more experiments
you make, the better.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Bee On Fairy Duster   Leave a comment

fairyduster-0665-blogBee On Fairy Duster — Image by kenne

Insect lover of the sun,
Joy of thy dominion!
Sailor of the atmosphere,
Swimmer through the waves of air,
Voyager of light and noon,
Epicurean of June,
Wait I prithee, till I come
Within ear-shot of thy hum,–
All without is martyrdom.

— from The Humblebee by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Standing At The Altar Of Nature   1 comment

SCVN Day 1Naturalist David Lazaroff and several other naturalists with the 2011 SCVN Training Class, Day 1 — Image by kenne

I was a member of the 2011 Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN) class. During the fall training I wrote the following poem, posting it on this blog:

STANDING AT THE ALTAR OF NATURE 

When we stand
at the altar of nature,
we stand with the greats;
Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Henry David Thoreau,
and John Muir,
each having helped define
our relationship
with nature and language –
“every natural fact is a symbol
of some spiritual fact,
. . . words are signs of natural facts.”

Nature’s beauty becomes
a source of spiritual energy
connecting all things
into a universal whole
with the energy of our
thoughts and will.

We stand at nature’s altar
not separate from her,
seeing her in the flowers,
insects, animals, mountains,
creating a unified landscape
of our inward and outward senses.

Like all relationships,
the experience depends
on the degree of harmony
between us and nature,
therefore becoming a gift
granted while walking with nature
as she is embraced in our minds –
Enlighten, she shares her secrets,
making the universe more “transparent.”
Yet the gift may only offer a glimpse,
to be shared in images and words,
charming all living things.

Commenting on my poem, SCVN member, Walt Tornow, wrote that my poem  ”. . . captures beautifully my feelings about being in the mountains.” He went on to share the following:

GOD, GRACE, AND GRATITUDE

Finding God in the wilderness …

  • The majesty of our mountains, the magnificence of views/ vistas they afford, and the splendor and munificence of the many gifts that nature has to offer
  • The awe and humility that comes from being witness to the grandeur of it all, juxtaposed with realizing the relative smallness and fleetingness of  our existence
  • Never feeling or being alone … lots of company by nature’s creatures, and taking in the beauty of nature’s show
  • Feeling vulnerable, yet trusting, being in the wilderness — potential prey to wildlife, and exposed to the elements
  • Experiencing awe, joy and inspiration by being here
  • Feeling connected … becoming one with myself, with nature, and the universe
  • Finding peace, serenity, and sense of holiness … my place of worship and meditation

 

Here for the grace of God am I …

Grateful to be, to be here, and be given the opportunity and capacity to enjoy the many gifts/ blessings around me.

– Walt Tornow

If you feel our passion for nature, we want to share it with you by inviting you to become a Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist.

We are currently recruiting people who share our passion for nature
to take part in our 2017 SCVN Training Class from the beginning of October to January.

After completing the training you will start next January teaching kindergarten and/or elementary students approximately 1 morning per week. All training curriculum materials provide for an excellent learning experience, along with many guest nature experts.

Additionally, you can take part in adult Public Interpretations nature programs about Sabino Canyon.

You can learn more about this wonderful volunteer nature program and get an application by visiting our website 

www.sabinonaturalists.org/

Please pass on this information on to persons you will be interested in becoming an SCVN member. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have — kenneturner@gmail.com

kenne

Strike It RichNaturalist, Gwen Swanson, demonstrates “panning” to students in the “Strike It Rich” program.
This creekside activity allows children to learn about the difference between rocks and minerals
by panning for garnets in the sand along Sabino Creek, and the importance of water in forming the canyon.
Image by kenne

SCVN Nature Walk #1SCVN Training nature walk with naturalist, Bill Kaufman (Fall 2011) — Image by kenne

Morning Rainbow In The Desert   Leave a comment

rainbow-1-of-1-blogMorning Rainbow In The Desert (Tucson, Arizona, September 29, 2016) — Image by kenne

All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Standing At Nature’s Alter   1 comment

Mt. Lemmon TrainImage by kenne

Standing At Nature’s Alter

When we stand
at the altar of nature,
we stand with the greats;
Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Henry David Thoreau,
and John Muir,
each having helped define
our relationship
with nature and language —
“every natural fact is a symbol
of some spiritual fact,
. . . words are signs of natural facts.”

Nature’s beauty becomes
a source of spiritual energy
connecting all things
into a universal whole
with the energy of our
thoughts and will.

We stand at nature’s alter as man
not separate from her,
seeing her in the flowers,
insects, animals, mountains,
creating a unified landscape
of our inward and outward senses.

Like all relationships,
the experience depends
on the degree of harmony
between man and nature,
therefore becoming a gift
granted while walking with nature
as she is embraced in our minds –
Enlighten, she shares her secrets,
making the universe more “transparent.”
Yet the gift may only offer a glimpse,
to be shared in images and words,
charming all living things.

kenne

(First posted August 30, 2011)

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