AUGUST MOON 2013 (Day #3): Grateful for the restorative powers of nature, a good husband, and alligators

ST CATHERINE'S ISLAND, GEORGIA, USA.  Because we are a part of NATURE, experiencing ourselves in a natural setting restores our sense of self, the part that I call SOUL. St. Catherine's is one of the many beautiful barrier islands along the coast of Georgia that is burgeoning with LIFE. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

Hallelujah for the restorative powers of NATURE and for being able to experience it on a privately-owned island along the Georgia coast during the full August moon. Hallelujah for St. Catherine's Island! Hallelujah for the FULL MOON!

AUGUST MOON 2013, ST. CATHERINE'S ISLAND (photo by Tony Martin)

The August Moon '13 Day #3 writing prompt from Kat and Meredith is to express GRATITUDE. While my rich life has many aspects to appreciate, for now, I have chosen to write about how I had the good fortune to find my match in marriage, a marriage which takes me around the moon and back and most recently we to the Georgia coast during the full August moon.

GRATEFUL FOR A NATURE LOVING SPOUSE 
If you have visited my blog Coffee With Hallelujah before, you know that I am married to a well-rounded, fun-loving, articulate scientist, Tony Martin, whose academic and personal interests take us both to the Georgia coast to explore the tracks, trails, feces, and burrows of its abundant wildlife (visit the blog he writes about the Georgia coast). Tony becomes exuberant when he is following tracks of shore birds along the ocean front or those of an alligator in the maritime forest. I do too!

I am immensely grateful for Tony's sense of adventure as well as his education and intuition that engages us in looking for alligators and understanding their behaviors!

LOOKING FOR ALLIGATORS. While we were at this fresh water pond on St. Catherine's, we did not see one alligator, only "sign" or evidence of them, such as pathways through grass and entry ways into the water. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

FINDING AN ALLIGATOR WALKING IN THE WOODS. When leaving the freshwater pond, already aboard our vehicle, we spotted this young alligator talking a walk through the woods! Yes, alligators go on walk-abouts, but this one stopped and refused to move while we were there. (photo by Tony Martin)

TRACKING ALLIGATOR.  Earlier, near the same pond pictured above, Tony and I had stopped our vehicle  and gotten out to follow the alligator tail drag mark you see Tony pointing at. We wanted to "find" the track maker. However, we had no luck. We believe the alligator pictured above is not the one who made this long sinuous pattern in the orange Georgia soil even though it was just on the other side of the pond. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

MEETING AN ALLIGATOR ALONG ANOTHER TRAIL. When we were least expecting to see an alligator is when we bumped into one. Heading down a trail to the beach, Tony almost stumbled on this beauty (directly in front of him), who hissed twice to alert him of her presence. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

So why am I grateful for these alligator encounters along the coast of Georgia with my husband Tony? I'm smiling as I write this blog entry and insert these photos! What good fun I am having in the prime of my life, this transition of summer to fall! Love restores me, and NATURE heals me! Adventures wake me up and make me strong! Hallelujah!

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! SOUL BLOG with me and tell me what you are grateful for and what is making you smile!

AUGUST MOON 2013 (Day #2): Transitioning into a new season

TRANSITIONS.  Along the north end of St. Catherine's Island, Georgia, you can see a relict marsh eroding out of the beach. Contrast this with a green living marsh in the background. All of us are changing all of the time. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

Hallelujah for TRANSITIONING into a new season of self. I am SUMMER ever so tenderly tiptoeing into FALL. I'm the perfect--mid-fifties--to proclaim a seasonal TRANSITION.

"How do you intend to transition into the new season?" --August Moon '13 question from Kat and Meredith (blogging for 11 continuous days).

AT THE WHEEL OF THE GATOR. The vehicles for researchers on St. Catherine's Island are these small green open air cars called "gators." Here I am commanding the open unpaved roads in the maritime forest. (photo by Tony Martin)

JOYFUL and CREATIVE TRANSITIONING.
As I TRANSITION into the autumnal season, I intend to move creatively and joyfully. As a woman in the prime of her life, I am a seasoned driver. With all my experience and skills, the future excites me. I plan on dancing each and every day of it as I make use of my wisdom.

 

DANCING EACH AND EVERY DAY. St. Catherine's Island allows many opportunities for dancing joyfully. (photo by Tony Martin)

WHAT IS MY DESTINATION?
When considering  a TRANSITION  into a new season, part of my reflection includes the question, "What is my destination?"

For the FALL of my life,  I plan on my destination being a deepening of my SOUL and an expanding connection with my community through meaningful interactions. And I will test the hypothesis: DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND THE MONEY WILL FOLLOW.

GRATITUDE.  I am so grateful for the beauty and peace that nature brings. Thank you St. Catherine's Island for all aspects of your wilderness and life giving forces.(photo by Hallelujah Truth)

WHAT WILL KEEP ME ON COURSE?
As I journey from SUMMER to FALL, I need to remember to enact the following practices: 

1) Embrace the fear. Be curious. Learn from what frightens me.  
2) Move creatively. Listen to "what my body wants" and do that!
3) Seek the pleasure in each event. Where is the fun in this?
4) Reflect
5) Experience and express gratitude
 

SUN SETTING ON THE SUMMER.  Endings are often sad, but I am so excited about this TRANSITION of seasons in my life. (photo by Tony Martin)

AUGUST MOON 2013: Intentionally being FULL as a pleasure seeking creative!

PLEASURE SEEKING CREATIVE, ST. CATHERINE'S ISLAND, GEORGIA, USA, AUGUST 2013 (photo by Tony Martin)

Hallelujah for the FULLNESS of the blue August moon 2013! It is full, and so am I! Two bloggers, Kat and Meredith, have challenged those of us in the blogging community to blog for 11 consecutive days at the FULLNESS of the 2013 August moon.

BLUE AUGUST MOON 2013, ST. CATHERINE'S ISLAND, GEORGIA. How thrilling it is to be on a barrier island on the Georgia coast with my husband, Chiboogamoo and his colleague and student during a full moon. How amazing it is to be starting a new creative project with the island ornithologist, Jen Hilburn. (photo by Tony Martin)

The first prompt begins today, August 21st, by asking "How have you treated yourself this year?" and "Have you kept your intentions?". Thank you Kat and Meredith! Let's get started!

During 2013, I have cultivated the following vision to direct my intention: 

I AM A PLEASURE SEEKING CREATIVE DANCING "YES" TO THE FLOWING CENTER OF THE CYCLE OF LIFE."

The phrase, "pleasure seeking creative," was an addition to my vision mid-year 2013. I added it in June when I began trying to solve this question: "Should I leave my job of almost 20 years to cultivate other skills and discover new arenas of connectivity and meaningfulness?"

As I am a SPIRITUAL ART PILGRIM on a joyful journey (that is what my blog, Coffee with Hallelujah, is all about), I find it imperative to experience joy. Therefore, in response to the prompt, "How have you treated yourself?", my answer is that I have sought pleasure and to increase my FULLNESS of life by jumping into the void of the UNKNOWN. I leave behind beloved colleagues, a supportive and creative director, and the most engaging and dedicated international students.

"Have I kept my intentions" (the other part of Kat and Meredith's prompt)? The answer is a resounding, "YES." My strongest intention for 2013 in addition to seeking pleasure, is TO KEEP MOVING, and I have....

WARMING UP WITH THE DANCING FLOWERS FOR PEACE. The Dancing Flowers invited me to their warmups on Saturday mornings before their rehearsals. Their creative movement is a gift as well as their warmth and generous spirits. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

I have been dancing with Five Rhythms, attending Dance Church, and doing creative movement with The Dancing Flowers for Peace. And, then, drum roll, I have consciously engaged with InterPlay after learning about it. More to follow about InterPlay in future blog entries. 

My FULLNESS associated with this FULL moon occurring in August is a result of seeking pleasure and consistent persistent movement. Hallelujah for blogging and reflecting which is allowing me to relish the ALL of my life. My life is AWESOME!

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! SOUL BLOG with me and tell me about how you have been treating yourself in 2013 and have you been following your intentions.

BLOGGING WITH THE FULL MOON.  The FULL moon of August 2013 can be seen to the right of the photo, peeking over trees. How wonderful to blog about FULLNESS inspired by the FULL moon! (photo by Tony Martin)