Fire on the mountain!
Camping under the moon in October has been a cherished ceremonial like ritual the past three years. Despite the shorter, cooler days, the forest always feels more alive than summer; so much tittering and scurrying, the air heavy with a bounty of aromas, I’m drawn to participate – wrap things up, start pulling in.
Tonight, when the Harvest Full Moon rises over the beautifully forested, river carved mountains of Northwest Cali its shine will reach here orange and diluted, if at all. Although the light of this celestial body usually takes center stage in these woods in October four raging wildfires are stealing the show (including California’s largest recorded wildfire – August Complex – now 955,000 acres).
I won’t be pounding any tent stakes or laying out my sleeping bag and my heart knows there is a scurrying I do not want to witness. Instead, here within my writing den, in my back yard in town, my spirit is holding space for these forests, in my minds eye, in my heart cave. They took me in when I needed them, there was no judgement. Under their canopies, along their banks, in their meadows I’ve grown stronger, in all ways. With the company of their wild residents I worked a few things out. When the dust settles and the smoke clears, maybe even under a brightly glowing moon, we’ll meet again; and that’s when it will be my turn to help heal them.
Fare thee well beautiful forests (until we meet again):
- Slater Fire – burned over Bolan Lake & West Branch Campgrounds
- August Complex – burned over Tomhead Saddle, Forest Glen, Hell Gate, Scott’s Flat Campgrounds
- Fox Fire – burned over Carter Meadows/pass
- Springs Fire – burned over Deerlick Springs
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