Coming Attractions
Living in such a remote part of Mexico we feel somewhat isolated, but news still reaches us. Like the rumbling thundercloud echoing through the granite mountain range towering above me, our little paradise feels threatened. The charred hillside and torched oasis that occurred days before our arrival are constant reminders of how quickly devastation can occur. A whole section of the property looks like an apocalyptic scene, especially with no one else for miles around. Still, we focus on the abundant beauty, color, and enrapturing shows of nature. High in peaks of the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park this past Saturday, Linda found a clear twin quartz
crystal embedded within a golden rock that sparkled like diamonds. The perfectly formed six-sided gems jutting out from the mica-encrusted stone led me to ponder the way in which they form. I thought about the amazing crystallization process that transitions chaotic materials into a perfect design. I had to look up how this happens. “It begins with nucleation, in which a few molecules or ions approached each other in an appropriate orientation to form a stable submicroscopic aggregate.” I couldn’t help but think about how like-minded people bond with each other with the potential of creating a type of human crystal that continues to grow as long as it interfaces with its energetic matches. If the bonds form around fear, then it will radiate toxic energy associated with fear. If the bonds are formed around compassion, joy, and loving-kindness, then it will radiate those qualities.
As you can tell, I have a lot of time to be present and think. I enjoy an idyllic setting with an abundance of butterflies and hummingbirds floating next to us whenever we go outside. Peaches and plums are ripening on the trees and we awaken to the sound of birds singing and fall asleep to the sound of crickets. A condor flew by us at eye level with its 10-foot wingspan only a few feet in front of us. We could feel the powerful flap of its wings as it sped past the bushes we were standing behind. It was like a scene out of Jurassic park, as if a giant pterodactyl had just swooped by.
It is much easier to live intentionally here and feel a growing affinity for those who do the same. We spent the past two weekends with the biologists from the condor station and have come to love and appreciate their incredible commitment in the face of harsh conditions. On the brink of extinction just 30 years ago due to poaching, lead poisoning, and habitat destruction, there are now about 450 California condors alive today with most of them flying free. We learned that these enormous birds only lay one egg every two years, making their comeback a slow process.
Even after 15 years in this remote part of the world, the lead biologist, Catalina still gets excited at the sight of wildlife, flowers, insects, and, of course, condors. We were even treated to the sight of a majestic Peregrine falcon in flight overhead. Like our efforts at gold-panning in the dry creek beds here, we are grateful for the treasure of our newfound friends.
As if our day at the park wasn’t enough, that evening we witnessed a fireball, something that is described as a once in a lifetime event. It flew across the northern sky and lasted nearly 10 seconds before it disappeared from sight in the horizon. I went to sleep that night as if in a dream world. The Perseid meteor shower will reportedly peak on August 12th. If you watch it, you can join me in using it as an opportunity to set intentions for a more loving and compassionate world . . . the coming attraction.
