Sagittarius Viking
Mindful exploring, through the eyes of a viking daughter.
Ascend; Redwoods
Have you ever walked in a Redwood forest? Have you ever experienced the stillness? The quiet? The soft crunch under your feet? Felt the spirit of the tree as you gently place your hand on the bark? Have you stopped and listened to the wind whispering in the tree top, high above your head?
The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always. No one has ever successfully painted or photographed a redwood tree. The feeling they produce is not transferable. From them comes silence and awe. It’s not only their unbelievable stature, nor the color which seems to shift and vary under your eyes, no, they are not like any trees we know, they are ambassadors from another time.
– John Steinbeck
I agree with John Steinbeck, it is impossible to do a Redwood tree justice with a camera lens, but that doesn’t keep me from trying. The photos in today’s post is from my last visit to the coast earlier this month. I have paid Redwood National Park a few visits with my daughter. The first time she was a year old, the look on her face as she first experienced the giant trees was priceless, one of those memories that I will always carry with me, deep down in my heart. In this materialistic world I find it to be the most challenging, yet outmost rewarding thing, to instill the importance of nature and experiences in my daughters heart. That the experiences you feel and devour with with your heart, are more valuable than any toy or electronic device that can be bought, (and soon replaced with something new.) These experiences stays with us, and actually gain value as we grow older, and share them with other loved ones.
Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.
– Denis Waitley
I hope you enjoyed the walk in my favorite forest. Have a wonderful weekend!
Love,
Ms Zen
Weekly Photo Challenge; Ascend
Redwood National Park is truly magical!! Time for me to head back there again!
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Ooo yes!! I can’t wait to go back soon again 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend !
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Beautiful photos! We have a stand of pines in Michigan that have never been cut. Some are 400 years old, so youngsters compared to the redwoods. I would love to visit these ancient trees some day.
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Thank you! Wow, 400 years, that is pretty old 🙂 I hope you get to see the Redwoods with your own eyes one day soon. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Such a great subject for this week’s challenge. I’ve never seen a redwood in real-life, only in photos.
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Thank you Regina! I hope you get to see them with your own eyes, it’s very special 🙂
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Being amongst redwoods is a spiritual experience, plain and simple. They have such a presence, one can only feeling reverence and awe for these stately giants.
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YES! It really is a spiritual experience Eliza. The woods, the desert, and the mountains is my church.
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Hear, hear! 🙂
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Nothing like the beautiful Redwoods. GREat use of photo challenge. Great photos
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Thank you so much! It makes me happy that you enjoy my photos. I really appreciate your comment. Have a wonderful weekend!
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You too.
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Thank you!
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I did enjoy the photos and the words that went with your visit to the Redwood Forest. We have a karri tree in Australia which I think is about the third tallest species of tree in the world but redwoods are higher. Would love to be able to experience that feeling you describe.
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It makes me so happy that you enjoyed my post. Thank you very much for taking the time to let me know. I would love to see a Karri tree. I need to research that more 🙂 Visiting Australia is on my bucket list. I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend.
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Yes i had a lovely weekend and hope your week is good. I imagine the feeling is the same when you wander amongst trees so tall and straight and the slight difference in height probably makes little difference. I haven’t wandered amongst the karri either ( I have but I was so young I don’t remember it well) so I may get there before I get to your wonderful forests.
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Wonderful, and thank you!
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My favorite tree in my favorite part of northern California. One of my best memories is that of hiking in with my painting equipment to paint. That painting is now on my wall. I think that everyone should visit a redwood forest at least once in their lifetime, it is definitely a spiritual experience.
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Yes! It should be mandatory for everyone to visit the Redwoods 🙂 I can imagine painting among the redwoods being magical. Funny thing is, that every time I visit a forest, or a river nowadays, I think of you painting there! I guess you could say that your beautiful blog have some impact on others! Keep up the good job! You are a great source of inspiration. I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend my friend.
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What a compliment to hear that! 💖 I see myself painting up a storm everywhere I go that I see as beautiful. Cheers!
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Thank you for sharing! The redwood are so beautiful!
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Thank you for enjoying 🙂
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Nothing epitomizes “ascend” like California Redwoods! Nicely done! I’m in Sacramento and planted several redwoods in my yard from Cal Expo fair seedlings. They got big!
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Thank you! I’d love to have some redwoods too 🙂
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I agree with Steinbeck also. The Redwoods, once seen, are never forgotten and hold a special place in the heart and mind. Beautiful!
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It is so true Tina 🙂
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Yes to all your questions. Redwood groves are among my favorite places — nature’s cathedrals. Wonderful post, Maria.
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It is indeed nature’s cathedral 🙂 Thank you Jane!
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