Garden of the Gods

And while I stood there

I saw more than I can tell,

and I understood more than I saw;

for I was seeing in a sacred manner

the shapes of things in the spirit,

and the shape of all shapes as they must

live together like one being.

~Black Elk

Black Elk Speaks

I was given a gift. The gift of airline miles! Well, the real gift was being able to see my friend Tess after almost seven years! We meet at around 20 and became roommates and the closest of friends. We shared everything ... red lipsticks, 90s spandex dresses and our hearts. We laughed a lot and cried a lot and I knew we would be friends for the rest of our lives. That was 20 years ago.

Last week I went to see her in Colorado. We BBQd with her family, visited, went into Denver (more on that later) and went, along with her sister Kimberly, to The Garden of the Gods outside Colorado Springs. It was incredible. You can't believe as you approach, these incredible red rock formations that seem to come out of nowhere!

It was a very warm day and we weren't aloud to drive up to the parking near the rocks because of a bike race. After hanging out and watching a film about how the rocks where formed, we decided we'd return later in the day when the road reopened, rather than hike up and pass out.

We headed to the "old west" town of Manatou Springs for Mexican Food and Margaritas and came back to the "Garden" later to thundershowers and the road still closed. We went back to the visitors center to pick up a few gifts hoping the road would open up sooner than later.

There, Tess found and gave me the gift of a little silver hummingbird charm for my charm bracelet. With a beautiful view of the sculpted stones, we said a prayer of gratitude for our friends and family. Just as we were beginnig our prayer, Native American music started playing from the speakers. Tess, Kimberly and I smiled and I thought of the women's spiritual/meditation group we were all in together back during the late 1990s.

Right after the prayer, we saw that they had reopened the road to "the Garden." As we left the visitors' center to make our way up to the rocks, several hummingbirds flew around just above our heads.

It was perfect being there later in the day. One by one the deer came out ... we could hear bats in their rock caves and the light was amazing! It was so beautiful. I could imagine the history of this magical place and a time when the Native American Ute tribe spent their winters there, in the protection of the rock formations. The air was warm and wet and I could almost hear the ancestors speak.

Here is an prayer I want to share from the Ute Tribe that seems to fit this place, in such a beautiful way...

Earth teach me quiet~

As the grasses are still with new light.

Earth teach me suffering ~

as old stones suffer with memory.

Earth teach me humility ~

as blossoms are humble with beginning.

Earth teach me caring ~

as mothers nurture their young.

Earth teach me courage ~

as the tree that stands alone.

Earth teach me limitation ~

as the ant that crawls on the ground.

Earth teach me freedom ~

as the eagle that soars in the sky.

Earth teach me acceptance ~

as the leaves that die each fall.

Earth teach me renewal ~

as the seed that rises in the spring.

Earth teach me to forget myself ~

as melted snow forgets its life.

Earth teach me to remember kindness ~

as dry fields weep with rain.

~ An Ute Prayer

I loved this place. I feel so grateful for all my varied Colorado adventures on this trip. As I mentioned in my last post, I went a little crazy with the camera but I guess that's no surprise!

Anyway, more adventures to come!

And until then ...

Have a beautiful weekend, my friends!