On our new beginning

Dear friend,

How are you feeling
as September
approaches

As you
look ahead

are you
wondering

what renewal
you can create

and what events
may be

hard for you
to deal with

No matter what
painful realities

you may
be facing

is there
something lovely

something truly sublime

that you can
look forward to
with joy

Imagine it

and cling to that

yes
cling to that
and hold it dear

When you were a kid

and your summer
was coming
to a close

were you keen
for the first
day of school

or
was it
your passionate desire

to run
forever free

through
the welcoming wood

there
to learn

what cannot
be found
in books

Thoreau

The immortal
Henry David Thoreau
shows us

through his own life

that it is possible
to have
both worlds

to learn
in both realms

in books
and
in nature

And he shows us
how to always
move on

to new dimensions
and new realms

so we can
always
continue learning

and growing
our souls

The lovely wood

If the lovely wood
is calling you
now

I urge you
to get hold of

In Wildness
is the Preservation
of the World

It is a gem
without compare

Writings
of Thoreau

illustrated
with glorious photos

What does “in wildness” mean for us?

I say
it means

to remain
undomesticated

To be
forever feral

To bow
to no dictator

No king

No bully

No inner or outer
slave master

To remain
forever free

Untamed
Unmuzzled

Independent
Authentic

And attuned
to our own rhythms

As Thoreau wrote:

“If a man does not keep pace
with his companions,

perhaps it is because
he hears a different drummer.

Let him step to the music
which he hears,
however measured or far away.

It is not important
that he should mature

as soon as an apple-tree
or an oak.

Shall he turn his spring
into summer?”

So let us ask

What season
are we in
in our lives

Are we in spring
planting new seeds

Are we in summer
harvesting our bounty

I live always
in spring and summer
both

I plant new seeds
as my crops
are ripening

Life is
to me
forever green

I never seem
to get to autumn

Fallen leaves
always look to me

like props
on someone else’s
movie set

And snow
always looks
to me

like the stuff
they spread
on ski slopes

The white hair
on someone else’s
head

But YOU are not ME

How you look
at seasons

is completely
different

Good

Your vision
is worthy
and interesting

no better
nor worse

than mine
nor anyone else’s

Just different

Every season
is great

as long as
we have

fresh exploits
in mind

calling us
into that
new season

calling us
into new life

Our explorations

It is the forest
of the human mind

I love most
to explore

I explore mine
further every day

This is where I ask
and answer

the toughest
questions

Where I challenge
all that
does not serve

my strength
and freedom

The forest
of my mind

is where I test
each solution

before I offer it
to you

If my solution
builds my strength
and freedom

I share it
with you

Then I listen
to see
if it builds you

I love discovering
what reaches

comforts
and inspires

each of you
beautiful souls

as you seek
to find

your way
in this
hard world

I love
to shine
my little lamp

and clear away
the underbrush

to open
up your pathway

toward your joy

Thank you
for letting me

do that
with you

in at least
some small way

Thus

you and I
are sharing

the adventure
of creating

our new beginning

In love

in work

in play

in books

in all the
beckoning forests

of the universe

wherever life
is leading us

we listen…

we hear
the call…

and we
begin anew

Blessings,

Dr. Hall