Love Letter: Wild Beauty and the gift of sunlight

#72 Welcoming the mystery

(We know the day we were born, but most of us do not know the day we will die. This love letter to my life is written on the day I've designated as my death day: the 17th of every month, and reminds me to be grateful for my joy-filled life.” —Joyce Wycoff)

Wild Beauty tiptoed in, looked around, and started moving the furniture. “Excuse me,” I said, “I just got things where I wanted them.”

She smiled sweetly. “Didn’t you see the cobwebs in the corner? This place needs fresh air,” she said and flung open the windows.

“But … I don’t … what are … Who are you anyway? I’ve got a newsletter to write; I don’t have time for this … “

“Tell them about this morning,” she waved as the door banged behind her.

********* Well, it might have happened that way.

“Wild Beauty” has been on my mind for awhile, burrowing deeper into a more permanent idea for a repurposing of my newsletter. However, I’ve been struggling with defining what exactly it means. The banner above was as far as I had gotten until this morning when I decided the definition needed to be more concrete … both for readers and to guide me on my writing path.

The Unitarian-Universalist service that I attend is across the street from my favorite Santa Barbara park so my normal routine is to go a bit early and walk through the park taking photos. I was contemplating the definition of Wild Beauty as I began my walk and this is my first photo of the morning.

Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden

Suddenly, it hit me … the sunlight, the shadows, the green life, blue sky, and the path that curved out of sight … this was wild beauty. Where words were failing me, photos could lead me.

Not a bad start … there will always be more; however, that’s part of the reason for the rebranding … to challenge me to explore further and deeper.

Over the next few weeks, this process of rebranding will wind through all the nuts and bolts of Substack. Gratitude will always be a foundational element of my journey; however, I’m looking forward to exploring new territory and following some of the great thinkers who are unraveling our human role as part of the evolving … the cosmogenesis … of this creative Universe.

And, I welcome your ideas and insights on defining Wild Beauty as well as thoughts about our place here on Earth where we are gifted with life energy from a generous sun and from all the stars that have showered us with the elements needed for life. My fondest hope is that this becomes a conversation, both reverent and grateful for the living world we get to be part of.

My About Page has been updated in case you want to know more about this change.

As for the business aspect of this new Wild Beauty adventure, nothing is changing.

Subscribing brings you free twice-weekly posts delivered to your email inbox. If you find that my posts bring you stories and ideas that inspire or enlighten you and want to chip in the annual paid subscription amount to support my work … thank you buckets! (Plus you will receive my monthly flipbooks (small digital magazines) as a special thank you.)

Or … you could also “buy me a coffee” when a post delights you. However, whether you subscribe or buy me a coffee or not, I’d love to hear from you and I answer every comment and question … (one of the benefits of not being a STAR. ;-)