Tag Archives: I-17

The Raven Head Cloud

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Posted by on in animal and plant life, collaborating, Community, impediments, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving

August 9, 2024- It placed, almost majestically, peaking out from a bank of stratocumulus this evening, as I drove towards Home Base I, after a visit to Rafter Eleven. Clouds that seem to rise out of others or to rest upon them, are essentially floating on air currents, the way people and animals can float on a large body of water. The Raven Head had a dark, cumulonimbus colour, while the cloud bank, as stated, was stratocumulus.

Ravens are a symbol of connection between material and spiritual, and are somewhat revered by those of us who appreciate intelligent animals with strong recall abilities. The Raven is also the name of one of our most popular live music locations, here in Prescott. So, I took the sight as a sign that the next few days will be safe and productive, as well as spiritually sound. That is well and good, as I will be headed to Scottsdale, early tomorrow morning and could use a problem-free I-17, as far as New River, where I could take a shortcut over to Scottsdale Baha’i Center.

Today was a good day for organizing thoughts and papers, in advance of tomorrow’s facilitation of a breakout session that is centered on advanced applications of spiritual knowledge to social issues. That is not as daunting as it sounds, and we only have 2 sessions of 90-minutes each. Thus, we will be just scratching the surface, as a raven scratches the surface of the soil, looking for hidden nuggets of carrion, or other sustenance.

I was encouraged by the signs that a friend here is recovering from a serious bout of illness. It was also a good day for me, exercise-wise. The local raven quoth “Evermore”. I enjoy being positive.

Sheets of Water and A Praying Angel

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, Community, impediments, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

August 7, 2024- The line of cars on the side of the road started on I-17, a half-mile before the exit ramp. It continued along the exit ramp, then stretched for about three-quarters of a mile on Highway 169. The rain was that intense.

I briefly pulled off and joined them, using the time to check my phone messages. after ten minutes, the rain let up enough so that several of us could see ahead and so continued our drives towards Prescott. In the sky, at the junction of Highways 69 and 169, we could see a cloud that resembled a praying angel, superimposed on the sheet of nimbostratus that stretched ten miles westward and off to the south.

Several people on social media have covered cloud art very well. I like to think that there is something spiritual about how clouds can be seen as reflecting phenomena, or emotions. I have yet to see a heart-shaped cloud, but others have seen them. This is the first time I’ve seen what appears to be a supernatural being. I also spotted a heart-shaped drop of coffee, on the table at breakfast, this morning, but I probably put it there.

Still, these phenomena, especially the hearts, indicate to me that the day will pass in a safe and interesting manner. All I have to do is…. everything else: Pay attention to my surroundings, treat people well and respond in an effective, measured way to those who don’t, and tend to my responsibilities. The praying angel appeared just as the rain was letting up, and I drove the rest of the way back to Home Base I, before the westward moving cloud caught up with me.

It was a decent little visit to the Reservations, though I saw few of those who I had wanted to see, but it’s a workday, and it is gratifying that people have jobs to tend to. When I lived up there, many more were unemployed than now. I placed flower vases on two grave sites, just not the ones I had originally intended. The right thing always happens, though, when life is approached with unconditional love.

Clear As Mud

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Posted by on in children, Hiking and Nature, Service Activities, Social

March 4, 2017, Camp Verde- One of the features of Arizona life, that escapes many visitors, is the seasonal vitality of our rivers.  After taking part in a Red Cross service activity, I headed to Clear Creek Day Use Area, which offers access to the West Clear Creek, as it heads southeast, towards its eventual confluence with the Verde River.  As you will see, the creek’s name, this time of year, is a misnomer.

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There was a party of above 18 people, including two small children, preparing to raft West Clear, as I arrived for a short hike along its west bank.  All were well-suited up for the experience, and I wished them safe passage.  Below, are several things that awaited them.

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Of course, there was plenty of open water, behind this particular tree; but you get the picture.

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One of the attractions here, in calmer weather, is the jump-off point.

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Some people just figure, in the dryness of September and October, that it’s no big deal to leave a memento of industrialism.  More’s the pity.

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Once back on drier terrain, I made note of the footbridge, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, way back in 1940.

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There was still some energy left in me, so, despite it being the period of the Baha’i Fast, I took in a short segment of Copper Canyon Trail.  The last time, I walked the north segment, which leads to I-17.  This time, I headed southward and up a small mesa.  It is not an especially spectacular trail, but it’s nature and I practically had the place to myself.  An old cowboy, passing by, made note of my Red Cross t-shirt and remarked as how such charities are in debt, before going his way.  While that may have been true, at one point, I’m not so sure that our donors put up with such, anymore.

 

Anyway, here are a few scenes, which a couple of herds of cattle and I shared, along the trail.  There wasn’t much water in Copper Creek, but it was clear.

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It wasn’t long, before I headed up the two switchbacks which led to the mesa top.  There are, actually, about five such mesas, rising up out of Copper Canyon.  The scene in the near distance, is Clear Creek Village, just south of Camp Verde.

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It is possible for the discerning eye to see traffic, headed northbound, on I-17.

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Despite the winter’s continued scenes of bareness, the promise of Spring is evident, in these wild dandelions.

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So, there goes a very full day, spent with our beautiful eastern neighbour, the Verde Valley.