Nature Archives - Madhu Bazaz Wangu

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Nature Tag

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Posted on August 6, 2025

in Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds, Nonverbal Activities, Travel

2 Comments

Tracking back a little. From the Portland airport we took a cab to Red Lion Hotel on Jantzen Beach in Hayden Island, Oregon. The eastern sky threatened with thunderclouds, pouring down with vengeance, while the western sky welcomed us with dazzling sunlight. Our hotel balcony overlooked the Columbia River, partly hidden behind pine trees. Was it the same river upon which sailed Louis and Clark with their crew? I couldn’t believe my fortune! The next morning I saw our boat, “American Harmony,” docked right next to the pines! Under the early morning sunlight the air was fresh. We walked on a trail that ran parallel to the river. Cumulus clouds announced themselves against the bright blue sky with such confidence that I straightened my shoulders. The riverside of the trail was studded...

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Posted on July 23, 2025

in Nonverbal Activities, Travel, Walking

1 Comment

Only a few astronauts have actually walked on the moon. But our fictional heroes have traveled through space like no body’s business. Here’s Captain James T. Kirk from TV show, Star Trek. “Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.” Quite different from what the real astronauts said when they walked on the surface of the moon on which no one had walked before. But each one of these utterances resonate with the same exhilaration for exploration. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” declared American astronaut Neil Armstrong on July 20, 1969, when he put his left foot...

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Posted on July 16, 2025

in Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds, Originality, Spirituality, Walking

4 Comments

“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than one seeks.” John Muir Walking mindfully in wooded spaces is a pleasure and necessity for mental and physical wellbeing. However, you may not find wilderness close to where you live, because it would mean an uncultivated tract of land, deep and dense with majestic trees and undergrowth, uninhabited by humans, inhabited by forest critters and blessed with solitude. I do not suggest trekking through unfamiliar woods alone. Ask a friend to accompany you. My husband and I used to explore new treks together. The appeal of adventure midst the grandeur of towering trees and charm of ferny undergrowth was tantalizing. The great variety of flora growing without human intervention energized us, as did the vibrant colors, nature sounds, and refreshing scents. Watercolor...

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Posted on July 1, 2025

in Daily Reflections 2025, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds

6 Comments

Though this post feels like it is meant only for seniors (Mindful Creators Group at Ashby Ponds), go ahead and read it anyway. I feel it would be beneficial for younger, middle-age generation (Mindful Writers Groups) as well, albeit in future. Different phases in life bring different transitions. It just so happens that we all are in the final stage of our lives. Some of us living here at Ashby Ponds are comfortable and at peace. But some others with a major health issue or death of a spouse may feel thwarted or terribly lonely. Some may experience sadness/relief after years of caregiving to a spouse with dementia who passes away. Yet some others may dislike being dependent as they are no longer physically fit and thus unable to live on...

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Posted on February 25, 2025

in Journaling, Meditation, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds, Spirituality

6 Comments

Just as plants have the capacity to bring scented flowers to life, as black rock can crystalize into a glittering diamond, and as an egg can grow to become a captivating dancing peacock, you too can transcend into an Authentic Self. When you are fully present in the now, when you are embodied, whole and grounded, you are at your truest self. Let the intelligence of your body, your mind and the emotions of your heart inform you, awaken you, and guide you days. How can you do this? How can we become true to yourself? How can you get linked to your Authentic Self? By practicing journaling, breathing exercises and meditation. These practices will remove the masks you tend to put on to be someone you are not. Be present as you are....

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Posted on February 19, 2025

in Daily Reflections 2025, Journaling, Meditation, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds, Spirituality

4 Comments

Can we do something, anything about the happenings going on in our country and around the world—wars, fires, famines, floods? Darkness everywhere! Or as the activist Valarie Kaur says, “What if this darkness is not the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb? What if our America is not dead but a country still waiting to be born? What if the story of America is one long labor?” And what is going to birth is something wonderful. “The place to start is within ourselves,” writes Bhante Gunaratana in his book Mindfulness in Plain English. He goes on to say, “Look carefully inside yourself, truthfully and objectively and see what role I have to play in all this. If you do this and as soon as you make such a change within yourself, change will...

Invitation to Host OMWG 2023

Posted on October 18, 2022

in Journaling

0 Comments

Dear Writers, Would you like to join Mindful Writers and Poets who plan to host Online Mindful Writers Group at https://tinyurl.com/MindfulWriters in 2023? ONLY THREE SPOTS LEFT: Jennifer D. Diamond January Deborah Catanese February Denise Weaver March Donna Lucas April Lorraine Bonzelet May Madhu Bazaz Wangu June Mike Morley July August September Fritze Roberts October November Amy Baverso December As there are only three spaces left, pick one of the remaining months before it is too late. Let me know by commenting below or massage me. I asked the 2022 hosts, “In what way has hosting OMWG been beneficial to you? Here are some of the responses: Deborah Catanese:I find writing for OMWG of like-minded writers to be expansive in that it makes me strive for excellence, soothing in that giving to this group always results in returned support and incentive, and satisfaction in knowing I...

The Other Shore: Five Star Review

Posted on September 21, 2021

in Writing

0 Comments

Each story resembled a precious jewel, unique in its beautiful appearance while reflecting underlining nuances upon close perusal....

Book Launch Today!

Posted on June 8, 2021