Quick is usually best.
A deep breath, a plunge and the cool September water laughs and envelops me one last time.
Everything feels sharp and alive. The smooth stones slip by below and newly browned and yellowed leaves ride the surface with me as we journey together for a while.
Eventually their delicate veins will slip beneath the surface as mine have now, marveling at late afternoon slant of light on stone and branch and leaf now resting below.
The feeling is sensual and silent and so very present as I swim the edge of a season.
It feels like now is the time to touch,
to try, to allow our senses a bit of unease as we awaken to pleasures waiting on the other side of risk.
The splash of cold,
The squish of mud
The sponge of fungi
The scent of smoke and spice and cool dusk in place of day.
As Mary Oliver invites us to “let the soft animal of your body love what it loves,” to smile at the shock of it all and feel alive.
Beth Jones is the director of Deep Green Journey, a non-profit located in North Central PA, committed to creating space in the natural world for people to discover healing, connection, and creativity within themselves and their community. Beth is Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide and has over 20 years of experience leading backpack trips, Forest Therapy walks, retreat and workshop experiences designed to lead groups to discover a restorative connection with the natural world.
Author: Guest Contributor
The Pennsylvania Wilds is home to more than 2 million acres of public land, 50 state game lands, 29 state parks, 8 state forests, 2 National Wild & Scenic Rivers, abundant wildlife, hundreds of miles of land and water trails, some of the darkest skies in the country, and the largest elk herd in the northeast.
The PA Wilds team is grateful to share the many stories of this region through the words and images of our talented guest contributors.