11 Comments

Thanks for this! There really is something special about a leisurely walk in nature and the way it occupies your mind without exhausting it. We spend most of our time (at least I do!) either focused on tasks or distracting ourselves. Activities that offer that quieter kind of attention are so refreshing and important!

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You're spot on. Now, more than ever, we need ways to refresh our over-used minds and come back to ourselves. Thanks for reading, Jenna! 💚

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This is a tremendous post, Ann! I love your fungi photos! I've heard Alison Gopnik talk about lantern consciousness and it's such a powerful metaphor for me. Like you, I work on having this lantern consciousness as I take my walks. There is so much to notice that we have never noticed before!

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Jason, you definitely have cultivated a creative lantern-way of paying attention! It really shows in your poetry-- especially when you’re able to write multiple poems about a single subject.

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I was led here by a breadcrumb from @jasonmcbride I believe. I'm grateful to be here.

What a lovely letter! One treat I picked up on is your photo of the mushroom with your fourleg in the background. 😍

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Welcome-- so good to have you here! Yes, that’s my dear Killian. He’s a teenage Rat Terrier mix who still loves to get out on the trail with me as much as possible.🤎

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So much comes to mind here. First of all, Piranesi. Wonderful book! I was so captivated by the writing, the wonderful sensory descriptions.

I've never heard of lantern consciousness before, although I've come across this sense of being in nature, I didn't know that's what it's called. I love the imagery.

Beautiful poem. 'rainy fungal alchemy' I love that.

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Oh yes! I was immediately swept up by the world of Piranesi, too. When I'm out walking, my mind loves to imagine a House with forest elements that suddenly appear and disappear.

I like to think of how poets( and all artists, really) tend to have a lantern consciousness-- it feels good to have a name for it :) Thank you for your kind words about my mushroomy poem.

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I’m new to your writing! I love your concept of micro-seasons and am excited to follow along! I was struck by your line

and branching shadow-carpets

beneath my feet.

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Brian, welcome! The notion of microseasons is an ancient idea that made me really happy and curious to explore in my own modern life. I’m so glad it makes you happy, too.

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Making the ancient modern...love it💫

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