Fall is quickly approaching and within it, my heart beats faster.  It is my favorite season of the year.  The end of the heat and dry, arid days of summer.  The cool air, changing leaves and transition to a more stark, and beautiful landscape.  A Parthian shot of color before winter sets in.  

I spent last Friday night, alone and entranced by the wonder of our galaxy and universe, for that matter.  Sitting in an alpine meadow 8,500 feet above sea level I watched as the Perseid Meteor shower brought the fireworks of the universe to my little patch of dust and weeds.  As in the past, nature never fails to disappoint.  While the meteor shower did not bring the same intensity as was the case in August of 2016, there was beauty to be found.  

The moon was forecasted for three quarters full, so I knew time was limited.  Heading out of Sacramento at around 7 PM, I made the trek up the Sierra's to my spot in about 2.5 hours.  Pulling off the road in the pitch black, and taking that first step out of my trusty Subaru Forester, I stood slack jaw in amazement at how vibrant the Milky Way looked.  It was utterly amazing this night.  Tendrils of Nebulae were there and I knew deeply that my Canon 5D Mark III and 24-70 f/2.8 would capture the images I had been preparing for.  Setting up my gear in the middle of this desolate location (only seeing 10 cars in the four hours I was there) took longer than usual because of the constant pauses to watch streaking meteors.  Some lit of the sky with fiery brilliance, while others teased my eyes and imagination with dim light and short lifespan.  

I always feel so small and insignificant behind the lens.  Looking into the vastness of space and universe, has an impact on most all (if it doesn't impact you, you need to spend more time outdoors...).  My mind revolves around the mysteries and magic of how everything was created.  So many theories, so many thoughts, so many people believing different stories.  Stories.  That's all they are, and it is beautiful.  We as humans are always trying to prove something, yet, we always fall short in this realm.  So much hate and so much fear-mongering in our world currently.  It saddens my heart to see humans looking at each other with disdain and outright hatred.  Hatred because of the color of their skin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation among the most talked about things.  So much of this could be solved by standing out under these same stars and talking.  Talking about the wonder and awe of what is right before them.  How can hate fill you under these stars?

As fall approaches more rapidly and the days begin to ebb and fade to night more quickly, I urge and implore anyone who reads this to take a drive out to the middle of nowhere, lay a blanket out, set up a tent, unfold a chair and just "be".  Watch the stars and contemplate.  Think about what life should truly be.  Talk to your Spirit Guide, Guardian Angel, Creator or God and ask them for the ability to change a life.  To weave into someone else's heart a vibrant thread of color to remind them of their beauty in this universe.  A few years ago, I sat with a Shaman to talk about my own life and seek counsel.  We discussed passions, failures, successes, love and life.  Her sage advice after our discussion was, "You ARE ONE MAGNIFICENT thread in the tapestry of life and without your thread, the tapestry grows dull."  This is something I tell myself and repeat to others as much as possible, because it is true of each and every one.  Every sentient being who walks this earth is full of light, radiance and love.  We just need to take a moment to stand under the stars, quiet our minds, hearts and mouths, and appreciate the magnitude of that statement.

"Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time..."

Namaste, friends.