Category: Mindfulness

Rudeneja

Rudeneja ( roo-den-ay-ha) is a Lithuanian word that describes the transition from late summer to early autumn. It comes from ruduo, the Lithuanian word for autumn, and is used as a verb to describe the shift in nature towards fall, or as a noun for the reflective feeling of the season.

Cattails begin to lose their brown spikes, which turn to fluff that contains thousands of seeds.

The chestnut tree displays spiky protective shells.

Sheep roam freely in the meadow.

Yellow berries begin to appear on the bittersweet.

Monarch butterflies gather before they begin their migration.

The swamp maples are among the first trees to change color.

Dawning

The Cambridge Dictionary defines dawning as:

  • Sunrise or Daybreak: The time when day begins and light shows in the sky.
  • A New Start: The beginning or birth of an era, age, or activity (e.g., the dawning of a new age).
  • Growing Awareness: The slow start of understanding or realizing something (e.g., a dawning realization).

Princeton, Massachusetts

Mokuso

Mokuso is a Japanese term meaning “silent reflection” or “meditation”. In photography, it refers to a mindful state of calm awareness. The photographer breathes quietly and steadily, observes a scene deeply and waits patiently to capture the right moment .

Late afternoon/ Holden, Massachusetts

Zen Ruckus

A quiet area for bird viewing in back of the visitor’s center at Wachusett Meadow was not all serenity and contemplation on a recent breezy morning.

A perfect Zen moment with European starlings.

A bluejay gets some unexpected company at the birdbath hand carved from river rocks..

Cirque de Squirreleil suddenly begins…

The game is afoot!

Just hanging around after all that action.

Juvenile starlings are known to squabble.

The gray squirrel and starling share the scene peacefully.

The chipmunk’s color almost matches the birdbath.

Calm returns.

The stump on the left is topped by a cookie, which is a horizontal slab of wood. I shared more information about cookies in a recent post.

Take a Seat…

and enjoy the possibilities within a garden.

Hydrangeas lend a “secret garden feel ” to this conversation area.
Tall phlox provide a shelter for solitary meditation.
This wooden bench folds for winter storage. A just-picked garlic crop dries beside it on an all season table.
Coleus and evergreens stay cool in the shadier area near the road where neighbors walk by or come to visit.

The hand made wooden bench in the zen garden was fashioned from recycled stair steps. It is a perfect place for reflection.
There is room under the apple tree for picnics and conversation. Potted young plants enjoy the shade, as well.
Gardening celebrates life and growth!

Shinshin

“Shinshin” is a Japanese term for the deep silence of a fresh snowfall, or the “sound of no sound” as soft snow absorbs sound. It evokes a sense of calm and stillness, and is a favored time for photographers and nature enthusiasts.

Holden, Massachusetts/ The Morning of January 19, 2026

The Enchanting Blue Hour

Photographers love the “blue hour”, and I was lucky to capture this phenomenon on Solstice Evening. The blue hour is the period just before or just after the sunset. During this time, the landscape, including frozen ponds like this one, is bathed in deep blue light. In northern climates this phenomena often occurs in the colder months.

Wildlife Pond, Mass Audubon Wachusett Meadow

Beavers have kept a stream of water open. It leads to a water hole on the far left. They use this opening to crawl onto the ice.

A close up of the beaver’s hole. Notice the small sticks and branches left on top of the ice.

New Year’s Inspiration

A strange egg shape appeared on the Wildlife pond during a New Year’s Eve walk at Wachusett Meadow.
What could it be?
A North American Beaver rests on the ice. No wonder it stays warm with its sleek furry coat!
In Native American tradition, the beaver symbolizes wisdom, hard work, persistence, productivity and cooperation.
May we remember these beaver traits in the coming New Year.

Meditation Gift

A late autumn walk in the wetlands at Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary ended with the discovery of a thoughtful gift.

A boardwalk ends with a quiet resting place.
Something caught my eye.

I found a bracelet, a branch, a stick and an acorn sensitively placed.
Later, I met the gift creator. For his meditation, he braided the bracelet using nearby cattails, then left this humble and generous gift for another to enjoy.

Mindfulness

Photographs from a visit to the grounds of the Barre Center For Buddhist Studies in Barre, Massachusetts.

At the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Barre, MA thoughtful landscaping and architecture are designed to encourage reflection and contemplation in or out of doors.
Stone walls, sturdy trees, benches and other wooden elements recur throughout the grounds. Circular and domed shapes enhance architectural elements.
The large domed bell with striker is hung from a aged tree. In Buddhism, the bell is sometimes said to be the sound of the Buddha’s voice.
A dome-shaped stupa (a Buddhist monument housing sacred relics associated with the Buddha) is surrounded by greenery and stone walls.

The Meditation Hall features large circular windows. Circles are associated with enlightenment in Buddhist thought.

Wooden floors and exposed beams enhance the inside of the hall.

Pillows or benches are used for meditation.
The meditation bowl, or singing bowl, is rung to signify the beginning and end of meditation.

The vegetable garden is enclosed by a handmade willow fence. Garden sections are now being planted, as the Center will welcome on-site students once again this fall.

A wooden Thai Spirit House sits at the edge of the garden.