Rough against my hand, the tree folds in and around itself,
A spiraling scar, smoothing trauma of long ago
It grasps the past before reaching for new.
The whorl in the tree whispers to me.
I know secrets, doorways to inspiration.
The past is but a seed planted deep in the dirt of despair.
Water it with your tears; share the sun of your smile
And beauty will burst forth from your soul.
In the shelter of the tree I sit and rest
Nestling amid the roots, back braced against bark.
I am welcomed like a lost daughter.
Leaves rustle with delight at my homecoming.
Roots are your support, send them deep.
Seek strength from the core of Mother Earth,
Hold true and fast with your heart,
For true power is rooted in love.
A branch takes my gaze upward to see
A nest perched, empty and waiting,
Intricately woven of twigs and dreams,
Together we anticipate new life filled with song.
Kathy O’Dwyer is the ranch manager for Aravaipa Canyon Ranch, a retreat center in Arizona, a Reiki Master, a massage therapist, and a student of shamanism. Through her writing, Kathy not only found her voice, but also a life of grace, purpose, and fulfillment. At the age of 56, Kathy followed her soul to Aravaipa, where she enjoys a blend of working with like-minded groups, organic gardening, daily ranch operations, and writing. She is currently developing writing activities for youth at Campo Urbano, an organization supported by the Easter Seals/Sage Foundation in Tucson, and is working on a book chronicling her adventures in the Sonoran desert, as well as a book of poetry. Kathy posts once a week to her blog, www.breathofblue.com.