Summer’s End

This past Saturday, September 21, was the last day of summer, and I spent much of it with my friend Adnan.

It was a beautful day here in the Twin Cities, and after running a few errands, Adnan and I visited the Prayer Tree, a sacred place for me located by Minnehaha Creek in south Minneapolis.

Following are some images that Adnan and I took on the last day of summer. They’re accompanied by some writings that I find very meaningful. Perhaps you will too. Enjoy!

In many indigenous spiritualities, including the indigenous or pagan spirituality of Europe, any tree can be representative of the tree, that is, the World Tree or Cosmic Tree. In numerous religious traditions the World Tree is represented as a colossal tree which supports the heavens, thereby connecting the heavens, the terrestrial world, and, through its roots, the underworld. The Tree of Life, which symbolically represents and connects all forms of creation and is mentioned in the Judeo-Christian Book of Genesis, is an expression of the World Tree.

To get to the oak tree at which I regularly pray, one must go off the paved pathways. There is a track, but no doubt for many, it’s a hidden, unknown one. And yet it’s one that leads to the “Tree of Life.” All of this brings to mind the Beloved and Antlered One, “seeker of the forest’s hidden paths,” a powerful and beautiful way of acknowledging all the different, unorthodox ways that one can seek and find the Sacred.

– Michael Bayly
Excerpted from “The Prayer Tree”
The Wild Reed
September 18, 2017

When you touch one thing with deep awareness,
you touch everything.

– Thích Nhất Hạnh

Seasons come and seasons go
No matter what we choose
A thousand names, a thousand roads
All lead to one simple truth
Thank you for life
Thank you for everything
I stand here in grace and gratitude
And I thank you

– Olivia Newton-John,
Amy Sky & Steven Mackinnon
From “Grace and Gratitude” (2006)

Your light shines brighter with every step,
Courage born from trials, your soul’s depths.
The universe sees your heart’s desire,
Connecting you with love, like a burning fire.
Keep shining, dear one, you’re on the right path,
Guided by love, through life’s joy and aftermath.

– Malik Arshad Awan

Holy One, Your Mind created all that is, Your Spirit entered into it, Your Love gave life to it. And would I look upon what You created as if it could be made sinful? I would not perceive such dark and fearful images. A madman’s dream is hardly fit to be my choice, instead of all the loveliness with which You blessed creation; all its purity, its joy, and its eternal, quiet home in You.

– Adapted from Lesson 263
of A Course in Miracles

Great Spirit,

I pray for the fearful and broken world of humanity.
I pray that all may seek and find deep within,
the flame-like seed of compassion

May this compassion be lovingly cultivated
by each one of us so that it blooms
as desires and actions for justice,
community, and a sustainable world
for all living things.

And may the fragrance of this blossoming
be recognized and celebrated
as peace in our lives
and in the world.

Amen.

– Michael Bayly

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Summer’s End (2021)
• Summer’s Parting Gift
• Eternal Summer
• An Invincible Summer
• Summer Vignettes
• “Everything Is Saturated With the Sacred”
• The Mysticism of Trees
• On This Momentous Day in U.S. Politics, a Visit to the Prayer Tree
• In the Midst of the “Great Unraveling,” a Visit to the Prayer Tree
• A Visit to the Prayer Tree (2023)
• Prayer of the Week – March 17, 2019
• The Prayer Tree . . . Aflame! (2018)
• The Prayer Tree (2017)
• In the Eye of the Storm . . . A Tree of Living Flame (2012)
• September Garden
• August Vignettes
• July Vignettes
• June Vignettes
• The Summer of My Wildebeest-of-a-Bike (2023)
• A Sacred Pause
• Aligning With the Living Light
• Mystical Participation
• Being the Light
• A Summer Sunset Psalm
• In Summer Light
• Summer Blooms
• Summer Boy
• Beltane and the Fire Within
• The Sun Is All Around You
• The Source Is Within You
• Like the Sun
• A Sacred Journey, a Pilgrim Path

Images: Michael and Adnan.