Eternity Now It is eternity now. I am in the midst of it. It is about me in the sunshine; I am in it, as the butterfly floats in the light-laden air. Nothing has to come; it is now. Now is eternity; now is the immortal life. Here this moment, by this tumulus, on earth, now; I exist in it. The years, the centuries, the cycles are absolutely nothing; it is only a moment since this tumulus was raised; in a thousand years more it will still be only a moment. To the soul there is no past and no future; all is and will be ever in now. -- Richard Jefferies (1848-1887)

Look Under Foot "The lesson which life repeats and constantly enforces is 'look under foot.' You are always nearer the divine and the true sources of your power than you think. The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are. Do not despise your own place and hour. Every place is under the stars, every place is the center of the world." -- John Burroughs (1837-1921)

Unity with Nature I was utterly alone with the sun and the earth. Lying down on the grass, I spoke in my heart to the earth, the sun, the air, and the distant sea far beyond sight. I thought of the earthÕs firmness -- I felt it bear me up... I thought of the wandering air -- its pureness, which is its beauty; the air touched me and gave me something of itself. I spoke to the sea: ...I desired to have its strength, its mystery and glory. Then I addressed the sun, desiring the soul equivalent of his light and brilliance.... I turned to the blue heaven over, gazing into its depth, inhaling its exquisite colour and sweetness.... Touching the crumble of earth, the blade of grass, the thyme flower, breathing the earth-encircling air, thinking of the sea and sky, holding out my hand for the sunbeams to touch it, ...thus I prayed that I might touch to the unutterable existence infinitely higher than deity. With all the intensity of feeling which exalted me, all the intense communion I held with the earth, the sun and sky, the stars hidden by the light, with the ocean -- in no manner can the thrilling depth of these feelings be written.... The great sun burning with light; the strong earth, dear earth; the warm sky; the pure air; the thought of ocean; the inexpressible beauty of all filled me with a rapture, and ecstasy.... I held out my hand, the sunlight gleamed on the skin and the iridescent nails; I recalled the mystery and beauty of the flesh.... I hid my face in the grass, I was wholly prostrated, I lost myself in the wrestle, I was rapt and carried away. -- Richard Jefferies (1848-1887)