“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has the power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand…rejoice for your soul is alive!”
Eleanora Duse
Lac de Charros
The French have an unusual affinity for the color green. To them green is the color of lust, and vigor, absinthe and spice, hence the green hour, from 5-7 p.m. is a time when lovers meet and rendezvous take place in secluded corners. In the Gers, Gascons have even been known to place clever ads in local papers for secret assignations.
I prefer to walk around Lac de Charros during l’heure vert, to commune with nature, to be seduced by the rhythm of walking, to witness moments of light and dark, to hear birdsong and the rustle of wind through the leaves, to smell earthy, ancient scents. There is a popular misconception that in order to meditate you have to sit still – not true. Walking with intention can develop a better sense of the present moment. and a greater understanding of life.
Overcoming the distraction of life in a big city – advertisements, media and current events – can bring peace and joy. When my attention was constantly looking for satisfaction outside of myself it was hard to find a source of fulfillment from within. When I concentrate on the here and now I become more connected and whole. By walking with intention for even twenty minutes I realized there’s nothing to get, except clarity.
Ram Dass said, “The clear mind is like a glass of water, drop dirt into it and all the muck spins around, then settles again.” Walking around Lac de Charros at this moment is why I came here to Gascony, to discover what in my life was distracting me, to be removed from the ordinary, to see something beautiful and to find it where I least expected it.
