SEEDS 2009: Watershed Day 1

[Melinda]

SEEDS begins with Jennifer Monson & Simon Whitehead. We start with a walk today up the Earthdance creek to its source.




We reach the top of the mountain, the land flattens out. We can hear the water running underground but can't see it anymore. In the woods around it is boggy.

There was just a tiny trickle of a current. Thrilling to spot movement in the still water. Thrilling to hear the water gurgle underground.


We pause together at the source, a quick check in with our cerebrospinal fluid rhythm, and then begin the march back down, barefeet optional.



One by one we begin the mucky wade. Deep! I sink in to my thighs. My foot plumbs the depths, sticks, mud, rock, bottom. So much blind information through the sole of my feet.


The march back proves strenuous. Proprioceptors in the soles challenged. Balance assisted by limbs, mine and any surrounding sapling's or tree's. There are many downed limbs from the ice storm last December. Some still growing green leaves, still attached to their root source.



The walk with barefeet in numbing water is painful, delightful. My feet raw and enlivened by the experience of mucky soft bottom, needle like twigs, moss softened rock, spiney rock, every next step a surprise depth.



We will return!