Grand Canyon Dreams

(no audio) It is early evening here at Grand Canyon National Park. The sun is hovering low on the horizon. Its rays reflecting brilliantly off the orange and brown cliffsides. The air is still, peaceful and welcoming, far from the buzz of civilization. Within the canyon here at Havasupai Gardens, the only sounds that can be heard are those of the natural ecosystem, a quiet stream passing through the landscape, the chirps of native ravens and wrens, the wind through tall reeds of grass, the vast open sky above paired with the deep cavernous terrain of the park leaves visitors with an overwhelming sense of spaciousness and buoyancy, in the perfect conditions to pause, relax, and enjoy the bounties of nature. So as we settle in for tonight's journey, let's begin our evening with a short wind down exercise. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So when you're ready, let's begin. So first, get yourself comfortable. Now just bringing the attention to the breath, just noticing where you feel it in the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. And we are going to be taking a deep breath in for four, holding it for four, and then breathing out for six. So, are you ready? Let's begin. In for four. Two, three, four. Hold it for four. Two, three, four. Breathing out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four. Two, three, four. Out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four. Two, three, four. Out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four. Two, three, four. Out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. Great. Now returning the breath to normal. (no audio) Shortly beyond the pines on the south rim lies an open field dotted with rabbit brush, broom-like. Some stand only a few feet tall while others stretch twice as high. Their slender leaves are long and feathery soft. They pack together in dense patches closest to the road, where splashes of melted snow quench their thirst. Plentiful also is the big sagebrush with its velvety leaves and pungent aroma. Dusted with the last soft snow of the winter, the silvery leaves shine more green in the sunlight. The native peoples of the Grand Canyon ritually collect leaves to this day, binding them together so that when dry, they can be lit on fire to produce a perfumed and cleansing smoke. Nearly hidden under the great network of these shrubs hides a bushy-eared and even bushier-tailed squirrel. It clutches between its delicate fingers a small pine cone. It diligently turns and chews, scattering about it amber scales on the white snow. The soft flight of a raven above startles the squirrel for a moment as it pauses to observe, waiting until it passes beyond the cliff's edge to move again. In striking contrast to the neighboring...