♥️ & Howls
Chris
On the Horizon
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Chris Maddox is the founder of The Wild Woman Project where she teaches women how to utilize the gifts of the Wild Woman Archetype in their everyday lives & how to lead women’s circles in their local communities. She is the organizer & facilitator of the beloved annual WILD WOMAN FEST, a women’s retreat-festival hybrid which fosters a deep connection to nature, a direct experience of the divine feminine & profound spiritual sisterhood among the women in attendance.
An ever student of the great mysteries of existence and nature itself, Chris believes women are holding innate gifts & tools that society at large needs – now more than ever. She is committed to helping women remember their special magic and to bring it forward into every corner of their lives, for the greater good of the planet.
I ,too, love Mary Oliver. I have smiled and wept while reading her work. I’ve read some over and over again. I feel like she put words to many feelings I’ve had and felt. I feel that she connected nature with emotion so many times and left me in awe.
Thank you for sharing and honoring her today.
As I read this tribute to Mary Oliver, so eloquently written by Chris Maddox, I am sruck with wonder. I am only slightly familiar with Mary Oliver and am now determined to read her writing. I look forward to it lifting my heart, spirit and attitude. Thank you.
I owe so very much to my revered elder, Mary Oliver. She taught me the sacredness of holding a childlike wonder throughout one’s life. She taught me that walking out among the trees and birds is a balm for any hurt or despair. And she helped me see and proclaim my place in the family of things.
A memory I want to share is that in 2010-2012 era, A few years in a row, during a particularly difficult time in my life, I attended an event called women’s interdependence day. It was held on women’s land, and there were many workshops; ones on canning, knitting, honoring the founding crones, tincture-making, wild edibles walk, and such. One workshop was on seeing each other. A Mary Oliver poem was read first. We were invited to look at nature around us, take note of the smallest details, and after some time, called into circle with each other. When we entered circle, we were asked to look into each other’s eyes as we had just looked at nature – with wonder. Then we sang a few traditional women’s chants in community.
It was a deeply beautiful practice, vulnerable, and heart opening.
Just a few months back, I happened to see the woman who lead this practice. I let her know how I carry that day with me, and how profoundly Mary Oliver’s poem struck me that day.
Corina,
What a unique and valuable engagement… Womens’ Interedependence Day!
And that experience opened by a Mary Oliver Poem…I have tears and chills.
Your post inspires me, as I move ever-deeper into the Connective, Healing Power of Womens’ Ways.
All is made Beautiful,
Sonya
Yes, Amy, Chris, Amber..All…Exactly this for me as well…your every word.
I, too, wept to the depths of myself upon hearing of her passing. She was one of us…she reminded us of our connection, to each other and to all of life, from the spores of moss on a rock, to the soil, the trees, to ourselves and to the Mysterious. She gave us permission..encouragement to wander observe, witness and engage our limitless relations.
I’ll share one of favorite personal Mary Oliver synchronicities …
I was out in the early spring brown woods one day, very down about I don’t remember what…then I came upon a lovely yellow Trout Lily woodland wildflower…its curved head bowed down, like mine. I wept with joy at the sight of this kindred being, cheering my way on the path…
…Later that day a friend shared a book with me of a poet she loved. The book was “Why I wake Early”. The poet was, of course, Mary Oliver. I had never heard of her. I took the book home, and opened to the poem, “Trout Lilies”. She validated my experiences both past and present in a way nobody had before.
Trout Lilies
by Mary Oliver
It happened I couldn’t find in all my books
more than a picture and a few words concerning
the trout lily,
so I shut my eyes,
And let the darkness come in
and roll me back.
The old creek
began to sing in my ears
as it rolled along, like the hair of spring,
and the young girl I used to be
heard it also,
as she came swinging into the woods,
truant from everything as usual
except the clear globe of the day, and its
beautiful details.
Then she stopped,
where the first trout lilies of the year
had sprung from the ground
with their spotted bodies
and their six-antlered bright faces,
and their many red tongues.
If she spoke to them, I don’t remember what she said,
and if they kindly answered, it’s a gift that can’t be broken
by giving it away.
All I know is, there was a light that lingered, for hours,
under her eyelids – that made a difference
when she went back to a difficult house, at the end of the day.
From: Why I Wake Early
Amber, Karen, Amy, Corina & Sonya,
Thank you each for your heartfelt shares.
Loved reading every word.
xoC
PS…
More Ripples..
The year after I had the above experience, I enrolled in a two-year Master Naturalist certification program. We were able to choose any area of nature for Independent Study (the entire second year of the program)…I chose the early spring wildflowers (thank you, M.O.)
I now work as a nature mentor for a wilderness school, and give early spring wildflower presentations all over the state entitled “Brave Beauties of Spring: Connecticut’s Early Spring Wildflowers”…when I come to the part where I share about the Trout Lily, it always begin with Mary Oliver’s poem.