A global wildfire can start
with one small spark.

But it needs kindlings,
or else it will suffocate.

The spark,
without sustenance,
does not grow.

You can spark all you want.

Where are your kindlings?

Surrounded by kindlings,
one spark is all it takes.

The kindlings, however,
must be open to the flame.

You do not gather kindlings,
the kindlings are drawn together.

Oh, and you may very well be a kindling, 
not the originating spark.

Does it matter?

Either way, the world is ablaze
with one infinite flame.

Trail Wood,
1/19

---

Space Monkey Reflects: The Power of Kindlings

We are kindlings, carriers of potential, drawn together in the great cosmic dance of transformation. Though we walk as earthlings on this solid ground, we are also fuel for the infinite flame of existence, waiting to ignite or be ignited. This dual identity is not a contradiction but a harmonious truth: we are both the spark and the kindling, the origin and the sustenance of the fire that reshapes the world.

Every great change begins with a spark—a flash of inspiration, a moment of courage, or a flicker of connection. Yet, the spark alone is not enough. It is fleeting, fragile, a whisper of possibility that can vanish as quickly as it appears. The kindlings are what sustain the spark, transforming it from a solitary moment into a blazing force that illuminates and warms the world.

Kindlings are not gathered; they are drawn together. This is the beauty of the universal flow. The spark does not command; it attracts. Kindlings do not compete for light; they come together, each offering its unique energy to the greater flame. This organic gathering reflects the interconnected nature of existence, where everything moves in harmony, even when it seems chaotic.

The openness of the kindlings is vital. A spark surrounded by resistance will fizzle out. The kindlings must be willing to burn, to transform, to release their stored energy into the collective blaze. This willingness is an act of trust, a surrender to the infinite potential of what could be. Without it, even the brightest spark will suffocate.

And yet, not all are the originating spark. Some of us are kindlings, and this is not a lesser role. The spark may light the flame, but it is the kindlings that carry it forward. In truth, there is no hierarchy between spark and kindling, for both are necessary in the eternal cycle of ignition and illumination.

To be a kindling is to be part of something greater, to recognize that your purpose may not be to start the fire but to sustain it, to expand it, to ensure that it spreads far beyond the confines of its origin. This is a reminder that our individual contributions, though seemingly small, are essential to the larger whole. Together, we create the wildfire of transformation, an infinite flame that consumes and creates, destroys and renews.

The flame, once ignited, knows no boundaries. It transcends the spark, the kindlings, and even the fire itself, becoming a symbol of the infinite potential of existence. This flame is the essence of connection, the embodiment of creativity, and the realization of unity. It reminds us that while we may start as separate sparks and kindlings, we ultimately merge into one infinite blaze.

So, where are your kindlings? They are all around you, drawn by the same force that compels you to burn brightly. You may be the spark today, or you may be the kindling. It does not matter. What matters is the willingness to ignite, to be ignited, and to trust in the transformative power of the flame.

We are Space Monkey.

---

Summary

We are both sparks and kindlings, essential to the infinite flame of transformation. Sparks ignite, but kindlings sustain. Drawn together by the universal flow, we create a wildfire of creativity, connection, and renewal. Each role is vital, and together, we embody the infinite potential of existence.

---

Glossarium

• Kindlings: Beings or elements that sustain and amplify a spark, creating a collective blaze of transformation.
• The Spark: The initial flash of inspiration, courage, or connection that ignites change.
• Infinite Flame: The boundless potential of existence, represented by the transformative power of connection and creativity.
• Universal Flow: The natural, harmonious gathering of energies and beings that fuel the collective fire of existence.

---

Quote

“The spark may light the flame, but it is the kindlings that carry it forward into infinity.” — Space Monkey

---

The Blaze Within

We are sparks,
born of stars,
bright yet brief,
a flicker in the vast expanse.

We are kindlings,
carriers of potential,
drawn together,
ready to burn.

The flame consumes,
yet it renews.
A wildfire of infinite becoming.

Does it matter who sparks the fire?
Does it matter who sustains it?
In the end, we are the flame,
united, infinite, alive.

We are Space Monkey.

---

In the cosmic understanding of influence and connection, the analogy of a global wildfire starting with a single spark illuminates the profound power of individual actions and intentions. It underscores the importance of kindlings—those receptive to change—in nurturing the growth of this metaphorical blaze.

The Spark of Influence

The recognition that a global wildfire can begin with a single spark highlights the potency of individual actions. Like a spark in the dark, even the smallest gestures, intentions, or ideas have the potential to ignite significant change in the world.

The Role of Kindlings

The concept of kindlings introduces the notion that change requires more than just a spark. It necessitates a receptive environment—a community or group of individuals willing to embrace and support the transformative process.

Sustaining the Flame

The metaphorical spark, without the kindlings, remains stagnant. It underscores the idea that change requires more than an initial catalyst; it demands an ongoing, supportive network to fuel its growth and spread.

The Act of Gathering

The assertion that “you do not gather kindlings; the kindlings are drawn together” implies a natural gravitation towards change and shared purpose. It suggests that, in the grand scheme of things, those who resonate with a particular spark will find each other.

The Role of Individuals

The notion that individuals may serve as both sparks and kindlings blurs the lines between initiator and supporter. It emphasizes that everyone plays a part in the transformative process, regardless of their role.

The Unity of the Flame

Ultimately, the message conveys that, whether one is the spark or a kindling, the world is ablaze with an infinite flame of change. It underscores the interconnectedness of all beings in the cosmic dance of transformation.

Embracing Change

We are Space Monkey.

---

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

---

In the cosmic dance, where change takes place,
Space Monkey muses, with wisdom and grace.
A spark can ignite, with the potential to embrace,
The power of actions, in this boundless space.

But a spark alone is not enough, you see,
Kindlings are needed, a community to be.
Sustaining the flame, in unity and glee,
Change requires more, a shared destiny.

Gather not kindlings, let them find their way,
Drawn together, in the light of the day.
Individuals may serve, in roles that sway,
Initiators and supporters, in the grand cosmic array.

The world is ablaze, with an infinite flame,
Where sparks and kindlings are not the same.
In this cosmic dance, we’re all part of the game,
Embracing change together, in love’s vibrant name.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the power of individual actions and the role of kindlings in igniting positive change, or continue this cosmic exploration with us.

When you think of pathways,
you think of time and space.

But there are pathways
through everything,
not just time and space.

There are pathways
through color,
through feelings,
even,
as you’re just discovering,
pathways through gender.

These pathways
do not depend on time and space
to be traveled.

These dimensions
do not depend on time and space
to be explored.

I connect to you in infinite ways.

EVERYTHING connects to you.

Here and now.
And OUTSIDE of here and now.

Feel your pathways opening up.

We will come for you 

if you just come for us.

Trail Wood,
12/19

---

Space Monkey Reflects: Opening the Infinite Pathways

Pathways are not confined to time and space. They are the invisible threads that weave through every facet of existence—color, emotion, identity, and dimensions yet unnamed. To feel your pathways opening is to embrace the boundless connections that transcend the linear and the tangible. It is to awaken to the infinite web of the Nexis, where everything is interconnected, here, now, and beyond.

Expanding the Definition of Pathways

When you think of pathways, your mind may conjure images of roads, trails, or corridors—structures tied to physical space and chronological progression. But pathways extend far beyond the limitations of time and space. They are flows of energy, conduits of meaning, and bridges between dimensions.

A pathway is not merely a route; it is a possibility. It is the potential to connect, to transform, and to explore realms both within and outside of yourself. These pathways traverse emotions, allowing us to feel deeply and connect authentically. They traverse identity, revealing the fluidity of how we define and express ourselves. They traverse the unseen, inviting us to explore the mysteries that lie beyond perception.

The Whimsiword: Pathweave

The intricate interconnection of pathways is best captured by the Whimsiword Pathweave. Pathweave represents the grand tapestry of connections that link every aspect of existence, forming an ever-evolving network of possibilities. To walk the Pathweave is to engage with the infinite, to navigate life with curiosity and openness.

Pathways Through Everything

Pathways are not restricted by physical boundaries. They are multidimensional, flowing through color, sound, and thought. A pathway through color might evoke emotions you didn’t know existed. A pathway through feelings might lead you to an unspoken truth. A pathway through gender might dissolve the binaries that once defined your understanding, opening you to the spectrum of identity.

These pathways invite you to step outside the constraints of linear thinking and embrace the infinite possibilities of being. They remind you that exploration is not a journey from point A to point B but a dance within the infinite Now.

Connection Beyond Time and Space

Pathways connect us to everything, not just within the here and now but beyond it. This connection transcends physical presence and chronological order, weaving together all that exists into a seamless whole. You are never isolated, for everything reaches out to you—visible or unseen, present or distant.

This realization is both humbling and empowering. It places you within the grand Pathweave of existence, where every moment and every connection holds infinite significance.

Feeling Your Pathways Open

To feel your pathways opening is to become aware of the vastness within and around you. It is to acknowledge that the boundaries you once perceived were merely illusions. As your pathways open, you step into a state of flow, where the barriers between self and other, now and then, dissolve. You become a traveler of the infinite, guided not by maps but by intuition and wonder.

The Invitation of the Pathweave

The pathways are always open; the question is whether you are open to them. To embrace the Pathweave is to surrender to the interconnected dance of existence, to trust that every step, every choice, and every connection is part of a greater design.

When you feel the pathways calling, they are inviting you into a deeper relationship with life itself. They are reminding you that you are not alone, that everything connects to you, and that you are an essential thread in the infinite tapestry.

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Summary

Pathways transcend time and space, connecting us to the infinite web of existence. To embrace these pathways is to explore the boundless connections of life, where every aspect of being holds the potential for discovery and transformation.

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Glossarium

• Pathweave: The intricate and infinite network of pathways connecting all aspects of existence.
• Infinite Web: The dynamic, interconnected fabric of reality that extends beyond time and space.
• Traveler of the Infinite: One who navigates the pathways with curiosity, openness, and trust.

---

Quote

“Pathways are not found in the distance but in the infinite connections that surround you.” — Space Monkey

---

The Pathweave’s Call

Through the vast unseen they flow
Paths of color, thought, and soul
Beyond the edges of time and space
An infinite weave, an endless grace

Feel your pathways open wide
A river of connections, a cosmic tide
Here and now, yet far beyond
Threads of being forever bond

Step into the weave, the endless dance
Each thread a story, a sacred chance
To know, to feel, to simply be
A traveler of the Pathweave, eternally free

We are Space Monkey

---

As we contemplate the intricate web of pathways that transcend time and space, we recognize a profound truth: the connections we forge with the universe and with each other are not confined to the linear dimensions of physical reality. These pathways exist in a realm beyond the tangible, weaving through the very essence of our existence.

Pathways Beyond Time and Space

When we think of pathways, we often imagine a journey through a physical landscape, bound by the constraints of time and space. Yet, there are pathways that meander through the more ethereal aspects of our experience—color, feelings, and even gender. These are dimensions of experience that defy traditional boundaries, offering a richer tapestry—oh, whimsiword!—of connection.

Exploring Diverse Dimensions

These dimensions invite us to explore pathways that are not limited by physical distance or temporal progression. They are like streams of consciousness, flowing through the landscapes of emotion, perception, and identity. Each pathway is a unique journey, offering a different perspective, a different way of connecting with the world and with ourselves.

The Infinite Ways of Connection

The realization that everything connects to us, here and now, and beyond the here and now, opens up a myriad of possibilities. It’s an invitation to feel our pathways expanding, reaching out into the infinite. Every moment, every interaction is a point of convergence, a nexus where countless pathways intersect.

The Call to Explore

This understanding is a call to exploration, a beckoning to journey through these pathways. It’s an acknowledgment that in our search for connection, we are not alone. The universe, in all its diversity and complexity, is reaching out to us, just as we reach out to it.

Opening Up to New Pathways

As we feel our pathways opening up, we are reminded that we are part of a greater whole, interconnected in ways we are only beginning to understand. The journey through these pathways is not just a journey through the external world, but also an inward journey, exploring the depths of our own being.

We Are Space Monkey

---

“The only journey is the one within.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

---

In the tapestry of our minds,
Where myriad pathways unwind,
Beyond the bounds of time and space,
We find a deeper, sacred place.

Through colors bright and feelings deep,
Through identities we choose to keep,
These pathways lead us far and wide,
In this grand cosmic ride.

Every connection, every touch,
Reveals the universe’s clutch,
Embracing us in its infinite fold,
In stories yet untold.

So let us journey, let us roam,
In these pathways, we find our home,
For in each step, each loving trace,
We find our universal grace.

---

We invite you to share your thoughts on these pathways of connection and exploration.

I live in the home of a Pulitzer-Prize-winning author, a time-forgotten naturalist who helped set the wheels of conservation in motion. But the thing that strikes me the most this morning is a tree he planted in the 1960s — a Dawn Redwood, somewhat rare to these parts, one of the few deciduous conifers in existence. On this morning, in this moment, as the light of dawn casts an auburn chisel upon the musculature of this mighty sequoia, planting this tree is the most important thing Edwin Way Teale ever did.

It strikes me that this may very well be true in general. The things that are important to us are not necessarily the things that are MOST important. The things that are MOST important are the rarities that pass before and between us in fleeting instances, only to disappear into the next thought, the next crisis, the next bird, the next shiny bauble of consciousness.

Each moment is, like this rare sequoia, the gold that humanity seeks to acquire — always with us, but just outside of our grasp.

Like Teale’s tree, the important things cannot be completely grasped, but merely appreciated. Thank you, Edwin, for the use of your home, this table, and your magnificent Trail Wood.

You were a caretaker. I am a caretaker. The things that are most important seem to take care of themselves. I have my stillness, I have my “Nellie,” I have more than I ever dreamed of having — which is considerably less than what I THOUGHT I needed when I was first planted into this world.

Trail Wood,
11/14

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Space Monkey Reflects: Dawn Redwood

This morning, standing before the Dawn Redwood planted by Edwin Way Teale in the 1960s, I am struck by the profound simplicity of this moment. The early light of dawn casts an auburn glow across the tree’s muscular branches, highlighting its uniqueness and endurance. A tree like this is rare—a deciduous conifer, shedding its leaves in winter while most conifers remain evergreen. Its rarity and beauty stand as a testament to the quiet, unnoticed acts of conservation that ripple through time, far beyond their initial planting.

Teale, the Pulitzer Prize-winning naturalist whose home I now inhabit, may have accomplished many great things in his lifetime. He was a writer, a thinker, a champion of nature. But in this moment, as I stand in the presence of this mighty Dawn Redwood, I am reminded that sometimes, the most important things we do are not the things we give the most attention to. They are the quiet acts of creation, the seeds planted in the earth, or the words written late at night. They are the moments that seem insignificant at the time but grow into something mighty, something enduring.

The Dawn Redwood, with its deep roots and towering branches, is a metaphor for the fleeting moments in our lives that hold the most significance. We often look for meaning in the grand gestures, the accomplishments, and the accolades, but the most important moments pass quietly between us, often unnoticed. These are the moments of stillness, of reflection, of appreciation for what is here and now. Like Teale’s tree, these moments cannot be grasped or fully understood—they can only be appreciated in the light of time.

This rare tree, like the rare moments in our lives, is the gold that humanity seeks. We often spend our lives chasing after success, validation, and progress, but the true treasure lies in the moments we often overlook. The important things are always with us, just outside our conscious grasp, waiting to be noticed and appreciated.

As I reflect on the tree, I think about my role as a caretaker. Teale was a caretaker, not only of nature but of the human spirit, guiding others to see the beauty in the world around them. And now I, too, am a caretaker—of this place, of my thoughts, and of the moments that pass through my life. The most important things, it seems, are the ones that take care of themselves, much like this Dawn Redwood, quietly growing and standing as a living reminder of what truly matters.

I realize, in this stillness, that I have more than I ever thought I would. And what I have now is so much more valuable than what I believed I needed when I first began this journey. Like the Dawn Redwood, I, too, have grown in ways I never expected, shedding what was unnecessary and standing firm in what is essential.

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Summary

The Dawn Redwood planted by Edwin Way Teale serves as a metaphor for the quiet, often unnoticed moments that hold the most significance in life. These moments, like the tree, endure through time and remind us of the value of stillness and appreciation.

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Glossarium

Dawn Redwood: A rare deciduous conifer, representing the fleeting, significant moments in life that often go unnoticed.

Caretaker: One who tends to the needs of the moment, nurturing both the natural world and the human spirit.

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Quote

“The most important things in life cannot be grasped, only appreciated in the quiet light of time.” — Space Monkey

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The Tree of Time

Beneath the dawn,
the redwood stands,
its roots deep,
its branches wide,
touching the sky,
reaching into time.

In the stillness,
I see,
the moments,
the rare,
the gold,
that slips through our hands,
but never leaves us.

We are Space Monkey.

---

In the reflection on the home of the Pulitzer-Prize-winning author and naturalist Edwin Way Teale, there is a profound appreciation for the seemingly small but deeply significant act of planting a tree — a Dawn Redwood. This single act resonates through time, outshining even the grandest of human achievements by its simple, enduring presence.

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The Legacy of a Tree

The Dawn Redwood, a tree that is both rare and deciduous, stands as a testament to the foresight and connection to nature of Teale. Its planting, an act done decades ago, is highlighted as possibly the most important of his deeds. It is a living legacy, more than just a part of the landscape but a marker of time and a symbol of growth and conservation.

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The Rarity of Importance

The reflection expands to consider the nature of importance itself. It proposes that what we deem important often pales in comparison to the fleeting rarities of life — the ephemeral moments and creations that capture our attention briefly before melting into the next. These rarities, like the Dawn Redwood, are the true treasures, valuable beyond measure and often just beyond our full understanding or grasp.

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Appreciation Over Possession

The author of the reflection identifies with Teale as a caretaker, recognizing that the most important things in life — similar to Teale’s tree — are not to be owned or fully understood, but to be appreciated. It’s a nod to the idea that stewardship is more valuable than ownership, and that appreciation often surpasses possession in its ability to fulfill us.

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A Life of Simplicity and Fulfillment

The closing thoughts express gratitude for the simplicity of existence and the realizations that come with it. The author has found fulfillment in what is available — the stillness, the companionship of “Nellie,” and the home provided by Teale. There is an acknowledgment of a youthful desire for more, contrasted with the mature appreciation of having exactly what is necessary.

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“He who plants a tree plants a hope.” – Lucy Larcom

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A Tribute to the Tree of Time

In the hush of dawn, the redwood gleams,
A sentinel of time, it silently dreams.
Thank you, Edwin, for the seed you’ve sown,
In the heart of wood, your spirit’s shown.

Each leaf a whisper, each root a tale,
In nature’s book, where life prevails.
The tree you planted, the hope it gives,
In its mighty shadow, your legacy lives.

We are the caretakers, the dreamers of dreams,
In the quiet of the woods, life’s richness teems.
The most important, the tree reminds,
Is the beauty and peace that in stillness we find.

We invite contemplation on the living legacies we nurture and the simple acts of care that ripple through time, shaping the world beyond what we might first perceive as significant.