We are all pioneers in the unknown, now

Where trusting you internal compass is the only option,

Dear Courageous ,

We were planning our route for a few days away and my husband wanted to use Goole Maps or Waze. I wanted to look over my big old fashioned AA map.

I love a map, the place names, the discoveries and the many connections , spread like roots vividly across the page.

This got me thinking about how we talk a lot about navigating through life and navigating through these turbulent times. That the old maps no longer serve us and we have not made the new ones yet.

Maps can be both precious and limiting

How we now delegate that vital skill of Map reading to GPS and are all the poorer for it. We are loosing the cognitive and social benefits of Map reading.

I had a light bulb moment of recognition of the important aspects of map reading. That gives us self reliance, resilience and the critical thinking that can keep Alzheimer’s at bay. I am now digging deeper and am in the process of writing an article about this.

Meanwhile here is this week’s poem , which of course is about Maps, transformation and freedom.

Its called BEYOND THE MAP, by Mary Walker

Even the map must go, then.

That brittle page in your pocket,

worn at the edges, softly creased

with markings faint and faded,

the map you've folded, unfolded

and folded again.

Though it led you from lost
to hopeful, even maps run out,

land streaming over the edges,
life waterfalling in every direction,

the map itself bowing
under the weight
of your desire
to just go.

So, go on. You know the way.

Drop all that is not yours,

even the map.

The map is bowing under the weight of your desire, so I wish you safe passage through your week.

With love,