Blooming From The Ashes

Surrounded by towering, charred remains of once thriving fir trees, I stop in my tracks and pull out my camera. This view – I know well, never fails to make me draw breath in awe. Not only do I want to capture imagery I can refer to back in my art studio, but I want a reminder of an important life lesson. One I feel compelled to share in this blog as a positive message for anyone needing like a little boost.

The blackened trunks I’m talking about dot the landscape on one of my favorite hikes in the heart of Colorado’s Zirkel Wilderness.  Some years ago, this dense forested land was ravaged by wildfire, leaving a post-apocalyptic landscape. In time, new life emerged and the forest floor is now a green-hued tapestry dotted with seasonal colors from rich purples to vibrant yellows. Despite the sporadic winds which blow through the neighboring expanse, the tree-remains continue to stand.

Shrubs and grasses cling to the bases and spill out into clusters of mini meadows. The color contrast is striking, and life is evident in abundance. Butterflies flutter from plant to plant, birds sing of hope and animals forage and frolic amid an adaptive ecosystem.

This giant space surrounded by mountain peaks and deep ravines buzzes with vitality. It is a reminder that sometimes we must burn to encourage and make space for growth. New beginnings can emerge from our darkest life experiences.

A few years ago, I was asked to take part in a fundraiser for a mental health organization by donating one of my paintings. The piece had to provide a positive message.

Equipped with a sketchbook, I came to this trail - a place which holds many memories, and sat for some time amid the “dead forest.” I was absolutely struck by a deep message of hope. When we are in the midst of change, turmoil and desperate feelings of despair it is hard to fathom a brighter future.

They say time is a healer – a phrase no one wants to hear when you feel at rock bottom. However, there is no saying truer. Time does heal. Time has allowed this forest to spring back to life. The charred trees did not fall but continue as part of the landscape in a nod to resilience. They are woven into the landscape, a reminder of its past, from which to foster and nourish a future.

The longer we live, the more our own inner landscapes evolve. We are a product of our experiences, our surroundings and what and who we share our journeys with.

Life’s fires, big or small, have a way of derailing us. Fires cannot burn forever; they need material and air to keep going. Once they are out, we can clean up the mess, adapt to the changes it brought and move on.

For that fundraiser, I ended up painting a piece I called ‘Blooming from the Ashes.’ It now hangs on the wall of dear friends, and I get to look at it every time I visit. Recent years in my own life have been nothing short of a wildfire, but life is blooming once again. To those reading this who don’t want to hear anything about time and healing, take a leaf from nature and believe you can bloom again – brighter and bolder than before.