A magical morning

Posted on February 1, 2019 by Sue Vincent

Escaping the rush hour traffic after watching the sunrise, I drove the car through narrow lanes, realising that I was following the map of memory. We passed through places to which we had walked as a family long ago, when the boys were just boys…. places where my son had walked long after he could no longer do so.

There were places where we had shared laughter with friends and  people we have loved, some of them now living only in our hearts. Places where we had made memories, some seeming almost as ancient as autumn, others as fresh as spring. And as we drove, we found ourselves on higher ground where the sprinkling of snow had settled and turned the world to white.

We were lucky that the roads were reasonably clear as we climbed the hill that winds around Ivinghoe Beacon, to the modern remnant of the five-thousand-year old Ridgeway.  Once it ran coast to coast, but towns and cities have broken the ancient trackway and the Beacon now marks its end.

Hoping that our luck would hold, and that we would be able to get back to the road,  I risked the deep, snow-covered ice of a favourite parking spot. The view across the Vale to Dunstable Downs is usually highlighted by the white silhouette of the Whipsnade Lion carved into the chalk of the hillside. The distant hills, though, were uniformly white and beautiful in the light of the newborn sun.

Once again, I left Nick at the car to go for a short wander… although this time I did remember the boots behind my seat. The ice under the snow was far too dangerous to risk helping Nick to the gate where he had taken such momentous steps one May Day.

The shadows painted the snow in that curious shade that always has me itching for my watercolours. My mind wandered to wondering whether phthalo blue or ultramarine with just a touch of alizarin crimson would capture it best…

Then I was distracted by the mass of birds flitting through the branches and a plethora of prints in the snow.

The rabbits, deer and sheep tracks were obvious. You could see where a loner had wandered in to take shelter in the little copse, and where a number of them had gathered in a green cave beneath the boughs of a venerable holly.

There were no other human footprints, and no dogs up here… which was a real shame, as Ani would have loved it had we known the snow would be there… but I loved being able to track their movements undisturbed. One or two of them, though, I could not identify.

I loved being out there in the crisp, sparkling silence, knowing that unseen, all around me, were hidden lives. Some of them, perhaps, watching me from the shadows… others oblivious to my presence and busy with their own affairs.

As I retraced my path to the car, the footprints made me very conscious of how we walk the earth, surrounded by such beauty and so many mysteries that often remain unseen, or unnoticed. The seemingly empty landscape was brimming with life. My solitary prints were just one story written upon the snow… but they were part of a much greater dance of life, with each tiny foot adding something unique to the tale.

Another reminder awaited us as we left, the continuing direction of our journey now dictated by the snow and ice beneath the wheels. To force the car to turn on that skating rink would have been futile at best… so we followed where the day wanted to lead us… and, by accepting our destined journey, were about to find ourselves in fairyland…

About Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent was a Yorkshire born writer, esoteric teacher and a Director of The Silent Eye. She was immersed in the Mysteries all her life. Sue maintained a popular blog and is co-author of The Mystical Hexagram with Dr G.M.Vasey. Sue lived in Buckinghamshire, having been stranded there due to an accident with a blindfold, a pin and a map. She had a lasting love-affair with the landscape of Albion, the hidden country of the heart. Sue  passed into spirit at the end of March 2021.
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76 Responses to A magical morning

  1. Ashwini Nawathe says:
    February 1, 2019 at 06:05

    I can literally feel your emotions. Beautifully written! A trip down the memory lane…

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  2. Audrey Driscoll says:
    February 1, 2019 at 06:47

    Thanks for taking us with you…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. willowdot21 says:
    February 1, 2019 at 07:08

    Beautiful thoughts and photos Sue I envy you and Nick on this physical and spiritual journey. 💜 Thank you for allowing us to join you.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. Violet Lentz says:
    February 1, 2019 at 08:33

    Footprints made you cautious of how we walk the earth… very poetic feel….

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. jenanita01 says:
    February 1, 2019 at 08:53

    So glad you shared that magical moment, Sue. Looking at all those tracks in the snow, there must have been quite a party up there!

    Like

    Reply
  7. Esther Chilton says:
    February 1, 2019 at 09:05

    Stunning photos and words 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. SC Skillman says:
    February 1, 2019 at 10:21

    This is such a beautiful, atmospheric piece of writing, almost dreamlike and meditative in its pace. Enchanting photos too.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Mary Smith says:
    February 1, 2019 at 12:42

    Glorious morning.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. Alethea Kehas says:
    February 1, 2019 at 13:07

    Beautiful photos, Sue. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. trentpmcd says:
    February 1, 2019 at 13:37

    Such a wonderful morning out and such beautiful photos.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. rivrvlogr says:
    February 1, 2019 at 14:35

    Taking your adventures where you can find them.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Michael says:
    February 1, 2019 at 15:18

    Beautifully done Sue.

    Did i pick.up on some Bob Ross colours in there ! ?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. pensitivity101 says:
    February 1, 2019 at 15:29

    Fabulous photos to go with a lovely post Sue. I agree with you, Ani would have loved it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. memadtwo says:
    February 1, 2019 at 16:26

    Stories written upon the snow…thanks for sharing with us. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. D. Wallace Peach says:
    February 1, 2019 at 17:32

    How pretty. I love the way all those little tracks reminded you of the life in motion all around you that winter morning. It sounds like there may be a part 3… 🙂

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  17. joylennick says:
    February 1, 2019 at 18:25

    Reblogged this on Joy Lennick and commented:
    As ever, beautifully written, Sue.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  18. olganm says:
    February 1, 2019 at 18:47

    Magical, Sue. Thanks for sharing the pictures and specially your thoughts.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  19. Darlene says:
    February 1, 2019 at 19:44

    Magical indeed!! Snow can be so beautiful. I love your thoughts as you experienced this delightful place.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  20. Widdershins says:
    February 1, 2019 at 20:42

    Unplanned adventures produce the most unexpected fruit, more often than not. 😀

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  21. Bette A. Stevens says:
    February 1, 2019 at 23:16

    Oh the wonders of winter–captured so perfectly in your beautiful post, Sue…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  22. OIKOS™-Publishing says:
    February 2, 2019 at 12:25

    Thank you for the wonderful journey, Sue! You really have a great mystic area. Michael

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    Reply
  23. Jennie says:
    February 3, 2019 at 03:01

    This is so beautiful, Sue. Your feelings have jumped off the page (screen) onto me. To be one with the earth, a forager, nature’s fairy, is humbling and terribly exciting.

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  24. calmkate says:
    February 3, 2019 at 09:12

    Wow great journey Sue, love your photos and feel like you took me there ❤

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  25. tracikenworth says:
    February 5, 2019 at 00:33

    I hate the snow but it’s interesting to see it through your eyes. It’s warming here but it’ll be back down temp wise later this week.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  26. tracikenworth says:
    February 5, 2019 at 00:34

    Ohio that is, in the states.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  27. mick25117 says:
    March 1, 2019 at 22:34

    Great article. I find there is nothing as amazing and great as winter mornings where the snow lies across the world like a blanket

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