Wednesday, May 11, 2011

a subtle magnetism





.
I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, 
which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.
  It is not indifferent to us and which way we walk.  
 
There is a right way; but we are very liable from heedlessness 
and stupidity to take the wrong one.  We would fain take that walk,
 never yet taken by us through this actual world, which is perfectly
 symbolical of the path which we love to travel in the interior
 and ideal world; and sometimes, no doubt, we find it difficult 
to choose our direction, because it does not yet
 exist distinctly in our ideas.


.
~ Henry David Thoreau
from Walking, 1863


2 comments:

Sarah said...

thank you once again. after the recent loss of both my parents, i have been describing myself as taking a step and another step, deeply relying on this magnetism to place the path beneath my feet.

Dean Keller said...

good to hear from you again Sarah. opening widely in surrender seems to allow such beautiful and unexpected fulfillment to emerge.