Not Only When the Rain Falls, Adventures in Awakening
Not Only When the Rain Falls – Adventures in Awakening, opens with a foreword by Bernie Siegel, MD, who holds deep reverence for all life, and animals in particular. Reynolds, a life-long proponent of this same reverence, has gathered nearly one-hundred stories of everyday glimpses into her gorgeous mountain world. The book contains these categories: The Natural World as Friend and Teacher; More Friends, Human and Otherwise; Teachers and Friends of Other Realms. They are stories for every day of your life. Open the book to any page to read a singular story of uncommon insight. You can then absorb its message to nourish your soul. Each is an adventure to awakening.
Reynolds has lived on her property, upon which she bestowed the name of Animals’ Peace Garden, for over thirty years. There she views the world of animals and all nature through a unique lens that few of us possess. More, she beautifully records her glimpses into the hidden layers of wisdom beneath each seemingly simple scene before her eyes. Truly, they are adventures in awakening.
For example, one story—”Simarouba (and more about Paradise)”—opens this way:
“I suppose this must be paradise, this lovely plot of land on which I live and thrive. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, companioned by animals, birds and insects of various species both wild and domestic and enchanted by plants and trees of every imaginable kind, how appropriate that a small seedling should suddenly appear dead center on the front rock wall. Any seedling? Hardly, for this one is Simarouba glauca, otherwise known as the Paradise tree.
The tree began its upward journey last fall as a volunteer, most likely dropped in infant pod-stage by a passing bird. How thoughtful, for while it rested/slept throughout the cold winter months, by early spring it was ascending skyward by the moment.”
Then open Not Only when the Rain Falls to page 85 and read the remaining two pages of this story. There you’ll learn not only about Simarouba’s growth journey at the Animal Peace Plantation, but also about the pieces of paradise this seemingly random visitor scattered.
Each story has filled my heart with peace for all who reside upon or visit the small piece of earth that is Reynolds’ world. I also find hope for a new and kinder world in her powerful exploration of sacred space.
About the author: Rita Reynolds is the long-time publisher of LaJoie magazine, which promotes appreciation for all beings through education, adoption/sponsorship, and inter-support programs. She also founded The Animals’ Peace Garden thirty years ago in Virginia’s gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains in the Shenandoah Valley. Additionally, she is the author of two previous books: Blessing the Bridge: What Animals Teach Us About Death, Dying, and Beyond and Ask the Cow, A Gentle Guide to Finding Peace. I have read and unreservedly recommend each of Reynolds’ three books for all the reasons I’ve talked about above.