It was only the first week of being in the Midwest when she realised how comfortable and safe she felt. The land, the people, the sky, all had a familiar homecoming feeling, like her soul had found it’s place of rest. It didn’t make a lot of sense to our System as we have not stepped foot on this land before now, but there is much more to this universe than we know so we held it as a gift.
We know Our Multimes is a major factor in our Systemic safety and healing. Being loved for who we are, being cherished and attuned to, it seeps deep into dark hidden corners within, illuminating them with warm gentle glowing lights. The stress and daily triggers of our life in Australia are forgotten as we’ve relaxed and settled into our time here. However the homecoming feeling is more than the calmness and safety, it’s also the land with it’s beauty, the people with their charm, and the weather with abounding new life that gives the atmosphere more than a sense of comfort. It’s a place of peace, a place of pride.
This episode focuses on the beautiful of what we’ve seen so far, in an upcoming episode we’ll write about the people for there is so much to share and tell.
The homes here in this particular part of the Midwest are reminiscent of doll houses, even those more than are a century old. With elegant architecture, vibrant colours and contrasting trims, each home seems to have its own unique story. We here, come from a city where houses are Lego blocks, square, brick and rendered with no scope for the imagination. The comparison is uncanny.
Then there are the yards. Vibrant luscious lawns with shades of emerald, shamrock, and deep cobalt greens as far as the eye can see. Her feet sink into the tall narrow blades as she walks barefoot, feeling the softness, the coolness, the calm. Squirrels scamper here and there, long tails outstretched as their faces disappear into the grass finding acorns and nuts, then sitting back on their haunches as they contently nibble away at their lunch.
There are no wild squirrels in Australia, I believe the Perth zoo might keep some. Our Littles and Nature People are rather obsessed by their cuteness and antics. We are still trying to capture a good shot of them on our phone.
We have had opportunities to mow the lawn here. As a kid, mowing was one of her chores and she loved it. The engine drowned out the world and the aroma of freshly cut grasses mixed with lawnmower fuel became one of her favourite smells, a positive trigger. The lawn here is large and mowing it has been more than a pleasure as her imagination wanders back in time to picture bison grazing on the prairie hundreds of years ago.
The first two weeks of being here we recognised that Spring has been much cooler in comparison to the same time in Spring back home. She imagines being here with Multimes longer and all the flowering plants she could grow, she wonders if Lavender and Rosemary would survive the harsh Winter freezes. She risks it and with permission buys both, planting them in an area where they will thrive in the hot dry Summers.
Although there are early flowering blossom trees, because of the freezing snow filled Winters, there are not a lot of shrubs flowering yet in late April. So do you know what the wonderful people of the Midwest do to attract the bees?
They grow dandelions! On purpose!
Thousands of dandelions are grown everywhere so that the bees can begin to make their honey after the long Winter.
Most of the plants growing in this area are deciduous, losing all their leaves in the Autumn, perfect hibernation for big freezes. There are tall oaks, sycamores, and ancient ornamental pears just to name a few.
Her Littles have been watching helicopters seed pods spin out of some trees and they run to catch them, giggling with glee as they chase and soar across the yard in freedom, with the robins chattering behind them.
In the second week of our visit they took a few days holiday with Multimes, heading to Eureka Springs, Table Rock Lake, Springfield and Dogwood Canyon.
The drive takes us from the prairie to the Ozark’s where we see “Woods” for the first time rather than “Bush or Scrub”.
As we drive Multimes and I voice record many conversations about DID, relationships, navigating life and general interactions. These recordings we hope to put together and share on our Substack sometime soon as they have much insight into the world of DID.
One of us here recorded an audio journal entry of our surroundings the morning we went for our hike at Eureka Springs, here is some of what they said...
“It's 10°, (50°F) it’s cold but beautifully sunny. It’s only 8 o'clock in the morning and I'm in a log cabin, I'm not actually in it, I'm on the veranda or the porch. A beautiful porch, with the railing made out of sticks.
It’s just an amazing this place. I saw a squirrel who was sitting on a tree stump, as it saw me he climbed up the tree and jumped from branch to branch, tree to tree and then when he felt safe enough he climbed back down again and took off scampering on the ground probably back to where he lives. There’s a bird bath quite close to the stump, I wonder if he was getting a drink of water from the bird bath.
I can hear the birds, with their sweet calls and I’m watching the leaves in the trees. The tall skinny trees, they bend and sway, sway and bend.
Do you know what? I would love to put some peanuts on that little stump for that squirrel, it was quite a large squirrel not as small as the squirrels back at Multimes’ house. These trees mostly oak, I can tell by the leaves on the ground. I’m facing North West I think and the sun's coming up behind me through the trees, Gosh it's beautiful. This place doesn’t have the same feel as where Multimes lives, it doesn’t feel familiar or like I’m at home, but it’s still so beautiful.
I keep imagining a bear will just step out from behind a tree, but I know that’s not likely. What’s that? I hear sticks cracking softly underneath an animal moving, like... oh my gosh! Wow! It’s huge. What is that? It’s not a bear, it's a turkey or a peacock!”
She tried so hard to get a photo of these two tall legged birds slowly elegantly walking up the ravine but wasn’t able to in time as they continued their morning stroll blending into the woods.
Everywhere we went was beautiful. Table Rock Lake, and the second log cabin. It was a time for both Multimes and our System to unwind and be refreshed.
And then we had an opportunity to spend time at the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. Dogwood canyon. It’s a 10,000 acre preserved parcel of land with unimaginable beauty.
In 1990, Johnny Morris acquired the first parcels of the property, and he has since worked to create the great experiences offered at Dogwood Canyon today. As a result of his work, Johnny has received many awards and accolades for his dedication to conservation.
Quote via dogwoodcanyon.org
Our guide, Diane, showed us many wonderful places and told amazing stories about the history of this land as well as her encounters. I could write much about the impact Dogwood Canyon made upon our System and might do at some stage but really it’s a place you need to experience for yourselves. If you have a chance.
Seeing Bison free to range was one of the highlights. Did you know there use to be over 6 million bison and now there are less than 10 thousand? The indigenous people of this land used every part of bison they killed from their fur, right up to the stomach lining for water containers. However early American pioneers just killed them for meat and left the rest. Sadly we could have learned so much had we humbled ourselves and listened to the indigenous peoples of our lands, that includes Australia and New Zealand. But that is another story not for today.
Thankfully there are still people with the resources to protect lands and animals from being eradicated by our industrial and technology era. And there are many of us who are aware of Earths wonderment and beauty and do what we can to continue her life. I bow my knee to yous all in gratitude and respect.
Below are 18 images of Dogwood Canyon. Just a taste, a tiny little. itty bitty taste of what you can see.
I hope to write again soon, I’m experiencing sooo much, there’s so much to see, so much to do. The people are amazing. And the food! I can’t even begin to tell you about the food just now.
Thank you for coming to our Substack.
This has been The Body’s Name for Unpretending Spontaneous
We hope you have a wonderful day.