In this time of slip shod worrywart stress building days, real shelter from any thunderous onslaught of problems can always be found within our mountain shadows. There is something quite soothing about being in the shadow of a towering pine tree that simply drains the tension right out of your system.  You don’t have to chant any mantras or sit with your legs all twisted with your palms facing up as if feeling for rain. You just have to be there and watch, wait and listen. After a moment or two you can actually hear silence interrupted only by the soft hush of the wind as it flows through pine needles. It is a very faint hissing kind of sound a bit like a receding wave as it washes back down over the sand. There too is always a bird song or two or at times the busy chatter of a scolding squirrel, but most of all there is that wondrous silence that almost hums gently in your ear.

            In minutes all your troubles will seem to be silly little meaningless trivia within this cathedral of silence and relaxation.  Mountain shadows always bring you into a warm, quiet and safe place.  The most that can happen to you here is that you might fall asleep and if so that squirrel will be outraged.