I heard a Raven calling from high up in the tall Fir tree just before this picture was taken. I love the many different vocalizations that Ravens have, these sounds and calls that will literally stop me in my tracks to listen. 
How often do we let ourselves listen to the sounds of nature?
The sounds from nature tend to get lost amongst the din of the human landscape of sounds.
Here is where I offer an invitation. 
An invitation, an encouragement, an offering, a suggestion.....with hopes that you may find a way to invite a moment each day where you are able to focus and listen to sounds from nature. 

The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) light up our northern hemisphere sky and appear alive as they dance across the night sky. The truth of the matter is, that dance is a protective one, that speaks of the invisible shield at the upper most layer of our atmosphere that the charged particles from the Sun collides with.
Two nights ago the Aurora Borealis display brought me to thinking about how we each have our own shields of protection. It may be in the form of visible "armour" (clothes etc.) or a shield that is invisible to the eye, one that is worn within us. Our protective mechanisms are created (and evolve) over the course of our lifetime, some discarded when the need is no longer apparent, others are held onto. 
How do we know when our protective "armour" no longer serves in a positive way and in fact has become a barrier to our being able to live a healthy balanced life?
A question that can be pondered over a cup of tea while looking at the many amazing photos of the recent Aurora Borealis display!