Maia, I felt more of all how different live in Europe is, the longer I engage, the more I read, the more I realize just how different life has become between the US I knew up until 2012 and what I read today. Where I live I cannot remember one wild forest fire in my whole life. We occasionally have some in other parts of Germany, yet they are usually put out within hours. We're I grew we always has blue sky's not much difference, except for the environmental background noise of the planes criss-crossing the sky nowadays. And yes, with each day I am become more and more aware how privileged we are in Europe compared to the U.S. it is beyond comparison. All of this I simply cannot imagine the strain it has to put on the individual and to think it will likely get much worse before it will hopefully at some point get better, and yet which damage by then had been caused, and to have to life it. It needs a lot of inner strength, resilience and courage, I presume. I wish you all of it. Thank you for sharing this account from the past.
Maia, this is a beautiful rendering of tragedy. I'm glad to read that your ratio shifted over time, and I guess that's what enabled you to write so clearly about such events. What is the state of regeneration? Have any of those families been able to return home and reestablish their lives? Thank you for reposting this.
Also you might be interested in some of the writings from @HeatherAsh Amara here on Substack, she has land and was building a retreat center in that area, she's been doing a lot of regenerative planting and land restoration after the fire.
Wow. The experience of living with ongoing loss. It is our great teacher. I reflect often that we can take nothing with us. Our ego is gutted along with all of our physical and mental capacities when we die. Atisha’s 9 contemplations of death have been present the last few days as I prepare to turn 61.
Maia, I felt more of all how different live in Europe is, the longer I engage, the more I read, the more I realize just how different life has become between the US I knew up until 2012 and what I read today. Where I live I cannot remember one wild forest fire in my whole life. We occasionally have some in other parts of Germany, yet they are usually put out within hours. We're I grew we always has blue sky's not much difference, except for the environmental background noise of the planes criss-crossing the sky nowadays. And yes, with each day I am become more and more aware how privileged we are in Europe compared to the U.S. it is beyond comparison. All of this I simply cannot imagine the strain it has to put on the individual and to think it will likely get much worse before it will hopefully at some point get better, and yet which damage by then had been caused, and to have to life it. It needs a lot of inner strength, resilience and courage, I presume. I wish you all of it. Thank you for sharing this account from the past.
Maia, this is a beautiful rendering of tragedy. I'm glad to read that your ratio shifted over time, and I guess that's what enabled you to write so clearly about such events. What is the state of regeneration? Have any of those families been able to return home and reestablish their lives? Thank you for reposting this.
Thank you, Kevin. I remember feeling at the time it was not an easy thing to write, but I felt compelled to capture that moment in time.
Good question about the state of regeneration, and the current status of families who were displaced. I don't have precise answers for you, but I know those folks have faced a lot of barriers to receiving compensation and to returning to the life they had. Here's one article: https://sourcenm.com/2025/11/26/hermits-peak-calf-canyon-fire-victims-grapple-with-latest-crisis/
Also you might be interested in some of the writings from @HeatherAsh Amara here on Substack, she has land and was building a retreat center in that area, she's been doing a lot of regenerative planting and land restoration after the fire.
Wow. The experience of living with ongoing loss. It is our great teacher. I reflect often that we can take nothing with us. Our ego is gutted along with all of our physical and mental capacities when we die. Atisha’s 9 contemplations of death have been present the last few days as I prepare to turn 61.
Yes, it is a great teacher, thank you for that reflection, Mike.
For anyone wondering about the 9 contemplations, here they are:
9 CONTEMPLATIONS OF ATISHA
The Inevitability of Death
1. Everyone has to die
2. Our lifespan is decreasing continuously
3. The amount of time spent in our life to
develop the mind is very small
The Uncertainty of the Time of Death
4. Human life expectancy is uncertain
5. There are many causes of death
6. The human body is so fragile
Only Insight into Dharma can Help
at the Time of Death
7. Our possessions & enjoyments cannot help
8. Our loved ones cannot help
9. Our own body cannot help