Rue.

a series of self-portraits and self-realizations

[rue-north]

Currently in Montana, visiting Glacier National Park.

Flew into Portland the other day, then drove (what should’ve been 9 hours but turned into) 12 hours to get to our airbnb spot, then drove 2 hours to the park where we took two boat rides to get to the trailhead (one of which had to be evacuated because someone couldn’t keep their shit together and accidentally bear-maced the entire vessel). We hiked up the Grinnel Glacier Trail to visit the Grinnel Glaciers before their inevitable demise (estimate for 2020), but not before stumbling upon this gorgeous view of Grinnel Lake from the side of the trail.

Bent over backwards for this view–figuratively and literally. (at Glacier National Park)

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“I should be content to look at a mountain for what it is and not as a comment on my life.”

-David Ignatow (at Glacier National Park)

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Half Dome, Whole Heart. (at Glacier Point Yosemite National Park)

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⠀ ⠀ Pulling back my Bow and Arrow against this beautiful Squaw Valley landscape during the #WanderlustFestival. ⠀ I forget which Native American tribe said that cerulean stones are pieces of sky that fell to the earth. They’d use these stones to make arrowheads that would help their arrows fly truer. I admire that so much in people who can see the world in such ways; not just for beauty, but for meaning and reason behind them. Up at High Camp, @amirimage embellished me in these beautiful #tribalmarkings: touches of cerulean sky laid upon my earth-brown skin. ⠀ Let this arrow fly true.

[rue-north]

fake it til you make it.

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love is the lock love is the key love is the cell block love sets you free

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best coast (a haiku)

sun salutations against the edge of western civilization

@rue575 (at Santa Cruz, California)

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Joshua Tree

teach me how we bend before we break

@rue575 (at Joshua Tree National Park)

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"Desert Lotus" by @rue575 Being in the desert, I'm reminded that life finds a way to grow, even under the harshest conditions.

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Angels Landing • Zion National Park

turn that frown upside-down

@rue575

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a river cuts through rock not because of its power but because of its persistence ⠀⠀⠀JAMES N. WATKINS

@rue575

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in the dark (reprise)

sometimes, you can’t see the light sometimes, the light is so subtle you have to close your eyes and feel its effervescence to know that it’s there

find the light

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Joshua Tree

dear, i’m but a dancer studying the masters

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• Tahoe National Forest • CA

CONTROLLED BURN (a haiku)

o’ you mighty trees do not fear the blazing fire that burns within me ––––––––––––––––––––– the forest is such a beautiful place to practice – with the tall and unwavering trees, the blades of grass that bend with ease, and the leaves who flow in the gentle breeze. out here, i practice and am humbled by the presence of the masters

teach me

teach me to be unwavering, steadfast in my ground yet bend and recover when the need comes around teach me to flow gently in the cool, summer breeze

teach me

[rue-north]

SUNDIAL (a haiku)

darling, don’t worry this love is in no hurry take your time, take mine

[rue-north]

Joshua Tree

teach me how we rise when we fall

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• Joshua Tree • California

Do not go gentle into that goodnight; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Dylan Thomas