"The sun shines not on us but in us" is a line from John Muir's writing that conveys the idea that nature is part of us, and that we are part of nature.
Muir's full quote is: "Wonderful how completely everything in wild nature fits into us, as if truly part and parent of us. The sun shines not on us but in us. The rivers flow not past, but through us, thrilling, tingling, vibrating every fiber and cell of the substance of our bodies, making them glide and sing. The trees wave and the flowers bloom in our bodies as well as our souls, and every bird song, wind song, and tremendous storm song of the rocks in the heart of the mountains is our song, our very own, and sings our love."
- John of the Mountains (1938).
John Muir (April 21, 1838 – December 24, 1914), also known as "John of the Mountains" and "Father of the National Parks", was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, botanist, zoologist, glaciologist, and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States. As part of the campaign to make Yosemite a national park, Muir published two landmark articles on wilderness preservation in The Century Magazine, "The Treasures of the Yosemite" and "Features of the Proposed Yosemite National Park"; this helped support the push for US Congress to pass a bill in 1890 establishing Yosemite National Park.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir I had heard about Muir and his story long ago, and always wanted to visit Yosemite, where "the spirit of Yosemite" inspiried Muir to become a popular writer and a champion of natural beauty. Only until last week, at the start of the heat wave ;-) , that we had the chance to spend a few days inside the national park and were totally wowed by it. I could keep going on and saying more, but when I stood at the site where Muir had a good chat with president Theodore Roosevelt by the campfire, I was moved and lost for words ... ...
Below are a few pictures I took during the trip (with the new iPhone) to share with you. Again, I'm not a photographer, so it would be the Mother Nature you appreciate, if you like any of them.
1. This is the site:
2. Mountain Mountain everywhere
3. Waterfall at Bridalveil Fall (not in season now)
4. The view at Tunnel View (El Capitan where some climb up with bare hands (& free soloing)! Half Dome in distance, and Bridalveil Fall with no water seen)
5. The lovely books I bought at Ansel Adams Gallery
