Preface to Contemplation in the High Desert I am blessed to live in a high desert sanctuary where the sun shines more than 325 days a year, where the blue vaulted sky sports the most spectacular clouds and the night sky twinkles with ecstatic brilliance. Add to that the indescribably beautiful New Mexico landscape that draws artist and writers from all over the world. Within that context, I often find my head in the clouds whether walking the city streets, a desert arroyo or a Ponderosa Pine trail. For me, the New Mexico landscape is sacred ground. To share this space with the soul of Rumi is...