“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I’ve ended up where I needed to be.”
~Douglas Adams
I so love where I’ve ended up! So definitely where I need to be.
Tag Archives: Sweet Breathing
Breath, Courage, The Soul
Spiritus – “breath, courage, the soul” in Latin. Inspiration in English.
“Personal creativity is not about intelligence or information. It’s about inspiration, from the Latin spiritus, meaning “breath, courage, the soul.” Creativity is about being fully alive, living courageously, or as the painter Joan Miro´ says, “Expressing with precision all the gold sparks the soul gives off.” When is the last time you felt fully alive? What is it that calls forth your courage and trumps your fear of sharing your soul? Knowing this is the key to discovering the creativity that is waiting to be expressed through you.”
-Jan Phillips
Feel your creativity and all it means to be You! Your breath, your soul and your courage are uniquely your own…
Autumnal Sunshine
“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.”
– Nathaniel Hawthorne
If Your Mind is Still
“If you mind is still…you can sense the peace that emanates from the earth.”
-Eckart Tolle
Trail of the Cedars
“for it is not so much to know the self
as to know it as it is known
by galaxy and cedar cone,
as if birth had never found it
and death could never end it.”
-Archie Randolph Ammons
There is certainly a timeless quality to this cedar forest. A boardwalk traverses the ancient woods and in peacefulness and quiet you walk. Beauty at every turn, at every angle, no matter where you look. In every season, sweetness. Long breaths. Shimmering sunshine splattered, trickling water, rushing big water, rocks of every color, rabbit, deer, bear… an full ecosystem breathing life in unison and thriving. In that abundance and balance there is solace.
In many native cultures the cedar symbolizes healing, cleansing, prosperity and protection and those qualities are deeply felt here.
Running Eagle
“I care not what people say of me so long as I do right. I shall never be any man’s slave.”
-Pitamakan (Running Eagle)
Running Eagle was a Piegan Blackfoot woman warrior. The waterfall on this post was named in her honor as she holds a prestigious place in Blackfoot lore. Brave, smart, beautiful, kind, master horsewoman and bow and arrow shot, she was a leader, ahead of her time as a renaissance woman.
Given the name Brown Weasel Woman, by the time she was fifteen she was hunting buffalo with the men. While hunting, her Blackfeet were attached by the Flathead, and when her father went down, she went back for him, defended her position, took out a few of the attackers, and got her father home. She had become Running Eagle and a Warrior.
Not wanting to effect her warrior status she never married instead taking a widow into her home to take care of household duties. This freed her to continue the life she had chosen. According to the Blackfoot stories she led dozens of raids against rival tribes including the Crow and Flathead.
As her status as Warrior and leader expanded she was allowed to do a vision quest (only men did vision quests at this time).
The falls were named after her as she did her vision quest at the top of them. Energy around the falls is quite strong and magical.
There is medicine there.
A Fleeting Moment
“It’s a moment that I’m after, a fleeting moment, but not a frozen moment.”
-Andrew Wyeth
This life is so precious and the wonders are astounding. That is what compels me about photography. You must be fully present to acknowledge these wonders, then make a choice as to what to frame, what moment to capture. We’re doing that continually of course – making choices of what to focus on, what to acknowledge, what to see and remember.
I’m choosing to remember and focus on love, truth, energy, small and large nature wonders, life’s grace…
“When you really pay attention, everything is your teacher.”
-Ezra Bayda
Devotion Looks Like Boundaries
Really enjoying getting to know The Lewicki Agency and the posts there… Previously I shared a post from them about “lower case art” that I loved. Their take on individual creative forms gave me courage to continue my humble expressions here… my dialogue of the wonders I find in the world.
To continue this creative endeavor requires devotion and boundaries and I’m finding more and more that making time for these connections, devotions, deepenings and gratitudes is rewarding and fulfilling time spent.
The Lewicki Agency’s site posted these words as they relate to devotion and boundaries.
(Here’s their site link to explore more of their writing: http://thelewickiagency.com/devotion-looks-like-boundaries/)
“Devotion looks like boundaries.
It’s not devotion if you are fully available for everything that asks for your attention.
Let us know you by showing us what you are most devoted to. Actively represent your priorities. Take the option to compromise or diminish your devotion off the table.
Reserve the space in advance and you’ll always have it.
Consider the freedom that comes with having a standing reservation for your creativity. Or anything else you’re devoted to. It’s the freedom to experiment. It’s the freedom to explore.
It’s the freedom to take a creative risk today because you know you have another reservation to try again tomorrow.”
-The Lewicki Agency – website, inspiring writing there – see link above!
White Buffalo Day
Today is White Buffalo Day, a celebration of unity and healing based on a legend or prophecy of the Lakota that is 19 generations old.
“All life is Sacred. We come into life as sacred beings. When we abuse the Sacredness of life we affect all Creation”
-White Buffalo Proclamation 2014
The link below provides info about the world wide celebration:
http://www.culturecollective.org/white-buffalo-day-unity-world-divided/
Here is their website:
http://www.whitebuffaloday.com/
Hear Chief Arvol Looking Horse speak of the legend here (10 minutes):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PHqVdZmpRgI
Walk in Prayer…
Drum, Dance and Pray for Peace!
Hear the Earth Sing
I love these words from other languages that can’t be translated in a single word to English. They each evoke a deep feeling and connection – not a mental abstract. They speak of our intimate and interrelated chemistry with Nature… our partnership, rapport and love.
I found these words on a blog called “Mother Tongues” and the Tenalach Irish word mentioned on a Facebook page called “Discover the Forest”.
Tenalach (Irish): used to describe a relationship one has with the land, air and water, a deep connection that allows one to literally hear the Earth sing.
Komorebi (Japanese): The scattered, dappled light effect when sunlight shines through tree leaves.
Gökotta (Swedish): To wake up early in the morning with the purpose of going outside to hear the first birds of spring sing.
Aloha aina (Hawaiian): This phrase means “love of the land.” Hawaiians are the land, in the sense that the land provides food, water, clothing, and shelter. Showing care for the land, while visiting, is a wonderful way to show care and respect to the people of Hawaii.
Dadirri (Aboriginal Australian): An ancient word that combines contemplation, deep inner listening, and quiet still awareness of creation and the Creator, Dadirri is like a crystal clear water hole that calls us to be replenished and revitalized. To embody Dadirri, is to be at peace with yourself, with others, in nature, and with the Creator. Be patient with yourself, with your neighbor, and wait upon the seasons. Become aware of the sacredness that surrounds you. Hear creation breathe and follow her rhythm.
