Natural, infinite, yes—what images do these words conjure for you?
Scouting the Natural World
Last weekend Dreamer and I attended photography classes in Stehekin, Washington.
A four-hour boat trip up Lake Chelan launched the last leg of our journey. Dreamer sat on the deck absorbing scenery. Anticipating camera jargon I wouldn’t know, I sat inside at a table to (finally) read my camera manual (well, part of it).
After the first class, we bundled up in our rain gear, then explored the local harvest festival, cameras ready.
Time seemed to slow down despite the dank weather as I scouted unusual natural images.
Like this sundial faithfully doing its work. In the rain.
My goal was to “receive” the images rather than “take” them, a photography method I learned from Christine Valters-Paintner.
Time became elastic as I paid close attention to my surroundings. Perhaps I can offer you a taste. Will you join me in a visual meditation today?
Visio Divina
Visio Divina is a way of seeing, an ancient spiritual practice which invites the viewer to be fully present, attentive to imagery and its possible messages to the viewer’s spirit.
Perhaps these photos will beckon you toward rest. Contemplation. Memory. I’ve interwoven them among lines of a favorite e. e. cummings poem.
i thank You God for most this amazing day
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky
and for everything which is natural
which is infinite
which is yes
(I who have died am alive again today: and this is the sun’s birthday
this is the birthday of life
and of love
and wings
and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any—lifted from the no
of all nothing—human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
When did you last encounter a natural, infinite yes? Were you seeking the experience, or did it come as a gift?
