BEAUTY
Beauty overflowed this month in so many forms. A family gathering, officiating a wedding and baptism, autumn scenery in the mountains and on beaches, celebrating a dear friend’s 75th year around the sun, and gatherings of new friends and old, deepening our appreciation of beauty-as-medicine. The family visit in Colorado was sweet, celebratory, and too darned short. Here are two pics from the wedding reception. Bride and groom, Gabby and Brad, dancing. Gabby dancing with her newly baptized son, 10-month old Dean.

I spent a few brief hours in Rocky Mountain National Park, sharing it with friends who’d never been, and it did not disappoint. Overcast skies made for saturated colors. We saw deer, squirrels, ravens, hawks and elk. It’s been 12 years since I lived in Colorado and made a regular pilgrimage into the park almost as often as I go to Point Reyes National Seashore in Northern California now. Vastly different landscapes, yet so abundant with beauty. How can anyone not live in awe and wonder of this planet? I am grateful and awe- struck every day. Next week I’ll be on the east coast at the Cape Cod National Seashore for another family gathering and celebration of our Aunt Betsy who turns 98 this year. Click on any image for enlarged gallery view.

WISDOM
September 1st I contributed a visual meditation practice to the contemplative service at the Community Congregational Church (CCC) in Tiburon, CA. A week later, a group of church members and friends from surrounding Bay Area communities attended my three-hour Beauty-as-Medicine workshop at CCC. The morning started with blue skies, the perfect layer of fog covering the scenic cityscape, and three deer on the lawn greeting attendees. The day was an invitation to slow down and revel in nature’s beauty through all our senses, so that the beauty within can become a healing and connecting force. We practiced visio divina with photographs, did an “awe walk” around the labyrinth and grounds communing with whatever captured our attention, then poetic prompts inspired writing meditation from the heart. It was sweet and humbling to witness the deep wisdom and vulnerability that many in the circle shared throughout our morning together.  Thank you Rev. Jess Shine and CCC for the opportunity to share in your welcoming space. Click on any image for enlarged gallery view.

Thank you also, to Rev. Kacey Carmichael of the Fairfax Community Church for inviting me to share Beauty-as-Medicine for your creative arts service September 29th. It was a small, but mighty gathering. Art, in whatever form, is a portal to the Divine when we take time to really sink into it and receive all that it wants to share, whether we’re co-creating it, or simply enjoying the offering. It turns out that the two newest mirrored images below were among those that people chose (without looking) to meditate with. Part of the magic of this process, as with any divination, is that it’s self-reflective and everyone receives the imagery and message that they need to receive in the moment.

ALCHEMY
When is a wall of rock more than what it firsts appears to be? When you look deeply into it and it comes alive: patterns, colors, textures, depth, even faces, ask to be revealed. This is Beauty-as-Medicine at play through Divine Sight.  I invite you to spend 10 minutes focusing on either or both to see what comes up for you. Let me know what YOU see! Prints will be available soon.  Click on an image for enlarged gallery view.

Thanks to everyone who signed up to receive my blog, and to everyone who attended my Beauty-as-Medicine workshop, contemplative services and monthly Death Cafés!

ALL of my Spirit-infused healing photography books are 15% off through October 3 at the blurb bookstore. Discount Code: READER15  Order HERE

Also, if you, or anyone you know, is in need of a spiritual guide, I have space on my calendar and in my heart for a few more clients, and/or a small group. Feel free to reach out.

Peace, love and blessings,

Rev. Lisa
Spiritual Companion/Guide
Contemplative Photographer
Interfaith Chaplain/Eco-Minister
Free Photos at Pexels
Spirit-Infused Healing Photography Books at Blurb
Photography is my love language. Teaching people to see Beauty-as-Medicine is my ministry. – Rev. Lisa