We need beauty because…

We need beauty because it makes us ache to be worthy of it. – Mary Oliver

Maine Retreat – The Seen and the Unseen – We did it! My colleague, Katrina Leathers and I held our retreat at her family’s rustic cabin in Maine. Four beautiful souls joined us for four days exploring the spirits of nature through core shamanism and contemplative photography. One of the photo exercises I lead was to identify with the nature element you most felt like in the moment and capture it in imagery. Air, Earth, Fire, Space or Water. Because our setting was bucolic Holbrook Pond, water was an easy muse to work with. I love the quote by Mary Oliver, “We need beauty because it makes us ache to be worthy of it.” In the series below, I can feel how much I want to see all the ways water shows off her many faces; all different, all beautiful, and all potentially unnoticed if not taking the time to truly look, see and appreciate deeply.  Zen Photographer, John Daido Loori, Roshi, taught “Hearing with the Eye.” These water images all spoke to me. How does nature speak to you when you’re listening with your eyes?

Beauty-as-Medicine™ Gallery    (Click on any image for larger view)

The Weather – was quite adventurous during our week in the Maine woods. The series of three images below took place between noon and 2pm one day. We went from sun and shadow on a tranquil pond-scape, to threatening clouds in the distance, to a torrential downpour with wind and rain battering the cabin’s large windows. Then with a flash of lightning and crack of thunder, we were without power for about 12 hours overnight. When you journey with the nature spirits they come calling!

Divine Reflections in Nature – I started creating mirror images from nature photos over 20 years ago while recovering from a major surgery. Every so often a photo will whisper to me that it has something else to show me if I will just look a little deeper. They literally ask to be book-matched. I created these images from an original of palm fronds in motion, using what I call, Camera Dancing™. Inspired by my colleague Lou’s massive spine surgery this month, all I could see in these mirror images was a spinal column. The color is brilliant and spirit-infused. When converted to sepia tone, it looks eerily like an x-ray. My Divine Reflections in Nature collection contains over 50 images and counting. A layflat book of 12 of the finest is available from Blurb, as is a deck of 25 6×9 cards from Moo.

Tribute – I want to pay tribute to Claire Walter, of Boulder, Colorado, who died July 20, seven weeks shy of her 80th birthday. The 22 years I lived in Boulder, Claire was a dear friend, a writing mentor / connecter in the travel, ski and outdoor recreation world, and a companion in adventures. In August 1996, she, her husband Ral, her son Andrew and I traveled to Africa. We hiked Kilimanjaro, spent a week on safari and had a convoluted journey home through a series of mishaps. All memories still vivid today. Claire was determined, opinionated and blunt. Travel, fine food and skiing were just a few of her passions. She was also deeply loyal and loving. I am grateful for her influence in my life.

My Upcoming Workshops and Retreats
Visio Divina Sunday Service – August 23 @ Fairfax Community Church, Fairfax, CA
Visio Divina in Spiritual Direction – September 12 for Marin ICC, Stinson Beach, CA
Sisters of Upasana Annual Retreat – October 29 – November 1, Fort Bragg, CA