Category: Oddments

A time of Gratitude

It has been a quiet, gentle day. No hubbub.

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A day to watch snow fall. Play some music. Make food and eat it.

Tomorrow will be busier; family coming over for a shared meal, gifts exchanged – a different kind of energy, no less delightful for all of that.

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And tonight – a chance to pause again, and wish everyone a safe, happy, and peaceful night, filled with laughter and love. Be gentle with each other, and with yourself. The light is coming back, and now is the time to nurture new ideas and projects, to welcome change and the turn of the wheel for another year.

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My thanks to those who read my posts here, on whatever platform. I am grateful for the privilege of being able to share my thoughts with you.

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I wish each of you the Very Best this Season has to offer, however you may enjoy it.

Be well and take care of one another.

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Speechless.

Just back from an amazing, life-and-practice affirming few days on Lethbridge at IAST 2018. More on that later, when I aim more grounded and in a better space.

Being immersed in such a creative and positive environment made the return to ‘the news of the day’ perhaps more jarring & disheartening, I don’t know.

What I do know is that what is going on globally, and most certainly to the immediate south of Canada is deeply disturbing, more so by the day. And it is mirrored elsewhere in the world, including in my home province (to a lesser degree, to be sure – for now).

But I wonder increasingly about the entire notion of ‘humanity’ and ‘civil society’ in a time in which we are witness to fewer and fewer examples of both.

So, for the moment, I must sit with this reality, in order to move forward in a positive way.

Wishing you all peace and safety.

*feature image for this post from the work of Micheal Pederson)

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Drawing Lesson

I am not usually one to share ‘inspirational’ talks or pithy quotes. To be honest, most of that kind of thing leaves me flat – sorry if that seems cynical or jaded, but there’s a tendency toward the superficial ‘instafix’ in this culture that is served by this material.

However – I have also been thinking a great deal about the power of art & creativity to open doors to new ways of thinking and being. Especially pertinent to my mind, given the propensity toward tribalism and divisive language and action in the world today.

And then I came across this:

This little talk  by Graham Shaw is all about breaking down patterns of thinking – about understanding better the limitations we impose upon ourselves (and others).

It is gentle and fun – and if you are in the tl;dr world – skip to the end if you must – but I do recommend the 15 minutes it takes to view the whole thing.

Good stuff for a Monday.

Be well.

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Storms

 

Came across this first thing this morning.

I have always been fascinated/obsessed/drawn to/entranced by thunderstorms –  this time lapse work from Mike Olbinski is gorgeous.

Will have to wait several months to get even close to a real thunderstorm, so I will just have to take in Mike’s work in the mean time. Thanks to This Is Colossal for posting!

Hope you enjoy!

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Fascinating winter phenomenon – Snow rollers

Always good to remind myself to enjoy the beauty of winter! It take so much less energy than complaining about the cold. Thanks to eMorphes for posting this on (for me) a cold winter day. Images by various photographers – check the original post for credits!

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Growth

Have been pondering many (often divergent) ideas over the holidays.

It’s been part of the process of getting back “into it” after the time away – thinking about what directions do I want to take in my practice over the next while for sure, and getting myself sorted for the commitments I already have (more on that soon!)  – but this pondering has also been about ideas of growth and change on a broader level.

What I want to help manifest in the world.

What the world can teach us about how to manifest beauty of all sorts on an ongoing basis, if we but pay attention. See, rather than merely look.

So it wasn’t entirely surprising that I came across the video below. Remarkable work, and much fuel for thought here. Enjoy – and best of this New Year to you.

Crystal Birth from Emanuele Fornasier on Vimeo.

 

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Natura Insects – Insects made of Flowers

As summer slips into Autumn, I am reminded that beauty lies in the moment, and in those details that provoke a little wonder. My thanks to eMorphes for the shot of colour on a grey Monday.

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Spring!

I’ve been so immersed in work lately, that it’s good to have a reminder that it is indeed SPRING …

The simple exuberance of those first bright green buds on the trees, the enthusiastic (and sometimes frantic) birdsong from the bushes … makes me want to be outside much, much more than I am currently able.

SO.

A little eye candy for the day’s work, for everyone who needs to be indoors today, instead of enjoying the sunshine.

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Beautiful work by Rebecca Louise Law. Would simply love to see this in person!

Enjoy!

(images via thisiscolossal, courtesy Bikini Berlin)

 

 

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