Travel Theme: White

This amazing marble relief staircase is inside the Forbidden City, in Beijing. I took this photo back in 2004, and was captured by the shimmering white, swirling clouds and dragons, which seem to move in the shifting sunlight. It is wonderful that so much detail was carved, just to enrich the walk up or down the stairs. It reminded me a bit of the Celtic knot work in Scotland’s ancient past, with its lack of straight lines…..I guess I’m a curves kind of girl 🙂

The detail is just incredible, and worthy of a visual meditation, it held me for a good 20 minutes despite the crowds of other visitors. Sometimes it’s great to stop and just soak up some small detail, rather than being swept along with the business of rushing around making sure to see every corner of a place. I find taking time to be with the beauty and energy of a certain spot allows for a deeper appreciation and connection. After all it must have taken thousands of hours to carve, so why rush past?

see more interpretations of the theme White here:

http://wheresmybackpack.com/2012/09/20/travel-theme-white/

About greenmackenzie

Hi, I'm Seonaid, and I share my home with my husband, my son and a collection of cats and dogs. I am forever snapping shots of things which catch my eye. I love art which is here now and gone tomorrow...like food and nature...but also have a passion for vintage and the ancient past! Nature is my favourite muse, with her wild ever shifting seasons. I have been using and teaching mindfulness and relaxation for over 12 years, and have yet to become any sort of expert :-) I'm a Psychotherapist, and run the Maggies Highlands Cancer Centre, in Inverness, Scotland.

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