The Bass Rock – Firth of Forth
We walked along the restless shifting edge of the ocean yesterday. The tide was rising, covering our footprints in the sand almost as soon as we had left them. The shape woven between the sand and the sea was constantly being reformed before our eyes, and the beach was shrinking. It was as though the earth was breathing, and the waves ebbed and flowed with the rise and fall of her breath. So I began to link my breath with the water, feeling it flow in as the waves rolled up onto the sand, and feeling it release on the out breath, as the sea rolled back into the ocean. It gave me a wonderful sense of the uniqueness of each and every breath. No two breaths are ever the same, and here on the oceans edge, no two waves are ever repeated.
Seacliff beach – East Lothian
It’s a wonderful exercise in waking up to the present moment, when every moment is painted so uniquely right before my eyes. My one wild and precious life flows ever onwards with the tides of my breath, but sometimes I forget to notice. Whole hours can pass, where I have missed all sorts of wonderful tiny moments of life’s creative beauty. I found myself mesmerised yesterday by the patterns and shapes created in the foam, where the energy of the sea hit the inertia of the earth. The shapes shifted so fast that I could barely keep up! It’s incredible the changes which roll out unnoticed around me in every precious moment.
Seacliff waves
The ever changing space of the beach is a wonderful place to step fully into the present, as it unfolds in a dizzying display of unrepeatable patterns.
Sea Foam
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Oh my, these photos are amazing!!! I really love the one with the lighthouse (sea cliff waves).
Thank you, it was an inspiring day, full of energy and motion.
This post brought me home to my beginnings when as a “wee lass” (yes,I have some Scottish roots!) my parents would bring me out to the beach in San Diego, California where I was born and raised, only over a seawall from our house. I would wander free to be part of all the wonder around me. The ocean sounds and what was great power to a small child, sand squishing through toes, treasures of shells, raucous gulls, magical kites, breaking waves, glistening sunlight, briny smells, always changing tide pools, caressing breezes, warmth of bonfires in the evenings wrapped in blankets, running on little feet to chase the disappearing shoreline sea foam….and it goes on. Nothing has changed for me in my deep love for the ocean and shore as you so eloquently speak of in this post with light filled photos. The sea and shore are always a place for mindful reflection of beauty and the ever changing impermanence of nature and life. And if the truth be told, I still enjoy the thrill of riding a wave with my body in tune with the rush of water and am known to express with squeals of delight many decades in age from the small child…but none the less enthusiastic!! Thank you for such a beautiful post that took me down memory lane!!
P.S. Had to give you this link for an example of what I feel when in the ocean. Pure absolute delight!! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=270442769753174&set=vb.436466589738748&type=2&theater
Loved this link. Just delightful, as you say, pure joy 🙂
Gaye, you are very welcome. What delightful memories you’ve shared here. The sea shore is certainly full of magic, and like you I still squeal with delight in the tumbling waves 🙂 I love the sound of childhood blanket wrapped bonfires. We had one in late September last year, and we watched the sun go down as we cooked up our food, lapped by the waves….just gorgeous. In turn you’ve brought back some wonderful memories for me!
This is a wonderful combination of words and images. I love taking photos of water and especially the water’s edge.
Thank you Pat, it’s great to hear you enjoyed the combination 🙂 the waters edge is such an inspiring place to be to take photos isn’t it?
This is such a beautiful post and I’m glad I’ve found you (I read your comment on The Wind Horse blog’s wonderful post ‘Are You Listening?’). I love the rhythm and poetry of your writing, your sense of beauty and attention to the moment – and your stunning photographs. Thanks you! I’m following your blog.
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed my post, and what lovely comments. It’s always so encouraging to hear that someone likes what I’ve written. I have just popped over to your blog, and I love what you do too! I’ll look forward to reading more of your words 🙂 I’m glad I’ve found you too.
Wonderful colours and the light! Here everything is still grey and cold. I understand tha there wasn’t much warmth (?) but the views! And yes, I can feel the breathing…
It was really quite warm for a winters day….around 10 Celsius….which is amazing for Scotland in February. We still needed coats and gloves though, out of the sun the air is still chilly and the wind whips through layers of clothes as though they were silk not wool 🙂 perhaps we will get an early spring this year…