Rush and foam of falls,
Gouging deep to winters heart.
Dry golden leaves watch.
Black Linn Falls (1)
Posted in ancient sites, Celtic, elemental, mindfulness, nature photo, photos, poem, verse
Tagged Autumn, DP Challenge, Haiku, landscape, mindfulness, nature, photography, scotland, verse, waterfall
26 Comments
Light Catchers
It was late afternoon, about an hour before sunset, as I headed out along the path through Roslin Glen. To begin with I walked in the shadows, with tiny slivers of light occasionally piercing through the layers of trees. The air was still as stone, but filled with birdsong, and then the path bent and I was dazzled by gold. It was so bright that the only way to see it was to look through the leaves, which were catching the golden light like tiny spoons. The light delighted and confused in its shimmering layers of gold falling back through the trees in rolling waves.
So bright, that the distance was forgotten in a burst of phosphorous white, and the river below lost to dazzle. Only the leaves could show the wild light of late autumn, catching it in their parchment folds and dry veins. Patiently showing us their tiny spoonful of light, caught in that moment. Light catchers, reanimated by the suns gold, enchanting our senses with light and colour. The rest was a burst of infinite white travelling on uninterrupted to the end of the universe.
We stood, the dogs and I, on the very edge of the earth, with the suns light streaming past us at a hundred and eighty six thousand miles a second, as the planet turned onwards. It was as though the trees were singing light from their branch tips, and the whole world was rushing at incredible speed. The only way to see the light was for it to be caught in a pause, a moment of rest, filtered by the earths canopy.
If I looked behind, away from the rush of light, there were wonderful patterns of shadows, light and colour, shimmering above my head. Like a day time Aurora, the trees flickered yellow, orange and green from their saturated shimmering leaves. The woods were alive with light, and it left me breathless.
The path bent again, and we dropped down the steep sides of the Glen, dipping into the shadow land once more. Here nestled away at the feet of trees were hidden wonders. Tiny mushroom fruits bathing in the soft diffused light of this pool of shadows. Tender and fragile in their moment in the light, with long tangled roots resting eternally in the dark.
Walking quietly in the hush of the soft shade, with my resting eyes drawn earthwards, the next corner revealed the ancient stone face of Roslins Green Man. Smiling from the corner of his carved mouth, his soft moss beard blended into the woodland floor. Here in the shadows he had rested, watching the passage of countless feet and ages gone, yet still he remained. The sense of calm from his deep stillness soothed my soul, rooting me back into my place on this earth. I knew I had to walk back out into the dazzling rushing light, but I paused a while in the shadows, resting with this old soul, who knew a thing or two about life.
To find balance and poise in a madly rushing world is natures true gift.
Posted in ancient sites, Celtic, Edinburgh, elemental, mindfulness, nature photo, philosophy, photos, spiritual, thoughts
Tagged Autumn, balance, green man, light, mindfulness, nature, photography, Roslin Glen, scotland, spiritual, woodland
42 Comments
Life Directions
To embrace the unexpected bumps and turns of life, is to embrace life itself. Who knows what wild and wonderful paths it has in store for us, so enjoy the detours, they might turn out to be our highways.
This post was inspired by Ese’s shoot and quote challenge, ‘direction’.
Posted in change, mindfulness, nature photo, philosophy, photos, spiritual, stuckness, thoughts
Tagged Carl Jung, change, growth, life, philosophy, photography, psychotherapy, purpose, quote, spiritual
36 Comments
Unexpected Vision
A pair of otherworldly dancers drifted into our vision, swirling like visiting ghosts between the empty chairs of St Marks Square. An unexpected vision of impossible romance, bathed in Venice moonlight. Echoes trailed from her skirts of countless dancers from centuries past, and the shadows of lovers pressed in from the dark edges. This vision in a timeless space between the veils drew all the eyes of centuries into this moment.
More unexpected photos are here at the weekly photo challenge.
End of Days
The sun set behind Linlithgow Palace
It’s dying rays pleading across the freezing earth
A vain attempt to hold the dark at bay.
Its warming powers gone,
Light its only weapon,
Defeat was certain, but shed no tears,
For the seasons tides will turn again.
Posted in ancient sites, change, elemental, history, mindfulness, philosophy, photos, poem, spiritual, verse
Tagged ancient sites, change, nature, photography, poetry, scotland, spiritual, sunset, verse
27 Comments
Swans Tales
The Loch around Linlithgow Palace was drenched in low golden light, and the shadows flowed like dark ink on the water. Bathing in the suns gold were impossibly graceful clusters of white feathers. Royal swans, as elegant as ballerinas, delicately accepted food at the waters edge. They dripped beauty from every quill, their heads on slender necks turning to gaze towards us.
Beneath the glittering surface, dark secrets drifted in the hidden currents. Ghosts and shadows past haunt this loch, where Royal Queens were birthed and betrayed. They tugged at the swans feet, pulling them back towards their tales, myths from a golden age still rippling in the water.
Were these elegant beauties descendants of the royal children, cursed by a jealousy ridden stepmother. Doomed to float into eternity on these cold windswept waters, winter after winter. They gather close, and there’s warmth and affection in their gestures, and in their haunted eyes. Too beautiful for this world they swim towards the light.
It’s so bright it blinds our eyes, and in the commotion of feathers they’re gone, through the veil and into the otherworld. In the stillness and space they leave the flows liquid gold.
We see a gateway, it’s form revealed by two trees and their shadows. Light pours through into this world, carrying stories as wild and beautiful as the swans. Tales filled with love and betrayal, and the beating of human hearts. If you listen softly you might catch its threads fluttering in the chill wind of the turning year. Here the beautiful Princess Mary Stewart was born, her mother looking out across these waters as she nursed her new born babe, centuries ago.
The dogs pull me back into the present with their hot breath and insistent noses. They have tales of their own to weave, running through the fallen leaves and the long shadows down towards the waters edge. Tales of today and the warm scent of soft animals. We turn and follow the leaf strewn path into the future, feeling it roll out under each footstep. The dogs lead us forwards with their wagging tails and boundless enthusiasm for life, and the past dissipates in soft receding echoes.
Posted in elemental, history, mindfulness, mythology, nature photo, photos, relaxation, spiritual
Tagged birds, history, mindfulness, mythology, nature, photography, spiritual, stories, swans
60 Comments
Rock Layers
There’s a place, along the South East Coast of Scotland, where the rocks have been folded in soft red layers. The folded rock has then been twisted and turned, until the layers lie at strange and unusual angles to the earth. Lying at the oceans edge these soft layers have then been washed and rubbed by countless tides, so that spaces have been scooped out of the solid rock. The results are visually stunning, so surprising that you can’t help stopping and staring, curious about what you’re seeing.
Some of the spaces are so large that you can climb inside the rocks and rest looking out across the ocean waves. Far away over the horizon lies Norway, and it’s snow frosted rocks, but here out of the wind it feels warm and safe. The pink sandstone has been eaten away by the wind and the waves, and all that’s left are curved smooth layers which seem to ripple under your touch.
Between the carved caves, unusual statues rise up into the sky, their faces searching the clouds for answers. Lying among the rippled layers are dragons and men from ages past. Preserved in the weathered sandstone they cast eternal eyes across the earth. In ages past men worshiped here, feeling the powerful forces which shaped the rocks, and which whispered secrets round the cave walls.
The sacred shapes are reflected in the still clear pools of salt water gathered at the rocks foot. The pools gathered gifts, offered with wishes to this powerful place. A salt water chalice, gathering dreams and hope, reflecting eternity back to us.
Just around the corner a secret cove lies hidden among the cliffs. The soft rocks have caves and tunnels hidden within their folds, and a secret path through the rocks themselves leads out and up towards the cliff top. Scattered beneath the layered rocks lie crumbled pieces, broken off long ago and polished by the rolling sea. You can sense the size of these cliffs by looking at the dogs exploring the pebble beach.
There is something magnificent and utterly grand about these cliffs, these deeply layered rocks, and their tunnels and caves. The scale leaves you feeling small, but the textures and shapes invite you in to explore. Hidden in small holes you’ll find rocks and shells, which roll eternally around the edges, making the holes a little larger with each passing tide. Hidden among the cracks you’ll find caves and dead ends with surprising scratches and angles, where sound bounces in strange shapes around you. It leaves the senses dazzled and stunned, this place of red layered rock. The whole process of shaping the earth is revealed here, among the timeless winds and waves, and their beautifully shaped stones.
See more layered posts here at the weekly photo challenge.
Posted in ancient sites, change, elemental, mindfulness, nature photo, philosophy, photos, relaxation, spiritual, weekly photo challenge
Tagged elemental, nature, photography, postaday, relaxation, rocks, sea cliffs, spiritual, textures
42 Comments
Housewarming
So here’s something a little different. Two of my gorgeous friends, and my lovely mother-in-law, have all just moved house. So I decided to paint a housewarming card, print it, and send it to each of them to wish them much joy and happiness in their new homes. I was walking in the woods this morning when the image began to form in my mind……
…a perfectly quirky woodland retreat, blending into the landscape around it, and sprinkled with a little whimsy. Nestled in a gold leafed wood, with a homely sign showing the way. A little house magic!
I haven’t painted for quite a while, so I’m hoping this is the resurrection of an old habit…..the first small stirrings of a long slumbering beast.
Mushroom Magic
Deep in the ancient oak woods a little sprinkle of magic has escaped. It’s sparkling in the leaves which are clinging on to the brach tips, quivering in the warm autumn breeze. And it’s popping up in wonderful shapes and patterns among the fallen leaves on the woodland floor below.
As if from nowhere, this beautiful structure has pushed up through the leaves in the blink of an eye. Last week there was nothing to be seen here, and now this beautiful woodland fruit stretches into the light, embodied magic.
The deeper you look, the more layers of magic are revealed. Whole clusters of community housing are nestled in the trees and grass, each one more inviting than the last. Tiny homes for clans of fairies, whisper softly among themselves.
Out in the suburbs, among the green belt, the homes have spread out into luxurious gardens. Here the residents enjoy more space and light, and the lawns are as soft as velvet. Each one topped with perfectly matching roofs. If you look closely you might see a fairy dog chasing a ball across the sunlit grass.
Some of the homes are rather large statements, and this one screams potions and poison. One bite of this fruit and you too could enter fairyland, and its shape shifting characters. The red is impossibly deep, and the fluffy white spots too cute to ignore. Your life would never be the same again after crossing this threshold.
This tiny highrise pushes up through holly and acorns, it’s roots hidden deep in the decaying forest floor. The tunnels and threads beneath the surface spread for miles unseen, servicing the little pagodas.
And the gills and frills of this bad boy dwarf the competition. Looming above the leaves, drinking in the sunlight, it opens to release thousands of spores into the unseen magic of the air. Soon it will fold back into itself, it’s magic spent, it’s purpose filled, and the soft earth will crumble it back into her heart.
Posted in elemental, green walks, mindfulness, nature photo, photos, relaxation, spiritual, unconscious
Tagged Autumn, magic, mindfulness, mushrooms, nature, photography, relaxation, spiritual, trees
57 Comments
Good Habits
There are habits, things we do everyday, which nourish our soul. These good habits are ways of bringing joy and goodness into our lives, no matter what might be going on. Good habits help to centre us in the heart of our lives, and to ground us in reality. For me, my dogs are one of my daily good habits which I don’t like to do without.
One of the best things about having dogs are the daily walks, which happen whatever the weather, whatever the season. Walking with my dogs is another of my habits, which I wouldn’t like to break. The exercise and fresh air nourish my body, and the company of my dogs nourishes my heart with fun and smiles. I always feel better after our daily walk.
I’m also addicted to being in nature, immersed in her moods and shifting colours, and her wild generosity. My habitual daily dog walks take me into nature and her soothing comfort. It’s a regular habit which helps me manage the stressful things life has a habit of throwing under my feet.
Whether it’s by the sea, in the woods, on the hills or by the river, I’m also addicted to capturing what a I see with my camera. Almost everyday I will take photos while out in nature with the dogs. The way the light falls over and through the world captures my imagination, leading me on into natures heart. The light changes with the time of day, and the time of year, never the same from one moment to the next, reminding me to savour things just as they are in the moment I find them. So as you can see I have quite a few habits, which thankfully are good for me.
Tumbling out of all of these habits, comes another, the habit of blogging about where I’ve been walking, of sharing my photos, and of following others in their daily adventures and habits. It’s such a lovely way to connect with others, and it’s definitely addictive.
So here are a few more shots of my wonderful dogs, who are the driving force, the muse, behind all these other good habits. They make me smile, and they take me out into the world on new adventures everyday.
Oh and did I mention I’m addicted to sunsets, especially if they fall over the ocean. Well that’s enough of my confessions for today, but if you want to see what habits others are sharing click here to the weekly photo challenge.
Posted in dogs, green walks, mindfulness, nature photo, philosophy, photos, relaxation, spiritual, weekly photo challenge
Tagged dogs, habits, nature, photography, postaday, relaxation, spiritual, walking
88 Comments
breathofgreenair 