Thursday, August 30, 2012

Elements

I'm late getting my photo up! I've been off from work for the last two days and I've been distracted by the (alleged!) impending arrival of Isaac. Oh, it was going to be bad! Wind and rain and oh, my! Well, Isaac stalled a bit and hung around over New Orleans and never really arrived here with the vengeance they predicted. He went more to the East and did his damage. One might be tempted to make fun of the officials who decide to close down schools for these storms and when they do so, nothing more than a little rain happens. But it's a hard position to be in, to have to decide whether or not to close the schools for these storms. We dodged the bullet this time. But it could just as easily gone the other way. Now it's back to work tomorrow for me, and then a three day weekend!

"We Make. 
We Create. 
But where do we start? 
What elements or ingredients do you gather together to begin?

(the 52 Photos Project Prompt for Week 19)
 

I've been experimenting with a casual practice of meditation. I can't quite tell what I get out of it but the practice does seem to provide a cumulative sense of calm.

I've started lighting a candle at the beginning of my session. I usually use a votive candle that sits in a lotus looking candle holder but today the votive was too burned down to stay lit. I switched to a square candle which I do not have a real holder for and placed it in the middle of my paint palette.

Perhaps this isn't really the answer to the question of what I gather together to begin to create. I've noticed, however, that creativity often follows this simple "beginning" of lighting a candle and sitting in silence. It is, in some ways, the gathering together of my self.

18 comments:

  1. Good composition of colors, very interesting. Really exquisite. Greetings.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good to hear you escaped Isaac. I think of you every time they predict something like that coming up out of the Gulf. I had the paint pallet figured out, but was wondering why a lock was in the middle of it before reading the rest of the post. No candles in my prayer closet, but I do admit to sometimes having a worship CD playing softly in the background. Whatever helps the spirit to surrender and fall into Him, I say.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes I light the candle, sometimes I don't, Jim. I have a music CD I like to play but my CD player died on me and I have not yet replaced it!

      Delete
  3. Yes, friends in Slidell say it's been awful. I'm glad it missed you, though! I like the photo, and the explanation. Sometimes I think I don't do enough gathering of me before I create. It sounds as if you are on the track of dong just that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! My thoughts and prayers go out to the folks in Slidell and other places who have been affected by Isaac.

      I'm trying to get on a better track! Don't feel like I'm really doing very much creating lately. But I'm trying just to relax with that...

      Delete
  4. something perfect about your meditation candle on a paint palette . . .

    ReplyDelete
  5. the gathering together of self...oh, i like this.

    {and i love the candle on the paint palette!}

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is really profound. I'm glad you weren't hit by the storm and hope you're enjoying your 3 day weekend. Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks, Arnoldo! (For some reason, your comment showed up in my spam section on blogger. It's never done that before.)

    ReplyDelete
  8. great idea and glad the storm passed you guys!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This feels so calming to me. I hope your quiet sessions give you peace. xo

    ReplyDelete
  10. Incredible. The gathering together of oneself. You are so right! Sometimes it's the only element we need.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think that gathering inner thoughts and taking time to reflect and relax helps creativity :-)

    ReplyDelete

Don't just sit there staring, say something!