An online journal sharing my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, spirituality and asking deep questions.
“Because I was watching for miracles on an epic scale, I didn’t recognize the small wonders that were occurring every day.”
Spiritual Awakenings, Journeys of the Spirit
I began this day watching the sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area, always a good start to any day. I am amazed at this life I am living. It is nothing like I would have imagined. All of life’s experiences have led to this time and place. I am so grateful today! May we all look for each small wonder as a spiritual awakening! 🙏
Nature is a part of our humanity, and without some awareness and experience of that divine mystery man ceases to be man.
Henry Beston
A search of Doctor Google showed this to be Widow Skimmer Dragonfly. Unlike other species of dragonflies where males guard egg-laying females, Widow Skimmer males leave the female by herself, ‘widowing’ her as she lays her eggs just under the surface of the water. I stood in the sun and waited for them to land, hoping to get some images. This is a female as the males have a silver-grey body. What a mystery it all is! If you’re so inclined, reading this link will add to the mystery. Hope you enjoy your Saturday!
In harmony with the Tao,
Lao Tzu
the sky is clear and spacious,
the earth is solid and full,
all creatures flourish together,
content with the way they are,
endlessly repeating themselves,
endlessly renewed.
when man interferes with the Tao
the sky becomes filthy,
the earth becomes depleted,
the equilibrium crumbles,
creatures become extinct.
And to think the Old Sage Laozi or Lao Tzu (Old Master) wrote this around 400 B.C. This translation is from Tao Te Ching: A New English Version by Stephen Mitchell. I believe this to be a juba skipper who was hanging around my ponds, so I shot photographed it. But, I don’t believe I interfered with the Tao.
While each place has its own beauty, no particular place can claim to settle the wanderer’s soul.
John O’Donohue, Eternal Echoes
If you ever want to observe a wandering soul look no farther than the world of insects. Most wander in pursuit of food, to mate and to avoid predators. I have found the only way to photograph dragonflies and damselflies is to set up my camera and tripod then wait. With enough patience those wandering souls will pass through your viewfinder. Hoping you are enjoying your Saturday.
they rise from the depths as nymphs
mws
transforming from prey to predator
from pinkish-brown to sky blue
oh, this gift of the blue damselfly
“The great transition of our times, of all times,
Paula D’Arcy
is to see what we don’t yet see.”
The sun shines brightly this morning. The air is brisk, laying down a thin blanket of frost, so typical of an early spring morning. As I walked up to the coffee shop, squirrels and birds were joining in a celebration of this new day. Brought a smile to my face! I placed my hand on the door handle but did not open it. Instead, I listened and watched the world before me. I needed to see what I don’t yet see. Hoping you have a wonderful Sunday!
It is a strange and wonderful fact to be here, walking around in a body, to have a whole world within you and a world at your fingertips outside you. It is an immense privilege, and it is incredible that humans manage to forget the miracle of being here. Rilke said, ‘Being here is so much,’ and it is uncanny how social reality can deaden and numb us so that the mystical wonder of our lives goes totally unnoticed. We are here. We are wildly and dangerously free.
John O’Donohue