In this season of letting go. . .
October 9, 2006 · by Christine
. . . what is the flowering you are making space for?
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
-Isaiah 35:1-2
There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. –Anais Nin
But we have only begun to love the earth.
We have only begun to imagine the fullness of life.
How could we tire of hope? – so much is in bud.
How can desire fail? – we have only begun.
-Denise Levertov from “Beginnings”
I will not die an unlived life.
I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid, more accessible,
to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise.
I choose to risk my significance;
to live so that which came to me as seed goes to the next as blossom
and that which came to me as blossom, goes on as fruit.
-Dawna Markova
What God whispered to the rose
to make it bloom so beautifully
God shouted to my heart
times one hundred!
–Rumi
-Christine Valters Paintner (photos taken this morning of the dahlias at Volunteer Park)
Posted in Photos, Nature and Creativity |
October 9th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
How beautiful! Thank you, thank you.
October 9th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Came here via Songbird’s link. Beautiful photos made even more lovely by the words. Thank you!
October 9th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
Those flowers are beautiful! WE live too far south for dahlias to grow, but we sure can enjoy them in pictures! Thank you!
October 9th, 2006 at 6:38 pm
Yowza! Those are some gorgeous photos.
I didn’t realize that you were currently living in Seattle…
October 9th, 2006 at 8:39 pm
Thank you Songbird, MD, Cathy, and Jane for your very gracious words. I felt blessed this morning to be able to witness this beauty in person, even better that I get to share it!
Blessings, Christine
October 9th, 2006 at 8:48 pm
Wow! What sacred beauty is felt in these blossoms! Oh, if I could just crawl into them like a little Bug and snuggle, or be a Bee and embrace their sweet centers! Thank you so much, Christine. Its photos like this that inspire me to write poetry.
October 9th, 2006 at 9:06 pm
These were so amazing they were almost unreal. Funny how we forget how beautiful real really is.
This was timely too, as Ive been mediatation on fireweed’s flowering after the flames. Truly beautiful Christine : )
October 9th, 2006 at 9:07 pm
PS I keep getting drawn back to the second image, there is a tiny baby flower in the center…
October 9th, 2006 at 9:57 pm
you are awesome and so is this post. thank you.
October 9th, 2006 at 10:25 pm
Bette, please do share your wonderful poems if you write one!
Wendy, thanks! I was amazed at the light today, especially on those first two.
Juniper, you are pretty awesome too!
Funny, I went out to take photos of the beginning fall colors, and was amazed to discover the dahlias still out. I thought for sure they would have clipped them down back by now.
Love to each of you, Christine
October 10th, 2006 at 7:27 am
Ah, Christine! So lush and amazing, these new-life colors in the midst of so much letting go and release. Thank you, thank you for sharing.
Deep bow,
Trish
October 10th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
amazing. You are a very talented photographer. And wonderful words of wisdom to go with the photos.
October 10th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
Thank you Trish and Britt for your warm words! I am really enjoying cultivating the craft of photography as it calls me to see more deeply and allows me to celebrate the holy dwelling in the lushness of the world.
Blessings, Christine
October 10th, 2006 at 7:15 pm
what very very lovely photos and words.
October 11th, 2006 at 10:59 am
Those photos are GORGEOUS! Thanks so much for sharing them with us.
October 11th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
Welcome Becca and Jules, and thank you!
October 11th, 2006 at 8:03 pm
Christine, I keep coming back to look at these amazing pics. So lush - I just want to burry my whole face in them all and take a deep breath. Ahhhh.
October 12th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
Christine the pictures are absolutely gorgeous, and the meditations inspiring. Thank you.
October 12th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Welcome Shawna and thank you for your comment!
October 14th, 2006 at 11:52 am
wow. how fun it would be to have petals for hair.