Visit the Abbey of the Arts online retreat platform to access your programs:

Visual Meditation: Flying Free

Floating on the wind,
What do I resemble?
A solitary gull
Between the heavens and the earth
-Du Fu

Photos taken at Golden Gardens in Seattle in honor of my father’s 77th birthday.

You might also enjoy

End of Year Giving

Your donations help us make what we do fully accessible to all who desire to be a part of this virtual monastery and gathering of kindred spirits. It is because of your generosity that we are able to offer many free resources – such as our

Read More »

Monk in the World Guest Post: Melanie-Préjean Sullivan

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Melanie-Préjean Sullivan’s reflection on her morning prayer practice. I have always been a student of spirituality. From the time I could read,

Read More »

9 Responses

  1. stunning pictures – a feeling of such peace and calm pervades my mood now after looking at this visual wonder..Sue.

  2. It’s not the same bird I know but you feel it is one bird and it is your self and it is a journey frame to frame, a commute you simply do everyday, so naturally! Wonderful slideshow, Christine!

  3. Thanks everyone, it was a transcendent evening. I want to fly too! :-)

    Suz, he was 63.

    SS, these were taken with my Canon 30D and a Canon IS 70-300mm macro lens. Looking forward to seeing you too. :-)

  4. The first one AND the last one are my favorites. I know the photographer’s eye has a lot to do with the “capture” of the image but I must ask, were these taken with your 30D or with the Rebel?

    Looking forward to hanging out w/you and J.

    xoxo

  5. Just lovely, Christine. *sigh*

    I always add bird beads to my prayer beads because they “mediate between heaven and hearth.”

    Thank you. How nice of you to honor your father…he must have been a young man when he died.