Photos Archives | Page 19 of 21

Windows

The window above is from the Shafer Baillie Mansion and the window below is from the Conservatory in Volunteer Park (this photo is turned on its side and then duplicated in mirror image to create a mandala). I walk by both of these lovely buildings almost every time I go for a walk in my neighborhood and I have never before taken photos of the windows, never really noticed their beauty. For some reason on this particular morning their shapes intrigued me, inviting me into reflection and playing with new perspectives. I am feeling drawn to get some photo coloring pens and highlight the patterns with colors. I

December 14, 2006

Revealing the Bones

As I walked this morning, I became aware of the bareness of winter branches and the beauty of naked tree limbs dark against the sky. The questions of winter stirred in me. This year a new one is emerging: When I let go of all the embellishments of my life, what is the core that remains? What constitutes the bare bones of my life? I am reflecting on this question in a number of ways. Part of it is the literal level of the question. I have felt the impulse to make space lately in my home for something new that is emerging

December 12, 2006

Signs of Winter

I went on a lovely walk this morning, my usual 45-minute walk from my house, up and around Volunteer Park, and then back home. It was a crisp and clear morning, another short break from the heavy rains we have been getting. The leaves have largely made their floating pilgrimage to the ground. They now wait for decay to release them into fertile compost for the new growth of spring still hidden deep in the soil. Most of the branches are bare now, like dark skeletons in ecstatic prayers of adoration to holy sky. Some of the willow trees still cling to their leaves, while other trees are

November 20, 2006

Simple Musings and Offerings

There are lots of things percolating in me right now. I almost feel as though if I dare to speak them too soon I will lose my grasp. So I am allowing them a little more time. I am working on a post about dreams to respond to Cathleen‘s comment and Me‘s comment to previous posts of mine which I will be able to finish tomorrow. I have also been thinking a lot about the Liturgy of the Hours lately. Then I just read Jorge’s post about The Liturgy of the Toddler and just loved it. I don’t even have children, but if

November 14, 2006

The Gifts of Greenness

Rain has been drizzling and dousing and pouring in fits and starts these last several days here in Seattle. As winter draws nearer I witness the subtle slow waves of velvety moss that spread up tree trunks and across sidewalks. I heard a saying on NPR, that in the Northwest if moss isn’t growing on your North side, you are moving too fast. I shared this once with the driver of an airport shuttle as we made our way through blankets of thick rain. “You can tell an outsider made that up,” he responded, “because around here moss grows on all

November 6, 2006

Enough

Dear ones, I am feeling very tired. I have been pushing to get the draft done of our lectio divina book (which it finally is, now for editing!), I teach all day tomorrow and Saturday the Awakening program I love (but always exhausting), and I am having some conflicts with a good friend which is emotionally draining. So I am feeling my humanness especially right now and trying to listen deeply and gently to myself in the midst all that is stirring in me. I am aware of my longings for Sabbath, for time to just play and be with my husband,

November 2, 2006

Loving everything that increases me. . .

I’ll take all the time I please this afternoon before leaving my place alongside this river. It pleases me, loving rivers. Loving them all the way back to their source. Loving everything that increases me. -Raymond Carver from a poem titled “Where Water Comes Together With Other Water” in a book by the same name. A student included this poem in her last reflection paper and it was one of those wonderful unbidden gifts of the day. I am in love again (how easily I fall in love with poetry!) I want to love “everything that increases me.” I want to love the

October 30, 2006

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