… the truth is that we simply don’t know — we don’t know where life ultimately leads, we don’t know what we want or what to want, and we don’t really know ourselves.
I’ve mentioned before my belief of how little I think I think I know. Yet there are times when some sense of knowing does rise within me. This knowing is not about having an answer or solution to a problem. It’s a knowing that somehow changes my perspective on life, this world, people, and myself. I find this knowing to be one of the adventures in life, a place of growth. I am slowly learning small bits of who I’m not and who I’m becoming.
The greatest of human discoveries in the future will be the discovery of human intimacy with all those other modes of being that live with us on this planet, inspire our art and literature, reveal that numinous world whence all things come into being, and with which we exchange the very substance of life.
Thomas Berry
A host of thoughts can run through my head while standing before this pre-dawn scene as I worked at capturing the image. This image is a panorama of 7 images using Lightroom Classic. I wanted the whole cloud bank in the image and my 16mm lens wasn’t wide enough so I decided to try a panorama. It works on this blog but not for printing purposes. When I came home and saw this panoramic image on my monitor my thoughts shifted from the craft of the image to the scene itself. It’s easy to look at this open field, even to the distant horizon, and see it as something separate from me. I’m here, it’s there. But that’s just not true. There is a multitude of ecosystems comprising this image and the world. Maybe that’s what makes this scene so appealing and beautiful to me. Because as Berry suggests there are other modes of being: birds of all sorts, insects, animals, the plants and of course, humans. For me the future of discovery Berry is talking about is happening now.
Predawn sky from Thursday morning of August 24, 2023
It was “oh dark thirty” this past Thursday morning when a voice within urged me to visit one of my favorite natural areas. I gently made my way to a favorite rock, making sure to avoid the prickly pear cactus. My goal was to be present, to photograph the predawn sky, to be in a place of pray, to listen to the silence and to take part in the gift of this mysterious and wonderful moment.
As I sat on my rock I noticed it seems to be harder and more uncomfortable with each visit. But I know this rock is being what it was created to be, a rock. Maybe I’ll bring a pillow next time. I swat at annoying, hungry mosquitoes, unsuccessfully. A couple bats quietly dart above me, those deadly predators of the mosquitos. I urge them on! A band of crickets is practicing the same song as the last morning I was here. In my opinion they are getting better each time I come. Along the water’s edge a frog croaks his song of romance. Best of luck my friend! I reach out and rub the sagebrush between my fingers. It’s my way of taking its fragrance with me when I return home, a simple and natural sacrament. A coyote silently crosses 30 feet in front of me heading towards the prairie dog town. Stopping once to turn and check me out. And those clouds! They were constant shapeshifters this morning reminding me life is constantly changing. For me there is something special about watching the colors pink and red kissing the horizon. So much to be grateful for! 😍 And now, I thank you for letting me again share with you a glimpse of my early morning in words and photographs.
I’ll end this post with an inviting question by Mary Oliver in one of her poems, “How many mysteries have you seen in your lifetime?” My answer to her question is: everyday! What’s yours?
We had a nice rain early yesterday morning. And, knowing these clouds were moving east, I went to PNA (Pineridge Natural Area) just in case nature was putting on any sort of performance. She did! If memory serves me this is my first ever, and only, image of a bolt of lightning. My camera settings were iso 400, aperture f5.6 and a 10 second exposure. I spent most of my 20 minutes there just sitting on the bench soaking it all in, taking only 21 images in that time period. What a gift to watch the power of nature. But for me the gift of the bolt of lightning was an extra perk for me. Later in the morning it began to rain and we enjoyed a steady rain the rest of the day. My area weather map says we got about .8 inch of rain the past 24 hours.
Met Eric and Raja for coffee and conversation this morning, always a good start to a weekend. Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Early mornings in nature have a positive effect on me. I always return home feeling more of my true self, refreshed, and nurtured by her touch. I want to believe that these times with nature change me in so many ways. It is in the silence and the beauty of nature that help me be aware of my breathing, my physical senses and how much a part of this world I really am. And, these feeble attempts to express in my own words always seems to fall short. Probably the only way to know what I experience is for you to experience it.
I was awakened around 2:00 am with flashes of lightning bursting in my bedroom. I could hear and feel rumbles of thunder while the rain pounded on my bedroom window. Sounded like one of those storms my dad would call a toad-strangler. I layed there with a heart full of thanks, thankful for the comfort and protection of my condo and how rain is such a refreshing gift of nature. In my mind I envisioned a predawn eastern sky with scattered clouds above the horizon, perfect for a photo. ❤️ A couple hours later with that vision in my mind I headed out to Pineridge Natural Area. So, when I say morning after in the title I’m talking about the thunderstorm and not any overindulgence from the night before. Thankful those days no longer exist in my life. Hope you have a wonderful Thursday!
cloudless predawn sky silhouetted needlegrass something so simple
mws
This image is from Pineridge Natural Area a few days ago. I went for the predawn meditation, to empty my monkey mind and allow nature to fill me with that sense of awe. It’s always a great way to start my day. I was entertained by a half dozen bats demonstrating their aerial acrobatics, silhouetted against the sky. Then I noticed this solitary needlegrass silhouetted against the orange and blue horizon dancing in the light breeze. Grabbed my camera since I had it with me. Something so simple. Have a great Friday!
