• Plants,  quotes,  spirituality

    A Spiritual Way of Life

    April 30, 2009
    20090427-_dsc9512
    Spiritual Light

    “If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know  peace, No matter how far down the scale we have  gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others, That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.” Alcoholics Anonymous

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  • quotes,  spirituality

    Experiencing Spirituality

    April 27, 2009

     

    Daisies
    Daisies

    “If we can accept the reality of our imperfection, the fact that we are put together funny, that we are, by our very nature, limited and thus do not have absolute control over our lives, we are taking the tentative steps that are all that we can take on the pilgrimage that is spirituality. Once we accept the common denominator of our own imperfection, once we begin to put into practice the belief that imperfection is the reality we have most in common with all other people, then the defenses that deceive us begin to fall away, and we can begin to see ourselves and others as we all really are.” The Spirituality of Imperfection

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  • quotes,  spirituality

    Being Present on the Path

    March 31, 2009

     

    Path
    On the Path

    “We may have entered the spiritual path. But nothing will change inwardly unless we change the tendency to cherish and protect ego. Outwardly, we may seem to be a more spiritual person intent on a genuine spiritual path. But if we want our path to feel safe and secure, everything will stay the same.” It’s Up to You page 72 by Dzigar Kongtrul

    I did a bit of photoshop to this image something I do very little of.

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  • Candid Portraits,  spirituality

    The Breakfast Meeting

    March 15, 2009

     

    The Breakfast Meeting
    The Breakfast Meeting

    I’ve heard it said that breakfast is one of our most important meals of the day and if it includes a business meeting that may be even truer. Mentors have shown me how quiet meditation in the morning will be the most important meeting of my day. When I miss that meeting or fail to be awake for it, my choices and thoughts throughout the day do not have as positive effect on the world around me. Hope you had a good meeting this morning.

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  • landscape

    Dreams

    January 9, 2009
    Fog and Mist
    Fog and Mist

    “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.” Henry David Thoreau  (1817 – 1862)


     Take in the power of Thoreau’s words to inspire. This “dream” theme still bounces around inside my head. It seems my dreams are so far out there and at other times simple. Our dreams are in the distance among the fog and dimly seen, a vague outline. But, as in this image, when we move forward into the fog and mist we will see clearer our dreams. We may have obstacles to climb over. What dreams will we find in the mist?

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  • Self-portraits,  spirituality

    Looking Inward

    November 26, 2008
    Looking Inward

    I believe a spiritual journey is a journey within ourselves, taking a look at what lies within. Somewhere within us is a bright light. While walking along my path I have found some things that help me.

    I journal as a way of discovery and a way to slow down. Prayer and meditation has become a way to commune with my Higher Power. It has taken effort and a of lot trust along this path but the journey is worth it. Each day we see a bit more about ourselves, finding peace and happiness. Each step allows us to see a brighter light illuminating everything around us.

    Light is the key to photography. It illuminates our subjects bringing out details and colors. As we look out a window our faces will be lit by the incoming light. The closer we draw to the window’s light the more details we will be able to see in the shadows. Conversely, the farther away we are from the window the less details we will see in the shadows. So, the closer we come to the light the brighter everything around us becomes. Looking inward will make our world around us brighter.

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  • spirituality,  writing/reading

    I've Lost Some of My Fear

    November 9, 2008
    2008-06-23-103933dsc_7593
    Blurred Vision

    “Fear always got me down. It made me an introvert, an ingrown person. When fear was replaced with faith, I got well. Have I lost some of my fear?”

    I am thankful for the day the blurry vision of myself was replaced with a clearer vision. As I’ve grown in years I’ve realized how fear had dominated my life. I wanted to have the courage I saw in others, yet I could not tell you what courage was. With the help of friends and accepting my inability to control the world around me I’ve learned about faith and this word called courage. With this clearer vision, and the vision of people I trust, I can better see some of the fears that have dominated my life. Once we see these fears our next step is to put into practice the definition of courage, “When fear was replaced with faith.” When we live life with trust in a higher power, whether that is God, or Allah or Buddha or whatever, our fears fade away. When I live each day with the desire to live the will of God, better choices are made and pages of life can be clearly seen.

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