Earthly energy

The alchemy of sunlight and earth.

Sit still and disengage normal activities.
Draw energy from the earth,
Admit power from the heavens.
Fertilize the seed within;
Let it sprout into a flower of pure light.

~ Deng Ming-Dao, 365 Tao: Daily Meditations

Dogwood by the pond at Breezy Acres.

I recently read something that has stuck with me.  I don’t remember where I read it which is unfortunate because that means I can’t give proper credit where it is due.  I’ve searched, but can’t find it.  So, I will paraphrase (and if you know who wrote it/said it, please let me know).  It is a simple statement:  Fascism rises when magic disappears from the world.

Daylight’s flowers.

I’m not sure what I think of that other than to say I find it interesting and full of hope because, as far as I can tell, magic has not yet disappeared from the world.  I see it in the flowers of spring, the leafing of the trees, the vivid blue of the Bluebird that is dependent on light (which is why they tend to look plain from a distance), the reflections on water, the swaying of branches, the sun, the moon, the stars, and the various colors of sunrise and sunset.  I see it in the people I love, particularly in the children who recognize magic better than we adults do.  I see it in others, the people who work hard to make sure things are set right or to keep us safe.  I see it in love itself.

Cloudy day reflections.

It is sometimes difficult to hold on to hope throughout the chaos of these current times.  I have to remind myself that there is still much good in the world.  I want to be a part of that good.  One of the ways I try to do that is through my photography, sharing some of the beauty of the little piece of this planet that I’ve had the blessing of living on and/or visiting.  More and more lately, I find myself wanting to take the world on walks with me so that everyone can see the magic that exists in nature, and remind us all that we are part of nature and so, magic exists in us, too.

…for a country whose people ceased to believe in magic soon lost much of their ability to imagine and dream, and before long, they ceased to believe–or hope– for anything.

~ Mercedes Lackey, The Fairy Godmother

Reaching up.

No matter where I’ve been on my travels this year, spring has been amazing.  Prolific.  Flowering trees were practically bowed over with the heaviness of blossoms.  The irises in my garden, which produced a grand total of one flower last year, have been making a spectacle of themselves with new blooms every day for the past week.  The roses are insane and I will soon have to start cutting them off the bush just to keep it from being weighed down.

Full to almost bursting this year.

People are always looking for magic, when the natural world holds true miracles.

~ Avery Williams, The Alchemy of Forever

One tiny insect on a small petal.

I don’t know what the future holds.  I don’t expect my photography to make a huge difference in the world.  But if it brings a little peace, a smile, a sense of wonder, to at least one person then I’ve done a small good, I think.

When the Green Man visits.

I am not expressing well what I hoped to express when I sat down to write up this blog post.  It’s funny how words that flow through my head while I’m out on walks disappear as soon as my fingers hit the keyboard.  I used to carry paper and pen with me to help with that problem, but to stop and write distracts me from the walk itself.  Being distracted from the walk, I might miss the magic.

The azaleas were amazing.

Thank you for stopping by to visit on this gorgeous Thursday.  Let’s go out to the Point for sunset this evening.  Sunset is scheduled for 8:14 PM.  I’ll be there about 30 minutes or so before that.  I want to wander around a bit before the sun slips below the horizon.

Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.   🙂

Magenta magic.

A few of the 10,000 reasons to be happy:  721)  A long break from the news.  I know I should be paying attention but sometimes it’s better to sink my head in the sand (or in the flowers) for a while so that I can recharge my batteries.  722)  The dreaminess of the dogwood.  723)  The hope of revolutionary change.  724)  Magic, in all its forms.  725)  Love, the highest form of magic there is.

A sunset in the Bogs.