A Space for Stillness and Calm - (1 of 2 - Same Imagery)
First of two very different posts using the same imagery
This is the first of two posts that are going up today using the same video and some of the same images. It is one of those examples of how the same things can speak differently. So I wanted to start with them as I first experienced them (primarily this video). This was a few mornnigs ago at the lake. Best to have your sound on when you watch it. Watch it a few times and then I’ll share some more about it.
That morning the lake wasn’t fully frozen over as yet but just right along the shore line. As I walked, I wasn’t sure how thick the ice was. It honestly looked more like plastic wrap just covering parts of the surface. Well, as I neared “my bench” (see my book, Ordinary Benchmarks for an explanation) I saw a large stick hanging on the edge of the path over the water. When I picked it up, I discovered it had been made into a makeshift fishing rod as there was fishing line tied around the edge and going down into the frozen water. Curious about the thickness of the ice, I gave it a small whack against the ice and heard a really unique sound and then saw a moment similar to what was shared above.
In the midst of the unsettledness of so much right now, I have kept going back to this moment of calling forth. First the ice called to me, then the stick, then the sound, then the ripples, and then the stillness that followed. If you are feeling an unsettledness, anxiety, anger, grief, or a host of other things, I hope this moment and the images that follow give you what you need in this moment. I will be using most of these same images in my second post today that will have a very different sense to it. If you’re not ready to jump into that, that’s ok - stay here. But I invite you into another exploration if you’re ready. But first the other images.
And then Scout from Thursday EARLY morning. I woke up at around 4a and was wide awake and so went into our basement and turned our lights to a deep blue down there. Scout followed me down as she often does. She curled up next to me and fell fast asleep. I used her deep and slow breathing to help settle my spirit as well. I don’t have a video of it, but just imagine slow deep breaths with the gentlest of snores…
Grace, Peace, Love, Hope, and Joy,
Ed
I probably view the concept of poetry different than most. For me, poetry can be any image, scent, sound-- rarely written words, save for a few exceptions ( such as Dean Koontz's prose pertaining to dogs lol)
Poetry affects me viscerally.
The crack, the ripples generated a sense of calm, akin to prayer or knitting. Yesterday was anything but calm for me until I watched your video three times. Thanks again!
Wowza your posts inspire ! Thank you 🙏