"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change." - Buddha
I thought I would share photos I presented last weekend as a way of marking my "graduation" from the Future Thinking program.
I didn't start to take flower pictures until a year ago. I didn't have any training. I didn't have a fancy camera. (I use a Canon Powershot SD800).
But I was in the Future Thinking program, and part of my learning was around my what my "core essence" was.
My teacher, Jan Smith, calls your core "your unique, fundamental connection to life."
My core is my authentic self, my beautiful spirit and the "me" that emerges from a deeply connected place of love, trust and connection.
Through Future Thinking, I began to identify the signs of being in my core — and the places in my life where I could easily access it.
Flowers were one of those places.
As I began to study flowers and then taking flower photos, I found I could easily drop into into that sweet space of my core...at peace, expansive, connected to spirit, moved by beauty and in profound wonder.
Taking flower pictures became a way for me to connect to my innermost sense of self and what is unique about how I see and experience the world.
The act of noticing the flowers through pictures became an almost spiritual act. A way to connect to the sacred mystery of life, to wonder and to the force that creates all.
I found that while I loved the color and smells of flowers, what really drew me in were the close-up shots — those pictures that captured what I call the "sacred center" of the flower.
I love how unique, precious, beautiful and powerful each flower is.
It almost takes my breath away to look at some of these pictures.
And it's a reminder for me to be in wonder about not only flowers, but every person I meet.
I'm curious what do you see in these flowers...I'd love to hear!
P.S. You can click on the video above to access a full screen version — my preferred way of viewing these photos.
P. P.S. I also started a photo gallery of my favorite flower photos. I've used these slides as a start and will be adding to it over time. You can click on any thumbnail photo to go to a big screen, slideshow view. Go here to view.