HUNDREDS OF WAYS TO KNEEL AND KISS THE GROUND

 Nature photography by Mary Jo Hoffman. See website here

After a week spent absorbing 
the natural beauty of the Wild Coast
I mentioned to a friend 
that the whole holiday
felt like a prayer of gratitude 

Wild Coast by Robyn Gordon 

..... which got me thinking about a quotation by Meister Eckhart
"If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough."

.... which lead to a favourite quote by Rumi
"Let the beauty we love be what we do. 
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground."

Photography by Klaus Oppenheimer. See website here

There are indeed hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground

Photo from Lisa Haneberg's website here

Leslie Avon Miller observes nature through her camera lens.  See blog here

Observing the miracles of nature is at the top of my list

Nature Photography by Kevin Jones. See blog post about Photography as Meditation here.

Practicing mindful photography

Photo by Kevin Jones

Photo by Kevin Jones.

" If I really wanted to pray I'll tell you what I'd do. I'd go out into a great big field all alone or in the deep deep woods and I'd look up into the sky -- up -- up-- up -- into the lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness. And then I'd feel a prayer." -- L M Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

I love this photograph by Sarah Gillespie. See website here

As an artist I am aware of something greater than myself
every time I create art.
When I look at the work of many, many artists 
I can feel the sacred in their work. 
I'm certain their art is their meditation.

Sarah Gillespie at work. See Sarah's Blog here

Winter Birds (oil on canvas) by Sarah Gillespie. See website here

I remember the way we were taught to pray at school 
Prayers always seemed so elaborate 
A far cry from Mary Oliver's ideas of prayer

PRAYING by Mary Oliver

It doesn't have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don't try
to make them elaborate,
this isn't a contest but a doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.

By Fiona Watson. See Flickr photo stream here

SOUL FOOD

 Exquisite nature photography by Mary Jo Hoffman. See more here

During the festive season
I made time
over a slow cup of coffee
to think about 
what I consider to be soul food.
 Food for MY soul.

Nature photography by Mary Jo Hoffman. Click


This is my LIST OF TWELVE:

1. Nature
Taking a few moments to observe nature raises my spirits and restores my energy fairly quickly. 


"The goal of life is to make your heartbeat
match the beat of the universe,
to match your nature with Nature".  
-  Joseph Campbell

2. Wilderness
Knowing I will be going into the wilderness once or twice a year goes a long way to keeping me happy. It's something we look forward to and plan from one holiday to the next. This category covers beach combing,  pebble gathering, toe dipping, walking walking... walking,  forest  languishing, mountain perching and generally immersing ourselves in nature and the beauty of our surroundings.

"Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity ... " - John Muir

Caroline Rannersberger. See website here

3. Space
Not only the wide open spaces of the countryside but also head space to hear myself think, to muse and to dream.

"When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life."  -  Jean Shinoda Bolen

4. Stillness
Without  stillness in my day I can actually feel myself wilt and it is just something I have to make time for or suffer the consequences.  In quiet solitude my art blossoms. There is nothing more calming and replenishing than the quiet time spent carving.

5. Nourishing books
While it has been so hot I've managed to get through a pile of books. 
My three favourites :
i) Every Day Sacred by Sue Bender
ii) Plain and Simple by Sue Bender
iii) Travelling Mercies by Anne Lamott

6. Poetry
"Good poetry begins with
the lightest touch,
a breeze arriving from nowhere,
a whispering healing arrival,
a word in your ear,
a settling into things,
then like a hand in the dark
it arrests the whole body,
steeling you for revelation ...... "
-  David Whyte (The Lightest Touch)
7. Art
Immersing myself in my own art or wallowing in the glorious art of others. Pinterest  is a good way to store art images..... and yes I do spend waaaaaay too much time there, but looking at the beautiful art on my boards is food for my soul. Follow the link and see for yourself.

"Whenever you are creating beauty around you, you are restoring your own soul." - Alice Walker

8. Writing
Forgetting where I am while writing my heart out.

9.The ritual of tea and coffee
A pause to catch up with oneself,  family and friends.

Thomas Bucci. Website here

10.  Discovery
 New ways of seeing ....  new ways of thinking .... new ideas ..... new places.

11. Laughter
Good rolling-on-the-floor belly laughs with my daughter and husband.
Infectious laughter circulating around a room of friends like a Mexican wave.

12. Blogging friends who share and understand my connection to all of the above

"There was a dawn I remember when
my soul heard something from your soul
I drank water from your spring
and felt the current take me."  -  Rumi

Nature photography by Mary Jo Hoffman

I hope you will share what you consider to be food for your soul.