Sunday, 11 June 2017
Bloglovin
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Saturday, 10 June 2017
Saturday Magic
So inspired by Carolyn's post I went in search of a wand today. No luck yet. But I did find these beauties. Thanks to Carolyn for the reminder that we all deserve a little magic in our lives.
Sunday, 4 June 2017
Sun, moon, truth
Daily Draw: Spiritual Buddhist Cards, Sun, Moon, Truth
With eyes downcast this struck me as a sombre face but perhaps I am wrong. Reflexive philosophy alerts us that we view the world through lenses and filters which are the product of position and experiences within it. Putting reflexivity into action means both unsettling those assumptions including by considering alternative perspectives.
With that in mind other interpretations of the card and verse are very welcome today.
Three things cannot be
long hidden:
the sun, the moon,
and the truth.
- attrib Guatama Buddha
With eyes downcast this struck me as a sombre face but perhaps I am wrong. Reflexive philosophy alerts us that we view the world through lenses and filters which are the product of position and experiences within it. Putting reflexivity into action means both unsettling those assumptions including by considering alternative perspectives. With that in mind other interpretations of the card and verse are very welcome today.
Three things cannot be
long hidden:
the sun, the moon,
and the truth.
- attrib Guatama Buddha
Saturday, 3 June 2017
Just be
Daily Draw: Spiritual Buddhist Cards, Just Be
With right hand raised to shoulder height, arm bent, palm of right hand facing outwards with fingers upright and closed this is figure adopts the Abhaya Mudra hand posture. The pose symbolises protection, peace and the dispelling of fear. A couple of weeks ago I may have overlooked this as 'just nice words'...
The verse on the back reads:
Do not dwell in the past,
do not dream
of the future,
concentrate the mind
on the present moment.
- Gautama Buddha
A good philosophy for the weekend. The orange robes, green splashes and twinkling white lights suggest joy, hope and simplicity may be found by just being in the moment.
With right hand raised to shoulder height, arm bent, palm of right hand facing outwards with fingers upright and closed this is figure adopts the Abhaya Mudra hand posture. The pose symbolises protection, peace and the dispelling of fear. A couple of weeks ago I may have overlooked this as 'just nice words'...The verse on the back reads:
Do not dwell in the past,
do not dream
of the future,
concentrate the mind
on the present moment.
- Gautama Buddha
A good philosophy for the weekend. The orange robes, green splashes and twinkling white lights suggest joy, hope and simplicity may be found by just being in the moment.
Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Learn to forget
Daily Draw: Spiritual Buddhist Cards, Learn and Forget.
Another beautiful card in one of my favourite colour combinations of aqua, blue and gold. There is more to this than delighting my visual senses though.
Scallop shells (seen at the base) were one of the earliest and most iconic badges worn by medieval pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela. More than just a physical journey this bivalve suggests something deeper. Scallops are filter feeders who clarify water thus they are sometimes referred to ecosystem engineers. As Greer writes they symbolise digesting psychological rubbish from the unconscious in a process of evolutionary growth. This fits with the amethyst tones (spirituality) and the verse on the back which reads:
To learn the Buddha Way
is to learn one's self.
To learn one's self
is to forget one's self.
-Dogen
This figure appears to be in that process. The shadow self (dark blue contours) is known and a radiant self has come to the fore with strobes of light emanating outwards. Still the figure continues to shed not shards of gold but soft flecks of gold leaf.
The sea is where I go to forget myself. Where is it for you?
Another beautiful card in one of my favourite colour combinations of aqua, blue and gold. There is more to this than delighting my visual senses though.
Scallop shells (seen at the base) were one of the earliest and most iconic badges worn by medieval pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela. More than just a physical journey this bivalve suggests something deeper. Scallops are filter feeders who clarify water thus they are sometimes referred to ecosystem engineers. As Greer writes they symbolise digesting psychological rubbish from the unconscious in a process of evolutionary growth. This fits with the amethyst tones (spirituality) and the verse on the back which reads: To learn the Buddha Way
is to learn one's self.
To learn one's self
is to forget one's self.
-Dogen
This figure appears to be in that process. The shadow self (dark blue contours) is known and a radiant self has come to the fore with strobes of light emanating outwards. Still the figure continues to shed not shards of gold but soft flecks of gold leaf.
The sea is where I go to forget myself. Where is it for you?
Monday, 29 May 2017
Heart
Daily Draw: Spiritual Buddhist Cards: Heart.
I am so pleased to have drawn this card today which says to me 'heart'. The verse on the back reads:
I'd like to divide
myself in order to see,
among these mountains,
each and every flower
of every cherry tree
-Saigyo
Fifty maybe sixty years ago someone took the decision to plant cherries all over the communal green space in this neighbourhood. Their stunning blossom canopies are one of the first joyful heralds of spring. When they fall they form the most beautiful pink carpet - always a 'sigh' moment for me.
I've tried to find out who it was and no luck but what a heartfelt legacy.
I am so pleased to have drawn this card today which says to me 'heart'. The verse on the back reads: I'd like to divide
myself in order to see,
among these mountains,
each and every flower
of every cherry tree
-Saigyo
Fifty maybe sixty years ago someone took the decision to plant cherries all over the communal green space in this neighbourhood. Their stunning blossom canopies are one of the first joyful heralds of spring. When they fall they form the most beautiful pink carpet - always a 'sigh' moment for me.
I've tried to find out who it was and no luck but what a heartfelt legacy.
Sunday, 28 May 2017
spiral
Daily Draw: Spiritual Buddhist Cards, Spiral.
I see the three figures in this card as one emerging, forming and firming spiritual being.
The first, somewhat effaced and abject, is flesh toned symbolising the vulnerable human condition. The next is mostly blue meaning truth, spirituality, calmness and peace but perhaps also depression and melancholy.
The third formation retains some of this but also in amongst the murky tones there is a small quantity of gold or wisdom.
The increasing turquoise in the upper right suggests an opening of communication between the heart and the spoken word which heals.
The reverse of the card affirms:
'We are not going
in circles,
we are going upwards.
The path is a spiral
we have already climbed
many steps.'
- Hermann Hesse
The logic of the spiral which encompasses, includes, develops, and yes-ands, of far greater use to us than the rock logic of 'I am right and you are wrong'.
I see the three figures in this card as one emerging, forming and firming spiritual being.
The first, somewhat effaced and abject, is flesh toned symbolising the vulnerable human condition. The next is mostly blue meaning truth, spirituality, calmness and peace but perhaps also depression and melancholy. The third formation retains some of this but also in amongst the murky tones there is a small quantity of gold or wisdom.
The increasing turquoise in the upper right suggests an opening of communication between the heart and the spoken word which heals.
The reverse of the card affirms:
'We are not going
in circles,
we are going upwards.
The path is a spiral
we have already climbed
many steps.'
- Hermann Hesse
The logic of the spiral which encompasses, includes, develops, and yes-ands, of far greater use to us than the rock logic of 'I am right and you are wrong'.
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