Order in Disorder

Chaos is the score upon which reality is written.

HENRY MILLER

Click to see the music video: Order in Disorder

 

“Peace and the survival of life on earth as we know it are threatened by human activities which lack a commitment to humanitarian values.

Destruction of nature and nature resources results from ignorance, greed and lack of respect for the earth’s living things. This lack of respect extends even to earth’s human descendants, the future generations who will inherit a vastly degraded planet if world peace does not become a reality, and destruction of the natural environment continues at the present rate.

Our ancestors viewed the’ earth as rich and bountiful, which it is. Many people in the past also saw nature as inexhaustibly sustainable, which we now know is the case only if we care for it.

It is not difficult to forgive destruction in the past, which resulted from ignorance. Today, however, we have access to more information, and it is essential that we re-examine ethically what we have inherited, what we are responsible for, and what we will pass on to coming generations.

Clearly this is a pivotal generation. Global communication is possible.”

 ~Dalai Lama, An Ethical Approach to Environmental Protection

Fin

Happiness via discarding of negative energy

 

 

The whole concept of negative energy may be an alien thought to the steadfast realist.  Nevertheless, it does exist and it manifests in various forms that sometimes foster unhappy, unfulfilled or unsettled lives. 

This is not to say that one can shirk off all responsibility concerning one’s state of affairs.  One still needs to be held accountable for their actions, relationships, beliefs, thoughts and overall well being.

Meanwhile, through applications of the suggestions listed below, you can discard any unpleasantness and, ultimately improve your life’s sparkle:

 

Visual Stimulation:

 

An inspirational movie with a great narrative, paintings, photographs are one way to, through visual and vicarious experience, eliminate that pesky negativity.  And the common joy that is shared by many is the experience of a seaside excursion and summertime fun activities. To get you started on this, here’s a gallery of artworks set in a slideshow.

 

 

Click here to see: Summer Breeze and Puffed up Sleeves Slideshow

 

Music:

Who would dispute that Music is a required food for the soul. Depending on the melody, the mood is transformed into joy, excitement, somber reflections, peace or despair. As one has the choice however, chose carefully to attain happiness and to re-align good energies in yourself and your space.

Furthermore, if you can, play an instrument, sing a song or simply listen to an upbeat melody, you’ll be well on your way to fostering that upbeat energy. It’s a well documented fact that singing or listening to buoyant music promotes good health. It certainly can improve cognition, strengthen your lungs, lower blood pressure and improve posture. And the best part is, you can take it along with you wherever you go and whatever you do.

Foliage and Flora:

A leisurely walk in a forested region does wonders to ease those weighty concerns. The cacophony of Nature’s concert soothes all ears while bountiful oxygen fills the lungs and you are energized. 

Regarding indoor space plants are an essential garnish for establishing a positive space.  The soul is lightened by the confirmatory accoutrement of green hues of leaves and stems sometimes supporting colorful flowers. And that’s not all; plants also act as energy filters by cleaning and improving air quality. Moreover, it propels us to open curtains or blinds to invite the sunshine, the bright beneficial light, to energize and filter the room of unwanted negative energy.

 

Fragrance to delight the senses:

 

Here, a caution is warranted as we live in an age where some people have serious sensitivity to certain artificially made scents, sprays, mists, colognes or perfumes. One thing is for certain, bad odors and smells do beget negative moods; whereas memorable ones (like mom’s cooking or clean laundry) and pleasant, heavenly scents, uplift the spirits and make one function more effectively.

Bear in mind however, depending on the individual’s preference and life experience, certain aromas and ointments can either be pleasant or repulsive and detestable. Use common sense before striving to conceal those pesky, persistent odors while concurrently clearing away negative energies through the use of readily available store bought oils, sprays or catchy gismos. 

For the superstitious, there are also these options available:

Smudging:

 

Regardless of race and creed, a typical process for cleansing space of negative energy uses:  incense sticks, containers with lit incense within, lit candles, or bundled up dry herb leaves that are smoldering and releasing smoke.   The smoke is the key factor here, believed to be responsible for cleansing the adverse negative energies.  Carry the smoldering smoke throughout a home, business, special abode, holy building or sacred grounds. In cleansing your home, once you’ve reached the stopping point, then you can open a window to allow all the negativity to flow out.  

Use of Crystals:

 

Obsidian and black tourmaline are two of many crystals that are used in absorbing negativity. Place these in spaces requiring cleansing; in particular, around electronics that are known to foster disruptive, chaotic energy.

 

Below are some of my favorite paintings, enjoy! :

 

Alexander Gunin

Boys Playing at the Beach – circa 1885 – Albert Edelfelt -Finnish, 1854-1905

-brown beach

Caillebotte, Gustave – French, 1848-1894 – The Diver – 1877

Michael & Inessa Garmash

Duffy Sheridan

Evening at Padstow, Cornwall – 1890-Sir William Llewellyn -English, 1858-1941

Fernando Saenz Pedrosa

Summer-garden

Francesca Strino

Path to beach

Gleb Goloubetski

The Cliff

-Irving Willes

-Jim Daly

Joaquin Sorolla (1863-1923) Sotto il baldacchino (1910)

Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida (February 27, 1863 – August 10, 1923

Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida, (Spagna, 1863-1923) Dopo il bagno – After the Bath (1902)

John Lavery 1856-1941)

Lady by a Window 1918- Louis Ritman -American (1889–1963)

-Little Boat – 1884-Albert Edelfelt -Finnish, 1854-1905

milk-lake

-My garden in summertime

-Paul Hedley

quaiside-cafe-

Time with Dad by Steve Hanks

Vladimir Volegov – lovely morning

-Vladimir Volegov cooling her feet

Vladimir Volegov

Monika Luniak

 

Fin

 

Part of the Whole

 

 

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us “the universe,” a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest – a kind of optical illusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and affection for a few persons nearest to us.

“Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening the circle of understanding and compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

– Albert Einstein

 

 

Fini

Song of the Flower

(Poem by XXIII by Khalil Gibran)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I am a kind word uttered and repeated

By the voice of Nature;

I am a star fallen from the

Blue tent upon the green carpet.

I am the daughter of the elements

With whom Winter conceived;

To whom Spring gave birth; I was

Reared in the lap of Summer and I

Slept in the bed of Autumn.

                              

At dawn I unite with the breeze

To announce the coming of light;

At eventide I join the birds

In bidding the light farewell.

                              

The plains are decorated with

My beautiful colors, and the air

Is scented with my fragrance.

As I embrace Slumber the eyes of

Night watch over me, and as I

Awaken I stare at the sun, which is

The only eye of the day.

I drink dew for wine, and hearken to

The voices of the birds, and dance

To the rhythmic swaying of the grass.

I am the lover’s gift; I am the wedding wreath;

I am the memory of a moment of happiness;

I am the last gift of the living to the dead;

I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.

But I look up high to see only the light,

And never look down to see my shadow.

This is wisdom which man must learn.

Fini

Wired Up

 

Whether one lives in the city, suburbs, rural setting or way out in the wilderness, humans are willing supplicants to the new master of modern age.  We are all wired up; all wishing to connect to our fellow man or to the world via vi-fi, from sunrise to sundown, even when we are dining or asleep, we respond immediately to that urgent ringtone.

 This collective connection drives the engines of our modern economy and unites all in society. Solitude, personal space and privacy, whether good or bad, are a necessary sacrifice.  Some may argue that this is another form of addiction (addiction to information, work and trendiness), that society fosters rather than curbing its overuse. After all lot is riding on this socially and economically, to say nothing of its political efficacy and personal advantages in capturing and sharing experience, facts and more importantly, the unremitting truth.

And so, we would be hard pressed to find those few that have actually opted out from this modern day advantage. Whether this allows us a false sense of importance and creates new levels of stress in our down time its benefits far outweigh the harm.  For this reason mankind will stay wired up until the next invention.

 

 

Fini

Peek at Spring Chaos

 

Now that spring is here, as one strolls along the muddy paths, one may  cast their eyes on the newly awakened buds, catch a glimpse of a robin or two with their orange breasts perched on  a branch of a tree ( when they are not foraging for food on the ground that is,) singing the welcome songs of spring. 

 At this period the ground is usually littered with debris, an exposed leftover of a long winter’s tempestuous snowy episodes. But there is also beauty in this disorder that is oftentimes overlooked and rarely appreciated.  Soon this shambolic beauty will all too quickly be disguised however, with overzealous Mother Nature doing her spring-cleaning.  Incessant showers will foster growth that will carpet this disarray beneath various shades of green. For now, let us delight in this precursor of spring and the new shoots that peak their heads up amidst all this chaotic disarray.

 

 

 Each moment is a place you’ve never been.

(MARK STRAND)

 

 

Fini

Spring Thaw 2016

 

 

 

This year the everlasting winter bid its farewells, so we thought, on the Spring Equinox.  After the Easter celebrations many hastily rushed to put away the dreary, dark coloured, cumbersome and hefty winter coats along with the snow shovels and the winter tires. But the spring season has been anything but consistent.  Blame it on global warming if you please, for this year we are intermittently beset with snow and rainstorms with the polar vortex bringing on the arctic cold air as icing on the cake. Like a yo-yo, we are forced one day to dig out our heavy winter attire and don boots only the next day to search for waterproof footwear when heavy rains turn all paths into muddy sloshes or pools of water. Even the trees are confused; I fear for the buds that are faced with these inconsistent temperatures. Hopefully the volatility of the spring will soon settle in to more consistent temperatures so that we can fully enjoy this delightful season.

Below are some pictures of spring thaw:

 

Fini

 

Toronto Cityscapes

Cities have their own transcendent landscapes and the stories they tell are never the same.   Take a stroll with me through some streets:

Fini

Ode to Autumn

Ode to Autumn

“No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace

As I have seen in one Autumnal face.”

John Donne

Leaves

“How silently they tumble down

And come to rest upon the ground

To lay a carpet, rich and rare,

Beneath the trees without a care,

Content to sleep, their work well done,

Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly

Until they nearly reach the sky.

Twisting, turning through the air

Till all the trees stand stark and bare.

Exhausted, drop to earth below

To wait, like children, for the snow.”

(By Elsie N. Brady)

“O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn’s being.

Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead

Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing.”

By  Percy Bysshe Shelley

“November comes

And November goes,

With the last red berries

And the first white snows.

With night coming early,

And dawn coming late,

And ice in the bucket

And frost by the gate.

The fires burn

And the kettles sing,

And earth sinks to rest

Until next spring.”

 By Elizabeth Coatsworth

“Every season hath its pleasures;

Spring may boast her flowery prime,

Yet the vineyard’s ruby treasures

Brighten Autumn’s sob’rer time.”

Thomas Moore

“When the trees their summer splendor

Change to raiment red and gold,

When the summer moon turns mellow,

And the nights are getting cold;

When the squirrels hide their acorns,

And the woodchucks disappear;

Then we know that it is autumn,

Loveliest season of the year.”

By Carol L. Riser, Autumn

“Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love – that makes life and nature harmonise. The birds are consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the ground, that one’s very footsteps may not disturb the repose of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is a perfect anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.”

[Letter to Miss Eliot, Oct. 1, 1841]”

― George Eliot

“The morns are meeker than they were,

The nuts are getting brown;

The berry’s cheek is plumper,

The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,

The field a scarlet gown.

Lest I should be old-fashioned,

I’ll put a trinket on.”

By Emily Dickinson

 Lyric of Autumn

“There is music in the meadows, in the air —

Autumn is here;

Skies are gray, but hearts are mellow,

Leaves are crimson, brown, and yellow;

Pines are soughing, birches stir,

And the Gipsy trail is fresh beneath the fir.

There is rhythm in the woods, and in the fields,

Nature yields:

And the harvest voices crying,

Blend with Autumn zephyrs sighing;

Tone and color, frost and fire,

Wings the nocturne Nature plays upon her lyre.”

By William Stanley Braithwaite

“I like spring, but it is too young. I like summer, but it is too proud. So I like best of all autumn, because its tone is mellower, its colours are richer, and it is tinged with a little sorrow. Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor the power of summer, but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age. It knows the limitations of life and its content.”

Lin Yutang

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”

Albert Camus

“Come said the wind to

the leaves one day,

Come o’re the meadows

and we will play.

Put on your dresses

scarlet and gold,

For summer is gone

and the days grow cold.”

–  A Children’s Song of the 1880’s

AUTUMN WOODS

I like the woods

In autumn

When dry leaves hide the ground,

When the trees are bare

And the wind sweeps by

With a lonesome rushing sound.

I can rustle the leaves

In autumn

And I can make a bed

In the thick dry leaves

That have fallen

From the bare trees

Overhead.

By James S. Tippett

The Last Leaf

by Harry Behn

A few leaves stay for a while on the trees

After their color begins to turn,

And no other leaves seem as gold as these

Not even the ones our bonfires burn

With golden flames in piles on the ground.

A few leaves stay so long that I found

The one last leaf on a tree in the snow,

And when a galloping wind came round

The edge of our house and started to blow

Snow dust to sparkles floating free.

When the wind ran away, almost with me,

And sunshine settled quiet and cold.

There, like a bird, still on the tree

Was that lonesome leaf, no longer gold

But curly and brown and dry and old.

Autumn wins you best by this, its mute

Appeal to sympathy for its decay.

Robert Browning

The End

Nature’s Abstract Palette – 14

Nature’s Abstract Palette – 14

“At this very moment, the Earth is above you, below you, all around you, and even inside you. The Earth is everywhere. You may be used to thinking of the Earth as only the ground beneath your feet. But the water, the sea, the sky, and everything around us comes from the Earth. Everything outside us and everything inside us comes from the Earth. We often forget that the planet we are living on has given us all the elements that make up our bodies. The water in our flesh, our bones, and all the microscopic cells inside our bodies all come from the Earth and are part of the Earth. The Earth is not just the environment we live in. We are the Earth and we are always carrying her within us.

Realizing this, we can see that the Earth is truly alive. We are a living, breathing manifestation of this beautiful and generous planet. Knowing this, we can begin to transform our relationship to the Earth. We can begin to walk differently and to care for her differently. We will fall completely in love with the Earth. When we are in love with someone or something, there is no separation between ourselves and the person or thing we love. We do whatever we can for them and this brings us great joy and nourishment. That is the relationship each of us can have with the Earth. That is the relationship each of us must have with the Earth if the Earth is to survive, and if we are to survive as well.”

 ~Thich Nhat Hanh, Love Letter To The Earth

Have a good Day