Stretching. Reaching. Celebrating.
Grounded in the earth, stretching for the sky. I see in this image a joyous uplift of arms, opening up in celebration, releasing and connecting with something beyond.
The thought of “reaching” has come up for me multiple times in the pieces I’ve created this month. But I don’t see this reaching as a yearning for something just beyond grasp, but a stretching to become part of something bigger than the individual. To acknowledge and celebrate something greater than the self. Heart open, receiving what the universe has to offer.
We did tree pose in yoga this month and it felt like this: Beautiful and solid, to be rooted into the ground, yet lifting and reaching to the sky. Flexible, moving, yet stable. It make me feel connected to the trees, the beauty and wisdom they hold, even more than before. It made me connect to the reaching of the branches I’ve seen in my art in all month.
So, the trees have a lesson for me, once again. My son asked me this month if I would stop with the trees, already.
Nope, I answer, they aren’t finished with me yet.
It could be a good long while.
Do you ever approach the Photo-Heart Connection with trepidation? Do you ever skip it, because you feel like you don’t have time, you don’t have images, you aren’t sure you want to hear what your heart has to say? Believe me, I understand. There are so many times I want to skip doing the Photo-Heart Connection for all of those reasons and more. But I can’t, because I’m the host, and so I do it. And you know what happens? Every time, no matter what fears crept up, what resistance I felt… I sit down, push all of that baggage aside, and find a message. Something I needed to hear. Sometimes encouraging, sometimes scary. Always honest and open and straight from the heart.
As we head into 2014, the third year of PHC, I encourage you to make a commitment to do the Photo-Heart Connection every month. There are seven days for the link up for a reason. You have flexibility to do this on your time. Clear out space in your schedule and your head and join in. And then, if you would like, share it with us here.
PS - Don't miss the giveaway I have going on now! Enter by Monday, February 3rd.
I love how you view it as a stretching towards something bigger rather than a yearning. I need to start looking at things in a new way.
I don’t always see it that way, I must admit. But this month I do, and it’s quite nice!
hi Kat…i am so happy that you are continuing the PHC this year…i find it so rewarding to find my photo~heart connection each month…it is a wonderful exercise! I have to admit that i fell off the band wagon last year…but it is a new year… I love your yearning to stretch out and receive all that life has to offer!
Welcome! So glad you are back! This practice is always here waiting, with no judgment as to how long its been. Enjoy the return.
Thanks, Kat, for the email you sent out about Photo-Heart Connection. I’m glad you are continuing it, and look forward to what you will be doing to enhance it in the future.
Thank you for being here Deb!
Yes, you need to stay with the trees until you no longer feel them. Then you will know it is time to move on.
“No longer feel them…” I love that description as the way to know when I am done. Thank you!
It’s always interesting to see where my Photo-Heart Connection will take me each month, and it’s usually someplace unexpected. Maybe that’s what’s so meaningful about it. It makes me think about things that otherwise I might not even consider. And that’s a good thing!
I agree, it’s a very good thing! I’m so glad you find the same in this practice.
I love your trees, and your interpretation of what this art means to you — beautifully expressed. The tree pose in yoga is one of my favorites, even though sometimes I’m a little shaky.
This monthly practice is such a good one, and I am grateful to you for making it possible for us to share with each other.
Namaste.
Namaste, Gina! I really wanted to end my blog post with that, as well. It seemed so perfect.
You know, I think the shakiness of tree pose is one of its beauties. It shows that we don’t have to be perfectly still to be stable and grounded. Just like the trees.
Your commitment to your trees is such an inspiration to me – how you keep finding not only creative inspiration but life wisdom from these images.
I can say the same about you, Brenda! What you are able to pull out of the simplest of lines in the architecture around us is astounding. I love that each of us has something unique to share and express, seeing the world around us in different ways.
I really love how you explain this reaching as being part of something larger. I am trying to think of myself this way. I’ve been reading spiritual books about love, our souls, and how we are not separate at all. Fascinating and helpful.
Wonderful. It’s so hard to hold this idea of interconnectedness in our heads, when we’ve seen the world for so long as discrete things. My artistic practice helps me to see how everything connects.
I love this link up – and the chance to look back, think and share photos that connect to my heart. And I’m with you – trees aren’t done with me yet either. I see and feel this reaching all around me with the exposed branches, and just love it! Very thought inspiring…this idea of stretching rather than yearning. I’m going to journal about that! Thanks so much for hosting this!
Thank you Adrienne! It’s wonderful to have you involved, and I so appreciate the opportunity to get to know you better through your ongoing participation.
Beautiful image and beautiful thoughts. I love your idea of stretching, reaching in a positive way, and those bare branches express it perfectly.
Thanks. It’s interesting how something can be turned positive with a simple shift in perspective, isn’t it?
Lovely to read the connection you feel to creating art with trees. I think that we are always where we’re meant to be as our learning and understanding unfolds – and then we move on… though sometimes we come back too, to redefine our roots in something that feels so much part of us.
I capture how you feel in those last two images, such lovely pastel colours and the solidity of a tree.
I’m glad I can convey how I feel through the images, Sandra. There is no better feedback to receive than that!
I can commit to a year now that I’m blogging again. I love this link up. Looking forward to connecting!
I am so glad to see you here! Thanks for making the commitment. It’s really to yourself, not to me or anyone else.
So wonderful to have you!
Beautiful image! I love the idea of stretching and reaching out to greater possibilities. I’m trying this year to be more brave and reach out. Photo-Heart Connection isn’t easy for me. I see things as they are…a root, a tree, a flower, a mushroom. It’s hard for me to see a deeper meaning that connects a photo to my heart. I like the monthly challenge of digging deeper into my photos and my heart, even if I struggle with it. Thanks for continuing this practice and link up! .
I’m so glad you make the effort to go beyond the surface interpretation, Cathy. I think it becomes easier with time, as we become more connected to our heart.
Love this link up, past month I didn´t join in and I missed it very much. Love your trees and the way they seem to hold important messages for you, I can relate to your words, there is a sense of balance that comes from being grounded and be able to lift and “fly”…
Thanks for hosting!
The beauty of this practice is that it is always there for you, when you want to come back to it. Great to have in you joining in for another month and another year!