The light on the trees caught my eye. That beautiful winter-almost-spring sun, warming the world around us. That sunlight encouraged us to go out and enjoy the world. Everyone nodding and smiling at the others on the path we walked. It’s amazing what a little sun will do for your mood.
There is much that draws me to this image. The fine detail of the branches against the softly colorful sky. The lines of the trees, pulling me in and through the scene. The contrast of light and dark. The colors of green and blue and gold — my colors of late.
But I keep coming back to the light.
A light of strength. See how it shines on those branches? It highlights the thin yet supple, strong beauty of the tall trees.
A light of hope. Even if the sky is a bit dark in places, it is not gloomy. Far from it! While the sun is shining, there is hope.
A light of future. It is still winter, but spring is coming, and with it, the light. And while I will miss some of what this winter has brought me, the warm sun that will come more often brings something else beautiful and new.
It’s not long now. You can see it in the light.
I think I say this every month, but this month it was really hard to select my Photo-Heart Connection. By the numbers, I created much less in February than I did in January. By the quality though, I had several images I truly love with strong connections to my heart.
It was hard, too, because as I got it down to the last few images to decide between, the house went crazy. My son was getting ready for school and upset that there didn’t seem to be any food he liked. My husband was sitting there talking to me about one thing or another, tossing the ball to the dog who was scrabbling around on our hard wood floors to catch it. How can you hear your heart in all of that noise and distraction? You can’t. At least I couldn’t.
So I took a break from the process and came back to it again later, when the house was quiet. When I had the space to myself and peace to hear myself think, everything came together and I could finally feel the heart-connection in this image above all others. Just like many things in life, we often need time and space to clearly hear the messages of our heart. It we want to live a more heart-led life, then we need to intentionally create that peaceful space more often.
How about you? What time and space do you need to complete your Photo-Heart Connection practice? How does that translate into listening to your heart in other ways in your life? I’d love to hear, so share in the comments so we can all learn from each other.
You can link your Photo-Heart Connection for February in below, through February 7th.
Kat, I’ve been loving this new direction you’ve been going in. I have a thing for trees and your processing is just exquisite. It conveys so much emotion. I chose an image I took of the word fear this month because not only does it hold me back it seems to be something that holds other people hostage too.
Kat, I think at this time of year everyone’s heart is longing and looking for that light and warmth that hints of spring to come. February often seems like the longest month of the year!
As for time and space… I’m so blessed to have all of both that I need right now. The key, of course, is to use that abundance wisely! I also have the third essential I need, which is quiet. When I turn off the TV and other distractions, this place is utterly silent except for the breeze and birds. It just pours peace into my soul.
I can see why you are connected to that image, I am too, I feel led to walk right between those trees and yes I see the light, subtle but strong. It’s there.
And for me, I really have to have a quiet space with no distractions from TV, radio, (neighbor’s dogs barking)…I really do need a place that is so quiet that all I can hear is what my heart it saying.
The trees are speaking and speaking and speaking to you. I’m glad these have told you spring and light are on the way. I wonder what my trees say.
What do I need to do the PHC? It varies. I am used to a quiet house-the cat and dog are pretty silent and I listen to no music and rarely watch TV. It is my mood that determines what I select. I only need time to choose the image and then do the writing. If I can’t complete the process, when I go and start again, the image I select will undoubtedly change. I suppose that’s a sign of many images connecting to my heart. That must be a good thing. Maybe that’s what happened with you while the dog was sliding across the floor and your son was wishing for different food.
Thanks Kat. I always enjoy this monthly check in. Whether I realize it or not, it’s needed.
Such amazing silvery light. And I like the sense of yearning exhibited by the trees and your composition – they seem to be reaching for something.
I loe this image too, Kat. It has such beautiful colors and light. I think most of us agree that we need that quiet downtime to really reflect on our work. Pauses are so important, aren’t they?
I like the light I can see in your capture, Kat. We can feel the light coming into our lives more and more now the days are getting longer.
Finding time and space to complete the photo-heart connection… I don’t really plan anything. A photo sort of jumps out at me and I think of my relation to it and why this particular image speaks to me so much – and then the words come by connecting with what I see and how it works its way deeper into me.
It’s always so astonishing how something always comes without too much thinking. When the connection is there, things just seem to flow.
I love this exercise and am grateful that you allow us all to connect to ourselves and each other every month!
The light is beautiful – just like the impressionist painters who used to capture the light so well! I love this link up so much.
Rinda
Yes, heart-felt inspiration often starts amidst the chaos that is life, but then when you’ve had time to ruminate about all of it and you are finally ready to create…well, why do you think I do most of my “work” in the pre-dawn hours, before anyone is awake, and before I go to work?
Thanks Kat for your wisdom and the opportunity to share ours.
xoxo
Cindy
Beautiful image! I love the light that is bouncing off the tree in the foreground! I join the majority here, I need the quiet when I look through my previous months photos.
Beautiful photo and post. When I started to look through my photos I need silence and I want to be alone. Time is important too
There is something about those thin branches, like the snowdrops at the same time of year – so fragile and yet catching the light and so full of hope.