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Desert Labyrinth

February 6, 2013 by 9 Comments
Desert Labyrinth

Desert Labyrinth ©2013 Bo Mackison

Labyrinth, A Journey

I walk in circles, around and back, around and forth.

There is a beginning, a middle, an end.

Guided by lines of crooked rocks
and an invisible hand on my shoulder,
subtle pressure encouraging me forward.

Take one more step,
Make one more turn,
Move into the center.

And there I stand immobile, my breath fragmented.

The labyrinth’s center, a large pock-marked rock
laden with mementos and memento mori —
small stones, rings and bracelets, a dog tag, holy cards.

Center – the farthest distance from beginning or end.

And so I move on.
No longer walking a slow meditative pace.

I am anxious to leave, ready to bolt, disappear,
still
I do not disregard the worn path,
the unspoken rule of the labyrinth.

I stumble to its exit, blinded, my feet guided by the rocky lines,
and the labyrinth expels me from its sacred interior
into the other world.

The ghost keeps vigil, its eyes the eyes of the cactus wren
perched on the spire of a tree cholla.
Its whisper, low and moaning, travels in the arroyo
carried on swirling winds.

—————

Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She explores creative photography. poetry, and emotion in a new series featuring desert lines.

Filed Under: Art of Healing, Photography Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
About Bo Mackison

I'm a photographer, book-artist, traveler, naturalist, and creator of the Contemplative Creatives Journey, An Online Workshop and Community and Desert Wisdom Cards and Workshops. Though often not well known, I find the desert a welcoming place - a healing space. Its mysteries and gifts transformed me several years ago. Since that first encounter, I return again and again to fill my well in what most people think of as a desolate region. I'd love to share my desert discoveries and wisdom with you. Please subscribe to receive my five part mini email course The Gifts of the Desert. It's my gift to you.

Comments

  1. Gandalf says
    February 6, 2013 at 9:04 pm

    Wonderful image and poem.

    Reply
  2. Marcie says
    February 7, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    This is so beautiful. Such wonderful metaphors here. I can see myself caught up in that exact same labyrinth!!!

    Reply
  3. Anita Bower says
    February 7, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    Fantastic composition and light in this image.

    Reply
    • Bo Mackison says
      February 10, 2013 at 7:24 am

      This photo begged to be treated in stark contrasts — partly because of the emotional overtones I felt while visiting the site. Do you ever process a photo to add to the mood you experienced when taking the shot? It’s an interesting process.

      Reply
  4. Debi says
    February 8, 2013 at 6:16 am

    Beautiful image and poem, Bo. I would love to visit that labyrinth. The imagery in my head from your poem remains with me.

    Reply
    • Bo Mackison says
      February 10, 2013 at 7:22 am

      It’s an amazing site — the labyrinth, a wash circling around its edge, ancient petroglyphs carved in nearly rocks, and the mighty saguaros on guard. A reflective, mystical place.

      Reply
  5. Molly says
    March 11, 2013 at 4:26 pm

    Simply beautiful, words and image.

    Reply

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