Desert Interlude – A Winter Experience in Introspection

February 16, 2014 by 4 Comments
Tree Silhouettes

Trees in Blizzard © 2014 Bo Mackison

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” ~ C.G. Jung

There are lessons to be learned in the depths of white winter, when vision is blinded and the fierce winds chill even the deepest, innermost recesses. When even heart and soul shiver, and seek warmth by looking inside.

There is a certain strength that is uncovered when all aspects of the future are clouded, dressed in a white blizzard of nothingness, when only the shrouded present exists, tense with uncertainly and questions.

There is peace to be sought, a search undertaken within. In quiet. In reflection. In a surround of self acceptance and love.

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Snowflakes

December 21, 2012 by 6 Comments
Blizzard 2012

Snow Trees © 2012 Bo Mackison

The snow falls, each flake in its appropriate place. ~ Zen Saying

I mostly stayed indoors while the snowstorm swirled about, while each snowflake fell in its appropriate place. I had a second day of rest and quiet, while outside, workers put forth their best efforts to push all those snowflakes into human-convenient places.

None of the snowflakes cared about flight schedules or airport closings, nor about plans for holiday travel and seasonal gatherings. The snowflakes each fell in their appropriate places. I watched millions of flakes float from the sky, then clump together until the earth was deeply covered.

This morning the sun rose, shining brightly on all those appropriately placed snowflakes. They shimmered, sparkled, I was an audience of one, watching a light-dance upon the white. Quite the performance, in my backyard.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and the owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She no longer is watching the weather reports nor the flight delay lists. She is watching the snowflakes shimmer in their appropriate places.

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Backyard Blizzard

December 20, 2012 by 12 Comments
Blizzard 2012

Backyard Blizzard © 2012 Bo Mackison

Madison hasn’t had much snow these past two months, but we appear to be making it up in hasty fashion. A winter’s storm/blizzard/thundersnow is in full blast and I am appreciative of the beautiful white coating on the natural world.We’ve got eight inches on the ground, maybe another eight inches more to fall.

I am appreciative of the moisture from the heavens that is now upon the earth, soon to melt into the earth and increase our low water table.

I am appreciative of my warm home, a furnace that is kicking on and off with regularity, the bowl of beef barley soup I just ate for lunch, warm clothes, warm and cozy everything.

Blizzard 2012

Snow Laden Pine Trees © 2012 Bo Mackison

I am appreciative that the airlines have cancelled all the flights from New York City to my part of the Midwest due to extremely bad weather and flight conditions, and that the safety of all passengers and crew completely outweighs the fact that my two daughters are in New York City as I write. One had a flight to Madison today, the other has a flight tomorrow morning. The planned Christmas with all of my children is now unlikely.

Still, the snow is lovely to behold. Blustery, but beautiful. And we are all safe and healthy.

I’m thinking that I haven’t created a snow angel in several decades, and maybe today is the day to resurrect that fun, somewhat cold, experience. Hmm…

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and the owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She is spending the holidays in Madison, and watching the weather reports in Tucson and New York City.

 

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