<![CDATA[LYNDAJWATSON - Lynda J Watson Blog]]>

<![CDATA[LYNDAJWATSON - Lynda J Watson Blog]]>Sun, 05 May 2024 22:35:16 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Twelve Feet Away]]>Fri, 01 Mar 2024 16:35:04 GMThttp://lyndajwatson.ca/lyndajwatsonblog/twelve-feet-away

All of her life, twelve feet always seemed like a comfortable distance for her.

As a baby and toddler her mother said she was not a cuddler. A content child but not one to be held a lot.

In school she had a few close friends but more often than not she could be found writing and sketching out in nature on her own. It’s not that she wasn’t sociable, she was and she was a happy child. She simply like to have her own space and in general that space was a minimum of twelve feet away from other people. For context, that is about 3/10’s as long as a Brachiosaurus was tall or 9.5 times as long as a bowling pin is high.

Into her teenage years she was faced, more and more, with spaces where that twelve-foot zone was challenged. In a car, on a bus, in a stadium and especially on an airplane. She had to be creative with ways to cope in those situations where she had no choice. And was always relieved when that twelve foot space was once again free of other beings.

Around the time she turned 16 her family moved to the country. They weren’t too far from the city and on pleasant days she could bike to and from school. She found these rides so pleasant and relaxing. In her moments with nature, life was good. On her rides she passed a quiet, beautifully kept, country property. The place was obviously well loved and the owners were proud to keep it so well coiffed. Stunning gardens, a lovely tree lined drive and a few healthy well-groomed horses enjoying the freedom to roam large paddocks that looked to extend up into the hills behind the barn. The fence line was in perfect repair and she could see that the horses had plenty of space to wander yet were kept safe by the strong boundary surrounding their home. Some days on her way back from school she would hop off her bike and plant herself under one of the giant oak trees that sat between the fence and the road. She felt safe there yet also respectful of the animals. They could see each other but not invade the space that each needed. The trees must have been over 100 years old and felt like sentinels watching over her. Most times she would just sit and watch the horses graze or sleep in the warm sun. Now and then they would kick up their heels in joy and sometimes they weren’t even in the field where she could see them. If she looked way up in the hills behind the barn, she could see tiny moving specks that she figured were the horses happily grazing away from anyone. Those moments, watching the horses, way up in the hills in particular, had a mysterious effect on her. She couldn’t describe the feeling. It was new to her but it was familiar in a way.

One day she found herself drifting off leaning against a tree while watching the horses in the front paddock. She had been sketching the horses in her journal. She was gently awakened when she heard a hello from behind her. It was the owner of the property who had stopped her truck alongside the road. Rolling the window down an older woman with beautiful long grey hair and a kind face leaned out and said hi. She introduced herself and mentioned she had seen her happily watching the horses on a few occasions. The girl returned the hello and started to gather her things. The woman said she was welcome to sit out there anytime she wanted. She wasn’t bothering anyone and it was wonderful that someone was enjoying the horses. Then came an offer that had her more than excited. The older woman asked if she and her mother would like to come over on the weekend and meet the horses up close? Really? That would be incredible. She was told to leave an answer in the mailbox as to when they would be over. The whole weekend was available as they were doing their mid summer cleaning around the yard this weekend. The girl looked around at the immaculate property and for a moment wondered what needed to be cleaned. The owner sensed her query and said: “It doesn’t look this good all by itself.” Good point, she thought! “I would love to come and visit. I will ask my mother and leave you a note in your mailbox this week. Thank you so much for your kindness.” And with that they said their goodbyes and the owner drove off. It was time to get home. She could hardly wait to tell her mother of what had transpired and relay the invitation to her. She had butterflies already knowing she was going to be able to meet the horses that she had never been up close to before yet felt so connected to.

Of course, her mother said yes and was equally excited. She had been quite the horse person in her younger years but had given it up when family came along. Time had not given her the opportunity to introduce her daughter to the one thing that gave her comfort and solace growing up. What a wonderful opportunity and a kind gesture. Together they decided that 1pm on Saturday would work best for them. A note was left in the mailbox and a phone number included if that time was not convenient. No word back all week had her up at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning. She was bubbling with excitement to finally meet the animals that she had been sketching and visiting from afar for some weeks now.

She and her mother drove in promptly at 1pm to the most beautiful farm her mother had ever seen. Her daughter had not stopped taking about all of the things she had seen there over the past while. Be it the horses up on the hill, to the charming flower boxes on the barn windows or the spectacular gardens that she could only see from afar. She could only imagine what it looked and felt like when you were standing amongst it all. Her mother had not seen her this excited in some time to actually be going to see people although she knew it wasn’t necessarily the people she was coming to see. The nature and the horses would be closer to the truth.

They were met outside by the owner that had offered the visit. A huge smile and an offer of her name and a hand to shake was made to her mother. The owner noticed that her new young friend had positioned herself slightly behind her mother. She sensed that a handshake was not in order for her and offered a respectful hello and welcome to the farm. Her young guest’s eyes kept focusing on the paddock and she could see how anxious she was to meet her new four-legged friends. Before that an offering was brought out. The girl had done a sketch for the owner of the two horses in the field quietly sleeping under the maple tree. The owner was quite taken back. It truly was beautiful. She had captured the essence of the animals. It was like she knew their personalities without having ever met them up close. Kind appreciation was exchanged for the gift and she decided to put it safely in the house before taking her anxious guests out to the field.

Once she returned, they were off. They went through the gate into the fields she had only seen from the roadside. When they stopped just inside the field the woman noticed the girl seemed puzzled and a tinge disappointed. Where were the horses? Ah, perhaps up in the hills. She had thought the horses might have sensed she was going to be there and would be standing waiting for her. The owner saw and felt her concern and quickly stated that they had been up in the hills for a few days. She explained that the horses were free to roam as they wished. They had all they needed down here in the paddocks and up in the hills. They were safe in fully fenced areas, had plenty of water wherever they went and well, more than enough grass to feed a herd of horses. Perhaps if they all closed their eyes and thought about the horses coming to meet them, they might just pick up on that and make their way down. So, they did. A few deep breaths and the three of them stood quietly imagining the horses making there way to the main paddock where they were standing. An invitation of sorts. After a few minutes of quiet contemplation, she heard and felt a slow beating. She thought it was her heart in excitement. But it got louder and faster. A gentle nudge from her mother had her opening her eyes to see her two beautiful friends flying down the hill. Any faster and they might just sprout wings and take to the skies. They had good brakes and came to a slow stop about a hundred yards away.

The girl and her mother are taken by the beauty but also soft energy of the horses. They seem to have this almost indescribable look in their eyes. The daughter wondered what it was but the mother had seen it before. She had recognized it in the wild herds she had visited back in the day. Herds untouched or only gently touched by humans. It was a look of trust, of freedom from fear. It was a look not often seen in domestic herds. She wanted to know more about this herd that seemed so free yet contained and contentedly connected to their human.

The horses made their way over to the woman that owned the farm. She offered no treats, just a tender hand held out for them to choose if they wished a nuzzle or connection in some way. Both mother and daughter noticed that the woman did not reach out to the horses. She simply presented her hand to the two horses. They, of course, nestled into her presence as though she was one of the herd. It was beautiful to watch and they both felt tears well up in their eyes.

After some time, the horses turned to look at mom and daughter who were standing beside each other a short distance away. They had been both been mesmerized by the interaction with the woman and the horses. Perhaps it was at exactly the same time that they both thought they would be interested in connecting with the horses themselves. Interestingly at exactly that moment both horses turned in their direction. They moved a few steps towards them then stopped. Watching intently but not coming closer.

The woman suggested they stand quietly like when they silently called the horses over at the beginning. She led them through some deep breathing with their eyes closed. Although both mom and daughter snuck a peek now and then. The horses still looking straight at them but not coming closer. The woman asked them to feel their feet on the ground and concentrate on love in their hearts. She suggested they put their hand over their hearts and think of the love that they had as mother and daughter. This went on for some time it seemed although it really was only a few minutes, five at the most.

When the girl opened her eyes, she saw that the horses hadn’t moved forward but they had lowered their heads like they were almost asleep but were looking directly at her. It was like they had been doing the breath work as well. That didn’t make sense to her, they were horses. How could they understand their human’s words?
The mother was thinking the same thing and asked why, it seemed, they had been breathing with us. The woman explained about them being able to read our energy. “The vibrations we put forward into their environment, they read those and make decisions based on those. So, when we all went into a state of calm and concentrated on that feeling of being grounded and love then they felt safe and wanted to join us. We are all a little herd out here. What we do affects them and visa versa.”

The girl was about to ask the owner why they wouldn’t come over to her but her mother interrupted with a quiet loving chuckle. A sortof aha moment of recognition chuckle. I get it kinda thing.

She looked at the woman to gently say, I got this. Then turned back to her daughter and asked her what distance they were from her. The daughter looked and then had the same moment of realization. The were approximately twelve feet away. They had stopped exactly where her comfortable personal space started. She knew how to measure that distance with her eye and her body quite naturally. It was her space, her comfort. But she didn’t understand, here she wanted the horses to come closer. How did they know?

This was a question for the woman that knew these horses so well. Both mother and daughter opened their mouths at the same time but just before the words came out both horses took a step closer.

It was the woman’s turn to softly chuckle. She knew what was going on as she had seen it time and time again with others that came to experience the magic of connection with horses. She softly explained it as an invitation. She also knew that the horses had come down to see the girl and it was her that had made said invitation. In her words an invitation is an opening of the heart towards something. A welcoming with an energetic statement of: I would love to meet you if that is your choice. The words didn’t need to be said. But there could be no strings attached, no treats to be had and no reaching out to touch. You make the invitation and then offer the space for it to happen if the other chooses to accept it. And you don’t attach yourself to the choice they make.

The girl understood. She asked about the touch part though. The woman explained that these horses were used to initiating touch if they wished or needed it, for a scratch or a gentle, soothing contact but they did not pat or touch the horses first. Unless, of course, there was an immediate need such as something for their health or safety. The horses would let her know if they wished touch. Although this was a little hard for the girl to grasp, she did understand in the heart. She turned her attention back to the horses who were still intently watching her and hadn’t moved a muscle. She wanted to continue to offer the invitation to connect with the horses. She wanted to feel what it was like to invite them into her space.

The woman offered a nod to the mother in suggestion that she come and stand with her to let the girl have this experience. The mother slowly stepped back and made her way to the woman’s side. They both would watch the magic unfold while supporting the girl in her courageous invitation.

The woman asked that the girl go back to the breathing they did before. Focusing on grounding and the love in her heart. She also suggested she offer an invitation from her heart, not with words, just with thought and feeling. The girl closed her eyes to focus on it all. Not moving a muscle she didn’t think about the horses, she thought about her breath, her feet on the ground and her invitation from the heart. She felt she had her eyes closed for some time. When she did open them, she was quite amazed. The horses had moved much closer. One horse had taken a few steps closer and the other was about three feet away from her. She didn’t know what to do. Her arms wanted to reach out and wrap around the horse’s neck but she quickly remembered that was one of the guidelines with these horses. She put her hands behind her back to make sure they stayed put. Tears welled up in her eyes as the horse extended its nose closer to her. It was strange not to reach out and touch but she had remembered what the woman had said. They feel and read your energy. They are feeling her invitation. No words needed to be said and no touch needed to be extended.

The woman very quietly asked her how she was feeling. She answered that she was feeling wonderful but a bit strange. Not a lot of humans and never a horse have gotten this close to her. Although she knew she liked to be on her own, she had often thought that something was wrong with her that she didn’t like the company of others. But this felt so comforting to have the horses standing there. Neither had to do anything or be anything and both could leave at anytime. And the other horse was making its own choice to not come as close. She saw her own choices within these two horses. She saw her story amidst theirs.

The mother was quietly weeping seeing her daughter come to such revelations amidst these two horses. And it seemed they weren’t doing anything at all, yet so much was happening at the moment.

The woman told the girl to take as much time as she wanted with the small herd. The girl smiled and realized the only thing she wanted to do is just stay there, in that moment. So, she did. She stood there and offered both horses love from her heart. The invitation was no longer needed because she saw and honoured any choice they made. Even if that choice was to walk away and head back to eating grass. She understood more now about her choices and letting someone close or not, the choice was always hers and nothing was wrong with either decision. If she wanted to invite someone into her comfort space then she had some tools to handle it with her breathing, grounding and offering love. Like the horses she could step away at anytime as well.

She glanced over at her mother, who had somewhat composed herself by then, and smiled. She was grateful for how her family had always supported who she was and how she felt. Even with that love and support there was a piece of her that had felt alone. With the horses she didn’t feel alone, she felt comfort. They had entered her space with so much respect and gentleness. They had shifted something inside of her. There might be some tough situations where she didn’t feel comfortable but she knew she had choice. She could start to invite humans in just like she had with the horses and see what that felt like. With that understanding she closed her eyes one more time to simply feel the moment. She took a deep breath, imagined her feet on the ground and so much love radiating from her heart. Then she felt something touch her heart. She startled a bit but didn’t move. She opened one eye very slowly and there it was. The horse that had been standing the furthest away had ever so softly come over and placed it’s nuzzle right on her heart. There were no words for what she felt in that moment and that was good because she couldn’t speak. Nothing would have been able to get past that lump in her throat. But maybe the tears that were pouring out of her eyes had words in them. Words of love and appreciation streaming down her cheeks, a few landing on the horse’s nose to be sure they understand the magnitude of her gratitude of their presence. She was able to whisper an ever so faint, thank you. From twelve feet to zero, she knew in that moment her life had changed.

And with that both horses looked directly at her, held her gaze for just a moment, and walked away. Back up the hill and back to their field of lush green grass.

PC: Michelle Stewart

]]><![CDATA[WHO I AM WITH HORSES]]>Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:26:54 GMThttp://lyndajwatson.ca/lyndajwatsonblog/who-i-am-with-horses

I have been feeling the need to write something in regard to who I am with horses. How I walk with them. You will see I, my, and me quite a bit here as this is my journey, no one else’s. I do my best to come to my relationships with all, from the paradigm of living such as that of a herd of horses. I continue to learn in that space, the non-judgment, honesty, authenticity, and clarity that are their daily characteristics. I work on them, yet in no way am I versed in them like a horse. But I am trying.

My journey with them has been, in a word, about surrender.

I stepped off their backs when I turned 50. My last ride was on the beach in Bermuda along the white sand amidst the black rocks in a secluded cove under the warm sun. I couldn’t have asked for a better farewell from that perspective.

Was it an awakening that caused me to change my path? Perhaps. I think it was a need to see the whole world from a different point of view, both internally and externally. Deciding to walk beside instead of having them carry me was not a weakness (I had spent many years thinking it would be). It is something I chose to do as I felt it was something that needed to be done to change my relationship with the horse.

On a personal level, I went from fight to flow.

I see this as a personal course of reflection in how we relate to the horse as a direct echo of how we relate to and treat each other. Do I approach my relationship with the horse as suppression and fear-based? It did me well to really look at that. What words do we use when we speak about our relationship with the horse? Use, work, groom, power, dominance, all with our own goals in mind. In a trauma-filled world, we see these words used again and again to describe human-to-human relationships. These are all words and concepts that requested me to delve deeper into their use and their meaning and actions with horses, humans, and all of nature. From fight to flow. From conflict to calm. From dominance to choice.

A dominant position. Someone sitting on you is like someone standing over you in the non-horse world. Look to the corporate world and we know that standing while others are sitting is a power position. Look to the world of abuse and yet again a powerful position. In our exercises with energy, the difference between talking to someone from a position directly in front to offering to walk beside them creates a completely different feeling and flow.

I know some folks who are tending to their relationship with the horse and riding from a very tender heart-based place and I can only hope, more and more, that we see those ways of being. With flow, calm, and choice. We are the predator and they are the prey. That relates within the human world as well. Leadership is such a buzzword in our society. In fact, my magazine is entitled: Equine Leadership. That relates to them leading us. But I digress. Who teaches relationship? Oh, the horses do. When we enter their world with choice, calm and flow we can interact gently as predator and prey. I think the best use of the word leadership is in the phrase: self leadership.

I have learned to go to the field intenionless (I know, not a word). With no goal in mind but to remain open to the present moment. I enter the field not to train, change, or master anything. I simply ask to enter their environment, listen with all of my heart, and most often, sit in stillness in their presence. From that, well life just flows. I have found more of myself in the field than anywhere else.

I stepped off their backs because I had been nudged by my heart to do so for decades. It took that long to break through my ego armor. I found myself personally evolving when I stepped off their backs and maybe that evolution took exactly the number of years it needed to. I started to see the flow of life in and around me. We all take our own path of personal evolution. And being more like a horse as I get older, I do my best to judge no one for the path they are on. Although, admittedly, sometimes it is not easy to take that vantage point.

For each of us, it comes in our own time and we can write all these things we want and attest to inspire others but we each have to make our own choice of the path we take with the horse, with the animals, and, nature. It is all tied together. It's all a reflection of everything we do with every person, place, and being. And every relationship we have can be mirrored in the relationship we have with the horse and the herd.

If it becomes a fight instead of a flow then I try to step out of that moment and look at it through the eyes of the horse. Do I like what I am doing or not? How does it feel in my body? How would the horses deal with this, or would they even have to in their world? Then I get to decide if I wish to change it. But like the horses demonstrate in their herd communication, it took honesty with myself. And it does every day. What resonates, what doesn’t, what choice will I make?

This is me; this is who I am and why I do what I do? I say this because it wishes to be said from my heart. My space, my time, my life. When I find the best me then I am a more loving member of the collective, of the human herd.

Thank you for reading and thank you for listening.
Lynda J Watson

]]><![CDATA[Uncovering The Sacred]]>Sun, 05 Nov 2023 15:27:05 GMThttp://lyndajwatson.ca/lyndajwatsonblog/uncovering-the-sacredUncovering the Sacred, is my life statement and I am thrilled to share it with you. It is the result of my journey with Michelle Stewart of Detail Photography and her Therapeutic Photography program. (See below for more information on Michelle's work.)

The Invitation
A Facebook friend was sharing some most amazing photos and had a connection to the horses. As with many FB friends we had never met but had multiple similar shared experiences. My intuition told me to ask if she would like to connect for a coffee. We lived close to each other. So, I did and we did. Much resonated and after learning about the idea of therapeutic photography a seed was planted. And that seed continued to grow, and grew to the point where it pushed and pushed at the soil along my path. I questioned my inner knowing but it had already made up its mind and heart to share in this offering. I asked and said yes to what was to be and still is a soul-opening, heart expanding and body awakening experience.

The Question
What Am I Uncovering?

First, I had to do a bit of soul searching. Asking some deep pondering questions to get to the essence of what I wanted to come across in the portraits. What do I love doing and lose myself when doing it?
The other day I was asked to host ceremony with the horses and a family. It was beautiful and I was authentic. I could feel myself shining. I let my heart speak and could hear myself and I loved her. It is moments like this and shared times with my dogs and the horses where I lose myself. It is also when I write and share myself with others on my own terms. I am a wisdom sharer. That is the woman I want to uncover. In nature, with my animals on my own terms, fully sacred. Stepping into the next stage of my life honouring who I am.

I am not changing who I am, I am transforming how I express who I am.

The vision. My land. Where I will live, share, hold ceremony for myself, those close to me and those that wish to share the land and energy of it with me. This is home! In writing this it feels like I want to be lost in or surrender to myself! That voice within is whispering a few more instructions at the moment that I am building up the courage to put in place. All will happen at the right and ready time. And that is what I want to come across in a portrait. No small feat for sure.

The Armour
Who am I? I am more than one outfit.

What is armour? To protect and define. What do I wear on the outside? What does one wear to a photo shoot that is being done to define them in images? To show their essence.
Looking through all of my outfits I realized that I am all of those outfits. Depending on the circumstance. Right time, right place. It didn’t matter what I wore really. I came to this realization as I went through this part of the process. For this whole thing is a process. Not just a snap-click moment. It was a process, meant to dig down deep and extract YOU. Although, I really like what I chose to wear. It was my essence. It represented me well. It was fun and vibrant and that is me. Really though, you could be wearing anything (or nothing). If you show up in your own skin you are exactly who are meant to be.

The Moments Captured
Gracious – Showing up as me

It didn’t matter what I was wearing. I showed up as me. I relaxed into the moment with the horses and nature and it felt good and right. Free, not even knowing camera was there. I found myself dancing like I did when I was a child. I found myself getting clarity on things that eluded me for a long time. I found myself having fun and laughing. I found myself going deep within to spend moments with the depths of my soul.

I realized I was not trying to change who I am. I just wanted to transform what I am doing to express that. And that was a massive realization.

Gracious is a deeply meaningful word for me. Someone told me once that my father was a gracious man. He was 94. That in itself is a legacy. What will my legacy be?

The Development
Dirt in my nails

When I got home, I realized I had dirt under my nails. That was a special moment for me. Seems odd, doesn’t it? Let me explain. When I left my farm of 20years what I wanted most was to have clean fingernails. After years of dirt, albeit wonderful dirt, I wanted a chance to experience having proper feminine nails. Not too much to ask really. And I got them.
But when I got home after this photo session my nails were just like they had been before. Time spent with the horses in close reflective contact had brought me full circle. And it felt good and right. Twenty years later I was back where I wanted to be. Time away was necessary but this clue brought me right back to those shared moments with the horses and nature. Settled, in my heart!

The Revelations
What is constant? What changes?

I received the photos the other day. And, to be brutally honest and human, I looked at them with judgement. Not of the photos, they're amazing. But of myself. My hair, my choice of armour, my this, my that. But I stayed with them. I kept going back to spend time with them and something wonderful happened. I started to see something else. I saw a woman and a horse (or 2) having a heart conversation. A photo doesn’t’ speak on the surface. It speaks to the heart. It calls to the soul.

As I spend more and more time with the photos that captured such magic I see an unbreakable connection that spans time and space. I see a soul that is fully at peace and has regained clarity of vision. I see hearts speaking to each other with a familiarity of knowing that has been there for eons. Individuals recognizing the collective. The revelations go beyond species and beyond earthly human needs. There is pure energy from 2 beings made of love melding into one.

What is constant? Who I am is constant. What changes? How I express who I am if I so wish.

Side revelation: Don’t ever, ever put your projections onto a photographer. Yes, you are human and you will look at it with your head to start but stay there. Take the time to truly see what is there. Your head will rarely see the beautiful connection and non-verbal communication in a photograph. That is the heart and soul that see those. A true and honest photo is just that. True and honest. Get past the judgement, stay with the image long enough to see the true you. Look at a photo with your heart. That is where you will find the deepest wisdom.

The Lasting Magic
Lost and Found

Next day, I was booked to host ceremony with horses again. I wore my red skirt. I showed up in all my graciousness. I showed up as me. It was glorious and I totally lost myself. And in losing myself I found myself. How can a photo capture something lost? If you see it, it is no longer lost. Keep losing yourself and you will find more and more of yourself. And that is truly magical.

PART 2
The Next Challenge
Examining the Feel

On to another session where I don’t have my dogs and the horses. Where I am me, defined and undefined. What do I wear to this one? We are going to a place that was a favourite space for my father. A university professor that loved ‘field trips’ right up until the end of his 94-year long life. This will be a place of memories, of wisdom and of love. What does one wear to that? It doesn’t really matter. I ask myself, am I trying to ‘look good’ for the camera? What would I have worn to one of those field trips? It doesn’t matter, I realize. I will wear his favourite vest, as it always feels like a warm supporting hug when I wear it and that is the memory I want to feel there. We would go there and he would tell us about the rocks and wildlife there including the tiny wildlife. We would mostly learn about the fossils and the ancient history. So, field trip attire it is. That was an easy one. It’s about the feel not the ‘look’. Perhaps amongst those fossils and wrapped in a hug I will find some ancient wisdom from those in the past to guide me into my future. All in the present moment and captured in a timeless image.

The Uncovering
Unravelling the Unknown or the Known

What is now uncovered for me to tend to, care for and harvest? To be honest, I am having a hard time articulating this one. It is said that everything you need to know is inside of you. My father always said, from his years as a biologist, ‘there is a world at your feet’. As a child it meant look down at the ponds and puddles for there is a whole ecosystem there for you to see and learn about. As I grew older this phrase took on a whole new meaning. As I look at these beautiful photos, taken in a place that was so familiar to my father, and think there might be someone (magically) photo bombing them with signs of wisdom. Message: to look at the world at my feet and inside of me. That is all I need. What I need to know is right here. Hmmm, seems I have articulated it. Perhaps the world I have been looking for is right at my feet and looking back at me in the moments captured.

The Sacred
The Jewel of Who I Am

Spending time with the essence of these shots is what I have been doing and what I will continue to do for a long time. I have added some prints of them to my ever evolving ‘vision’ board. As I sat with it one day, I realized something was missing with the board. ME! I have had this framed board for many years and it evolves as I am drawn to make changes in my reality. I felt a bit silly when I looked at it and looked at these photos that truly captured who I am. It was a ‘lite bulb’ moment. I wasn’t on my board. MY BOARD and I was missing. I rectified that immediately and now I see who I am in that vision. I see what I am embracing. I see what I am sharing. The image of me holding that small piece of moss in my hands was the catalyst to understand what I am sharing and offering this world. I see the essence of how I am to do that.

The Shift
Uncovering the Sacred

Accessing courage to envision the future.
Life ebbs and flows between analysis, assimilation and action. Each step is somewhere along the continuum. Each photo reveals my location between ebb and flow. I was looking for an ending. An answer. But this journey has helped me realize I’m not there yet. Stop looking for the ending. The sacred is right here, right now, right for me. Sometimes moving, sometimes resting, sometimes doing nothing. These captured moments in time helped me to see the Sacred in Me. When others tell me something about the sacred me, I don’t always see it. Sometimes I worry if I did see it, I would become arrogant. I know that is my own projection. When I mix those beautiful compliments with these beautiful photos, I start to see that sacredness. I see who that person is that is looking back at me. I see her graciousness, her kindness, her wisdom. I start to see what others see. There have been many synchronicities to go with the photos. I am re-righting (re-writing) my journey. I am keeping my essence. I will always show up as my best self. That is constant. How I share it with the world is a book worth writing and worth living.

A Journey Through Images to the Self

And so now, in this present moment, I have travelled through the journey of these images of the self. I have uncovered so much of what is sacred in me. I have looked deep and found a deep knowing that was within me all along. I have connected with the past and future to find my place now.

The journey is far from over and these images will hold wisdom and magic for me on my path forward.

But for now, I have arrived at 'the end of my words'.

What is Therapeutic Photography?

Check out Michelle's website for details. I highly recommend taking the time to chat with Michelle and booking a session. You will never look back. Do the work with the photos and you will come to meet yourself all over again. And you will love who you meet.

http://detailphotography.ca/

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