Flowers

Orchids: Paying Attention, Celebration, Gratitude, Unconditional Love in Picture to Ponder – v6 – isssue 14

by Sheila Finkelstein on April 8, 2010

This past weekend I stepped out on my screened in patio and walked pass a table where two orchid plants had been resting for almost a year and a half, since the time the flowers and many of the leaves had died off.

They’ve been more or less ignored, occasionally receiving water from me, so imagine my surprise when glancing over I saw the back of what seemed to be an open flower. Sure enough it was – flower and two buds!

Feeling excited, special and important, now, with orchids of my own, I, of course, brought out the camera and have photographed them each day since. Unfortunately bud number three dropped off before opening.

Today’s Photos -

phalaenopsis 2buds screen 475 Orchids: Paying Attention, Celebration, Gratitude, Unconditional Love in Picture to Ponder v6 isssue 14

Phalaenopsis orchid and two buds the morning I first noticed the open flower.

phalaenopsis screen 475 Orchids: Paying Attention, Celebration, Gratitude, Unconditional Love in Picture to Ponder v6 isssue 14

The second Phalaenopsis opened – The setting here and in the top photo is in front of the screen looking out into the backyard.

phalaenopsis day3 475 Orchids: Paying Attention, Celebration, Gratitude, Unconditional Love in Picture to Ponder v6 isssue 14

Same flowers, as above, in front of a black background so that the focus is on the flowers only.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
I am in awe and in deep gratitude for what this orchid and a Maranta (prayer plant – written about in several issues of Picture to Ponder) have given me…. Once again I recognize it as “unconditional love.” They have bloomed and given me pleasure even though I have more or less neglected them over time. See Unconditional Love which has added Maranta links.

Now to you -

Are there people or things in your life whom/or that you have been neglecting and are still always there for you? If so, I invite you to pause and in some way express your gratitude and appreciation.

What are you celebrating/can you celebrate?

One of the prompts this week for a four-minute free flow writing exercise in the writing group in which I participate, was:

“Celebrate what you want to see more of.” – Tom Peters

My friend Marifran Korb, having heard about and not yet seen the orchid, spontaneously responded with the following:

“To celebrate is to give focus and attention to something, even if only a minute. It doesn’t have to be a long time. What I focus upon responds in some way, even when it is only in me.

Still, we live in an interactive world. That orchid that Sheila captured on camera responded to Sheila’s love and moved the world around it in a gentler way.

Something shifts and opens up when we pay attention. We’re happier if only for that moment. It makes a difference and increases the circle of joy.” Marifran Korb – www.marifrankorb.com

What might you have been ignoring which might result in a shift should you pay attention to it?

I invite you to celebrate, play, have fun with whatever you notice.

{ 1 comment }

Parrot Tulips, APDA and Asking – Picture to Ponder – v.6 – issue 13

by Sheila Finkelstein on March 31, 2010

If you’ve been following me for a while you know that Parkinson’s is the debilitating disease that my beloved husband Sam battled for many years.  Thus I am committed to supporting research and awareness of PD.

In line with this, each year for the past four, I’ve acknowledged American Parkinson’s Disease Association’s April Annual Walk Month by featuring tulip photos in at least one issue of Picture to Ponder. (See APDA Walk Story below for more information and the “why” of tulips.)

If you are celebrating Passover, Easter or life itself, a most joyous holiday to you.

Today’s Photos -

tulip1 309 velvet Parrot Tulips, APDA and Asking Picture to Ponder v.6 issue 13

tulip open375 Parrot Tulips, APDA and Asking Picture to Ponder v.6 issue 13

Parrot Tulips in different stages of opening – The sensory experiences are so strong from these two images that I invite you to simply be with them, without further descriptive words from me.

Story of Today’s Photos-
I was thrilled with how these photographs turned out and simply wanted to take some time to luxuriate in them. Then so you could see more of the Parrot Tulip photos and others, last year, I uploaded them onto my Flickr pages. See TULIPS set

Almost immediately I received an email inviting me to add each of them to the Parrot Tulips Group on FlickR. I went to the group and was in awe of many of the photos. I had never before paid attention to the beauty of this particular variety of tulips, though I’ve photographed them in the past. It makes me happy to share them with you.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
(Note – This is a repeat of the Queries from last year.  Internal conversations do seem to linger at times.)

Part of putting together today’s issue of Picture to Ponder had me looking at my own issues around money, asking for it for my services and asking for it for someone else, or for a charity to which I’m committed in supporting (see APDA Story below). I would assume that there are many of you out there who have neither of these issues around “asking” or “inviting” and that there are those who do.

As I write, I’m reminded that the same emotional issues are not even always about money. I’m recalling times that I did not invite someone to do attend a party I might be giving, go with me someplace, or into a myriad of other situations.

I make the prejudgment that they would not be interested in my invitation, so I don’t put myself out, take a chance on a refusal. The bottom line result is that ultimately neither of us benefit as I stay stuck in my “fear of rejection.”

I invite you to look and see if you find yourself anywhere in the above scenario. If so, I invite you to take one small action forward in possibly a new direction. To do this, what might you have to give up?

Keep in mind, the action may be something as simple, or perhaps for you not so simple, as saying “Hi” to, or smiling at, a stranger.

I also invite all of you to take a few moments to acknowledge yourselves for strides you’ve taken in your life where none of the above fits for you, or where once some of it did and you’ve moved past those strangleholds.

For what accomplishments can you, or will you choose to, acknowledge yourself today?

As always, when you’re finished, I invite you to share your experience with today’s photos and writing in the comments section below.
The APDA and Walk Story -
The TULIP, a pink-edged one, is the symbol used for Parkinson’s Disease and April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Thus in March/April, though not always the “correct” tulip, I have featured two to four photos in Picture to Ponder and created special Tulips pages with more, since 2006.

Starting with TULIPS 2006 you can follow links to the issue that year. Links for Tulips 2007 and 2008 can be found at the bottom of that page.

PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease experienced by man, Alzheimer’s disease being the most common. See Overview in the Pharmaceutical Journal for some detailed information. For those who like videos, check out VIDEO, for a short one with good information from a Georgia APDA chapter.

Each year, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA) holds fund-raising walks throughout the United States. All MONEYS raised goes to RESEARCH for a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.

Given, as mentioned above, that my beloved husband Sam (see Remembering Sam), despite the Parkinson’s Disease with which he was afflicted, was an integral part of how I initially approached Picture to Ponder, I have been moved to support APDA walks here and on the above-mentioned pages. I appreciate your understanding.

Sam was the original photographer in the family (see B&W photos) and also a large part of who I am as a photographer. Thus I feel comfortable in sharing this with you in Picture to Ponder. I do remain active in support groups, and will continue to acknowledge April and and the importance of the walks.

I am also inviting you, if you are so moved, to support research for Stamping out Parkinson’s Disease by contributing to one of the walks. For those in South Florida, the Walk this year will take place in Lake Ida Park in Delray Beach on Saturday, April 10th. Registration starts at 9:15 AM, the walk at 11 AM. For more information and scheduled walk locations in your area, if you are in the United States, scroll down the APDA national site.

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation, 100% going to research, go directly to the South Florida “Make a Donation” page. Simply type “WALK” in the “Person’s Name” space, and/or in the “Special Instructions” box, before your final payment submission. Or, certainly, if you do wish to donate, feel free to make a donation to your local chapter, if that be your preference.

Programs I recommend:
For Bloggers and those interested in blogging -
Starting Monday, April 5th, Bea Field’s has a 3-week jump start program for people who are newbies interested in learning to blog. Then her 12-week Blogging Maniac Program starts again on April 26th.

I have participated twice in Bea’s courses, always picking up something new. There is no one on the Internet whose work I’ve experienced who delivers as much content as she does for such a minimal investment.

If you have any interest in learning more about blogging and/or integrating it with other Social Media, I strongly recommend that you check out what’s available in the program. Simply click on Blogging Maniac and when you get to the page scroll down the page, near the end to get the info links to both courses.

{ 3 comments }

Dried Roses and New Growth on Stems – Winter into Spring

by Sheila Finkelstein on March 9, 2010

pinkrose1 3wkslater Dried Roses and New Growth on Stems Winter into Spring

 

pinkrose2 3wkslater Dried Roses and New Growth on Stems Winter into Spring

 

6roses 3wkslater1 Dried Roses and New Growth on Stems Winter into Spring

 

rosegreens 3wkslater Dried Roses and New Growth on Stems Winter into Spring

Three plus weeks ago, these six roses were part of a dozen that were an integral part of a large mixture of flowers my son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren gave me on Valentine’s Day.  They were acknowledging the sadness I felt, missing my husband who has been gone for more than two years.  I wrote about the experience on Writing for Healing. 

Then two days later published the first of the rose photos and wrote about the experience here on Photography and Transformation. A week after that, impressed with the longevity and beauty of six of the roses, eight days after my original writing, I once again photographed and posted a photo of Beauty in an Aged Rose.

I thought that both the roses and I were finished with the photo journaling.  And then, lo and behold, the other day I noticed new growth – green leaves –  on the stems of these flowers that have been off the plant for who-knows-how-long.  

In a virtual writing retreat, or “camp”, as Julie Jordan Scott refers to it, Julie has been speaking of relating our experiences to those of coming out of Winter into Spring.  These now dead roses with the new growth seem to be such a metaphor for that I felt the necessity of once again photographing and sharing this “miracle.”  

All kinds of stories come to my mind. Seems I think in stories much of my life.  A friend says that these roses are Sam talking to me. And, putting all of that aside, I am attempting to cut down on my words.  So I leave you today with mainly the photos and the opportunity for you to share your own stories, if you so wish, in the COMMENTS section just below.

{ 1 comment }

Beauty Continues in Aged Rose – Picture to Ponder – vol 6 – Issue 8

by Sheila Finkelstein on February 23, 2010

As you most likely recall, roses were featured in the last issue of Picture to Ponder – “Perfections, Imperfections, Counting Blessings” (see post below this).

Although I had not intended a continuation of the theme or photos, I am in such awe of the beauty of several of the roses, now eight days older, that I simply had to share one of them here.

Today’s Photo -

pinkrose4 8dayslater 475 Beauty Continues in Aged Rose Picture to Ponder vol 6 Issue 8

I started adding another photograph and it felt that this one needed to have the total space. I invite you visit the page, Roses – 8 days Later. It has this rose photograph, plus five others taken at the same time.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Comments on the blog and directly to me had me revisit the theme of imperfections.

One reader wrote that she has frequently created rose greeting cards and realized, as she was reading and looking at the featured roses, that she often would pinch off the “imperfect” petals!!. This, during times she was teaching children to accept their “imperfect” pictures and stories.

As I mentioned above, today’s rose, and those on the Roses Page, were taken 8 days after I brought them home. Amazed at the remaining full-body-ness of several, I took more photographs in the night light.

I suspect that many of the readers here would have long ago discarded the flowers, seeing them only as shriveled up.

I invite you to look into your life. Can you identify a point in the life cycle when you discard flowers, objects, people – defining “life cycle” as the time period of usefulness?

Are there people’s statements that you automatically disregard, because they feel “old”, not “right”? What if you took another look?

Where can you find beauty today/tonight in something you usually ignore or slough off?

As always, have fun with this.

{ 2 comments }

Perfections, Imperfections, Counting Blessings as seen in Roses – Picture to Ponder – v6-issue 7

by Sheila Finkelstein on February 17, 2010

Today’s Picture to Ponder message relates to perfections and imperfections and finding the blessings in our lives.

On Sunday, Valentine’s Day, in the United States, I found myself feeling sad, missing Sam more than I usually do. It was interesting for me to observe this since he and I never really celebrated Valentine’s Day. I handled it by taking constructive action, for me writing, making a phone call and posting insights on my Writing for Healing blog. Bottom line I ended up being invited to dinner at my son’s home, which resulted in, among other things, receiving a beautiful bunch of flowers.

Once home I took an abundance of photographs, for some unidentified reason, focusing on the numerous roses that were part of the grouping. I experimented with different backgrounds and lighting with this issue’s roses being a small sampling. You can find more in the Rose Set in my FlickR account.

Before continuing, I do want to remind you of the SPIRIT AUTHORS Grand Opening on Monday Feb. 22.  I consists of  5 FREE webcasts with 18 leading publishing experts. See  SPIRIT AUTHORS.

Today’s Photos -

rose orange1 475 Perfections, Imperfections, Counting Blessings as seen in Roses Picture to Ponder v6 issue 7

rose orange2macro 475 Perfections, Imperfections, Counting Blessings as seen in Roses Picture to Ponder v6 issue 7

rose pink1 macro 475 Perfections, Imperfections, Counting Blessings as seen in Roses Picture to Ponder v6 issue 7

rose pink2 475 Perfections, Imperfections, Counting Blessings as seen in Roses Picture to Ponder v6 issue 7

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Today’s photos are, obviously, of roses, none of which are perfect. I was initially caught up in their beauty in color and/or patterns and shapes.

Then I saw the “imperfections”, the first pink one almost at the end of its time. This led me to querying, and inviting you do the same, “When you see something or someone, is your first response to see the imperfections or the beauty and positives?” If you miss, the imperfections at first glance, or two, are you able to accept them and stay with the beauty of that at which you are looking, or is something marred, with negative in the space? If the latter, do you stay with the negative, or are you able to create a shift for yourself? If so, how?

As I conclude, I realize that seeing the roses’ imperfections and choices we make are somewhat analogous to my Valentine’s sadness experience, staying in it or finding a way to see the positives.

For me, if you read the blog post, you’ll see, I ultimately chose to see the blessings in my life and wound up with even more than I expected – the flowers and the riches of that.

How about you? Are you able to see the blessings in your life?

As always, have fun with this.

{ 4 comments }

Prickly Situations or Enlightenment from a Cactus Flower – Picture to Ponder – v6-issue 5

by Sheila Finkelstein on February 4, 2010

Today’s Photo -

cactusflower1 pink 475 Prickly Situations or Enlightenment from a Cactus Flower Picture to Ponder v6 issue 5
Cactus flower in the Desert Botanical Garden in Scottsdale, Arizona.

As part of the focus and sensory expansion exercises we do in the Point and Shoot Through and From the Lens photo course, participants “place” themselves into a photo of an alstromeria flower and explore it from within and/or from the outside. As a follow up, there is a choice of two other photos with which to do this exercise between sessions.

When looking at the photo page the other day, before sending participants the Photos for Exploration link, the shiny light within the above cactus flower popped out at me. It called out to, once again, be a featured photo in Picture to Ponder.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Although the “spiny” needles surrounding the flower may be prickly, in the photo they appear to be soft and gentle. The light feels strong and bright, yet there is an overall sense of softness, conveyed in part by the pinks.

I invite you to do the exercise mentioned above, putting yourself into the photo, exploring the flower, the setting within which it resides, covering it from all angles.

Observe – “What size are you?” “How does it feel?” “Would you want to be a permanent resident in this space?” Check your responses. “Why ‘yes’ or ‘no’?” Do they point to similarities in any aspects of your life?

I also invite you to look further into your own life. Are there areas where you are feeling “prickly” places, perhaps ones you wish to avoid? If so, can you look beyond and find a bright light beckoning you? What could you be saying to “soften” them up?

You may also want to use your camera to photograph images that catch your eye and then do the same exercise with one or more photos of your own.

As always, have fun with this.

Programs I recommend for:
Authors – Published or Inspired to be ones -

My friend, author of GARDEN OF THE SOUL, is launching a new program with an exciting FR*EE Grand Opening Event coming Feb 22-26. She is hosting 5 days of webcasts with 17 other leading names in the exciting world of mind-body-spirit writing and publishing.

Lynn is presenting an exciting NEW concept on the Internet, combining coaching, learning, community and business-building in a creative, spirit-based environment.

If you’re an experienced author, a brand new author, or someone who is dreaming of writing an inspirational book some day, you’ll want to register for this fr*ee event.

Using Social Media – Developing an Internet Business:
This weekend I was in Atlanta for the Niche Affiliate Marketing System (NAMS 3) program. It was a full, information-rich, people-connecting, inspiring weekend.

On Saturday, a recording, STRATEGIES 4 SOCIAL MARKETING, was made with a panel of 5 top Internet Marketing Experts sharing information and tips on effectively using social media for connecting AND building business. That hour session is now available in a downloadable MP3, with several bonuses, for only $17.

My friend Tomar Levine, not at the conference, wrote: “Thanks, Sheila. I bought it, listened to it, and took four pages of notes. Just what I needed to re-invigorate my social media, which I’ve backed away from of late. I got at least one brand-new piece of info which I will start using immediately.”

It is also possible, until Monday when the price increases, to purchase the recordings from the past three NAMS conferences, including this past weekend, for only $97 total. The above-mentioned Social Marketing recording is part of the weekend recordings, so you wouldn’t need both.

See NAMS for details and to purchase the full series, should it fit for you.

{ 6 comments }

Water Lilies Spread Thanksgiving Light and Cheer – Picture to Ponder- Vol 5 – issue 43

by Sheila Finkelstein on November 24, 2009

I was attracted to window reflections recently and mentally was planning a whole “lesson” in seeing – expectations – and shifts. Somehow it was falling flat for me, at least for now. Then, tonight I was surfing through my Cafe Press Gift shop, going over some items for a customer order. (Should you be interested, there are a couple of free shipping promos upcoming. See below.)

I was once again pulled in, and enlivened, by the purple tropical water lily, a Picture to Ponder favorite that I’ve used a few times.

waterlily purple photo475 Water Lilies Spread Thanksgiving Light and Cheer Picture to Ponder Vol 5 issue 43

It seemed to be the perfect photo to use here now, as we approach Thanksgiving in the United States. I like the feeling of opening up, spreading light and joy. May there be an abundance of good for us all.

TODAY’S PHOTOS -
As I was looking at the calendar page in the shop and at the above purple, tropical water lily on the year-at-a-glance calendar, I saw my photo/drawing version of the same flower.

waterlily photodrawing 475 Water Lilies Spread Thanksgiving Light and Cheer Picture to Ponder Vol 5 issue 43

I share it here for you to experience the subtle differences. Lastly, as I was being with this water lily from a fountain pond in the American Orchid Society Gardens in Delray Beach, FL,  I was reminded of another beautiful pink water lily from the 4 Arts Gardens in Palm Beach.

waterlily pink1 Water Lilies Spread Thanksgiving Light and Cheer Picture to Ponder Vol 5 issue 43

This last one, right now, espcially leaves me feeling serene and at peace. I wish the same for you as we enter what becomes for many a very hectic holiday season.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
I invite to be with the above photos and note your responses. Do any of them evoke feelings of abundance or peace in you?

Where in your life do you go, mentally or physically, when you wish to experience serenity? enlivenment?

Where is the strongest light in your life? And, for what are you most thankful?

For me it is family and friends, including you, that I am most grateful. I especially appreciate the support, knowing that there are people on whom I can count.

In addition, I am excited with the new people I’ve been meeting, as well as the new business connections I’ve been making.

I invite you to think of those in your life, acknowledge them, and certainly share with us on the blog, if you so desire.

Love and peace.

And as always, have fun.

Special Offers -

1 – I am excited to be trying out (free trial) my new friend, Allison Maslan’s BLASTATION program. It is an Interactive Life Coaching Web-Based Software – a completely unique do-it-all hub to help us key in on our life passions, become inspired, stay optimistic and get organized.

We will feel accomplished as Blastation keeps us on track and
on target with our large and small life visions. It breaks our large goals and projects into small steps so we know exactly what to do every single day to turn our dreams into reality!

You, too, can experience the fully interactive 30 day free trial. See, BLASTATION.

2 – I first “met” Allison when I was invited to participate in her BLAST OFF: The Surefire Success Plan to Launch Your Dreams into Reality book launch on January 19th. It sounds like quite an exciting book. You can visit the Book Launch page to read about the special PDF Slide show, plus, that I am creating as one of the many exciting bonuses being offered for purchasers of the book. I will be allowing you, with permission to use the photos for your web activities.

Allison is also giving away a 1-on-1 Life and Business Coaching Program, worth thousands of dollars, as the first prize for a special contest. Check the Book Launch page for details on entering. While there you can also sign up to be reminded of the launch and the bonuses, as the launch date approaches.

3 – Lastly if you are doing holiday shopping I invite you to remember to check out my GIFT SHOP I especially love the pillows and keepsake tiles boxes and decorating with the clocks –

Free Shipping November 30th (Cyber Monday) – Free economy shipping on orders of $60 or more with coupon code: MONDAYSHIP

December 7th – 9th – Free economy shipping on orders of $50 or more with coupon code: HOLIDAYSHIPS

Reader’s Comments are welcome.
To post them on the  blog click on the small word “Comment” at the end of the post. A window will open, asking for your name, email address that will NOT be published, a URL if you have – Your name will be linked to that – and a box with space for you to “Leave a Reply” will be there to type in your response. Then remember to click on “Submit.”

If posting on a blog is not your style, please continue to send your comments directly to me. Learning what you are experiencing means a lot. It is part of the reward, for me, of publishing Picture to Ponder.

{ 1 comment }

Life Cycles – Leaves, Queen Anne’s Lace and Us – Picture to Ponder – vol 5 – issue 38

by Sheila Finkelstein on October 22, 2009

header moms 475 Life Cycles Leaves, Queen Annes Lace and Us Picture to Ponder vol 5 issue 38- NEW -  4 – Week Telecourse Starts November 9th or 11th
Click on image above for details

autumnleaves onground1 Life Cycles Leaves, Queen Annes Lace and Us Picture to Ponder vol 5 issue 38

queenanneslace dried Life Cycles Leaves, Queen Annes Lace and Us Picture to Ponder vol 5 issue 38

I am excited. As you can see from the very top image, the header for the new Point and Shoot Photo Course for Moms, I am launching a new program. My earlier Photo/Creativity, then Through and From the Lens courses, will now be delivered under the umbrella of Point and Shoot Photo Courses. The material and philosophy is similar. Working with specific groups will further solidify the community experiences participants love, while enhancing learning and bonding with subject matter.

In terms of today’s Picture to Ponder, for whatever reason, I felt the need to feature autumn one more time. Though the fall season stays with us until December 21st, the visual aspect of it will soon be gone. When I speak of the visual, I refer to the assumed colors of autumn.

Neither of today’s featured photos is a “striking” photo. Yet each kept popping out at me as I was searching photo file folders. They did “seed” some interesting thoughts, turned queries, and compositionally the pictures do hold together.

TODAY’S PHOTOS
The upper photo is of Fallen Autumn Leaves blanketing gravel at the edge of a parking lot in Syracuse, NY. Given the overall feeling of Nature, the gravel appears as if it could almost be blueberries. I like the array of colors, representing the full range of the life cycles of the leaves we see.

The lower photo is a close up of a dried up Queen Anne’s Lace flower which, I discovered when I googled it to check spelling, is edible. Given that the developing theme today seems to be “Life Cycles”, I especially like the circular shape of the full flower and those at the end of each of the “spokes” radiating out from the center.

SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES -
Today’s photos are rich with contrasts and also represent the cycles of our seasons… both in the Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer, as well as our own life cycles… seen even in our individual projects and activities.

I invite you to consider the contrasts and cycles in your life. Are you able to easily be with the transitions? Or, are there challenges for you? Do you operate out of “being” with whatever stage you’re in at the moment?

If the latter is difficult at times, have you developed “coping” mechanisms? Are you aware of what they are so you can “call them in” on demand, when needed?

If “coping,” are you able to go beyond with “tools for transformation”?

Sometimes/oftentimes, it’s helpful to simply remember that whatever space we are in at any point of time, it is part of a cycle.

As you ponder and query today, be sure to identify the parts of the cycle that give you the most pleasure, provide the most fun.

CELEBRATION -
Two of my friends, Marifran Korb and Tomar Levine**, are among 36 other authors who have chapters in the “OVERCOMERS INC: True Stories of Hope, Courage and Inspiration” book launched today, October 22nd.

Marifran and Tomar, having seen an advance copy say that it’s great. I trust them and what I’ve read about the book. I love people’s stories. If you do also, check it out at OVERCOMERS. If it is still the 22nd when you read this, there is time to take advantage of all the bonuses with purchase today.

** You also might be interested in checking out Tomar’s Creativity Support Group forming, first session November 3rd.

{ 3 comments }

Healing Power of Nature and Echinacea – Picture to Ponder – v5-issue 35

by Sheila Finkelstein on September 22, 2009

echfld Healing Power of Nature and Echinacea Picture to Ponder v5 issue 35

ech4 Healing Power of Nature and Echinacea Picture to Ponder v5 issue 35

ech1and3 Healing Power of Nature and Echinacea Picture to Ponder v5 issue 35

TODAY’S PHOTOS
are Photo/Drawings of Echinacea Flowers – the first being “field” of them, the other three being different views from the same garden.

“Photo/drawings” is a term I created when I first developed this process using my photographs, new scanner and a pen with permanent ink to draw directly on the photos. They were the content that made up my original nature web site – Nature’s Playground stating,

“We believe that the world is a playground for personal growth and development; that natural environments – gardens, woods, beaches, rivers, streams – are sources for pleasure, creativity, play and self-discovery; that expanding sensory awareness of natural and man-made environments provides access to furthering creative thinking and appreciation.”

In an empowering interview my friend Adela Rubio did with Dean Shrock, last week, on “Why Love Heals”, he stated that “Nature is probably the purest form of love. Simply being out and appreciating natural beauty, we’ll experience love. Nature literally realigns the molecules of your body in a more harmonious manner, so that the body simply works better.” See SelfcareMastery.com for this quote and Adela’s full summary of the call.

For me, I got a dramatic “Aha” – that this can be the strong foundation on which to stand as I move forward with my work. Certainly the healing power of nature is the crux of Banana Sky DVD!

WHY THE ECHINACEA -
Interestingly, today in my writing group** one of the quotes from which we wrote was “When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it is your world for the moment, ” Georgia O’Keefe.

Responding to this prompt, Susan Jones, group member, wrote: “Flowers have one of the highest natural vibrations. That’s why flower essences are so powerful, so healing. Georgia O’Keefe painted the effect of that vibration on her. An artist does not copy, she shares the soul of the moment. ”

This seemed like such a synchronistic statement for my newfound “stand” that I asked Susan if I could quote her.

In searching for flowers to feature, I decided that the ones I would use here today would be flowers that most of us are likely to know as “healing” flowers. I, at least, always use “echinacea” in capsules or tea form when I feel a cold coming on. In addition, the center echinacea photo/drawing featured here was very much admired by a dinner guest this past weekend. A large poster-size format of it hangs on my patio.

(**Note: Susan and three others of us all first connected in one of Julie Jordan Scott’s writing programs. For those open to it, Julie has a Writing Group starting tomorrow – Wednesday, September 23.

SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES -
For today, I invite you to look at the variations of the same subject, the Echinacea above, and make note of what stands out as differences for you. Then expand this observation into your own life.

Is there an issue, a challenge, or something which you really appreciate, where you might find empowering analogous differences by taking different points of view?

And, in a slightly different conversation, relating to my finding a position of strength I can claim for moving forward in my work, are you clear on the ground on which you are standing in your work? and then in your relationships – both personal and business?

Peace and fun.

{ 3 comments }

Standing Alone in a Crowd – Find the Strength: Pansies in Picture to Ponder – v5-issue 31

by Sheila Finkelstein on August 26, 2009

bananaskyheader 550 Standing Alone in a Crowd Find the Strength: Pansies in Picture to Ponder v5 issue 31Click on Above Image for Information and Testimonials

pansies magenta 475 Standing Alone in a Crowd Find the Strength: Pansies in Picture to Ponder v5 issue 31

pansies yellow violet 475 Standing Alone in a Crowd Find the Strength: Pansies in Picture to Ponder v5 issue 31

pansy yellow cr 400 Standing Alone in a Crowd Find the Strength: Pansies in Picture to Ponder v5 issue 31

Excited with the re-launching of BANANA SKY DVD, I’ve been spending a lot of time on creating the “just right” web page for Banana Sky DVD to share the stress and anxiety relief benefits from the healing music and photography that makes up this video. As I’ve been working, I have been getting a lot of great feedback and support from the ELITE FORUM members in Lynn Self-Starters Weekly Tips Forum. I am deeply appreciative.

I am also on my own DAY 8 of a minimum of one-hour of work each day before opening any email, as recommended by Kathleen Gage in the recent Niche Affiliate Marketing System Seminar I attended. This was/is, for me, one of the both challenging and rewarding tips I got out of the weekend. A flash drive with all of the presentations, including Kathleen’s from this conference, plus one earlier in the year, is available on a Flash Drive (coupon code 200aug14) for only $97 as long as the limited number of available copies last.

With my focus being so directed on the best way of sharing BANANA SKY DVD, I have not been out doing much photographing. It was therefore delightful yesterday to simply travel through folders on my computer for this issue of Picture to Ponder, doing a sit-down “discovery walk.”

Today’s photos brought a smile and a feeling of lightness and simple pleasure when I found them.

TODAY’S PHOTOS -
Pansies in the Dallas (Texas) Arboretum at the end of February.

I love the colors of the two pansies in the top photo and they have such a look of elegance.

The yellow and violet-colored pansies, in the middle photo, seem to be dancing freely and joyfully. The intensity of mid-day sunlight adds to the pleasure of the experience of this photo.

As I went back to the original size when saving the latter photo, I was drawn to the center of one of the flowers and decided to focus in and crop it. Suddenly it took on a stately and commanding presence, as if wanting our attention.

SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES -
In the almost five years that I have been publishing Picture to Ponder, this is the first time I’ve featured pansies. One reason, undoubtedly, is that pansies are not quite as common here in Florida as they seemed to be in the Northeast United States, where most of my life was spent.

As pretty as they are when I paid attention to them, they somehow seemed to get “lost” in their surroundings, no one flower really standing out from another. Did the fact that they were so “common” have an impact also, or is it simply that I’ve only gotten much more active with my camera in recent years?

The point to my above comments leads into today’s Self-Reflecting Queries. Once again, I invite you to look into your life.

Are there places where there are people, or objects, that are simply a part of a broad field for you and indistinct for their own attributes? Where you’ve simply been taking them for granted as background “noise”, perhaps?

If you find any of the above fits, I invite you to step more closely into the field at which you were looking. Study the individual components. Then, is there one, or more, that now stands out and has a new presence, as the single yellow pansy in the bottom photo? Or perhaps, you’ll find a pair, as in the top photo.

As always, have fun with this.

As always, remember to have fun with this.

{ 2 comments }

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →