The following post is a compilation of journal writings from July 14th and 16th which came together to form something worth posting...

It was my intention outright to be an open canvas to the colourful strokes which India would paint on my mind, heart & soul. To listen and watch over speaking and acting. To become a pupil to the 'tissue' which binds the people here together by assuming a spot within the web and allowing the experience to run through me.

The ideas which I take away from this - which now form a powder keg around which we dance with lit matches - must be regarded in a similar fashion. I have poured these ideas out, but they are now children that must be raised by a village, for as they grow, they will assume their own pace and frequency. This is paramount. It will then be our choice to meet, or not to meet this frequency. We must respect that with or without us, this idea will move forward - most likely in light-years, so strap in for the ride.

The Idea will grow as a Tree

(The Mind)

At its inception, the tree sprouts roots and fortifies itself. Its principal action is clear, strong, sturdy. Growing upwards and outwards it draws from these fundamental roots that were formed in conversations with the soil. It is from this base, and this base only, that its ascent to the clouds will begin. For in drawing from such a confident base, the tree may branch outwards, certain of its connection to principal.

As opportunity presents itself, it will be met by branches. During this period, growth of the roots shall continue in response to the action above ground. At the end of each of these branches will emerge leaves. They will stretch to seek sun's benevolence, and the faith which connects these two things will feed the tree in its aspirations upward and outward.

It will be fueled as a Fire

(The Heart)

All parts of the tree are combustible. It would be foolish, however, to allow the flame to dominate the tree. But when a branch is selected, it will give of itself in and extraordinary way. It will burn long and bright so that its heat and its glow draw people in, captivating them and often drawing other wood as kindle.

The fire will both demand and give much.

It will be shaped and cradled by the River

(The Soul)

The universe conspires. For good for for bad? No, it is unwise to assume either. It conspires forward, winding and weaving through a tryst with forever.

Our role in this is equally minute and enormous, as we are connective tissue within this universe. To discard our intricacy or importance denotes foolishness, as does regarding it outside of or above the system in which it exists.

And the truth remains - the universe conspires. To its own amusement? Sometimes maybe, yes. Nevertheless, time forges on, forcing our scope inwards. What are we to make of this? Surely in the midst of a chronology strewn across the depths of space, our existence is but a blink of the eye... But in that moment of darkness, with eyelids shut, what a beautiful moment it surely is. We are here. And though I am humbled by this fact to the point where my knees would buckle, I will remain upright and dynamic. I will conspire as well, and I will ride this river to whatever end, as a train passenger who rides silently to the end of the rail - a spot which will present itself in time, for it has been conspired...

The Fire - The Tree - The River...

The Heart - The Mind - The Soul

Post 5

Lost in the public 'masses', it is often that we loose our emotional sense of those around us to the physical complexity we are presented.

But what a fascinating display it is to look beyond the simple physical presence - to see each action taking place around you as it is pushed & prodded by the expectations that precede it.

This is typical for relationships into which we settle. It is said well in 'The Alchemist' (Paulo Coelho), that when you spend a lot of time with someone, you allow them to develop expectations for you. These expectations are subtle weights to an otherwise boundless potential to explore, yet often a fair price to pay for the comfort this type of relationship offers.

We seek a balance, while the answer lies at our feet...

'From you, my friend, I will expect the unexpected.. For while we are confined here in body by time, I understand well that your spirit and mind travel in light-years, and would request that you allow mine the same courtesy. And when the universe conspires such that these paths of ours collide, let us sit back and marvel at the settling debris. For it was out of a similar 'big bang' which we credit our existence... we would be foolish to expect less of our encounters ;)'

In between pictures...

'Often while traveling with a camera we arrive just as the sun slips over the horizon of a moment, too late to expose film, only enough time to expose our hearts' - Minor White

Thanks to the generosity of Eve Kachaje - a great friend and mentor to me - I've had the chance to play photographer here in India this summer. I've never been one to travel with a camera, so there's been a learning experience tied to the small machine.

While traveling, the camera assumes an interesting role. When we arrive at scenes which we hope to 'capture', it becomes a link to the future - through which we would project this experience, either for loved ones or onto our own memories, clouded by time. But through what lens will we capture this moment? At what exposure? Shutter speed? Angle? - Premier Canadian photographer Ted Grant once said, 'When you photograph people in colour you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black & White, you photograph their souls'. -

So we resort to a frenzy of pictures, in pursuit of the accurate capture of these moments of beauty - often small windows of time which flee from the shutter of our cameras.

As I said, its been a process of adjustment for me traveling with a camera this summer. I've been notorious for leaving the 'Canon' behind, only to arrive empty handed at moments which take my breath away. And when 'a picture's worth a thousand words', I shudder to think of the task at hand in putting to language the gaps I've left through my photographic folly.

Not to be deterred - I put the question to the world wide web. Why is it that a picture's worth a thousand words? - I was surprised with what I found out.

The word photography comes from two Greek words - photos (light) and graphos (writing)... 'Writing with light' (love it) - Writing in the language of light? (even better). I'm no stranger to new languages - albeit slowly, I have engaged with new ones before. What I have found is that in doing so, it’s best to cut ties to your own so as to see the world through the eyes of this new dialect (don't believe me? www.rosettastone.com) ;)

This being so - I must then look to what allows our cameras to write in this 'language of light'... it was time to sit down with the 'Cannon' (again - thanks Eve :P). It asked me this...

'With what lens is it that you view your day?'

and

'To what extent do you leave your heart exposed?'

It explained to me,

‘Time flies by in the blink of an eye. But leave your shutter open for long enough, and you’ll come away with a magnificent imprint of what’s important around you. And when that image before you isn’t quite what you wanted, realize that it’s often just a matter of adjusting your angle.’

~

‘When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.’ –Ansel Adams

… it is often in these moments of silence - in between photographs - where the spectacle of 'photos in graphos' comes alive.

-G