The journal brings such a fresh perspective to my mornings. I love how ecstasy feeds the soul and how every culture has it’s own way of inviting this flourish into hearts and minds. I’m drawn this morning to recollecting my own and having it feed me across the day. The photograph is especially poignant as it reveals this moment of seeming vulnerability amidst the protection of the forest. Such a beautiful metaphor.
.

LikeLike

Amnesia to past pain is part of the ecstasy. Part of the karma that needs to be let go.
I do not see ecstasy as a curse that confounds our recollection. Since we are who we think we are, is it not better to be a collection of happiness, rather than a vile soup of depressing painful memories. Is it not better to recognize the stereotype that tries to contain us and use it as a step to building a better self. That is our challenge. To grow outside our comfort zone. And the taste, the sensation of ecstasy is well worth the travels.
Ecstasy is defined by some as a trance, an awareness of the energy outside ones self. The problem with ecstasy is that it can lead to addiction. It takes a true devotion and a lot of dedicated time. Whereas lately, society is only in to ‘life’ for the short term and the shortcuts to achieve a goal. But Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was written 150 years ago, so we cannot just blame today for our future. So much philosophy, so little time (said the White Rabbit).
I am still working on my first algebra problem.
Sometimes a photograph is a painting awaiting the brush of illumination. The mind’s eye and the camera’s eye seem to align better in Photoshop (new layer). Lately when I see a black and white picture like your beautifully composed shot, I tend to add a dash of color. I was experimenting with adding the color of moss on the fallen tree limb and a very pale sky blue at the top.
I try to be the silent witness when I take photographs. You are the witness and the story teller.
I am jealous/envious of Liz’s mandalas. They take me to inner worlds and then eject me out to a reflective plain of thought. Swirled around on waves of color, circling back and forth.
Ecstasy can be as simple as a song that transports you to your Love.

LikeLike

Thank you once again, JVD. So glad you found us and we found you. I love your comment “I am still working on my first algebra problem.”
I have experimented quite a bit using color with black and white and actually did it with this photograph but chose to post straight black and white. Unfortunately, images that include nudes startle lots of people including some readers of the journal. I hope to make a small change in that anxiety level by encouraging people to embrace art as the opposite of pornography.

LikeLike

Thank you so much, Teresa, for your insight that “ecstasy feeds the soul.” Thank you also for noticing the photograph as an expression of vulnerability. Yes, metaphorical.

LikeLike

Erie: when an individual experiences “Ecstacy” as you say “Love and appreciation is involved”. This reminds me when a man puts a ring on the finger of his future bride to be here Love flows between both of them and their passion for one another grows closer. Similarly when a child receives and appreciates a gift from his or her parents -love is expressed, the souls of the child and parents are entwined. When we sing Hymns of praises to the Lord our beings are uplifted and we experience Joy Unspeakable. We are wonderfully made! swbeng

LikeLike

Thank you so much, Suan. Love the way you have applied this reflection in life.

LikeLike