Embracing the Full Artistic Spectrum: from Air to Earth

 

As an artist navigating the material world, I often feel like a seal transitioning between two realms—the fluidity of water and the solidity of land. Much like the seal emerges to bask in the sun before plunging back into the unknown ocean depths, I find myself oscillating between the airy realm of heart, lofty ideals, and creativity, and the solid ground where movement feels more deliberate and, at times, challenging.

Just as the seal glides effortlessly through the water, covered in its glossy sheen, I, too, move more fluidly in the realm of ideas, ideals, creativity, contemplation, and pure sensory experience. Yet, an innate calling beckons me to anchor myself in the earthly soil, to establish roots that delve deep into the nurturing embrace of Mother Earth, a source that knows exactly what I need to feel complete.

Despite the comfort and natural movement I experience in the airy realm of artistic expression, there's an undeniable pull to immerse myself in the earth. It's the very essence that dictated my birth into this solid human form. What once seemed like a choice between abandoning my artistic pursuits for a grounded existence turned out to be a delightful revelation—I get to have it all. An artist descending to earth, a human child returning to the bosom of its earthy mother—it feels remarkably complete.

In the initial stages, I mistakenly thought I had to forsake the artist within, to walk on solid ground and call it a day. But no, to my delight and surprise! I discovered that this journey of mine is about embracing both aspects because that's how it was meant to be. An artist descending to earth, a woman of the soil, and I'm loving the wholeness of it all. The completeness I feel now surpasses anything I experienced just a year ago, for example, not to mention other times long gone.

This process is like assembling a personal puzzle, each piece contributing to a more intricate self-portrait. And so, a new chapter of being even more authentically myself unfolds—a story that continues to be written.

Now, you might be wondering, what does all of this have to do with mindful photography? Well, dear reader, let's connect the dots.

Mindful photography, in the context of my journey (if you are familiar with my photos), becomes a tool for capturing the essence of both realms—the ethereal and the earthly. It's about infusing creativity with a grounded presence, capturing details from the natural world and moments that reflect the duality of my existence. Through the lens, I find a harmonious dance between the airy, imaginative shots and the solid, earthy landscapes and natural elements. It becomes a visual representation of my ongoing dialogue with the two worlds, a meditation on the beauty of embracing both the intangible and the tangible.

In the intricate dance between the realms of air and earth, I am reminded of the profound words of Chuang-TZU: 'The bells and stones have voices but, unless they are struck, they will not sound.' This sentiment beautifully echoes the essence of my artistic exploration. The airy realm, akin to the bells with latent voices, is filled with ideas, ideals, and creativity, waiting to be struck into expression. On the solid ground, like stones, my roots pierce deep, and it's in the striking—the action of creation—that the true resonance of my existence becomes audible. Each stroke of creativity, whether in the airy flights of imagination or the grounded solidity of artistic expression, brings forth a new phase of embodiment on my unique journey.

So, here's to mindful photography—an art form that mirrors the balance I strive to achieve, a snapshot of the evolving narrative where the artist and the grounded being coexist. Cheers to the ongoing puzzle, the dance of elements, and the humor in realizing that having it all was the plan all along. Yuhuuu!