Reflections - Blog Posts
As I navigate through healing my traumas, I often think about how many women in my lineage have endured the same painful lessons I have. Our traumas run much deeper than this lifetime; our current reality is built on the back of a capitalist patriarchal society that relentlessly attacks the divine feminine. In order to truly know myself, I must know and accept my matriline. The women before me are all reflections of the woman I am today.
What did the women before me go through?
What have they passed on to me, from generation to generation?
What strengths of mine belong to them? What pain of mine belongs to them?
I admire the women before me for their strength needed to navigate in a patriarchal world that disparages women. I empathize with the generations of powerful women who had to sacrifice, fight, protect. Who were made to neglect their needs, stay small, remain silent..
I commend my matriline for their resilience, though I know their fierce femininity inevitably grew battered and bruised.
I accept the pain and trauma they have passed on to me, for if I don’t recognize it, I may continue to pass it on to those after me. I accept my ancestral trauma because I am the one in the bloodline who will transmute it.
I don’t just identify with their wounds and suffering; for they also passed to me their strength, vigor, and power. I come from a bloodline of magical, intuitive women; of serene stoics. My matrline has passed down keen judgment, sharp observation, honorable virtues, unshakable intelligence. I come from a matriline that have razor-sharp instincts, even if they didn’t always know how to follow them. I sit on generation after generation of wisdom.
I cherish and honor the women before me, because the lessons they’ve learned have led to the woman I am today. 🕯️🦋🕸️👣💌
What a beautiful misty morning was in Sigulda! The best time to see truly amazing colours with no one else around you! 🌅 . . . . . #sigulda #latvia #latvija #sunrisephotography #sunriseoftheday #sunrise_sunsets_aroundworld #sunrise🌅 #morningmotivation #morningsun #misty #moodygrams #riverside #riverwalk #nature_perfection #naturepic #natureshots #naturegram #landscapelovers #landscapephotography #landscape_photography #landscapes #reflections #reflection #dreamy #foggy #goodmorning #earthpix #earthoutdoors #earthgallery #awesomeearth (at Sigulda, Latvjia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CA2zIpzBxX8/?igshid=180racpom5yhn
Reflections
You made me beautiful, held within your eyes,
a reflection I could cherish, to my surprise.
But in a thousand gazes, I sought in vain,
that same sweet beauty, I'd never find again.
by Weltenasche.
019307 The Mackinaw Bridge by David Hoffman Via Flickr: This was taken in September 2017. The smoke from fires out west and moisture in the air combined to create a halo of light around the bridge.
Yes, we have power!
I've been reading this book on the establishment, maintenance and refinement of White Supremacy in the known universe. Yes, it is The United Independent Compensatory Code/System/Concept: a textbook/workbook for thought, speech and/or action of racism (white supremacy) by Neely Fuller, Jr. The book has me hooked with a pencil in hand always star-ing important statements but I really do not buy the author's point on absolute powerlessness among non-white people. I hear his argument about the lack of success victims of racism have had in overthrowing and replacing white supremacy with justice and correctness in the known universe, but at the same time I disagree with his point of our incapability to do so. I disagree that we are mentally inferior than whites, esp. white supremacists (racists). I see why he repeats this argument over and over again -- to highlight the ability and responsibility white supremacists (racists) have to bring justice and correctness in the known world. But every time I join a march in support of peoples' suffering from many injustices I can't stop being amazed by the strength, passion and willingness people have to come together and stand/march/chant & stand in uncomfortable weather conditions in order to create solidarity and try to raise awareness about a given topic. A topic that touches home and the soul. Every time I see and feel that energy for hope and change I just cannot believe that we are incapable to tackle the bigger picture. The mere fact of acknowledging (and not ignoring) what is going on that's creating injustice in our existence is powerful and that's why I can't share Fuller's point.
Today, when I joined the march in response to the decision on Eric Garner's case at Foley Park in Manhattan I stepped in and found some organizer friends that had brought the youth to the march. I couldn't stop being amazed by their energy and most important by all the questions they had about the circumstances in which we currently live. Most of the youth were recently arrived immigrants from different countries, but the young men I kept nearby (so they wouldn't get separated from the larger group) came from various countries in Asia. One of them asked me in various occasions what the people were chanting because they were singing so speedy that he couldn't understand and he didn't want to support something he didn't understand. I smiled and explained with my heart humbled and with admiration every time. His smart assessment proves how sophisticated and aware our youth of color are. Tonight was a blessing and I am happy to be around powerful people who are passionated to stand and march for justice.
Great Barrier Island, NZ by Wayne Pinkston Via Flickr: Website, Instagram, Facebook Beach Panorama on The Great Barrier Island, New Zealand. 14-24 mm lens, 15 mm, f/2.8, 30 sec., ISO 12,800, 14 vertical images. ________________________________________________ The 2 brighter dots beneath the middle Milky Way arch (one brighter than the other) are the Greater and Lesser Magellanic Clouds. They are dwarf galaxies that orbit the Milky Way Galaxy. We do not see them from the Northern Hemisphere so I’m pretty excited to capture them. 😀
Carpe Diem by Wayne Pinkston Via Flickr: Website, Instagram, Facebook Carpe Diem: Sometimes it’s best to just stop and enjoy the moment. In our pursuit of beautiful photos we often get distracted with the chase itself, and them after we are there we get caught up in the technicalities of capturing the photograph. You you ever just stop and enjoy the scene or night sky? Some of my most enjoyable moments at night are when a few clouds roll in and I just lay down and watch the sky waiting for them to pass. The quiet solitude and beautiful sky are like a magic tonic erasing the cares of the day. Carpe Diem! ___________________________________________ Best wishes to all in this holiday season, and good shooting in the upcoming year! Wayne
Mountain Lake by Wayne Pinkston Via Flickr: Website, Instagram, Facebook Mountain Lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Stacked image in Starry Landscape Stacker, 16 light frames, 1 dark frame.
Reflections by Wayne Pinkston Via Flickr: Website, Instagram, Facebook Reflections: The Greater and Lesser Magellanic Clouds are reflected in the shallow waters of the Great Barrier Island in New Zealand. The Magellanic Clouds are irregular dwarf galaxies that orbit the Milky Way. They do have a “bar” of stars or brightness centrally but are not classic spiral galaxies. Observation and theoretical evidence suggests that the clouds have been greatly distorted by tidal interactions with the Milky Way as they travel close to it (Astronomy.com). ___________________________________________ As an observer from the Northern Hemisphere it was fun to see the features of the Southern Hemisphere sky, like the Magellanic Clouds. These lie near the “southern arm” of the Milky Way and are not visible in the Northern Hemisphere. ___________________________________________ Usually we just have to coordinate the position on the Milky Way, the moon cycles, landscape location, and weather to get the desired shot. Here there was one more factors, the tides, which I was not used to considering. At low tide there is a very thin layer of water along the shore which was perfect for capturing reflections. Luckily this occurred around 1 - 2 a.m. when the stars were in excellent position. Stacked image, 14-24 mm lens, 14 mm, f/2.8, 20 sec., ISO 12,800. ___________________________________________ If you want an excellent guide to good shooting spots on the Great Barrier Island contact Carol @darkskysanctuary on IG.
reflexiones
