246: Saturated
Posted: May 27, 2011 Filed under: 365 Life in the Bogs Challenge, Adventures in art, Adventures in Life, Earth, home, nature, Photography, pond, Quotes, Spirit, Spring, Walking, water, weather | Tags: Feng Shui, Photography, pond, postaday2011, rain, Religion and Spirituality, Ted Andrews, water, WP Weekly Photo Challenge 27 CommentsThis week’s Weekly Photo Challenge is: Water. It is not much of a challenge for me. In fact, it is so easy that I was tempted to complicate it. Because that’s how my mind works at times. Take something simple, add a dash of this and a pinch of that, and the next thing you know, I have a huge project on my hands.
Because of all the rain — stubborn, persistent rain that refuses to go away — when I stepped outside today I felt immersed in water. If ever there was a time to get to know the element of water, this is it. Every step produces a wet, sloshing sound as my feet sink into what has become a giant puddle. There is no dry ground. Anywhere. Even the air feels wet, mushy, and boggy. Water drips, drips, drips, off of everything. Sometimes the rain comes from the trees rather than from the sky.
I know water well, but I looked around the internet to see what others had to say about it. I found that the element of water is associated with the West, the color blue, emotions, intuition, clarity, and healing. It is used for cleansing, healing, and purifying. In Feng Shui, pooling water brings stabilization to surrounding energies, and moving water helps us to let go of energy that is no longer useful to us, taking it out with the flow. Some of these things I knew, and some are new.
But what about mud? We have an abundance of mud here in the Bogs these days. I came back from my walk with my legs covered with mud and blood (the mosquitoes swarmed and apparently my legs were a prime feeding spot), my shoes, socks, and feet soaked and mud colored. Since mud is getting to know me, I decided I should get to know it.
Mud is the union of earth and water. This combination reflects transition and transformation.
Mud is the substance of birth. It is the medium for the emergence of matter. This landscape reflects that there is a new stimulation occurring in some area of your life…
Mud can also be a reminder to recharge and strengthen our connection to primal earth…
On the other hand, excessive amounts of mud, or animals stuck in mud can warn of the same thing. Are you bogged down in a particular area of your life? Are your emotions bogging you down? Are you stuck in old emotions and unwilling to grow and move on?
~ Ted Andrews, Animal Speak
Years ago when I decided in tongue-in-cheek style to refer to where I live as The Bogs, I had no idea it might all become a true bog. Perhaps it won’t. The water, having taught us something, will retreat and go back to its usual hangouts (lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, creeks, and the area bogs). There was a time when I would say/write, “I’m sure that’s what will happen.” Mama Nature has been up to something lately, though. She might have made up her mind to institute some serious changes. We’ll have to wait and see.
Whatever happens, it will be interesting.
I have left almost to the last the magic of water, an element which owing to its changefulness of form and mood and colour and to the vast range of its effects is ever the principal source of landscape beauty, and has like music a mysterious influence over the mind.
~Sir George Sidwell, On the Making of Gardens
Beautiful …
Thank you, Hallysann. 🙂
You were the first person I thought of when I saw what the weekly challenge was! Now, if only we can get some sunshine and warmth back to balance out all this rain…. great shots!!
Thanks, Holly. 🙂
Hopefully we’re finished with the rain. I suspect we’re going to slip right into summer now.
Gorgeous! I love your pond … so jealous. 🙂
Thank you, DragonFae. 🙂
Well, the rotten egg would be me 😉
The water lily is beautiful, and so is the 6th picture. Looks almost magical.
Those plants in the 7th picture look like wild onions?? We have those in our yard, and it smells so good when Greg mows the grass.
The last one is really nice, too, and I can’t wait to see more of the tiger lily!
Could be wild onions, Michaela. That’s what I thought too, but I’m not sure.
Thank you. 🙂 I’m looking forward to the tiger lily blooming too.
So beautiful! It only now occurs to me to ask – do you go swimming in the pond?
Thanks, Christina. 🙂
And yes, we do swim in it. M swims more than I do because I’m not too thrilled with swimming in a pond. But once I’m in the water, I do enjoy it.
that tiger lily plant is striking
interesting meditation on mud 🙂
Thank you, Kel. 🙂
Beautiful and breathtaking.
Thank you, KlassiKurvz. 🙂
thank you for sharing these beautiful images with us. I have to admit I’m making myself develop an appreciation for ‘wet’ since it has rained here pretty much every day since the first of April.
Thank you and you’re welcome, Joss. 🙂
With all the rain we’ve had, I think it’s good to find a way to appreciate it.
Some very pretty reflections. I particularly like the ‘dry land plants in their new home’ photo. Interesting bit about the mud. Have a great weekend.
Thanks, Teresita. You too! 🙂
Omigosh. The shot of the creek with the sunbeam shinning from the upper right angle is one of the most breathtaking I’ve seen in my life. The stream and the swamp are beautiful, too.
I love the quotes you’ve included in this post; I’ve always found water soothing and relaxing, and there’s nothing better than falling asleep to the sound of rain falling.
Thank you, SunsetSeaSoul. 🙂
Water relaxes me too. That’s one of the reasons I love the pond so much.
Very nice. The sixth one is epic 🙂
Thank you, Eden. 🙂
Water should be an easy challenge for me, too … I live with water all around me. (MN is the land of 10,000 + lakes). Taking pictures around water is one of my favorite things to do … water plays with light and reflection so wonderfully sometimes.
I hope mine will turn out as beautiful as yours.
Thank you, Bearyweather. I’m sure they will. 🙂
I’ve always wanted to visit MN and see some of those 10,000+ lakes.
Well, I hope you make it here some day. Don’t forget we also have some gorgeous rivers and wonderful waterfalls (my favorite).
Very pretty photos, Robin. I especially love…well…all of them. Gorgeous.
lol! Thank you, Marianne. 🙂