LAND, SEA, & STARS ABOVE

“No matter how sophisticated you may be, a large granite mountain cannot be denied –
It speaks in silence to the very core of your being.”
– Ansel Adams

Hills, valleys, mountains, meadows, rivers, streams, lakes, oceans, the sky above, and the mud below call to us. We are naturally drawn to their beauty, adventure, mystery, and challenge. Why?

Broken down into elements, you and me—we— are oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, chlorine, sodium, and magnesium. We are iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, iodine, selenium, and fluorine.

In other words, we truly are one with the universe. We share base elements with the world. And, with all the creatures that live among us.

The only difference is that we humans have a soul, a guiding spirit, a consciousness beyond the physical, and the rest of the universe doesn’t. Right? I am not so sure.

I took this photo of Mt. Everest standing on the summit of Mt. Kalapathar, a sister mountain in the Himalayas. The Nepalese call Everest, Sagarmāthā or “Goddess of the Sky.” In Tibet, they call her, Chomolungma, “Mother Goddess of the Universe.”  When I was there, the Goddess was not happy. It was palpable.

Conversely, Mt. Alma Dablam seemed to guide us through the 110 miles of trekking in the Himalayas. Her constant presence was welcoming and gentle. She was nurturing, forever watching over us.

Nature breathes. She feels joy. She feels sadness. She gives. She takes. She craves harmony and balance, just like you and me. You simply have to honor and pay respectful attention to behold it.

As you gaze at this collection, I encourage you to follow Ansel Adams’ advice: to not only look at these photos, but look into them.