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Fog
The fog rolls in over the water, spilling onto the pier. It spreads like thick smoke. More mystical than eerie, I lean in. I find myself lost in it, clouded by it, surrounded by it. Every edge of a safe and familiar corner blurs, disorients. More curious than circumspect, I trust the space. I trust my intuition. With zen navigation, I move through it. The sun insinuates itself, in pursuit of the foggy droplets, at times, piercing the veil. ~Toni
See more of my photography, and purchase prints on Zenfolio
The Beatles
THE FAB FOUR
Raphael – The group’s bad boy. Rebellious, he doesn’t like anyone telling him what to do. His personality can be fierce and sarcastic, with a deadpan humor.
Weapon: Twin Sais. Color: Red
Leonardo – The level-headed tactician and responsible one. Creative. Protective. He has strong leadership qualities. As a result, he sometimes conflicts with Raphael.
Weapon: Twin Katanas. Color: Blue
Donatello – Less outspoken, a calmer, more reserved member of the group. He is the the wise one, and though quiet, he is intense. The least violent in the group, he uses peaceful methods to solve conflicts, but never hesitates to defend his brothers. He is a Ninjitsu master.
Weapon: Bo Staff. Color: Purple
Michelangelo – Easy-going, fun-loving, athletic. He is often the comic relief in the group, with his physical antics and carefree style. While he loves to relax, he also has an adventurous side. He knows how to wield those sticks!
Weapon: Nunchakus. Color: Orange
Wait a minute! These aren’t the Beatles, they’re the Ninja Turtles. Or — are they?
But…it WAS 50 years today when The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.
And here’s another clue for you all: Leonardo was Paul.
The Needle and the Damage Done
Some of the paths we walk take us in the wrong direction….Mercy.
Rest In Peace.
Philip Seymour Hoffman (July 23, 1967 – February 2, 2014)
Year of the Horse
Happy New Year! Gong Xi Fa Cai!
That beautiful snake slithered away on its reptilian belly, just clearing the hooves of the horse, who galloped in on the new moon. The warm blooded Chinese horse is a burning flame and this year’s wood horse will feed the fire.
It’s your horse, it will carry you, with its incredible power and spirit. Look into its big, beautiful eyes and you will see loyalty, independence and a little bit of a rebel heart. It’s time for adventure.
C’mon, let’s go for a ride.
Happy Trails….
xo, Toni
More Light
The Winter Solstice….
In astronomy, the seasons move in celestial cycles. As the earth rotates around the sun, it also spins on its own axis, which tilts towards the plane of its rotation (about 23.5 degrees). The northern hemisphere receives less direct sunlight.
Days of less and less light, moving towards the birth of winter and a new year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, unmoving on the horizon. “Solstice” translates from the Latin “sun” and “standing still”. And in this shift, the northern hemisphere experiences its first moments of winter. And the annual winter solstice begins.
This marks the shortest day. It is also the longest night. After the darkest dark, the sun will again ascend in the northern sky as the days begin to grow longer. It is the Earth returning to light. There will be more light. And more light.
Watch Chris Stevens, in Northern Exposure find light in the darkness with art: Northern Exposure
Take A Pin To Your Ego
Take a pin to your ego.
It’s hot air in an old balloon.
Jung said, There is no coming into consciousness without pain.”
Do it.
You will feel better. We all will feel better.
Adapt
Adapt. Adapt. Adapt.
Steven Hawking said, “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.”
In adapting to the environment, its weirdness becomes normal.
Even immersed in the most difficult of landscapes, we learn to go with the flow — or, um, in this case, the wind.
Watch this short, and brilliant, animation by Robert Loebel. Ha, It will blow you away…
Click here to see the film: WIND
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)
In Chinese, Wu De means martial virtue.
“De” is the “de” in the Tao De Ching, and it ultimately represents spiritual, transcendent power.
Nelson Mandela epitomized the term in every way. Martial Virtue: strength, courage, integrity, beauty, restraint, forgiveness, peace.
The purest form of spirit. And the most powerful.
Guest post @ brianbrownewalker.com
Usi Letela Uxolo – Mandela Brings Us Peace
After The Hurricane
Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the myriad creatures as straw dogs;
the sage is ruthless, and treats the people as straw dogs… ~Tao Te Ching
Hurricane Sandy came ashore in the night. The moon and the tide helped her.
She brought the waters up over the banks and into the streets. She moved with reckless abandon, took what she wanted, slinking back into the sea.
In the morning light, damage done, we surveyed the landscape — a place filled with broken glass, broken hearts, and broken dreams. Some lost everything. We cried, cleaned up, managed. This one image, a table flung far from it’s home, evoked the feeling of our grace and endurance at the mercy of nature…
The spirit of the valley never dies. ~Tao Te Ching
More of my images of Hurricane Sandy
Honor 9/11
Remember who was lost, who was saved, the responders, and the soldiers; who was healed and the still healing…
Love, love and more love.
