Serenity and Peace - v4-#17: Butterflies in Butterfly World

Today's Picture to Ponder Photos
Butterflies in Butterfly World, Coconut Creek, FL

I particularly like the overall feeling of the backgrounds, contrasted with the butterflies and flowers in each of the above photos. The center photo, especially, offers me a sense of freedom and spaciousness. The white in the bottom photo may be the contributory factor there. (See FlickR for more photos, including ones of two mating butterflies.)

Self-Reflecting Queries
Four days this past weekend went by in a whirlwind, it seemed, as I shared my favorite Nature spots with my friend Rebecca, from Dallas, of artpaw.com. I've known her for eight years and this is the first time we met face-to-face. Those of you who have been following the writing in Picture to Ponder over the years, may recall that Rebecca set up my first website - www.naturesplayground.com and continued to support me/tutor me in Dreamweaver and other business practices in subsequent years. We were introduced by a friend of hers who was, as I, a participant in an Omega workshop in New York State.

To satisfy my own curiosity, as well as, perhaps, some of yours, on the look of that site, I took the time to dig through old files and reconstruct the original home page as Rebecca had designed it. You can see it at Nature's Playground first page. The Echinacea you see was the flower photo/drawing on that home page. The other thumbnails on top are from later years. Clicking on any of the links will take you to current pages.

So how, did I get from butterflies to websites, you may be wondering? It's a leftover I think from this weekend, when I often lost Rebecca in conversation as I jumped from "story" to "story", often leaving off in the middle, forgetting the principle I once learned, and strive today to practice in communicating, "The point [of what I am about to say] is..."

In my desire to have one or more SRQ's today, I find myself still wandering, AND the point for today is undoubtedly about simplifying. What if I had simply included the three butterfly photos today, with very few words? What if my current sites were as simple as my first? I'd probably be left with the peaceful feeling that emanates from the photos.

Are there places in your life now where you feel some simplification may be in order? If so, are there things or practices from your past that, if revisited, might give you access to some new steps now? Remember, one step at a time!

Peace.

Comments

[Carolyn]

Photographs reminding me of my experience with a butterfly just emerging from its chrysalis ... my mother having kept the caterpillar in a jar until its unfolding. Here's the poem:

My Mother and the Butterfly
Fall 1999

Mathematical magic
Circular to oval to triangular

Biological bemusement
From the stillness of a tiny egg
To the mystery of flight.

Orange and blue contrapuntal colors
As close as my breath
She walks on my hand
Unfolding and evolving before my eyes.

In a world of darkness
The light of nature’s wonder
Reminds me
To stay alive
One more day.

[Debii]

These are so beautiful. It is not surprising that you are featuring these butterflies today. In the metaphysical world, they are associated with the spirits of our departed loved ones. I see him in every pic!

[Sheila Finkelstein]

Thanks, Debii. I appreciate your acknowledgment and your remembering Sam. I also appreciate your letting me know that butterflies are associated with the spirits of our departed loved ones.

I am particularly drawn to the white and black one and will put up a page of different photos of him on my site, linking to Remembering Sam - http://www.sheilafinkelstein.com/sam.html

(Done - See http://www.sheilafinkelstein.com/whitebutterfly.html

[Suzanne Holman]

Sheila, butterflies have always been particularly meaningful for me....
My favorite of these three photos is the bottom one.....something about it is just so peaceful.
Today was a tough day for me, seeing my mom who has Alzheimers in a very withdrawn state, nonverbal....even though she was sitting in the hall...seemed unable to stay awake.... She seems to be moving away from this realm.
hugs to you from s:)