Over the weekend I received a question from a new reader and I thought I’d share it and my answer with you.
“Could I use photography and/or my love of drawing to find some answers for the clarity I have been searching for? Have you found this experience/process has helped you gain clarity in discernment?”
What a very interesting question! And, my short answer is yes, definitely. Discernment tends to be a religious term, as in “What is God telling me to do?” In more general terms, the word discernment means “the ability to judge well.” Here’s what I’d like to add and I’m sure you’ve heard it before.
The answers are found within.
It’s active presence and awareness of what your heart and body are telling you that facilitates discernment or the ability to judge well. Practices like prayer, deep listening, meditation, mindful walking and eating, yoga, being in nature, any type of art (photography, drawing, painting, etc.) are all tools that bring us into that presence and awareness.
“Presence is an embodied experience, not a concept.” ~ Tara Brach, True Refuge (paid link)
For me, it’s the mindful practice of photography, seeing, listening, and being in nature that keep me grounded and present. It’s actually experiencing and engaging in life, not thinking about it. The answers you uncover from presence aren’t always clear. You might just have a feeling. But, we honour ourselves by paying attention to those feelings. And, sometimes we act based on intuition, not knowing exactly where it will take us.
Example #1
A couple of years ago, I was at a retreat on poetry in Kentucky. At the time, I was developing online classes in photography and reading a great deal about what it means to live a contemplative life. The Director of the retreat center learned that I was a photographer and asked if I’d be interested in doing a photography retreat there. My whole body responded with a clear yes, and I found myself saying that of course I would because I’m a contemplative photographer. Driving home later, I wondered what I’d gotten myself into. I’d never before said that I was a contemplative photographer or facilitated a weekend retreat. But, my body knew. I did that retreat and many more since.
Example #2
Shortly after moving to Niagara-on-the-Lake, I noticed that many of my photographs were variations of the one at the top of this post. I was very aware of the ground at my feet and how things (debris, blossoms, sticks, stones) randomly collected there. When I focused my camera lens, I saw a beautiful abstract whole where everything fit together, like a little community. At the same time, I’d been thinking about how to better create a sense of community through my website. This image gave me a visual representation of what that might look like within a container (the frame).
And, here are three related posts.
Photography, Drawing, and Seeing
The Great Work of Your Life – A Book Review
I’d love to answer your questions anytime, so if you’ve got one you’ve been dying to ask me, please do so below or send me an email.