Branches intertwined
The river lies behind them
Spring will be here soon

In a previous post, I explored the difference between perception (pre-thought) and intuition (pattern language) and how to practice increasing our perceptual awareness. Here, I’ll give an example of how it works.

On a recent spring-like day, I spent some time sitting at the river. The first perception that came into my awareness was the intertwining of lines, as created by the branches of the still-bare trees. I stayed with this perception and photographed exactly what I saw. Then, I wrote the haiku poem which describes exactly what I saw.

Making Meaning 

Next came intuition, which added language and meaning to what I saw and felt.The title “Intertwined” immediately came to mind.

I began to do some visual journaling exercises on what the word “intertwined” meant to me. First, stream of consciousness writing to help me become aware of what was going on in my mind. I wrote about the decisions and choices we make and the impacts they have, constructive or destructive. Often, we never know. I wondered how I could be more intentional in my choices, yet still knowing that I’m bound to make some that will have negative consequences. They may branch out in ways that I didn’t intend.

Everything we do and don’t do leaves a wake. Everything that is alive and moves in the world, all the winds and worms and wrens and willows leave in their passing some kind of similar wake. ~ Stephen Jenkinson, Die Wise.

We’re all intertwined like these branches. There’s no getting away from it.

In the end, I wondered if we kept in mind the consequences of our choices and the fact that life is so short, in fact could end at any moment, would we be more careful? Would we let things go more easily? Be more forgiving of ourselves and others?

Seeing Patterns

I also noticed that this theme of being “intertwined” has been coming up for me lately in similar photographs. There is a pattern. This tells me that this is a concept I should explore further, for my own personal awareness or possibly a photo essay. This is the type of work we do in the visual journaling workshop, Once Upon a Time: Photographs have Stories to Tell, which begins again on February 27th. Please join us.

** Books mentioned have Amazon affiliate links, meaning I make a few cents if you purchase through my link. I only recommend books that I’ve read.