puddle Archives - Owl Medicine: Shamanic Healing

Reflections

There’s something about photos of reflections that captivates my imagination. It’s almost like playing the game of whisper down the alley. No, that might not be it. Perhaps it’s akin to looking at a scene through old-fashioned European rolled glass; the kind that’s sometimes used in stained glass projects.

I’ve taken a few photos of reflections that I could sit and stare at for hours. Sometimes the water appears totally calm, yet the shift in the whole texture of the reflection makes it obvious that there’s movement we might otherwise miss.

I love this – Photo: L. Weikel

The photo just above is one of those that I could stare at and lose myself within. There’s something about it – I think it exudes the vibration of a watercolor. Or maybe some kind of textured painting? Not being an artist nor having any education in the field, I will confess to knowing nothing of which I speak, other than what I feel when I look at these photos.

This captivates me every time – Photo: L. Weikel

Two other photos – reflections off the surface of the Tohickon (as opposed to a big puddle) – also spring to mind. I captured them in this post (but have included one of them above).

There’s a peace, a calm, that I feel emanating from them. There’s also an aliveness conveyed that feels almost more juicy – or is it ethereal? – than the objects themselves.

Perspective on the Reflection – Photo: L. Weikel

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Waxing Moon in Puddle – Photo: L. Weikel

Tonight’s Walk

Wow, did I need a walk this evening. I’m not even sure why, specifically, tonight’s walk felt so essential to my balance, but it did.

The moon began rising in the east before the sun had even set. Karl and I watched it rise as we set off on a four mile jaunt, both of us knowing how essential it is to remain in balance during times of stress.

Even the morning after receiving the call telling us our son had died, Karl and I walked. We walked and we walked and we walked, picking up garbage along the way like we always do. I’ll never forget it: the first day following our receipt of that horrific call, we found an empty bottle of Golden Monkey. For whatever reason, that bottle felt like a sign from him; a sign that he was OK and we should smile through our tears.

Shots of the Moon

I’m not happy with the photos I’ve taken of the moon lately. They’ve felt like they need more context, or a better zoom, or both.

So tonight I tried something different. My attempts were made through a side door, of sorts. Trying to sneak up on the moon and maybe get a bit of a head start on zooming in for a closeup by agreeing to capturing her in costume. So tonight’s almost-full moon was captured in puddles we encountered along the way.

The first one, which I placed at the top of this article, is simply a watery depiction of our magnificent moon, as she readied herself for embracing her fullness tomorrow night into Monday morning.

This photo was taken before it was even dark out. I have to admit, I never tire of trying to capture the moon’s elusive beauty, even if it ends up being her reflection cherished amongst dead leaves.

Magical Reflections

The second shot was a total surprise. While it, too, was taken as a reflection in a puddle, nighttime had fully set in and it took some fiddling to keep it from using a flash or automatically going into ‘night mode.’

Finally, nevertheless, I managed to find the right setting for the job. I’m not sure I’ll be able to replicate how I managed to discover the setting that perfectly captured what I could see in that moment, but at least I found it once.

All this photo reminds me of is that there’s magic no matter where you look: down into a puddle or up into the vast terrain of space.

Keep This In Mind

In these times of potentially needing to restrict our movements in order to minimize our exposure to the Coronavirus, let’s remember now just how much earthly and unearthly beauty surrounds us all the time. Take joy in the little things, such as moonlight reflected in a puddle of water along a country road.

If there’s any chance to walk, do so. Let’s celebrate our health, our freedom, and our unparalleled access to nature’s beauty.

Let’s celebrate the little things, like reflections in puddles.