The Visible Invisible — Manifesting Spirit

Photography is a spiritual experience for me. When I “see,” I see what is there as well as receive and feel the spirit of what is before me, encountering me and within me.

The images of ice were taken while walking along the banks and creeks flowing into the Haw River. Most of these “visions” lasted only moments as the temperature rose with the sun transforming and ultimately returning the water to its liquid state. These photos are simply a witnessing of an experience —what anyone could observe/feel if they open themselves to the presence before them and let it mingle with the spirit within. I offer these images as an invitation to all of us to look, to slow down, to open our eyes and hearts to receive the mysterious magnificence of what lives in us and exists all around us. This presence of nature, in all of its infinite expression is speaking, communicating, offering guidance and wisdom, comfort and challenge—asking that we awaken to our true nature and destiny to live in creative harmony with each other and with the earth itself. 

Unlike the images of ice, the images of fire were taken by “feeling” more than by seeing. I hand held a camera with the shutter open and did not look through the viewfinder. I only saw what manifested after returning home and seeing the images on a computer. In this way what I couldn’t see but felt, the invisible spirit, was made visible.

The snake bone mandalas were created with the tiny white ribs and vertebrae of a small snake whose bones I found lying in a perfect “s” curve on top of a fallen log while walking in the woods. I collected the bones, brought them home and quite spontaneously and without prescience found myself arranging the bones on a piece of black velvet cloth, photographing each transformation as it came into being.  This was a mystical unfolding.

Visible form reveals invisible spirit,

Invisible spirit infuses visible form,

Visible form and Invisible spirit merge,

A co-creative dance of transfiguration.