Wednesday Walk. Mossy Creek Bank. Australia.
Flat Rock. Waterpools and Waterfalls.
Ferns of green and russet. Mirror perfect reflections.
Everything in nature is alive. I am alive to everything in nature. ~Ally.
The Sacred Science by Nick Polizzi.
We see photographs and videos of so many exotic locations all around the world which can tend to make us feel that our own surroundings are relatively banal and if we are not attentive we can slip into taking our environment for granted.
I've just finished reading The Sacred Science by Nick Polizzi. I didn't want the book to end. Yet right at the end, Nick gives some practical ways of revisioning one's life, so that the reader may continue to use the principles expounded in the book on their own Sacred Journey.
I'm feeling a little restless. Questioning what I've been doing with my own life. I would love to be able to drop everything and instantly be in the heart of the Amazon jungle, living in a little hut for a full month, where the only person I saw was the Shaman who was assisting me in the recovery of who I really am and meant to be.
But where can I go?
Failing that, I'd love to just stay in Australia and go to the Kata Tjuta National Park and visit The Valley of the Winds and some of the other large rocks in this area. But staying for a full month would be frightfully expensive. Besides, it would be TOO hot ~ It's hot enough in Sydney, without going to Central Australia right now.
Next on the list are Lake Mungo and Broome and The Kimberley Again way TOO hot ~ Perhaps in the winter.
And then there's Kangaroo Island in South Australia. So far Kangaroo Island is the only feasible place I could stay, where I'd be able to live in a 'little hut' ~ Well maybe a cabin in a camping ground, for a month, without being surrounded by tourists.
Having dwelt upon some of the faraway places in Australia that I'd still love to visit ~ When the time is right ~ Made me realize just how easy it is to lose touch with the beauty and transformative energy of our immediate surroundings.
Living in Sydney.
One of the reasons that I love living in Sydney is that a lot of our Harbour area is protected as National Parkland and it's still possible to stay in some of these National Parks and be completely undisturbed. For instance, Lane Cove National Park is relatively very close to where I live although I haven't been there for many years now. Perhaps it's been long enough that it may have lost some of its familiarity for me.
I thought, for now, I'll revisit and take you to the Garigal National Park and through these photographs recall being in the middle of one of the most unspoiled virgin wilderness area in Sydney's Middle Harbour.
After walking for about an hour along the track that was following Carroll Creek I reached a huge open rock clearing. Such a delightful place to stop for a while and have some lunch. And then wander over to the top of the waterfall to watch the water pounding as it plummeted over and through a series of boulders.
Mossy banks and lush ferns. ~Ally.
But wait a minute Ally:
A small quiet voice that I can barely hear whispers to me: What about your own backyard? Familiar as the palm of your hand? Maybe, but it's everywhere as magical as some of the most remote areas in Australia ~ Even the Amazon Jungle.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST DO IT?
To be continued.
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I find this photograph very beautiful @allyinspirit, gives the feeling of being a very quiet and harmonious, I would love to have a natural park near my house, as well as you, I think I would be there every day! I saw the pictures of Lane Cove Park and really was surprised by so much natural beauty, it is a very beautiful place. <3 <3 <3
This photograph would be a good entry for the fantasy art contest, you just put some bright blue light under the plants in the rock with moss and some butterflies distilling shine with their wings, would give a great magical atmosphere. XD
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This comment from the curator is for information and encouragement. The upvotes from nTopaz and rankings are based on the popularity of your art work when posted to the nTopaz platform.Thanks ever so much @yanes94. The Australian bushland can be very scraggly ~ Which I always used to find personally rather challenging as I love beauty in perfection and order. However being able to regularly immerse myself in this 'wilderness' ~ I've come to see it in a totally different light now.
In my photography, one of my aims is to show the untamed scraggly nature of our bushland, in such a way that its unruly beauty really shines.
In my collage pieces, I use elements from the bushland as a background for other plants and flowers ~ In this way I can show contrasts of imperfection and perfection, muted and vibrant colour.
I love your idea of working with an image like this and adding some fantasy elements into it. I've worked with photoshop a little, but would prefer to work with hand-cut collage in this way.
I love so many of the entries in your fantasy art contest and would love to enter something too. There's still a few days left so if I can free up a little time, I'll see what I can come up with. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
First off I love these shots so beautiful and an interestign lists of places to visit, I think the only two I have been to are the ones in Sydney
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Thanks so much Jay. I had the feeling for revisiting some of our really scraggy bush again. If not in actuality then in imagery. These photographs show the green havens when you come down to the creek bed.
I'm far more attracted to being able to walk around Kata Tjuta than 'The Rock' ~ Although given the chance to go there, I wouldn't say 'No.' And Lake Mungo has been a long time dream, ever since I lived in Mildura for a year, before coming to Sydney. It has the oldest linkage to the Australian indigenous peoples' past. And a photographers dream is moonlight over the 'Walls of China' Preferably a full moon.
Pleasure to join Wednesday Walk again Jay. Been a while ~And I still have to show my own backyard. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
Indeed sometimes it good to let our mind and imagination travel where they wish
I do wish I had made it to see the Great Wall back when I was traveling
Yes, it's essential for an artist to travel to the land of imagination.
Often we realize, but only in hindsight, where we might have gone ~ Had we known or had we more time. Makes you more adamant to not overlook 'things' that might be there for you. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
Yes so well said, especially now that I cannot travel, I wish I had travelled more, but then again I cannot complain I have been to over 60 Countries and seen so many amazing things both good and bad
Really great pictures. Love all the different greens combined with the hints of purple. Besides the pictures also a nice piece you wrote, indeed keep your dreams on visiting far away places but don't lose sight of your direct surroundings!
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EXACTLY @tijntje. We should never lose sight of whatever is around us, wherever we happen to be.
The dreams of visiting Kata Tjuta and The Kimberley and Lake Mungo are very much in my veins ~ But my motto for just about everything is When the time is right. And sometimes things happen in very unexpected ways when we just stay open to WHAT IS.
I'm really pleased that you like these photographs and the writing. I have a lot more to share of our local wilderness ~ This mossy rock area, although natural, was one of the more 'tame' areas. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
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Thanks ever so much @steemitbloggers. I'm so happy and appreciative of being a member of the Power House Creatives family now. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
Love the photo. Nature is an artwork in itself. All we have to do is take a closer look.
So very true @jmvanbreda. There is so much intricacy in nature, when we take the time to stop and look more closely. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
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Delighted for the Garigal National Park to be on the Steemit World Map. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
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There really is beauty everywhere if we just look for it, isnt there?
Sure is Melinda. It's quite the opposite here in the heat, as it is for you in the cold. But it's still best to stay inside until the cooler weather comes. Although early in the morning it's wonderful to be out and about. There's usually frost on the ground and because I love walking along the tracks barefoot, it's a tad gentler. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
I am all for escaping to your own back garden! I love to garden so am always excited by the prospect. And part of the zen finding your escape for me is making that oasis from seed to plant to fruit to dried flower etc.
I think this is another reason I've been so distraught with my art is having to be at my familie's place rather than back at home, I've not really felt alone in my own place to escape to and I miss that escape.
Yet, we can find escapes wherever we find ourselves I suppose.
Also, I LOVE ferns. I am obsessed with them and all the variety.
Good luck finding your own escape. Maybe build your own secret hut in your back garden?
Oh Ally, build the hut! How awesome would that be especially surrounded by large Brugmansia blossoms to permeate the air with their luscious fragrance? Your photos of the parks are stunning and so serene. I can see why you would love to stay there more often.