GATE CRASHER

"The Gate Crasher" (9-22-15 038v2) is a very new pic for a change. This fern just keeps on keepin' on. (Take that, you mean old drought!) I probably have more pix of its various configurations over the past several months than any other growing thing around our retirement community grounds. And I got quite a giggle the other day when I saw that little interloper fern branch.

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below “Previous Posts”) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,

[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

GANESH CHATURTHI ALTAR 2015

Only for Ganesh would I keep trying to take this sort of photo. Can't tell you how many settings I've tried, both this year and last, that did not work at all. And the many different times of the day I tried taking pix, and with/without lamps on, etc. All these reflective surfaces, too, are a misery. As I say, only for Ganesh. Smile. Anyway, I share this not very well focused pic [9-25-15 009v2] because it actually not only encompasses the entire altar, but doesn't have one white glare of light anywhere in it. (Thanks to all the Deities for that little miracle!) I also wanted to show the little gift corner after all had been offered. It's to the right, below the small square white frame with the gold foil Ganesh in it. I noticed that white circle in the cloth when I placed the first gift there. And decided to keep each successive evening's gift within its curve. The last placed there was actually a surprise gift I received from a friend yesterday. She said she's been enjoying these posts. It's that little metallic medallion Ganesh in the shell just behind the orange gem stone. And so the gifts go 'round and 'round. Something I'd do well to remember when, as they have been a lot recently, the days get hard. And when Ganesh is always here for support and joy and playfulness. Happy Birthday, sweet Ganapati, until your festival next year -- and all the coming year through.

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below “Previous Posts”) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,

[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

The party's just about over ...

Tonight is the last night of Ganesh's birthday festival week ("Ganesh Chaturthi"). It went faster than usual and I'm already a little sad at the thought of leaving my last little gift tonight on the altar I set up for His birthday. I'm going to be sure to acknowledge Him more often this coming year. Even with all the figurines and pictures of Him I have around my rooms, I can sometimes forget to do so. But back to this party's being just about over. I have always really liked the graphic above [Ganesh folder] that I found years ago on the internet. What a delightful presentation of the tiniest portion of Ganesh's many faces. And seeing all these together always reminds me that He Himself is just one of the uncountable faces of the Great Mystery. Albeit Ganesh is pretty much my favorite shining face, still I embrace that He's only one star among the many that make up The One.

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below “Previous Posts”) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,

[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

A Resting Ganesh

Today's Ganesh [Ganesh folder, 013v2] in honor of the week long festival of this Hindu Deity's birthday (see previous posts) is of a bedspread of mine. It's so large it dwarfs my little twin bed. You couldn't see his feet even if I'd stood back further to take the shot, as they hang off the end of the bed. And you can barely see his other two arms (at either side of his ears). I've yet to actually leave this spread on the bed (it was there only for the pic) as I think I'd rather hang it on a wall. I've got it stored for now, folded neatly on a chair where I can see one of his sweet feet, waiting for the inspiration and energy to strike for how best to display Him fully. (He's huge and my rooms are small and crowded.) I love this color combo: His color orange and "my" color purple.

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below “Previous Posts”) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,

[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

COSMIC GANESH

"Cosmic Ganesh" (9-5-14 001v2a) was just morphed this morning from a pic I took during last year's Ganesh Chaturthi. Still haven't had time to load and work on pix I've taken so far during this year's Ganesh birthday festival. (See previous couple of posts for details on the festival.) This year's is turning out to be less festive, yet I think reaching a bit further. Less fuss on the surface and more depth, if you will. In that statement I'm referencing the short meditation I do each evening at the Ganesh altar I set up for His traditional birthday week celebration each year. Although I offer a little gift of a stone or shell or some such thing each night to Him, the real gifts are coming to me in what feel like important insights. As a prayer I've written to Him asks, Ganesh seems to be moving me out of my own way. At least for that quiet time I sit before the altar. Smile. (One of His titles is "Remover of Obstacles.")

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below “Previous Posts”) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,

[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

2014 GANESH CHATURTHI ALTAR

I've taken pix of this year's Ganesh Chaturthi (see previous post) altar. But I've just not had the time to load them to my computer and work on them (my pix always need work). It looks very similar to this one from last year [9-8-14 005v2]. Only all the gifts haven't yet been given, as they had already been in this photo. (One per night of the week long festival -- that arc at the bottom of stones, shells, and other little objects.) Sitting at this year's altar each night so far has been one of the few comforts I'm finding in life these days. And that's something else I'm grateful to Ganesh for, that He came into my life all those years ago. Unsought and even unrecognized at first. But ultimately, oh, so welcome.

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below “Previous Posts”) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,

[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

THE BODHI TREE

"The Bodhi Tree" (10-20-09 7665v2g) is a newer version of yesterday's pic. I probably would have posted it some other time, except that Ganesh Chaturthi started a couple of days ago and I've not yet honored it on this blog. Ganesh Chaturthi is a week long celebration of the Hindu Deity Ganesh's birthday. And given Ganesh is my "first among equals" of a few (not all Hindu) Deities I always observe it. I set up an altar and offer Him a little gift each night (a gem stone or rock or shell, etc.) and sit meditating for a bit. BTW, in case you've not read my previous year's posts on this festival, Ganesh is the elephant headed Deity who's most known as "Remover of Obstacles." Now, back to this pic. The bodhi tree is often associated with Buddhism. However, it is native to India, is often depicted in paintings of Vishnu (another Hindu Deity), and its leaves are eaten by elephants which are sacred in India. So I personally strongly associate it with Ganesh. So, dear Ganapati (another of Ganesh's names), here's a picture in which I see a bit of your home turf.

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below “Previous Posts”) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,

[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****