Blog

The Creative Journey

I’ve been working on a new project. And it’s been a struggle. I began by creating a collection of photographs that conveyed a certain feeling to me. And then I began examining and working on them. I realized that I had a look and feel in mind for the photographs in this project, but I hadn’t yet asked myself a crucial question. What is this project about? The Creative Journey is often circular, uncertain, and frustrating. Yet I know of no better way to grow and learn as an artist than to commit to and complete a creative project and Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Here! Now! This!

I returned to my beloved Wolsfeld Woods yesterday for the first time since last spring. With the very wet summer that we had, I hadn’t braved the muddy trails and mosquitoes until now. It was good to spend time with the trees. My soul expanded and I breathed in and breathed out… Here! Now! This! I love spending time in this remnant of the Big Woods which once covered a large swath of Minnesota. It is a place where I always feel closer to spirit, to my own soul, and to the earth. Walking under these wise old trees feels Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

What is My Soul’s Address?

Sometimes it’s easy to live slightly detached from my body, especially when I experience a lot of physical pain in that body. As I age I am attempting to live more in my body instead of escaping. The question I ask myself regularly is… What is My Soul’s Address? Where am I now? And my answer always remains (until I shed this body), “I’m in this body—here—now—in this moment—in every moment.” As I watch actors and actresses, singers, and other public figures whom I admire die, along with the loss of friends and family members, my mind slides towards worrying Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Don’t Hesitate!

Yesterday I had reservations for a house concert (well actually an outdoor yard concert). Ann Reed and Joan Griffith were playing and singing at a small gathering at Sun Dog Farm near Maple Plain, MN. I love Ann Reed’s music and I’ve been to concerts at this farm before. I had made plans with my youngest daughter to attend the concert together. Then yesterday morning I began questioning whether I really wanted to go. It’s been so long since I’ve been there, maybe I’ll feel weird not knowing anyone else there. And what about the heat? Will I be too Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Swan Songs

The trumpeter swan cygnets are almost as big as their parents now. But sadly there were only four cygnets remaining in the family when I visited them yesterday. The last time I photographed the entire family of swans was on August 18 and at that time there were still the original five cygnets that hatched earlier this summer. Because I’ve been following them all summer I’ve become attached to this swan family. I’m feeling sad at the loss of one of the cygnets. Still I rejoice that I’ve been able to view the swan family and watch their Swan Songs Read more…

By Marilyn, ago