As the winter solstice nears, hibernation and slowing down become the main manifesto of the natural world. Squirrels sleep near their stashes of pinecones and nuts; temperatures chill the earth and clouds build up like blankets; deciduous trees lose their leaves and conifers huddle in still-green groups.
It’s the time to take our dreams and our truths into the den, and discard what we no longer want to keep. The photos for this voting series reflect the quiet, contemplative nature of winter and our cold months. Choose what speaks to you.
Let me know which photo (or if you simply can’t pick one, photos) is your favourite through the comments or by reaching out on my contact page. Votes will be accepted until November 30th.
My vote is for Snow on Maples. Beautiful collection!
Thank you for voting, Grandma Ushie!
Your collection of photos always causes me deep reflection, thank you! For many years, Hawai’i was my escape from the dreary, dark, cold Alberta winters. Your photos convey a beauty and meaning of this time. The cold and dark can be viewed as a signal for us retreat and slow down also. The season provides me a time to reflect and take an assessment of my actions and strategize how to proceed when nature wakes up again in the Spring.
I vote for Photo 3, as it conveys the diversity and healing power of nature to tend to a wound that may have been caused by logging or a natural act of nature.
To me, the shape of the clearing looks like an arrow or the shadow of a giant bird. Assuming you took the photo from a southern direction, the arrow or the bird is pointing or flying west. I interpret that to mean Nature continues to message me directions of where my actions or travel should lead me, as it did during my 2004 vision quest, when I was contemplating on the Hawaiian opportunity for researching the concept of sustainable development. Pursuing the Hawaiian venture meant time away from family and high financial costs. During that quest I had many signs to travel west, which I interpreted as saying yes to the Hawaiian calling. In hindsight, answering those signs seems to have been the best decision.
Thank you for voting, Gramps! I appreciate your thoughts.
I vote for #4 and 5. The color of the leaves in 4 is an awesome contrast to the snow, and the burdock shot is great, love the close up of that persistent and powerful plant.
Thank you for voting, Mom!
If you were to divide the circumference of a circle by its diameter, and then round the divisor to the nearest whole number, then you would know the number of the photo I like best.
Wintry scenes can be desolate, but I find beauty in them and your photos capture that well.
I finally got it…thanks for voting!