* "Motion Creates Energy~
Stillness Creates Calm," Colin Orr
Mystery Crane
I viewed Debra's crane photo taken in Florida. The title of the photo was Mystery Crane. Who is the Mystery Crane? I absorbed the energy and motion of the crane. Later, I painted her based on memory just for fun. When my son, Rob, saw the crane he pointed out, "Mom, you've painted the pyramid of Egypt in the background. I
call her, 'Bird of the Nile!' "
The painting rather looked like she had been painted or carved into rock. She floated by with intent, wading in a sea of glass-crystal. I let the painting happen, free of preconceived notions of what she might become. I wanted to add more light on beak and feet, but silent intuitions whispered, "Leave her alone!" Sunlight caught the texture of the paint-rock, a living experience with "flowing" solidity coupled with fluidity of heart-mind.
White Crane Spreads Wings
This movement in Tai Chi calls us to become the crane. This summer Paul and I walked to the nearby pond in the evenings to breathe in wildflowers and grasses, hear bullfrogs chant, and watch ducklings grow. One evening there was a White Heron Crane there along with a Great Blue Heron! The young white one saw us and took off with a splash, circling first near us then folding his neck back into a snake-like form as his strong wings propelled him past us and into the distance. His wing span made him appear much larger in flight than when he was standing quietly in the pond. Excitement!
Imagine! Seeing a white crane so close and personal! I remembered seeing a "V" shape of twelve white very large Whooping Cranes flying overhead in my front yard when we had just moved here years ago. They called to each other as they circled overhead. I shivered, cranes bring luck and direction in life.
Another evening at the crane pond, Paul and I saw a Wurdemann's Heron crane, a hybrid of a Great White Heron and a Great Blue Heron. The head and neck are white, while the rest of the body is a blue grey. We had seen him last summer, as a young crane. This year he had matured to prime of life. There was a small darker grey female crane hunched in the water near the reeds. She watched as the larger crane proudly paraded in the water. I love to watch the crane's feet while they glide through water.
Cranes step slowly with mindfulness like Buddhist Walking Meditation practitioners:
** "What if every step you took deepened your connection with all of life and imprinted peace, joy, and serenity on the Earth?"
On a later walk, we saw the White Heron stalk and catch a fish in a flash! Patient stillness then swift striking motion catches dinner in an instant. We didn't take a camera to capture the White Crane, but he is etched in timeless happy memories.
"All the time is a once in a lifetime opportunity."
Related Posts:
What Kind of Animal Are You?
Universe Shadows of Cranes
Double Vision, Two cranes are better than one
The Immediate Rabbit (July 2012)
Resources:
* Colin and Mitzi Orr, Tai Chi Qigong Centre for Health, Gorleston by the Sea, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk U.K.
** Joel P. Bowman, Ph.D, and Debra Basham, CHTP, NLP. HTt, RMT help create your healing experiences.
Walking Meditation by Paul Crompton, Intent Leads Energy.
** Walking Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh, mindful walking is peaceful mental and physical meditation.
Dr. Yang, Jwing-ming, The Essence of Shaolin White Crane, and more books and E-books by Dr. Yang. YMAA.com
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist , Author and Tai Chi Instructor
Images:
Bird of the Nile, oil painting by Dahlis
Wurdermann's Heron Crane, photo by Paul
Crane Sketch by Dahlis
