The Magic of the Cities.
Zen promotes the rediscovery of the obvious, which is so often lost in its familiarity and simplicity. It sees the miraculous in the common and magic in our everyday surroundings. When we are not rushed, and our minds are unclouded by conceptualizations, a veil will sometimes drop, introducing the viewer to a world unseen since childhood. ~ John Greer
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tempus fugit
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Nutty
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Timing
Monday, April 25, 2011
Jacaranda Dance
In the Art of Dreaming Don Juan tells Carlos, "… most of our energy goes into upholding our importance… if we were capable of losing some of that importance, two extraordinary things would happen to us. One, we would free our energy from trying to maintain the illusory idea of our grandeur; and two we would provide ourselves with enough energy to ... catch a glimpse of the actual grandeur of the universe." The spirit listens only when the speaker speaks in gestures. And gestures do not mean signs or body movements, but acts of true abandon, acts of largesse, of humor. As a gesture to the spirit, warriors bring out the best of themselves and silently offer it to the abstract. For me there is only the traveling on the paths that have heart, on any path that may have heart.There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge for me is to traverse its full length.And there I travel—looking, looking, breathlessly. The third point of reference is freedom of perception; it is intent; it is spirit; the somersault of thought into the miraculous; the act of reaching beyond our boundaries and touching the inconceivable. The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. "I am already given to the power that rules my fate. And I cling to nothing, so I will have nothing to defend. I have no thoughts, so I will see. I fear nothing, so I will remember myself." - Don Juan (from Carlos Castaneda readings) |
Saturday, April 23, 2011
100
Friday, April 22, 2011
Flowered Road
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Parallel Roads
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Steel Flowers
Monday, April 18, 2011
Authority
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Hail Storm in Mexico City
Video by Micr0Inova La SecretarÃa de Protección Civil informó que el punto más crÃtico en el DF al filo de las 22:00 horas es el cruce de Viaducto RÃo de la Piedad y Eje 3 Oriente Francisco del Paso y Troncoso, en donde la inundación alcanzó cuatro metros de altura. Personal de la dependencia trabaja en el lugar, lo mismo en labores de rescate y para revisar que no existan fisuras en el ducto de las aguas negras del RÃo de la Piedad. En la esquina del Viaducto Miguel Alemán con Vértiz, el drenaje se desbordó y provocó inundaciones en la mayorÃa de los pasos a desnivel de esta vialidad donde decenas de vehÃculos quedaron varados. Debido a la fuerte lluvia que se presentó esta tarde-noche en la ciudad de México, que alcanzó un nivel pluviométrico de 69 milÃmetros en el centro de la ciudad, según la SecretarÃa de Medio Ambiente, las aguas residuales que corren por el ducto central del Viaducto sobrepasaron el entubamiento. En el lugar, patrullas de la SecretarÃa de Seguridad Pública realiza labores de rescate de los automóviles afectados. Se presume que por la fuerza de las aguas del drenaje se hayan ocasionado grietas en el ducto. El gobierno de la ciudad no ha informado de esta situación. Marcelo Ebrard, jefe de gobierno del DF, solicitó a través de Twitter reportes de los ciudadanos para enviar ayuda. Hasta el momento no hay reporte oficial de la SecretarÃa de Protección Civil ni de la Unidad Tormenta. Por otro lado, ciudadanos reportaron al menos 20 encharcamientos en cuatro delegaciones. También, la zona de restaurantes de las colonias Roma y Condesa, se convirtió en un punto crÃtico pues se presentaron encharcamientos de hasta 30 centÃmetros, que inundaron la mayorÃa de los locales comerciales. (El Universal) |
Friday, April 15, 2011
Buoyant
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Family
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
NYC Windows
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Battery Park II
From Battery Park |
Ferry Deck The Staten Island Ferry is a passenger ferry service operated by the New York City Department of Transportation that runs between the boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island. |
Monday, April 11, 2011
Central Park
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Echoes of New York
Friday, April 8, 2011
Ride
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tree
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Papantla Flyers
Sorry for this first attempt of video.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Birdmen of Mexico II
The Birdmans of Mexico
The Voladores of Papantla
Ask anyone who's been to Papantla what most impressed them, and they'll probably say, "The Voladores." Many people who've never been to the Gulf Coast -- or even to Mexico - will light up in recognition at the mention of the Voladores. They perform regularly throughout Mexico, Central and South America. They've performed in several cities in the United States, and even in Paris and Madrid. So, who are the Voladores, and why are they famous?
Volador means flyer - he who flies. It is breathtaking to watch the spectacle of four men gracefully "flying" upside down from a 75 foot pole secured only by a rope tied around their waists.
Even more amazing is the musician, called the caporal. Balanced on a narrow wooden platform without a rope or safety net, the caporal plays a drum and flute and invokes an ancient spiritual offering in the form of a spectacular dance.
As he turns to face the four cardinal directions, he will bend his head back to his feet, balance on one foot then lean precariously forward, and perform intricate footwork, all the time playing the flute and drum! No matter how many times you see this beautiful performance, it will continue to astonish you, and the plaintive tune of the flute and drum will remain with you long after you have returned home.
The early history of the ceremonial flight of the Voladores is shrouded in the mists of antiquity. Information about the original ritual was partially lost when the invading conquerors from Spain destroyed so many of the documents and codices of the indigenous cultures. Fortunately, enough survived through legend and oral history and in materials written by early visitors to New Spain, that anthropologists and historians have been able to document at least part of the story of this ancient religious practice and how it has evolved through time.
A Totonaca myth tells of a time when there was a great drought, and food and water grew scarce throughout the land. Five young men decided that they must send a message to Xipe Totec, God of fertility so that the rains would return and nurture the soil, and their crops would again flourish. So they went into the forest and searched for the tallest, straightest tree they could find.
When they came upon the perfect tree, they stayed with it overnight, fasting and praying for the tree's spirit to help them in their quest. The next day they blessed the tree, then felled it and carried it back to their village, never allowing it to touch the ground. Only when they decided upon the perfect location for their ritual, did they set the tree down.
The men stripped the tree of its leaves and branches, dug a hole to stand it upright, then blessed the site with ritual offerings. The men adorned their bodies with feathers so that they would appear like birds to Xipe Totec, in hope of attracting the god's attention to their important request. With vines wrapped around their waists, they secured themselves to the pole and made their plea through their flight and the haunting sound of the flute and drum.
The Birdmen of México
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Moments
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Ahuehuete
Montezuma Cypress, Sabino, or Ahuehuete |
The Quiet Truth about Trees
Trees are vitally important to world health on all levels. Globally, forests are essential to the health of ecosystems and their functions, biodiversity and economics. Some of the many key functions of forests include climate regulation, the cycling and distribution of nutrients, and the provision of raw materials and resources. Trees cleanse the air and provide oxygen, help soil retain water, shield animals and other plants from the sun and other elements, and provide habitat for animals and plants. They help regulate the climate, cycle and distribute nutrients and provide raw materials and other resources. And don't forget the awesome beauty they give us throughout each year! Ecology.com
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