Breaking Through

(October 2006 Personal Writing on trip to Zion National Park)

I'm here in Zion National Park after a long 10 hour drive yesterday. I drive because the miles help melt away the stress of daily life, work etc... helping me to "let go" and start to feel receptive towards the photography I'm about to engage in.

Once here, I investigated the fall coloring on the East Side (pockets of good color) then had dinner at the Bit & Spur (highly recommended). After a restless sleep I woke this morning still feeling some anxiety. It's not always easy making the transition to a receptive artistic focus even when you find yourself in such a beautiful place. You can't force it. It won't come on your terms.

So I went to the local's coffee shop, the Mean Bean, figuring the energy there might help. One of the things I love about Zion and Springdale is year after year you see many of the same locals. They live here because they love this place. I recognize many of them from over 9 years ago when I lived here for a summer.

I'd brought a 1991 issue of Parabola focusing on Craft with an article by Paul Caponigro entitled "Writing with Light". Sitting there eating some granola and sipping coffee, I read his words:

"Silence is a tool of the intuitive realm, the vehicle of inspiration, just as readiness is the vehicle of physical techniques." And then later:

"Recording the light of the outer subject can be linked with gaining access to one's inner light."

Somewhere in those words, I felt the mental machinations, nervousness, the desire to make something happen... it all just seemed to melt away. I left the coffee house relaxed, peacefully invigorated and ready to simply let come what may. What happens over the course of the next two weeks is still a mystery. But whatever it is, I believe I've broken through to be receptive to it.

Posted by Douglas Vincent at 10:56 PM | Comments (0)