View allAll Photos Tagged Blessing
I haven't posted a photo with scripture in ages, but after spending some time with the white deer herd in Parkanaur Forest Park, I truly felt blessed and just had to share this pic and words :)
This was back in December one gorgeous frosty but sunny morning :)
Hope you all have a great weekend. I'm stuck at work this morning, but finish at lunch time and then it's out for some photos and no work until Wednesday - woohooo :) :)
Take care everyone, and that you all for the great comments on yesterday's Sparrow picture :)
2 romans visiting the local shrine to get a blessing from Apollo, the god of music, healing and truth. Build for Vignweek hosted by RebelLUG, day one, Ancient.
Central Java R-trip Episode 03 - Taking a Blessing
An old man was taking a blessing from a top of Menara Kudus' tombs area.
at Menara Kudus, Kudus, Central Java, Indonesia
Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. Charles Dickens
In silence it speaks ~
Who Are You ?
It asks
Your life sought for so long
WHO ARE YOU ?
Disguised as myself
You who move in me
Have you always been here ?
Have I always known this ?
Are you closer then myself ?
Is this some unspeakable garden of Eden ?
Are we all brand new ?
Are these the same eyes ?
What do they see ?
What do they see ?
Could I ever have dreamed of This ?
Or has it just awakened Now ?
I am Here
You whisper
I am Here
I am Here
I give myself to you
This Humanity
Father - Mother
Emptiness - Form
This Grace
This Stillness
This Silence
This Everything
Thank You
Thank You
words by Jeff Foster
"Life holds so many simple blessings, each day bringing its own individual wonder."
John McLeod (Jaymac)
Looking through the flying buttresses to one of the details on the cathedral. I guess he's to balance out the gargoyles?
This person purposefully covered his face after seeing the camera pointed at him. But it came out as a blessing in disguise
This sentiment is part of the Christmas blessings set, just inked up half the stamp, so that I can use it more often. I found a tip on Pinterest here
This is me with my sister and her grandblessings on Thanksgiving Wednesday in Louisiana!!! What a blessing to celebrate Thanksgiving with this precious part of my family!!
This is a piece that I just finished. I traded it for a quilted purse from a very talented quilt artist friend. The quote is an Irish blessing that she requested.
This was done with a pointed brush, sumi ink and Dr. Martin's Radiant Concentrated Watercolors on Arches Text Wove. I used a rainbow palette because these are the colors that make up light. :-)
Annual Transgender festival @ Koovagam, Viluppuram, Tamilnadu, April 2013
Of the many bizarre and strange customs and festivals observed in India, the Koothandavar festival of Koovagam is one among them. The very basis of the festival, its associated rituals and the people involved make it the weirdest possible celebration on earth. A celebration of love and death, of sacrifice and life.
The small hamlet of Koovagam is present in the Vizhuppuram district of Tamil Nadu, making it virtually a ‘nothing’. However, once a year this tiny village turns into the biggest camp for transgenders from all over the country. They gather in flocks to take part in the rituals of the festival which lasts for 18 days, culminating on chitra pournami (april-may).
Story behind this
A festival which has its base rooted into the depths of the Mahabharatha war, Krishna’s cunningness and the noble nature of a very valiant young man.
War between the Pandavas and Kauravas was imminent. There was no way that a war could be averted, thus saving millions of innocent human lives. Krishna, as the protector of the universe was worried about the outcome of the war. It was true that he could intervene with his divine powers and avert catastrophe, but humans are required to decide their own fates. That’s what the vedas and shastras say. But still, he wanted the Pandavas to win the war, for he was on their side and their doings were just and moral. This would be the ultimate “Good wins over Bad” story if it went along as he desired.
Having no choice, he goes to Sahadeva who is blessed with the talent of accurately forecasting the future and reading horoscopes, Sahadeva rolled his Shozhi (shells used to help in prediction) and after several calculations looked up and said “To attain victory in the upcoming war, you need to sacrifice a man filled with all the good qualities of Valor, strength, bravery, beauty and such, to the goddess of war, Kali. He who first performs this sacrifice will gain the blessings of Kali and win the war”,
All along his way back his mind was filled with a single thought, “Is there anyone… Anyone else, other than Arjuna who can match the requirements of sacrifice? Anyone at all?” He pleaded, only to be met by a stunning silence. Krishna’s heart shattered at the thought of losing a dear friend. He felt light headed and started to sway with dizziness, when a voice cut through his haziness.
“Am I eligible to be sacrificed?” the voice asked. Looking for the source of the voice, Krishna’s eyes land on a very handsome man, dressed as a warrior and bearing resemblances to Arjuna. “Who are you, may I know?” questioned Krishna, as hope revived in his heart.
“I am Aravaan, the son of Arjuna, born to the Naaga princess Chithrangadha, through an illicit wedlock. I have come here to help bring victory to my father and his brothers. And if I can indeed help them win by sacrificing myself, then I am ready to die.” he proclaimed.
Krishna is flooded with relief. Using his divine powers, he comes to know that Aravaan is indeed a warrior par excellence, full of good qualities and excellent character. “He would make the perfect sacrifice to Kali”, Krishna thought and he beckoned Aravaan to come with him. He introduced Aravaan to the Pandavas including to Arjuna, his father (what weirdness!!!) and praised the sacrificial qualities of Aravaan. “So you will be sacrificed to the Goddess at the dawn of war, tomorrow. Purify yourself mentally and physically and prepare for the day. Long live your sacrifice”, Krishna told Aravaan and turned to leave.
“One moment my lord, I have but a few wishes to be granted before I die. Will you grant them?” Aravaan asked Krishna. “Why don’t you try me?” Krishna winked mischievously at Aravaan.” My lord”, began Aravaan,” I have had the good fortune to enjoy much in life, but before I die, I would like to enjoy the heat of a woman. I wish to die a married man, my lord.” Krishna is stunned. Which woman would marry a man who is going to the sacrificial altar the very next day? Probably none. No woman is crazy to throw her life away.”We will manage that”, he assured Aravaan, “Anything else?”.”Yes my lord, I would like to witness the entire war unfold, in my physical body and I would also like to fight on the Pandava side for a minimum of three weeks. Is that agreeable?”
It was here that the jealousy of Krishna kicked in. He knew that Aravaan was an excellent warrior and if he was allowed to fight there would be no need of any of the Pandavas or Krishna himself. “ParthaPuthra, what is ‘three weeks’ to a man like you? You can probably crush the entire enemy forces in three and a two third minutes. You will be able to fight on the Pandava side for those three and a two third minutes.” Aravaan agreed, charmed by Krishna’s flattery and speech. “If that is all, you can follow me to meet your bride, who will be your wife tonight and your widow in some days.” Krishna commanded.
Aravaan followed Krishna to the interiors of the palace. There, in the presence of the Pandavas and a few close friends, Krishna did the unbelievable. He transformed himself into Mohini, a form so beautiful that even Shiva had fallen for it, and in the presence of the elders, married Aravaan. That night Aravaan got his first wish fulfilled. Mohini seduced him with all her sexuality. All through the night, Aravaan was confused if he was with a man or woman. The smell of butter and milk reminded him of Krishna, but at the same time he couldn’t come out of Mohini’s clutches. The night passed and the day of the war dawned.
Aravaan was taken to the battle field and was made to stand at the center. There he tore off his skin from his arms and offered them to Kali. Kali, ever thirsty for blood, pounced on it and gave her blessings to Pandavas. The war began. Over the course of the 18 days, Aravaan kept Kali satisfied, stripping pieces from his body and offering it to her. On the final day when his allotted 3 and a two-third minutes of time came up, he realised that he had been tricked. He just had his head and his skeleton intact. A fat lot of use they would come to.
Conetemplating, he assumed his Vishwaroopa form and with his head as a large stone, he rolled over the enemy forces killing millions and badly hurting himself. The war was over. The Pandavas had won and the cause for it all, Aravaan, was lying, all alone on the Kurukshetra field. During his final moments on earth, when his life was ebbing away, he heard the high pitched wail of a woman. Turning towards the source of the wail, he sees Krishna, as Mohini, beating her breasts and wailing, the very picture of a widowed woman grieving her husband. With that final sight, his spirit soared heaven-wards and joined the other immortal heroes in warrior heavens, forever shining upon the brave warriors of yore. Aravaan had passed on, a happy man.
This chapter in the Mahabharatha forms the central theme of the 18 day festival at Koovagam. The small shrine at Koovagam is dedicated to none other than Aravaan himself and he is worshipped as Koothandavar. The 18 day festival celebrates the final days of Aravaan’s life, right up to his brave sacrifice on the 18th day. The highlight of the festival happens to be the marriage of Aravaan. The transgenders who gather here are the self-proclaimed brides of Aravaan. They claim themselves to be incarnations of Krishna, who was a man trapped inside a woman’s body, when he seduced Aravaan, just like the transgenders themselves. The first 15 days of the festival pass in dancing, singing and merrymaking, the transgenders putting up colourful and lively performances. All through the 18 days, a gigantic head of Aravaan is made and painted with the greatest care within the temple precincts
On the 17th day, the priest does special poojas to the idol of Aravaan and bringing upon the power of Aravaan on himself, he ties the mangalsutra (the sacred marital thread) around the neck of all the transgenders present there. They are now the wives of Aravaan, just for the night. A gala feast is organised which is followed by a night full of merrymaking, laughter and dance. The gigantic head of Aravaan is mounted on a chariot and taken around the village.
At the dawn of the 18th day, the air is ripped by sharp wails, as Aravaan is beheaded, widowing all his one-day-old wives. Following the traditions, the widows of Aravaan rip the Mangalsutraa from their necks, tear flowers out of their hair, throw away ornaments, and remove all cosmetics from their faces, wailing loudly, beating their chests, just like Krishna mourned for Aravaan long, long ago. They did a holy dip and wear a white saree (widow costume). And till that day arrives, they have to rely on the grace of Aravaan to take them through the rough times to come.
Canon 7D Mrk l
Canon 70-200 is 2.8 ll
f/2.8
ss1/250
iso100
edited in LR4, CS6
AB800 from 8 o'clock
triggered with Godox system
Blessings are things you do not have to ask for. You already have them. All you have to do is look around you and count them.
May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow.
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
MD, Baltimore MD. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).
"Blessing" by Yuriko Yamaguchi - sculpture made of resin, stainless steel wire, and led lighting. One of a series of works by this artist seen at Artscape in the 2015 Sondheim Prize Finalist Gallery. This is a detail from a larger sculpture.
Do Not Advertise your work on this stream please...
Every attempt will be promptly removed. Thank you.
This was taken on a frosty Saturday morning when the sun made a wonderful appearance…it's been missing pretty much ever since. The weather has been wet and dreary, the girls are hoping for snow…so am I.
I told my husband I was going to need a hovercraft soon because I'm tired of wading through mud to do chores :-) I was getting rather frustrated this morning slopping through all that mud pushing my wheelbarrow of hay but had to apologize to the Lord for my bad attitude. Even in the muddy slop I can rejoice at the fact that I am able to be tromping through all that mud pushing my wheelbarrow and that He has given me a new day…a day to live for him in whatever crosses my path whether that be mud and slop or challenges with my kids or just life in general.
I've been convicted lately that somehow in the midst of whatever struggles come my way, I must still rejoice and find peace in the day that I have been given. Of course working this out is a daily challenge :-) But life is good and ultimately God is good, he is my source of strength. It's when I rely on my own strength that life becomes that much more difficult.
I have been blessed richly in this life. Even to catch the glimpse of the sun on a mostly dreary day is a huge blessing. The question is do I focus on the glimpse of the sun or the dreariness of the day…that is what makes the difference in any given day. Where does my heart lie…in what I have or what I don't have…
"Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare."
~ Psalm 40:5 ~
With so many blessings in our lives, it is important to stop and realised exactly what they are. Without these pauses, we run the risk of taking them for granted.
These are 10 blessings in my life:
1.Wife (The love of my life)
2.Daughter (Pure gift from above)
3.Family (I have a loving mother and father and a positive childhood without life scars)
4.Friends (People I know I can count on)
5.A roof over my head (Over 100,000 people in Australia alone Wesley Mission’s More Than a Bed Report)
6.Employment (as annoying as it can be, I do not envy those in unemployment)
7.I have running water – see photo above (According to www.globalissues.org 1.1 Billion people lack adequate access to clean water!)
8.Music (No matter if it’s simple sounds or complex pieces, it is a joy of my everyday life)
9.Australia (A country like no other, on a whole free of discrimination)
10.Life in its self is a blessing!
I hope I am not the only one that feels blessed today. If you too feel blessed, let the world know about…stop and count your blessings.
A soundtrack for your counting: Damian Marley & Nas – Count your blessings
And you can't have it!
For some reason this brings back fun memories of sling shots...hmmm...lets see...you sling....rocks, marbles, toys, candy..my fave, marshmellows...only because thats the only thing you can get away with without getting yelled at.
Have a great "rest of the week"! Blessing, Andrea
Update: My son got his stitches out today and the results came back, that the sample is FREE of cancer cels...whooohooo.
A Monk in Blessing Pose at Kumbh Mela, Allahbad, Uttar pradesh, India.........
For more photos please visit my website www.vinodkphotos.com
Also visit MY PHOTO BLOG and follow me on FACEBOOK
taken during "shraswati puja" from jogonnath hall,dhaka university.
i suck at events...photography leaves my head completely..and jumping around is all i do :P