THE SEEKER

I am in a house, I know it well, but I have never been there before. There is no light, just me. The halls are empty, it is without life, without the things to bring it to life, no pictures, no tables, no chairs. It is a bleak house, dark, shadows, and even the light that seeps through the cracks, is dark. In the middle of the room there is foreboding, it is under the floor. I feel my hair stand on end.

I look to the door, the door, into which one must never go.

I stand and know that I can't run, I can't hide, because the dark of the house, is outside too. And I know it's time to leave, but I find myself walking, walking toward the door, the door that I must never open, as it leads to the room, the room into which one must never go.

I am sweating, I want to call out, I am trying to scream, it's primal, but there is no sound, there is no voice. I am unable to call for help. I try to move my arms, but they are frozen.

I am though the door, the room that vibrates with fear, darkness - something is moving in the secret passage, the secret passage that lies beyond the room. It is a narrow corridor, and I am bending to walk into the passage, and it leads to a room above the house, in the attic, I feel the cold, it is icy, and I fear for my very soul - I feel the negative energy that seeping into my skin. I am trying to shout, trying to leave, trying to turn away, wanting to run. A shape emerges out of the wall, it comes to me, draining all the goodness from me, and I feel terrible fear and dread, I want to fight it, but I am helpless, I am powerless, I can't move, but I know now, I must face it, I must fight for my life, and every fibre in me is screaming - and I remember .

I have been here before, and it is always the same, when the presence comes I wake up screaming and sweating, my pulse is racing. I have been through this many times before, and I am shaking and quaking, but I realize - despite these confrontations - I do not wake up dead, just terrified, and I begin to feel that perhaps, perhaps, these is no danger here. I have spent nights telling myself before I fall asleep that if this dream comes to me again, meet fear with love.

Now I know I was dreaming. I am out of the icy house. I am awake, lying in my bed. I am calmer now, I try to move, but nothing happens. I can't move anything, but I can see my room, and I feel a rising panic, and I feel the icy cold. There is someone standing at the end of my bed, staring at me. I am trying to scream and move my arms, to wake up, nothing happens. I see him standing clearly in my room, he has followed me here .

Now I will need to fight, but I can’t move, and he can, what are the rules in this situation, I am powerless. It is terrifying. Move !, Move !, Run ! Nothing. Then I remember “Do not get angry, that gives it power”. I stop struggling, start to calm down. He isn’t moving or doing anything, he never has, he just stands there.

"Hi", I think to myself.

"Can you hear me" it says in a sweet peaceful voice.

Oh that's great, he isn't even hostile, he’s doing his best not to terrify me and here I am like a wild animal, scared of the unknown, that's just great. He has been coming to talk to me, to give me wisdom -but his presence has seemed so terrifying , that he can’t even talk to me. I guess he has been coming and waiting patiently for me to meet him with love, not anger and fear. Well this is embarrassing.

I didn't expect a dialog, and I am now wanting to wake up. It's not fear this time, this guy had a very calm and gentle voice, but James Bond just climbed through my window and I sensed things were only going to go downhill from here.

Note to self, you got to do something about the quality of your dreams - oh, and thanks for the lesson in love and fear.

PS - The next day, many, many years ago - we went swimming with friends in mountain pools. The river water in Africa is dark and you can’t even see your feet in the water. We swam across a large, deep pool. I jumped into a big pothole at the end of the pool. There was a waterfall crashing into one side of it and the sandy bottom felt soothing on my feet. No one else wanted to jump in, and I realized, I had forgotten to be scared. The dream sequence has never returned.

PPS – Lucid dreaming is common, and trying to wake up during a nightmare is too – the immobility comes from your body preventing you from sleepwalking in response to dream situations – so it can feel disturbing while dreaming, but it is a good self preservation mechanism that is there to protect you from real harm. So the fear is gone and I am happy to dream on. And I work with dreams and treat them as an active state. If something is bugging you, think about it before you sleep, it can help resolve while you are off to never, never land 

© G P F for All images and text, please do not use without my express permission. From THE Book That Dreams.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD-E-LDc384

Your Best Shot 2017 - Light - www.flickr.com/photos/flickr/galleries/72157689104576172/...

4,5x6 Ektar100

*★* Full Credits*★*

I assume this is a rooftop restaurant, but I don't know. I just liked the lights reflecting on the water tanks.. Maybe my NYC friends might know the name of it. Photo taken at 28th and 6th.

I know it hurts

It's hard to breathe sometimes

These nights are long

You've lost the will to fight

Is anybody out there?

Can you lead me to the light?

Is anybody out there?

Tell me it'll all be alright

You are not alone

I've been here the whole time singing you a song

I will carry you

I will carry you

I know you can't remember how to shine

Your heart's a bird without the wings to fly

Is anybody out there?

Can you take this weight of mine?

Is anybody out there?

Can you lead me to the light?

You are not alone

I've been here the whole time singing you a song

I will carry you

I know not another 1 but its a blackcap.Taken years but finally a male out of the shrubs.

The blackcap is a distinctive greyish warbler, the male has a black cap, and the female a chestnut one. Its delightful fluting song has earned it the name 'northern nightingale'. Although primarily a summer visitor birds from Germany and north-east Europe are increasingly spending the winter in the UK.

Please do not use my images in any way without my permission they are copyright protected !!

Please take A look in Large !! press L

Thanks to everyone that takes the time and makes the effort to comment and fave my pics its very much appreciated

Regards Clive

Credits

I know no sweeter angelic flowers,

Which are called the red poppy...

More tender I have not met petals -

Shining, as if varnished.

Their purple delicate heads

Over the field, like small flags,

From the wind dodge so cleverly

And gracefully, but full of courage.

Ripe and scatter the seeds,

Predict the future and fate will tell,

And looking into other times,

We'll be obliged to keep the secret.

I discovered the secret of poppies when I was a child,

When I was walking through a field of flowers,

I've never seen a more beautiful sight in my life,

Since then, I've gained the power of poppies....

I don't know the name. Just out for a walk, and i thought it was pretty. Taken at Little Traverse Bay Conservancy, at the old golf course , Harbor Springs , Michigan

I know this man

Who is dear to my heart

Suddenly one day

It was torn all apart

This man taught me everything

That I needed to know

But I never really listened

Until he had to go

He gave me love

And touched my life

It's all over now

He no longer has to fight

He tried to teach me

Right for wrong

The day he left

I wasn't that strong

He is gone now

It is hard to believe

This man is my dad

Who I will never see

But I will see him again

This I know

The day will come

When it's time for me to go

So, I'll hold him dear

And close to my heart

Cause the day we meet

I know we'll never be torn apart.

I know this is not the best shot because of the comp. I was on a backstreet in Woodstock ON and saw this and shot it quickly. Cool huh?

Happy Window Wednesday

I know...it's just a Robin; but it's the first one we've had in our yard! And this bird is a sure sign that Spring is just around the corner now. It was so nice to wake up and hear the singing of our Spring time friend Robby.

You Know What?

I Would Have Paid Good Money To See Judge Judy Handle The Johnny Depp/Amber Heard Case.

Have a nice weekend my friends. I don't know Nancy Pelosi will visit Taiwan or not, we sincerely expect her coming. :-)

Mount Hehuan, also called Joy Mountain, is a 3,416-metre-high (11,207 ft) mountain in Central Taiwan. The peak lies on the borders of Nantou and Hualien counties and is located within Taroko National Park. Hehuanshan is a popular destination in central Taiwan. The 3,421-metre east peak and 3,422-metre north peak of Hehuanshan are both higher than the main peak.

Mount Hehuan is part of the Central Mountain Range.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hehuanshan

I think everybody should know by now, that I don't really do macro photography, just close-ups, mostly with Legoes.

The macro abilities of my "camera" are ridiculous. This is as close as I can get, the original, uncroppped picture is still 9cm wide, 14mm more than allowed for the Macro Mondays group.

But since I assume that this is some kind of test, if those three inches (or 76mm) could be narrowed down a bit further, I decided to participate, just to show you lot that it's a big NO!

Although I wish I'd had better optics, especially for the low light conditions of north-german winter (which is dull grey with the occasional rain), I prefer having a small camera in a pouch on my belt, rather than carrying big chunks of equipment.

Toy Project Day 2363

But it's a job i guess?

Gannets at Bempton in Yorkshire getting to know each other

They pair up for life

"╲╱╲╱ΣLCOMΣ to ╱╲LPHΛ |╲|ΣO |╲|OI☈ ╲╱-III { preview, tomorrow more } // "When one door is closed, don't you know, another is open.":

• 4k • This shot above was taken with my own photo-suite { which I will release/upload this year } • ReShade 4.3.0.563 • { +New: Sep } Custom shaders • My own LUT's { based upon filmic-tonemapping, Reinhard tonemapping curves } • Many custom engine tweaks

CLICK ME!!!!

PRESS L

This is another wonderful place the Nicole (Escaping Reality) took me to on Friday. This is in Sewanee, TN. There were several small cascades and waterfalls on this stream. A really incredible place.

After hiking back out of there, I know why they call it "Steep." :-)

[Eternus] Yoshiko Set FULLPACK

Compatible with: - Legacy+Perky+Bombshell - LaraX+PetiteX - Reborn+Juicy Rolls+Waifu

all info in the blog

blog

I know my mind and I have made my choice.

Not from your temper does my doom depend;

Love me or love me not, you have no voice

In this, my portion to the end.

Your presence and your favors, the full part

That you could give, you now can take away:

What lies between your beauty and my heart

Not even you can trouble or betray,

Mistake me not – unto my inmost core

I do desire your kiss upon my mouth;

They have not craved a cup of water more

That bleach upon the deserts of the south:

Here might you bless me; what you cannot do

Is bow me down, that have been loved by you.

-Edna St Vincent Millay

“I know he's around,

When the sky and the ground start in ringing.

I know that he's near,

By the thunder I hear in advance.

His words, his words alone,

Are the words that can start my heart singing,

And his is the only music that makes me dance.”

Lyrics from “The Music That Makes Me Dance” written by Bob Merrill and Jule Styne from the musical “Funny Girl” (1960).

The theme for "Smile on Saturday" for the 6th of June is "musical instruments", and when I read the theme, the lyrics from the Broadway musical “Funny Girl”, based on the life of American comedienne and singer Fanny Brice, written to showcase singer and actress, Barbra Streisand’s vocal and comedic talents, came to mind. I happened to have a still life that I think is suitable for the theme already: one featuring a pair of rather eccentric designer shoes and a violin borrowed from a musician friend of mine. In order to highlight the beautiful instrument, I have processed the photo in selective colour. As “The Music That Makes Me Dance” is a romantic song about unrequited love, I decided to leave the pink roses in the still life in colour as well. I hope you like my choice for this week’s theme, and that it makes you smile!

The shoes that feature in this still life are stilettos from the 1950s in pristine condition. The heel pads are leather, whilst the toe of the shoes are bleached snakeskin hand painted with black dots and finished with a black grosgrain ribbon.

The purse in the foreground is a hand beaded example from the late 1910s to early 1920s, made of black faceted jet beads.

The glasses on the tray are faceted crystal from the 1930s, whilst the decanter of port is from the late Victorian era. The soda syphon is from the 1920s. The silver tray and lidded silver serving dish are late Victorian.

I know that the cracks in this asphalt appeared before the plants poked their green stems up to the sunlight. However, I do appreciate how small plants will appear through concrete sidewalks and asphalt. The roots of the plant will take advantage of existing microscopic cracks. New cell growth takes place at the tips of plant roots. As the root system grows and develops, these tips act as feelers, seeking out the path of least resistance for expansion.

I know this is a sad song for Valentine's Day but.....I actually find it very romantic. Haven't we all been here? And sometimes.......we get what we want. I know I did. :)

"On My Own" by Frances Ruffelle

On my own, pretending he's beside me

All alone, I walk with him 'til morning

Without him, I feel his arms around me

And when I lose my way I close my eyes and he has found me

In the rain, the pavement shines like silver

All the lights are misty in the river

in the darkness, the trees are full of starlight

And all I see is him and me, forever and forever

Semisonic.

Nobody knows it but you've got a secret smile

And you use it only for me

Nobody knows it but you've got a secret smile

And you use it only for me

So use it and prove it

Remove this whirling sadness

I'm losing, I'm bluesing

But you can save me from madness

Nobody knows it but you've got a secret smile

And you use it only for me

Nobody knows it but you've got a secret smile

And you use it only for me

So save me I'm waiting

I'm needing, hear me pleading

And soothe me, improve me

I'm grieving, I'm barely believing now, now

When you are flying around and around the world

And I'm lying and lonely

I know there's something sacred and free reserved

And received by me only

Nobody knows it but you've got a secret smile

And you use it only for me

Nobody knows it but you've got a secret smile

And you use it only for me

So use it and prove it

Remove this whirling sadness

I'm losing, I'm bluesing

But you can save me from madness, now, now

When you are flying around and around the world

And I'm lying and lonely

I know there's something sacred and free reserved

And received by me only

Nobody knows it but you've got a secret smile

And you use it only for me

Nobody knows it but you've got a secret smile

Nobody knows it, nobody knows it, nobody knows it

But you've got a secret

Nobody knows it, nobody knows it, nobody knows it

But you've got a secret

Nobody knows it, nobody knows it, nobody knows it

But you've got a secret

Nobody knows it, nobody knows it, nobody knows it

But you've got a secret

Nobody knows it, nobody knows it...

I know you are sitting there quietly waiting for me to take you for a walk... And you come to lick my hands now and then for fear I may forget that royal task... :)

You are Maximus Gorky The Pug... :)

Juvenile Green Heron, Wildwood Lake, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

I know it's been awhile.. But we have been busy..We are setting in Richmond VA heading out in the morning to Laredo TX... After my sons wedding I hope to be back up and commenting on all your beautiful photos.... Have a great weekend...deb

People pass me by on my imaginary street

Ordinary people, it's impossible to meet

Holding conversations that are always incomplete

Well, I don't know

"... I'm not allowed in the kitchen sink. But it's fun & I get LOTS of attention!"

Since she's been ill, I'm happy now when she does anything naughty or plays like a kitten again.

Happy Caturday!

♫ Wiser - Old Man Canyon

>> View On Tumblr

Oh and a recommendation, check out the movie Boyhood by Richard Linklater. Best thing I saw in a very long time!

Quietdrive - Rise From the Ashes

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFGQQOQCcpI

Taken at Luanes World

Rise Against - Heaven Knows

Munich, Germany..

Schloß Nymphenburg.

www.uccrow.com/nobody-knows/

Anyone that knows me, knows my huge passion and love for boats, ships and tugs.

The Ku'ulakai is by far my most favorite tug.

This beautiful old girl is being lovingly refit and moored in the historic, fishing village of Steveston.

Located in Richmond, BC

Canada

KU'ULAKAI Tugboat c. 1944

(Ku'ulakai meaning: Hawaiian Fishing God)

Her history: as per online sources: (Unverified)

Built:1944

Length: 111.9

Gross Tonnage: 301

Used as a Tugboat all along the West Coast of BC

Ku'ulakai is said to be the only intact Mikki tug in Canadian waters.

Builder: Northeast Shipbuilding, Quincy Massachusetts, USA

According to onlines sources, this tug was built as a wooden Mikki US Army Tug - LT465, and used by the U.S. navy during the Second World War to tow damaged ships from the Pacific back for repair.

Online information also reports that later on in life, she was used by drug runners in the South Pacific and that in 1988 was seized by the Canadian Coast Guard for smuggling drugs out of China.

She was originally named: Lloyd B. Gore, decommissioned & sold 1946.

Please note* All information has been taken from online sources and has not been verified to be accurate.

I 💖 Steveston

Definitely one of British Columbia's best kept secrets.

Series: Steveston by Romance

Thank-you so much for all your views, comments and faves

So very much appreciated !!

~Christie (happiest) by the River

I know you want me

Every day, not only when you're lonely, yeah

You see, you think you know me

But you don't even know nothing about me, yeah

You see my thick thighs

Lost when you look into my brown eyes

See, my little waist can make you switch sides

You never know the devil in the disguise

So why don't you stand up, baby, and

Tell me, tell me, tell me do you want me on top?

So let me show you, show you, show you, I don't need to back it up

Don't wanna hold ya, mold ya, scold ya

Split you in half with my heart

I just wanna love on you, trust in you, honour you

Please do the same on your part

Listen; www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQsZUVMwEls

The Lower Rhein or Niederrhein I just recently discovered is not lower than sea level it is just saturated with a high water table and much flooding, but with flooding comes rich silt that acts as an organic fertilizer for those that farm the flood plains.

Pictured here is the real star of mankind moving out of the Medieval times and into todays prosperous age, the horse, pictured here the Draught Horse breed to be heavily muscled and stout to pull the plow without slipping or injury .

Two further innovations the horse collar and the shoe in the 11th century allowed for better plowing which supported population increase in Europe of about 30% this in turn put people in closer proximity in the villages and cities which in turn increased disease opportunities which in the 14th centaur resulted in all the population gains being wiped out by Black Plague.

The farmers in this region worked under a manor system where a landowner would have several hundred acres of land and would found a manor house, church and pastor and then populate the holdings with farmers that would build a house and work several acres each to support themselves,

the lord of the manor and the church but not in this order.

I took this with my D750 and Tamron SP 24-70mm 2.8 G2 Lens at 70mm 1/25, f/11 ISO 100 processed in LR, Topaz Denoise, PS (Lumenzia curves masks and DXO Nik Color Efex)

Disclaimer: Not trying to be realistic in my editing there is enough realism in the world, my style is a mix of painterly and romanticism as well as a work in progress.

I didn't know two years ago, when I did a test shot with my 10 stop ND filter, what I would do with it. I ended up with a busy Saturday afternoon motorway completely cleared of traffic. Cool I thought, one for the archives...

Searching for something else I stumbled across this motorway shot and then I had an idea; why not make it look all apocalyptic, so I had another go at doing that.. More layers than I've every used, with some textures for the road, and an inverted faux infra then super desaturated to finish. Then added my favourite stock figure, as a lone survivor heading to who knows where (well, to give you a clue, Junction 16, Stoke on Trent is the next turn off)?

Nature is what we know -

Yet have not art to say -

So impotent our wisdom is

To her simplicity

~E Dickinson

“‘Why, yes,’ he said, ‘I know of a cure for everything: salt water.’

“‘Salt water?’ I asked him.

“‘Yes,’ he said, ‘in one way or the other. Sweat, or tears, or the salt sea.’

“I said: ‘I have tried sweat and tears. The salt sea I meant to try, but a woman in black lace prevented me.’

From “Seven Gothic Tales”

In 1934 Dinesen published the short story collection “Seven Gothic Tales” which included “The Deluge at Norderney”. One of the characters named Jonathan Maersk, became unhappy when he learned that his father, ship captain Clement Maersk, was not his genetic father. He visited the ocean and contemplated ending his life, but a woman in black lace unnerved him when she appeared and asked to die with him. Jonathan later spoke to his father Clement and asked whether he knew of a cure for his melancholy.

Isak Dinesen and Tania Blixen were pen names of Karen Blixen who wrote the books “Out of Africa” and “Babette’s Feast” which were made into award-winning movies. This article will use the name Isak Dinesen.

quoteinvestigator.com/2018/05/30/salt/

Max Richter: youtu.be/klbTuQeBPo4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK1rfygmqv0

I've been tryin' so hard to survive

Sometimes I think that I wanna die

I feel so fucking guilty 'cause God, I'm so lucky to live my life

So I keep all the pain to myself

Losin' faith, but nobody can tell

Mom, I don't want you worried 'cause that would just hurt me

So I pretend I'm fine

If you only knew

What my mind is tellin' me I should do

That I'm drunk and all alone in my room here tonight

I'm too sad to cry, it's true, oh

If you only knew

All the shit my brain is puttin' me through

You'd come runnin' over straight to my room here tonight

I'm sorry, but I need you, oh

If you only knew

I wish I was somebody else

I'm constantly overwhelmed

Now I'm falling again, gettin' drunk with some friends

It's a silent cry for help

I wanna get better, I want you to know

That I can't do this on my own

If you only knew

What my mind is tellin' me I should do

That I'm drunk and all alone in my room here tonight

I'm too sad to cry, it's true, oh

If you only knew

All the shit my brain is puttin' me through

You'd come runnin' over straight to my room here tonight

I'm sorry, but I need you, oh

Take me outta this hell

Oh, somebody help

Take me outta this hell

Oh, I'm not myself

I wanna tell you what my mind is tellin' me I should do

That I'm drunk and all alone in my room here tonight

I'm too sad to cry, but I want to

Oh, if you only knew

Bottrop

Ruhrgebiet

NRW

„...I know where I want to be... Aber diesen Ort gibt es wohl nicht in dieser Realität... Das hier ist der Parkplatz vom Grusellabyrinth in Bottrop. Aber mir kommt die Welt an sich nach all den Diskussionen der letzten Tage auf dem Niveau der Bild-Zeitung vor wie ein Grusellabyrinth. Die Vernunft darf nicht dem Hass weichen. Und doch wird sie mit jedem Tag ein Stück weit mehr fortgeschwemmt. Die Rationalität weicht der geschürten Angst. Fakten bedeuten nichts. Das Wissen verkümmert, wenn es auf den Boden fällt, den Ideologien und Ressentiments haben verdorren lassen. Meine Fluchtursache kann ich selbst bekämpfen, diesen Dämonen stelle ich mich gerne. Aber wer die Fluchtursachen für die, die nichts mehr haben und die niemandem als Mensch mehr etwas zu bedeuten scheinen, nicht endgültig beseitigt, wird sie nicht von ihrer Flucht abbringen können... Ich habe heute Nacht wieder vom Krieg geträumt. Und habe angefangen, im Schlaf die Sprache zu sprechen, die ich tagsüber seit fast zwei Jahrzehnten nicht mehr sprechen möchte. Es gibt immer eine andere Seite des Zaunes. Wer entscheidet eigentlich, wer auf welcher Seite geboren wird? Die, die an ihrem Hass zu ersticken drohen, begreifen überhaupt nicht, welches Glück sie am Tag ihrer Geburt hatten... Koliko često moram razmišljati o tome. Kako su nam istrgnuli malo hrane i vode za piće koje smo još imali u kamionu iz ruku. A onda ova slika u mojoj glavi. Dječak koji je s malim neznancem podijelio nešto od malog... Marion lag wach neben mir und ohne ein Wort wusset sie, wo ich in meinen Träumen war. Sie hat meine Hand gehalten..."

Atlantic Connection feat. Steo - Night & Day

Do you know how it feels like to have you around me?