Jonathan Foust

Shot of the Week

admin0 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:58:09 +0000

I though this shot was rather bland. When editing it, suddenly it popped!

Skanky

admin0 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:48:46 +0000

Wow, is the Potomac skanky these days. The dearth of rain has brought the levels down and between the stagnant water and the heat, the algae and underwater growth is flourishing. Here’s a little meditation on the underwater growth.

Many of these river shots are the product of my morning meditations by the river. Over time I start to notice things externally (as I do internally) that I had not noticed before.

This image is from a pond. Last year about three old trees came down, exposing the pond to sunlight. The result is a permanent cover of algae and growth.

Man … Alive

admin0 — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:34:42 +0000

This Saturday 50 or so men gathered for the Man Alive retreat – a day of mindfulness practices, inquiry and sharing. A most inspiring day.

We did mindful movement, sitting meditation, standing meditation and lying down meditation.

For the lying down meditation – a guided body scan – I invited folks to put their feet up on chairs so they could bring some relief to their lower back from all the sitting.

An older woman was in the lobby looking through the window, checking out the scene and asked Steve, our manager, “Is that a Lamaze class?”

Feeling and Watching

admin0 — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:49:39 +0000

You may have run across these videos of soldiers returning home to their families. The first time I watched one I was pretty quickly taken by the raw, unfiltered and authentic emotions in these short clips.

The second and third time (over the next few days) I paid more attention to my inner experience … the heat and movement through my heart, throat and eyes, the rising of sensation and emotion, the tears emerging and rolling down my face.

You might like to watch these as a mindfulness practice.

How present can you be to the energy and feelings moving inside you?

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

Morning Light

admin0 — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:24:51 +0000

A Second Taste of Fall

admin0 — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:23:21 +0000

First Taste of Fall

admin0 — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:13:14 +0000

Though it will be in the 90’s all week, August always always drops a few hints of the changing times. I notice the yellowing of the lower leaves of the weeds along the trails, a few leaves falling here and there when the wind kicks up, but this was the first dramatic sign of autumn:

Morning Light

admin0 — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:29:30 +0000

One of many blessings is to live near the park and the river. Another is to face east each morning. Here are a few images from some morning wanderings in the low early light:

Sycamores

admin0 — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 18:27:56 +0000

A downed Sycamore. Like snake skin.

Force of Nature

admin0 — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 18:23:07 +0000

Last week we got to experience the Big Storm up close. Quite suddenly the wind kicked up and the house was pelted with limbs, leaves and dirt. Tree tops started moving in rather strange gyrating patterns. Two very large (80′) Red Oaks were moving particularly violently and then BAM! the tops twisted right off and fell to the ground simultaneously.

We were fortunate to get our electricity back about 13 hours later.

Now we will be able see the moon rise.

About three cords of Red Oak will be ready to burn in about two years.