air

Air element

/ Robert / 2 Comments
Version 2

I considered presenting a blank sheet. After all how do you paint something unseen? Weightlessness came to mind, such a heavy word to describe something ethereal; unseen, lighter than a feather.

My imaginings are viewed through a water element induced feelings lens. Increasingly with age, earthbound gravity anchors me as I am dragged along the ground like a hot air balloon basket being divested of collected paraphernalia. It doesn’t seem to matter how much is discarded I just can’t seem to get my carcass of the earth.

Both versions of the abstract watercolour are posted here.

The first feels heavy, constrained, forced, and overworked.

I am happier with second version.

  • I was aiming for:
  • Purple for spirit, and I believe, evolved thought
  • Yellow for the air element, in my view also sunny hope filled optimism
  • Blue resonates for me as free limitless sky high thinking
  • While white space represents light and calm

A decade or two ago, I was fascinated by people who read a book while completing gym based cardiovascular training. In contrast, I felt like I was soaring as I listened to dance music. The beats, sounds, and crescendoing voices motivating my body to pump and work harder to lift me higher and higher.

Nowadays, finding the music in the gym too loud, I can’t be bothered to try to compete with my earbuds. Dialling up the volume sets off my tinnitus. I can complete forty minutes’ exercise in the aerobic heartbeat zone while reading a book on my phone. It works on the reclined bike, elliptical trainer, and treadmill.

Complete serenity

/ Robert / 2 Comments


Buoyantly supine quiescent
Indolently inhaling
Exhaling
Heartbeats slowly strum eardrums
Muffled glugs and gurgles murmur
Sun’s sparkles glimmer
Traced out onto umbrella’s canopy
Stasis
Water and air embraces
Nine years awaiting this moment
Complete serenity at almost sixty

Amorphic

/ Robert / 5 Comments

Disparate hues dancing to no one’s tune

Gently floating untethered between heaven and earth

Muted rainbow fluxing, folding, flattening

Tantalisingly glimpsed at vision’s edge

Un-touching tentacles undulating

Disparate hues dancing to no one’s tune

Australian Air

/ Robert / 2 Comments

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If you’re going to Broadbeach on the Gold Coast you’ll no doubt catch a glimpse of Air. This 37 storey residential tower was designed by Australian based architect, Ian Moore.

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I particularly like the bold yellow colour on the back of the building contrasted against the blue sky.

If you’d like to know more about the building, how to stay there and a 2006 review in Architecture Australia magazine, check out the links below:

Air Braodbeach
Architecture Australia

More Precious than Gold

/ Robert / 6 Comments

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A breath or breeze bringing music, a kiss;
It’s cool, it’s hot, it’s crisp, it’s warm, it’s cold;
Carrying Winter’s chill and Summer’s bliss.
What wealth would be reaped if twas caught and sold!

Fair sylphs ‘twined within the east wind do whirl
With graceful ease o’er rainbows wide they dance;
Through fluffy clouds on thermals fast they twirl,
They soar. Are they in danger? Not a chance!

Cannot be seen; doesn’t mean it’s not there,
Lots’ around yet far more precious than gold.
Endangered? For now there’s enough to share.
Can be cut with a knife; just try to hold!

During darkness of night and light of day,
Ideas and thoughts are shed just like feathers
Free as sweet incense floating up, away.
Not one’s intent? Best to attach tethers!

Anger can be heard as clear as a bell,
The strife of life cannot be ignored.
How can we tell if it’s heaven or hell?
Listen for the hoard or the lord with sword.

Wide eyed fairy’s sigh heard from on high,
Warn those below “trouble comes, be away”,
Shy souls now cry out in fright as they fly,
“No good will come; now go, leave the affray”.

Strained moments pass the tension is immense,
Time to think is bought and conflict caught short,
Need not choose from flight or fight, they’ve seen sense,
Once again destructive thought’ve come to naught.

(c) Robert Jones 2013, All Rights Reserved

Balance

/ Robert / 11 Comments

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For no apparent reason other than I was trying to work out how to weigh up the different aspects of my existence, I realised that achieving balance is essential for peace of mind.

In everyday life we are told that we should:
– Enjoy all things in moderation
– Get sufficient sleep and exercise
– Have a balanced diet
– Achieve a healthy work, life balance

Librans are often described as being the balanced sign of the zodiac. I can happily report the complete opposite is true. As the scale pans of life seesaw up and down I have found that awareness of the present moment is the only way to deal with the seemingly constant momentum.

I am naturally drawn to the elements of air, earth and water, as a large proportion of my existence is spent in grounded thought and feeling. Thankfully, fire seems to pop in when I need a boost of energy, passion and perseverance.

As with most things in my life this post is evolving into something I did not foresee when I started writing.

In the physical world reality is limited to this moment. The wonderful thing about life is that this moment is as vast at the Universe itself and everything is connected by this moment.

I experience a feeling of ecstasy at the moment when on a swing, the seat is at its highest, just before it begins its descent. I am reminded of this feeling in dreams while soaring above the ground. In waking moments I experience it when I have helped someone else, enjoyed a moment of connection with another or experienced something wondrous. To me this is the moment of balance. Is this the point of balance between the physical and the spiritual worlds?

References:
http://webelieveinlight.org/2013/03/07/just-keep-swimming-swimming-swimming/
http://elfkat.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/e-is-for-what-is-your-elemental-affinity/

Celebrating the elementals at Yuletide/Litha

/ Robert / 1 Comment

Being mid-Summer in Australia we are celebrating Litha, the Summer solstice while the northern hemisphere celebrates Yuletide. Over the last few days the water temperature in the pool has been a comfortable 28-30oC.

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Afternoons spent frolicking with the undines of the pool flow perfectly into evenings on the deck surrounded by the gnomes of the Earth while celebrating the salamanders by candlelight and honouring the sylphs of the air with sandalwood incense.

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Blessed be to all.

Taking flight

/ Robert / 3 Comments

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It is a while since I have flown in my dreams. I would often soar and hover at will; I wonder if this is common for those born of a cardinal air sign?

When I exercise, I listen to podcasts compiled by DJ Kam Shafaati http://liquidlogic.podomatic.com/, a waking alternative to my night flights.

A ball of energy forms deep within my being. As the beat and richness of the music rises and falls the power within me expands and contracts. When the track reaches a crescendo a feeling of exhilaration moves up through my body until there is an outward surge of power. The faster the tempo, the harder I work out. This set me up for the day ahead.