Tranquility Received : The Mountains and Clouds of Madeira Island, 2023
Receiving Stillness
The Intersection of Photography and Meditation
In the silence of Madeira's landscapes, there's a hidden symphony—where the hills and clouds converse in hushed tones, and every frame received by the camera tells a story of peace and introspection.
About The Visual Intervention
Received the Visual Intervention in 2023 – Madeira Island.
Have you ever found yourself staring out into the distance, lost in the vastness of the sky, the hills, the sea of clouds below? There's something about that view that stops you right in your tracks, isn't there? That's what happened to me when I witnessed this view from Madeira Island, taken in 2023. It was one of those photographs that didn't just receive a landscape; it seemed to receive a feeling, too.
This photo, with its serene mix of hills and clouds, got me thinking about stillness—and not just the kind you find when everything's quiet around you. I'm talking about the kind of stillness you feel deep down in your bones, the kind that fills you up when you take a moment to just be.
The thing about photography is, it's a bit like meditation. When you're looking through the lens, waiting for the right moment to engage the photo, the rest of the world falls away. It's just you, the scene in front of you, and the breath in your chest. You become an observer, quiet and still, just like the hills that watch over the clouds.
This picture made me realize that receiving stillness isn't about going somewhere silent. It's about finding silence within yourself, no matter where you are. It's about letting go of the rush, the to-do lists, the constant buzz of thoughts, and giving yourself permission to just exist for a minute. Like those hills, standing tall and steady above the cloud-covered valleys, there's a part of us that can stand steady, too—no matter what's swirling around beneath us.
In a world that tells us we need to keep moving, keep doing, keep scrolling, maybe what we really need is to keep still. To take a cue from the art of photography and the practice of meditation and just observe. To notice the light, the shadows, the way the world unfolds in front of us.
So next time you're feeling overwhelmed or just plain tired, think about that photograph. Remember that there's power in stillness, and there's a whole world to see if we just slow down and look. Who knows what you'll find in those quiet moments? Maybe you'll find a new perspective, a fresh idea, or maybe, just maybe, you'll find a little peace. And isn't that what we're all searching for, after all?
I am not sure where this journey will take us, but for now, you will receive a daily digest of my blog posts. Let's explore the path of conscious change together!
