The Mindful activity was in progress regarding copy writing about the two trees Blackthorn and Alder. Words about their spiritual applications in how they, with associated ‘tree’ wisdom, guide you on your way towards self nurture and understanding. Spiritual words involved within the Earth Pathways journal were becoming very logical words. Absorbing, absorbed and focused it was tap tapping into a gentle space within the mind. Then? It was a photograph from the second book, a Mindfulness journal, that disturbed the moment and resulted in my searching elsewhere. The camera in the journal’s photograph reminded me of a Zorki rangefinder I knew was somewhere in the house. I needed to find it.

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Why two journal books? The Mindfulness journal has a section ‘Born to be wild’. Ways to connect with and focus on nature. A tree, flower, bird, etc. Watch how transformation exists in the surroundings. Smells, colours, your own physical sensations felt within nature’s offerings. It was a decent partner to the Tree journal I felt. An added bit of information to simply focus on and take in the treasures it presented. Looking at the advice, then spotting the camera photograph, the mind reintroduced Monkey Chatter or the Dharma of Distraction. It goes off on a tangent again. I, as said, go hunting. 

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Mindfulness is a very difficult discipline at times. A strange affair. Not actually engaging with nature itself. But following the concepts of a theme involving the subject of trees and how they allow a guiding inspiration it became a brief space in time of valuable affinity. Not involving cameras at all. One simple image distracted. The words in the journal guiding your intentions to focus, notice, feel and listen regarding nature’s theme? They fly out of the window. 

The Mindful photography section suggests turning down the volume on your inner critic. Allowing focus and concentration upon the subjects in front of the camera lens. I had substituted my own eyes’ lens for the need to get at a camera I knew was somewhere in the house. Distraction. Lack of true focus. 

The Dharma of Distraction is a very interesting read.

The Dharma of Distraction

Hunt the camera. The camera that I have only put one black and white film through. A very, very long time ago too. Hunt the camera down. The self questioning put on the back burner. Confrontation and discomfort of addressing deeper feelings therefore avoided. I found the camera. Took photographs of the camera as the second Mindfulness journal suggested and therefore focused differently. Albeit a more mechanical subject to revisit and seek how it works. More external than internal. Avoiding the seeking of deeper understanding of how trees could guide my future well being. Distraction of the external being an easier option than the internal. I suppose, sometimes, life is like that.