Trees of Fire

I used a simple, homemade bubble-wrap filter and a bit of motion to set an oak tree on fire this afternoon.

No Predestination / Threshold of Experience – A Dream

Late last night I awoke from a dream that, in my not fully conscious state, felt philosophically and theologically significant. It seemed important, and worth remembering. Not trusting my awakened mind to remember what my sleeping mind had created, I slipped out from beneath the covers and, in the darkness, found a scrap of paper and a pencil to record something of the dream before it dissipated back into the ethereal void from which it came. Then, having written a brief note to remind myself of the dream, I went back to bed and slept till morning. 

But now, even with the note in front of me, I can remember only a fraction of the dream, and what I can recall does not seem to be the weightiest, profoundest portion of the vision.

What I can remember is of flying to Mongolia to look at horses. I remember there being a moment of instantaneous and tremendous fear as the airplane disappeared around me, along with the other passengers and crew, and I was left hurtling through the air above the mountains and rivers unprotected in the shrieking wind. Then I was in the airport with people staring at me, clucking their tongues and wagging their heads in disapproval; apparently I had urinated in my fear of flying through the air alone and unprotected. My pants were wet and stained. I rushed for a restroom to hide.

The note I left for myself is unhelpful in interpreting this dream or the significance it seemed to have. My handwriting is, even under the best circumstances, both crimped and unruly, my slumbering handwriting is even worse. After a moment of difficulty I was able to decipher my runic scrawl:

 “no predestination 
threshold of experience”

There was something, I think, in the dream of free will and disappearing choices and options, but it has all evaporated with the dawn.

Stars and Light Trails (Nov.3, 2015)

I went out to photograph the sky tonight. There was a chance that the Northern Lights would be visible even here in Iowa, but I did not see them while I was out. No worries, I saw a few shooting stars and took some decent pictures. A truck drove by as I took this one.

Heavy Cloud, No Rain

Heavy cloud but no rain
the sun won't shine till the clouds are gone
the clouds won't go till their work is done
and every morning you'll hear me pray
if only it would rain today.

Background Images for Everyone - 2015 - Week 45

Here is another of the free, weekly, background images that I create and share on this blog. It's yours to download and to use however you like. Use it at home, work, school, church, or on the International Space Station. I only ask that you share it freely and that you tell others you found it here.

This particular little photo was created by shooting Christmas tree lights at close range through a hand held magnifying sheet.