Majofski

Long time no see

2014-07-19T22:57:00.001+02:00

I have been away for quite a while, dear blog.
Been ill, actually. But much better now. I am wondering whether I should continue you. Coz I have been discovering so many new things. Even developed a small talent. Well, talent is a big word. Let's say, a taste .. for photography. Love this one. There is no profound message. Just colour and joy and life. And it is mine.

Reflections

2012-11-13T20:06:00.000+01:00

These photographs are by Tom Hussey, part of his "Reflections" series.
To me, these pictures seem to be on the outside looking in. Looking at your younger self through your mother or father. It is curious how our idea of who we are does not seem to age much. I still know exactly what I felt like at 25, and I am sure my mother feels the same about when she was 50. Or 25. Only our reflection ages :-)

Winter is coming

2012-10-31T21:51:00.001+01:00

By Daria Kudla

This is art by Daria Kudla. Red Riding Hood riding her wolf, on the brink of Winter. As indeed it is. I feel a bit like her. And like the wolf, particularly the lavish red tongue hanging out like it is the end of the world soon.

Posted with Blogsy

In search of authentic women

2012-10-23T22:45:00.002+02:00

My interest currently gravitates towards interesting women. Role models, perhaps, or just in-a-general-sense inspiring women. I wonder what it is that I want to clarify about them. Or about myself.

A gentle beauty, Mumbai 2007, by Cameron Macmaster

I know what I am not interested in. Not that there is anything intrinsically wrong with beautiful or successful women. Or with superMums or powergirls. The latter just exhaust me! Don't get me wrong. As a woman, I am truly happy for them to have succeeded. I am grateful that they will inspire other women to take their chances. I wish them a long and happy life. And should anyone offer to make me very rich or incredibly beautiful I might just be tempted :-)I believe that women are (better) equipped to tune into matters of the heart, soul, even the body. Somehow they are simply better at tuning in. Perhaps this knowledge derives from being able to carry life within. Perhaps it is something else entirely.These days there are many women who choose not to develop this ability. Rather, they give it up in favour of being recognized by a predominately male world. I understand. Truly, I do. The call of the alpha male is strong and its response runs in our genes. Not easy to resist at all. Especially not if we need protection for ourselves or for our children.Before I may attempt to say any more about this, I feel I must try and define, or at least get a feeling for the kind of "tuning in" quality that I mean. For a while I have been drawn to to collect the faces of strong, authentic women, and their stories. Perhaps it is not just about women, either. There are also men “tuning in. Perhaps they have always been there.I am wondering if I might do this proposed investigation in this blog, or whether I should start a separate one.

Whilst I am thinking about this, I will use this page to jot down some of the links that I have come across. These seem to be concerned with women’s achievements and contributions, recognition, which is not so much my “thing”. Still, the material is interesting.

http://www.mhamenondji.com/blog/amazing-women

http://www.distinguishedwomen.com Includes an incredible long links page for further reference.

http://www.amazingwomeninhistory.com/http://trulyamazingwomen.com/

Posted with Blogsy

In search of authentic women

2012-10-23T22:45:00.001+02:00

My interest currently gravitates towards interesting women. Role models, perhaps, or just in-a-general-sense inspiring women. I wonder what it is that I want to clarify about them. Or about myself.

A gentle beauty, Mumbai 2007, by Cameron Macmaster

I know what I am not interested in. Not that there is anything intrinsically wrong with beautiful or successful women. Or with superMums or powergirls. The latter just exhaust me!
Don't get me wrong. As a woman, I am truly happy for them to have succeeded. I am grateful that they will inspire other women to take their chances. I wish them a long and happy life. And should anyone offer to make me very rich or incredibly beautiful I might just be tempted :-)

I believe that women are (better) equipped to tune into matters of the heart, soul, even the body. Somehow they are simply better at tuning in. Perhaps this knowledge derives from being able to carry life within. Perhaps it is something else entirely.
These days there are many women who choose not to develop this ability. Rather, they give it up in favour of being recognized by a predominately male world. I understand. Truly, I do. The call of the alpha male is strong and its response runs in our genes. Not easy to resist at all. Especially not if we need protection for ourselves or for our children.

Before I may attempt to say any more about this, I feel I must try and define, or at least get a feeling for the kind of "tuning in" quality that I mean. For a while I have been drawn to to collect the faces of strong, authentic women, and their stories. Perhaps it is not just about women, either. There are also men “tuning in. Perhaps they have always been there.

I am wondering if I might do this proposed investigation in this blog, or whether I should start a separate one. Whilst I am thinking about this, I will use this page to jot down some of the links that I have come across. These seem to be concerned with women’s achievements and contributions, recognition, which is not so much my “thing”. Still, the material is interesting.

http://www.mhamenondji.com/blog/amazing-women
http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/ Includes an incredible long links page for further reference.
http://www.amazingwomeninhistory.com/
http://trulyamazingwomen.com/

If you have ..

2012-10-21T22:40:00.002+02:00

Thank you, who ever conceived of this message and its beautiful layouting first. I do not know who you are .. I always credit the author of material that I repost, but that proved impossible: so many people have reposted this message. I gladly join them.

The message that is sent by this poster is clear as a bell, rings right through smaller and larger concerns, fears, hopes. Or at least, that is what it did to me.

It reminds me of Nine Simone's magnificent "Life". At times I play that song until I believe I can walk on my hands- which I definitely cannot :-)

Child's play

2012-10-12T19:19:00.001+02:00

Photograph by Vo Anh Kiet

This picture was the runner up for the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest 2012, described as “H’Mong minority children were playing with their balloons on a foggy day in Moc Chau – Ha Giang province, Vietnam." It has a dreamlike quality, otherwordly, and yet the children and their balloon play are like any children.

Vo Anh Kiet - I have not been able to find any details about him or her - also entered another photograph for the National Geographic contest, which did not make it to the top ten, but to my mind is equally beautiful. It shows another H'Mong child, leaning into her mother. Both mother and daugther appear to share that same dreamy child like quality that shines through the black and white photograph above.

Photograph by Vo Anh Kiet

More is more and less is a bore

2012-10-06T16:35:00.001+02:00

I couldn't resist sharing this with you: another role model for me, something to strive for.
She is Iris Apfel, and I snatched this picture from the Advanced Style Blog by Ari Seth Cohen.

This lady looks more at 92 alive than I feel at 50. She is American, but half Russian too, owing to her mother. A rare old bird!. Exotic, indeed. And she still has a lot of energy! The quote "more is more and less is a bore" sums her up.There is a wonderful article in the Guardian about her, which may be read here. Apparently she became a celebrity at 83, many years after retirement.

Mad as hell

2012-09-28T18:11:00.000+02:00

"Mad As Hell" by Aaron Leming. I did a little bit of research. Apparently, this kind of letter working is an example of kinetic typography. The actual text was taken from the 1976 cult film "network".

I ran into this clip today, or rather, it ran in to me. Listening to it, I felt like being set free. I was so amazed at the feeling that I just had to laugh out loud. So far, I have not stuck my head of the window and yelled, but the idea is growing on me.

A feather on the breath of God

2012-09-17T19:08:00.001+02:00

Today I lost my temper. Not visibly, but inside. I spend some time in anger, even retalliating. Which is probably for the best, as the guy in question is quite dense and would not get the message any other way. But the whole thing gave me a headache. As I cycled home, I decided not to listen to an audiobook but to a documentary about Hildegard von Bingen.
I wished I had done so this morning. Her music is so beautiful, so pure and cleansing. Just what the doctor ordered. The documentary also cited some of her poetry:

The feather flew, not because of anything in itself but because the air bore it along

Thus am I, a feather on the breath of God.

Tree of life

2012-09-13T17:07:00.002+02:00

"Tree of Life "by Faupel-Art.org

Today I was asked what I would look like if I were a tree. I rather enjoyed that question. I did a little drawing. Maybe I will redo it as a private work of art. Even post it here :-)

I spent some time wondering what kind of tree I want to be when I grow up. I found this image on a website supporting charities such as Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Amnesty International.
Have a look at the image. The colours are heartbreakingly beautiful, inspiring thoughts of love and innocense. Of life and hope and courage and harmony. Connecting energies. Clean, clean air. Yes..

Pixel people

2012-09-10T19:35:00.005+02:00

Audrey Hepburn, by Graig Alan

I found this image in this blog. There are more artists like Graig Alan: taking "tableau vivant" to a new level. Secretly I have always wanted to partake in one of these. I image it would be like being a conscious part of a work of art, a Creation. Or do I already exist as a pixel in one or, perhaps, many "tableaus"?

Mischmasch

2012-09-08T08:36:00.000+02:00

"Stood beneath an orange sky" by Alice X Chang

The author of this picture (is it a design or a painting or an illustration - or does that not matter ?) is Alice X. Chang. She is from ... all over (born in China, grew up in Auckland, lived and worked as a graphic designer in New York City, London and Beijing). She has worked as a graphic designer but according to one of her internet profiles, is currently moving to the fine arts. I have no idea how she classifies this picture, it is not even in the various portfolios she keeps on the internet. Interestingly, she has created "Mischmasch", a virtual gallery where contemporary artists display and auction or sell their own work. The word "mischmasch" comes from the German, meaning "a collection or mixture of things". I assume this initiative was born from her professed dislike of arrogant gallery owners. Alice does like "crazy people, funny people, art on the back streets, the moldy smell of old books, and typography". She really is a bit of a "mischmasch" herself, or at least her internet presence is: a bit of everything and all over the place. But perhaps one does not need to try for consistence in all things. Perhaps creative force may be freed up by the sheer enjoyment of not being consistent. I must think on that.

Imagine

2012-09-03T23:14:00.001+02:00

Words-a-wing need a feather bed:-)

Big appetites

2012-09-02T09:51:00.003+02:00

This picture is part of a series called "big appetites".
On his website the artist, Christopher Boffoli, decribes how he came about creating these ... a child's view of the adult world, where everything is larger than life, against the backdrop of food- food being both a major health issue, but also "the sensual experience of eating accesses primal instincts that stretch back to the earliest days of our evolution".
Now I can relate to that! As a child I used to dream about my favourite food, custard! Not english custard, Dutch custard, which was sold in half liter aluminium topped glass bottles Eaten as cold as possible. I loved it so much, I used to dream about having a swimming pool full of it, and then diving in. Bliss! It is at least 20 years that I have indulged myself. Which, as I write this down, seems silly. Perhaps ..

Wise one

2012-08-30T20:07:00.001+02:00

Found on fotografia-przyrodnicza.art.pl

This owl seems to be looking straight at me, through me. I feel transparant, and it is not a comfortable feeling. Do I know what I am doing? Am I in need of wisdom? Do I have any wisdom to offer? Are there any white lies I have forgotten to tell myself about ? Am I sure, truly, in my heart of heart and in my bone of bones?
Eventually, I relax. Of course I know what I am doing, even if I don't know it yet. I tell the owl how beautiful it is. It doesn't even blink.

Left versus right brain

2012-08-28T19:36:00.001+02:00

Graphic by Andrew Keir. More here

I took a course in drawing some years ago. One day a friend showed us his paintings and I sighed: 'oh, I wish I could draw" ... and he offered to teach me, saying that drawing really wasn't that difficult. A matter of learning to see followed by diligent application of effort. Apparently it takes only 3000 hours to become good at something:-)
So far I have not managed to spend the 3000 hours, but I did learn to see. With my "right" brain. And hence to draw. A bit. It was a revelation, in many respects, to my thinking, feeling and imagining mind. As is depicted in this graphic. Do read the small print describing the left- and right side of the brain.

Human nest

2012-08-27T23:08:00.001+02:00

Reblogged from here

This is a human nest, conceived and custom built by Yayson Fann. Created from locally harvested wood, these nests may fit a range of purposes, from a love nest to a look-out to an actual living space for 1 to 30(!) people. In me, the sight of such a nest evokes .. yes, nesting urges. Wouldn't I just love to have one of these in my garden ...or indeed in the house.... and it seems to appeal to me at some primal level. Do you suppose that humans ever lived in trees?

Alter ego in pink

2012-08-25T23:25:00.000+02:00

"Toad" by Yu Chen Hong

I adore this toad. I have even adopted her as my avatar on Wordfeud (don't tell anyone).
She is everything I don't want to be ... pink, fat, frilly, silly, dumb, even gross. And yet ... she speaks to me. She feels familiar somehow. I feel I could talk to her. And I do think that she is absolutely beautiful.

Metaphors

2012-08-23T07:38:00.000+02:00

Ripples on the Ocean by Vladimir Kush

I find metaphors useful to describe things, explain concepts, evoke feelings, hint at truths which I could not otherwise express. I enjoy using metaphors in language, am always trying to find new and better ones.

The artist of the painting above, Vladimir Kush, uses image methaphors with a similar goal. He says: "Metaphor leaves the mind open to grasp onto the hidden likeness of things and events. And the more distant these things are, the greater the effect. The unexpectedness of the connection and sudden insight, which takes your breath away, is the true measure of the painting's value".

Slow is the new fast

2012-08-20T23:11:00.001+02:00

Found on http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/stuffnoonetoldme.blogspot.com

Maybe it is the holiday nearly finished now. Maybe it is old age creeping up on me. Maybe it is an intimation of Grand Things to Come. Or quite the opposite. Or simply plain good sense, finally catching up with me. Whatever ...I will adopt this as a new rule of life. Or do I mean rule of my new life ? My credo ? I will get it. Slowly.

Sleeping water

2012-08-06T18:56:00.000+02:00

Photograph by me

Air listens, like the sleeping water, still....

(Wordsworth, from "An Evening Walk")

Breathing room

2012-08-04T10:21:00.000+02:00

As a child, I loved blowing dandelions. I would rush up to them wherever I found them. Poppies had the same effect on me. I used to make my father stop the car so that I could pick them. Blowing the dandelion and seeing its seeds fly in the air gave me a feeling of oneness. As a (semi) grown up, I do not find myself changed much (except for walking much more slowly).
I stumbled into a website about breathing together in a breathing room There is actually a map so that you can see who is using the breathing rooms (you may choose one to suit you). The idea made me giggle at first, until I tried it. It is an amazing feeling to breathe in and out with others. For me it is quite like blowing that dandelion, lots of them, with a feeling of connection. Try it yourself.

On November 11th 2012, at the exact same time, for one hour, the Universal Breathing Room invites you to do whatever most powerfully and joyfully connects you to the feeling tones of unity and love. Pray, meditate, sing, chant, dance, laugh, party, paint and then at the end of the hour: breathe synchronously as one global family in The Universal Breathing Room on DoAsOne.org. Check their website for more details and time conversion.

Path work

2012-08-01T16:55:00.005+02:00

Monks at Pongour Falls in Dalat, Vietnam by photographer Dang Ngo.

Known as the 7 Layers Waterfall, Pongour Falls is located just outside of Dalat (Lam Dong province) and is the largest waterfall in the region. The water drops about 30 meters (98.5 ft), and flows dramatically over 7 ‘layers’ into a big pool at the bottom.
Perhaps these layers connect to the 7 layers of Heaven? Or to the 7 layers of the aura? Are these monks meditating as they come down? Is that even possible on a slippery path like this? Or ...?

Duty for dummies

2012-08-01T10:24:00.000+02:00

Available here

You remember C.S. Lewis, from the Narnia Tales? The one that used to drink with Tolkien in a quaint little pub in Oxford. I always wonder at how many pints the dragons started to appear.

Apparently C.S. Lewis received a lot of letters from children, which he answered at some length, offering advice. In a letter to a girl named Sarah, dated April 3, 1949, he writes:

"Remember that there are only three kinds of things anyone need ever do.

Things we ought to do
Things we’ve got to do
Things we like doing.

I say this because some people seem to spend so much of their time doing things for none of the three reasons, things like reading books they don’t like because other people read them. Things you ought to do are things like doing one’s school work or being nice to people. Things one has got to do are things like dressing and undressing, or household shopping. Things one likes doing — but of course I don’t know what you like. Perhaps you’ll write and tell me one day."

Now isn't that an excellent breakdown of "what to do" for (semi) grown-ups like me - with a conscience that weighs heavily upon my need to play?