‘A Stretch Of Clouds’
One of those perfect early autumn days where the clouds stretch across still skies, full of possibility. The scene is an iconic Auckland one, looking towards the volcanic island of Rangitoto from the mainland (at St.Heliers).
‘Mackerel Sky II’
…forever changes…
‘About To Fall’
‘Mackerel Sky’
…change is in the air…
‘Celestial’
…an early morning waking dream last weekend…
‘Swish Swish’
‘Hotel Under Gloom’
…and no, I didn’t stay…
‘ No Rules’
“There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds.” – G.K.Chesterton
‘Billow And Blue’
‘Dreamland Coming On’
A photo of the early evening sky in Auckland a couple of hours ago.
Posted because of a certain dreamlike quality that resonated with me (the title is borrowed from lyrics in a favourite Joni Mitchell song that went running through my mind as I reviewed the picture – thanks Joni!).
‘Pondscape’
… just look what the pond saw…
‘The Skies Over Your House’
‘Fluff, Cut Is Coming’
…you know, I really hate to be the bearer of bad news…
Early this morning; another Monday with it all ahead, but with a head that is somewhat emotionally clouded.
The short walk to the train tosses up a cloudscape of its own.
One radiant with a warm energy.
An ornamental pole stabs at the fiery sky with a directness and intent that was lacking in me.
There is a simple message for me there: upwards and onwards, mate – the day will follow your intent.
And just pausing to admire the scene and take a picture is a simple way to take you out of your own head…
You can’t make this stuff up really.
Perfect cumulus cloud puffs arrayed in the sky, as they were late yesterday afternoon at home.
So perfect they don’t look real.
But it’s not the form of the clouds that really exercises my mind . It’s their fleeting, transitory nature.
Always appearing from out of nowhere, adorning the moment and then moving on, never to be replicated exactly.
You cannot capture clouds, save in photos.
And all that does is freeze their vapoury uncertainty to fit a frame that cannot ever contain their truth.
Rather than pillowy comfort, I associate clouds with uneasy change.
Change, and being fully present in the moment, are challenges for me – clouds are thus my ultimate mindfulness tools, for their unique presence cannot last…
……………………………………………….
(for more clouded thoughts, see: Cloud’s Illusions ).
A break in the clouds as they sweep through.
The old houses by the shore gleam in the temporary sunlight.
The rocks below the seawall are the inscrutable guardians of these shifting scenes, waiting for the rising tide.
Where the picture is what is what it says on the tin.
Where three things I happen to dig are together in one place.
A tad gloomy I suppose, but at least I’m happy…
Spring in Auckland – a stack of sun, reams of rain – and cumulus clouds like these reflecting both.
Clouds are for dreamers.
You can see what you want in their shapes.
Giant sheep and rabbits; Jesus; your late father’s face; portents of the future or maybe the outline of a Central Asian country…
Anything you like, everything you could imagine.
All illusory, but not necessarily in a bad way.
Queen Joni once sang :
” I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
  From up and down and still somehow
  It’s cloud’s illusions I recall
  I really don’t know clouds at all ”
            – (Joni Mitchell, ‘Both Sides Now’)
All the way along the waterfront on the train today , the rainclouds hovered darkly just above a layer of evening light.
They were still that way as I alighted onto the platform.
Ominously some might say.
Not me, for the anticipation of rain and its release upon us is so wonderfully life affirming.
And what was signaled has now fallen with great intent…
Ebb Then Flood 