Stillness Forms A Storm
Words by Devaraj (Farquhar) Macdougall & IMAGES BY HOLLY BLACKMORE
I hear it calling me, the waterfall. Calling me down the winding steps, to the edge. Where water trickles down the face of the ancient rock. Rapidly rolling down different paths and crevices, all heading to the same destination; the flow of life carries us all into the unknown. Hidden beneath the cliff on the edge of a waterfall, I feel my pores pulsating with the energy around me. The sound of ringing insects surrounding my body and rippling out into nothingness. The atmosphere is filled with freshness, it is serene, a peaceful oasis in the rocky cliff side.
Eternal flowing.
Roaring into the unknown.
Following new paths.
My eyes are closed everything is dark.
The energy coursing through my fingers runs deep through the dense nothingness of the earth. The currents of energy circulate through my body melting particles into pure existence; in a boundless exchange between existence and myself.
My eyes are closed everything is dark.
Stillness forms a storm.
Darkness illuminates mind.
Silence reveals peace.
Silence permeates my ears, through the void of my being sending a ripple effect down my spine. She places her hand on my chest, her soft touch brings me back to earth. With each rise and fall of my breath I’m grounded back to life. I wrap myself around her fragile, yet powerful body as a burst of energy erupts encapsulating us. Within two creating one.
Feeling ecstasy
Bubbling up inside me.
Erupting through me.
An exchange of energy, through my palms. I feel like I’m being pulled down into the depths of the rock; pulled down to where all the ancient secrets lie.
With each rise and fall of breath my body sinks deeper into the density of the rock.
Every time we look at a stream steadily flowing past us, it is never the same stream ever again. The flow is forever changing, new water is always following as it twists and turns through the many streams and pools down the waterfall. No one moment is the same ever again, every second everything is growing, breathing, evolving: animals are flying and buzzing around; plants sway in the spring breeze and strobes of sunlight pierce through the trees slowly moving down towards the distant horizon. Something is continually happening; if you are aware of it or not.
Being is knowing.
Knowing life is eternal.
Love connects us all.
The light breeze on my back unleashes a tingling sensation zigzagging across my back. Unsure if it’s the wind or if it’s tiny creatures I decide to surrender to the moment. My feet are fizzy with lack of blood, yet I feel the rock beneath my feet and the vibrations that shoot up my shins is magical. I feel the constant push and pull of existence pulsating through myself, and the rock beneath me.
When I look at the flowing water I see eternal change of reality, just as the liquid rolls down the cliff side; always flowing. The power the water contains; slowly but persistently eroding the dense rock beneath. Creating smooth channels for it to run down the cliff side into the unknown. Without thinking twice.
Water races down.
Creating a path in rock.
Thundering. Changing.
It will be warm I thought, before plummeting into the icy cold water. My body tenses with the sudden shock, my lungs scream for air. Laying on my back, looking to the infinite depths of the sky; I see it is rippling; shimmering tides in the deep blue sky. I see everything is in a cycle: we breath in and out, water undulates around me, trees sway in the spring breeze. The silence of existence encapsulates me into its depths: a sense of tranquility hypnotises my being.
Being in the sky.
Looking into the deep blue.
Lost in existence.
Under an old tree a hidden gem lies. In a shady pocket, of water stricken land. Tiny plants grow to reinvent the forest: the natural flow of water provides the perfect conditions to thrive. With a pond to drain to, and a home-made swing on their doorstep, the toddlers enjoy the blissful ambience they call home.
Like a forest in a log,
Carrying, the youngsters home.
Gracefully hanging.
Companions, down to the core.
Radiating elegance.
Suspended in air,
Floating amidst fellow friends,
Flowering orchids.
Minuscule communities:
Embedded safely in wood.
Growing every moment,
Following their rhythmic beat,
Basking in beauty.
Chilling in the summer haze
Processing light into life
A butterfly soared past me, almost completely camouflage from the radiant green scenery behind. A beautiful butterfly she was: her wings a soft cream, gradually melting into a mellow yellow. From her nimble body she had a fine, dark curving line outlining her delicate wing, at the point of her wing the line circled round-and-round creating a spiral. She was intrigued by the orchids bloom, and began dancing and dotting around the garden. Fluttering around in the final moments of sunshine with her new friends.
A fairy hiding.
Perched high up, resting her wings.
On the glowing leaf.
Her silhouette casting through,
She’s off on an adventure.
The sweet orchids bloom.
Radiating in beauty.
A new beginning.
Shining bright through the shadows,
Oozing with delicacy.
A fairy beacon.
Twinkling with beauty.
Attracting new friends.
Running along the beach was bliss. Running along the sparkling white sand being immersed in my body. My arms and legs stretched and retracted streaming along the soft sand, I focused on the horizon. It felt like reality was passing by me and I was on a treadmill. My heart caught up with me, my body screamed for air. I attempted to control my breath, to create a steady rhythm. I couldn’t keep up, my body slammed into the sand with each stretch of my legs -to a stop. I looked back; parched.
Infinite runway.
Sprinting feels euphoric.
Entirely immersed.
My heart races, in and out.
Uncontrollably beating.
The crystal highway,
A gateway for all beings.
To the mighty sea.
When you step into her you get a sudden shock of cool, fresh water. Your body adjusts itself to the temperature of the water and you loose the sense of the bitter cold. She doesn’t let you rest. She is persistent and strong, it is mindless to disrespect her power. She allows you to step into the moment and totally engages you in what you are doing, she’s constantly reminding you to be aware of each roar of waves tumbling towards you. Swimming in the sea is incomparable to swimming in a pool, in the sea you are completely immersed every piece of water across the planet: it’s all the same ocean. It has given me glimpses of the interconnectedness of reality and life on this planet. Her voice is divine, constantly smashing down and plummeting into herself, white noise fills the air with the infinite flow of the tide.
With each ebb and flow,
Getting to know the ocean,
Feeling her power.
The salty spray erupting.
I loose myself inside her.
Each cycle of waves.
Pulling and pushing me around
Like an old rag doll.
Humbly paying respect,
Grateful for the connection.