Tag: spirits

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contemplations inspiration morning coffee talk Photography street photography UAE

Morning Coffee Talk~ 40/365

Good Morning,

We were treated yesterday to a beautiful tradition of Dukhoon where incense was burnt on our arrival and several times throughout the day during our visit and the midkhan or incense burner was passed around to allow us to incense our hair and clothing following the example of our hostess.

Dukhoon has a very long tradition in the Arabic culture of being used in religious ceremonies as well as social events and it’s use is reputed to heal, repel bad spirits, enhance smells and increase creativity and motivation.

There is something quite haunting about witnessing and being part of this tradition and obviously I go back home tomorrow with a variety of oud and incense to burn in my home and keep this tradition alive.

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Photography

Chasing spirits~

These recent images from my Instagram page have been titled “chasing spirits”, and for the first time I find myself seeing a distinct line running through these street portraits that were taken by me in different Asian countries but solicit the same emotional reaction from me. There is something that draws me in to the internal processes of strangers through the maps of their faces, the history recorded in their eyes and the roadmaps of their lives in every line and wrinkle that cause me to pause and wonder: what drives me to chase these images and irks me to go to more places and stop, look and capture? It’s a strong driving force that never relents and I am hoping that after the chase, the cause may reveal itself. It’s a journey of passion and every moment brings me closer to myself…

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inspiration life Photography story Yunnan

Day 4~ October 4th~ Yunnan

old Hani woman~ Yunnan

In Yunnan province in China, there are at least 26 ethnic minorities living in small villages up and down the lush green mountains. We drove through these villages and met some of these amazing people who were said to have come from the mountains of Tibet before settling in Yunnan.

The Hani believe that all things on earth have souls They offer sacrifices to mountains, rivers, dragons and heaven, and, as often as every week, to their ancestors. Animals have spirits that are honored in hunting rites.

It was such a gift to walk among them, witness their unique lifestyle and see faces that are still connected to one of the old natural religions of the earth. Their faces told their stories…

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architecture Egypt history life Photography

Day 5~ March 5th~ Egypt


meeting Egypt with all of yourself ~ in the temple of Dendera complex~ Egypt

If you go to meet something for the first time and you take your prejudgment about it with you, how will you ever be able to connect with its truth?

There is so much that is written about ancient Egypt. The libraries are full, the internet is flooded, university texts, endless research material, theories ranging from the skeptical to the fantastic, and the fear of failure and of ignorance, might cause us to dive into all this information, to store it into our short term memory to then be able to wisely throw it left and right in our vain attempt at appearing intelligent.

But maybe the truth is there to be felt, to be detected, to be sensed with different parts of our incredible human machinery. Or is that too crazy a thought? Have you ever seen how children behave differently in museums than adults? They sense things with their hands, their eyes, their backs, their tongues, they shout at it, they sit and stare, the react to it with the whole of their being. Is there a lesson to be learned there?

The zodiac chart of Dendera

This chart from the Dendera temple (now in the Louvre museum in Paris), depicts the 12 signs of the zodiac, surrounded by the 36 spirits symbolizing the 360 days of the Egyptian year.