I Went To The Woods Because...

I went to the woods because,

I wished to take my own picture.

Deliberately, just me & my tripod.

Lately, I go to these woods because I wish to call upon the wisdom of wise old souls who came before, to give me strength & insight into how I too can live as deliberately as possible in this world. How I can continue stretching outside my comfort zones. How I can write or express my story, my stories. How I can Own My Story & my life. How all of the puzzle pieces in my dreams fit together. How I can interlace my experience into something Heart projected fully, with armor off. I want to hear & see their whispers. I want to see & feel & follow wherever these strands lead. I want to be mystified by life, stray into lands of unknown, and remain in glorious wonder... always....

These woods I've found are:

• A place of quiet & calm solitude amidst this loud & buzzing world.
• A place where turtles rustle across the leaves, slowly, slowly, slowly.
• A place where I tip toe across the land above what I believe to be snake holes.
• A place where even though I may be startled by such things, I feel utterly safe & protected.
• A place where iii can just be & take my own picture.
• A place where I'm reminded to live from a simple deliberate place of my own liking.
• A place that whispers in my ear in a language all it's own.
• A shhhhhh, hush, are you listening deeply too your soul kind of place.
• Red birds blasting, bald eagles soaring, hawks on fences.

"I hope you will go out and let stories happen to you, and that you will work them, water them with your blood and tears and your laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom."
— Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Happy Mothers Day!!!!!

XO,

Carissa

EXPLORE: A New Self Portrait Series....

I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.

~Henry David Thoreau

On Thursday I set off on a Foto Adventure. Just me, my camera, and a trunk full of props. I've been dying to get back to my photography for what feels like forever. I can't tell you how much of a huge breath of fresh air it was to get out there and Explore, follow my instincts to the exact location I ended up - a little dirt road which led to a tree with an overturned rotted desk. With one drawer open and a few scraps of greeting cards strewn about, I knew THIS was the place. I set up my tripod and whipped open my trunk to grab my props. I only ended up using the little white stool, a clock, and a feather. The rest was already there. My intention was to take these portraits to paint over them & collage & use in different things. Heres my first finished one (at least I think it's finished...)

"Explore...." Prints available in my shop...!

I have some other ideas for my fotos, like adhering them to wood blocks and beeswaxing them... I really want to work HUGER. More huge. Huge-gantic. I want to mix in my projector and project things and make BIG ART.

Who's Gonna Stop Me? *wink wink*

Thank you so much for all the LOVE and support on my last post. I am feeling so free to beee me & buzz about this creative life of mine. It's really all still sinking in, even still.

Hope you have a fantastic Weekend. Get out and EXPLORE why don't ya!

Blessings to You & Yours,

Carissa

PS! If you're interested in just plain prints of any of these photos, shoot me a line!