“And what the dead had no speech for, when living,
They can tell you, being dead: the communication
Of the dead is tongued with fire beyond the language of the living.” — T.S. Eliot
Excerpt from my book, which includes, just as it does within the book, another one of the many poems, by famous poets (who are deceased), that seem to help corroborate what i write about:
The “I” that says it sees the “trees” is a manmade, fabricated symbol that is unnecessary; it can be referred to if it represents the whole; however, if reference to it involves positing that the perceiver is something separate from the perceived, then miscalculation and error have taken place. The patterns that one perceives are the patterns that one is; such patterns compose and constitute consciousness. Without such patterns, ordinary consciousness is not possible. If one is supremely intelligent, one can be a mind that does not merely depend on patterns, at all times, in order to healthily function. Such a mind can function as an immense, quiet stillness that is beyond the mechanizations of patterns and attributes; but even this goes only so far and, to remain healthy, the mind must often look at trees, rivers, and other wonderful, flowing manifestations of the earth. It must look at them without separation.
To go beyond the confines of limited patterns, one must first realize that one’s consciousness is not at all separate from the patterns and images that it perceives and functions as. In other words, if one observes things merely via conflict and miscalculated separations, one is then observing with great error. Such error often merely sees itself as separate from the patterns and conflict that compose what it is. If one’s erroneous observations are a millstone around one’s neck, how can such a one have the energy to transcend into a vast, intelligent, placid stillness that is open to the possibility of visitation from the immeasurable benediction of what is truly sacred? A broken mind, full of separation, would be incapable of moving beyond its dead borders that separate it from everything else.
from Wallace Stevens:
THEORY
I am what is around me.
Women understand this.
One is not duchess
A hundred yards from a carriage.
These, then are portraits:
A black vestibule;
A high bed sheltered by curtains.
These are merely instances.
Beeing us. (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Beeing us. (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
Great post.
Love the images of “Beeing us”.
Thank you, Sylvia, for your nice comments about the post and the pictures! Much appreciated! 🙂
blissful pic
Thank you, 6rosesplus1! 🙂
Stunning photo 🙂
Thank you, Sci! Keep huggin’ dem doggies! 🙂
haha Will do, and you keep talking to your birds 🙂
Glory!!!
🙂
monkey like picture of bee creature 100 % & think maybe tom enjoy think about little video of alfred korzybski: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-7zYBKgzfs
Thanks! I have something you would maybe enjoy too. (It’s a banana, and it is an “ape-peeling” form, illusory or not!)
wonderful post, Thomas. I like this sentence “I am what is around me”. If I would have been born in the South American dschungle or in Japan I would be different because everything around you is influencing you. Have a nice day, regards Mitza
Exactly, Mitza! You are seeing something! 🙂
sometimes even a blind chicken can find a corn, hehe. Have a nice weekend with Tweetie, regards Mitza
Good one, Mitza! You are too humble! I admire that! 🙂
Your writing speaks a truth that some may find hard to reconcile. It is with watching the wind blow through the trees and allowing it to cleanse us that we see just how deep our roots go, how they all join together for true nourishment.
Beautiful words, and beautiful photos.
Thank you much, bits! We need to see deeper into those roots! 🙂
Beautiful contrast of colors, green and violet; great capture Tom ! 🙂
Thank you much, Marcela! I enjoy them too! 🙂
Remarkable capture of the bee and flowers.
Thank you, Amy! Keep those cameras busy! 🙂
Gorgeous photography – and love the Eliot and Stevens poetry (as well as the post).
Thank you so much, TLP! So glad you are appreciative of them! 🙂
Great colour and detail in this shot. 🙂
Thank you very much, Karen! 🙂
Lovely mindful prose here Tom… and that image is fantastic!
Thank you re both, Lori! Stay close to nature (as you always compassionately do)! 🙂
Great picture !!!!
Thank you, Nancy! 🙂
I love that quote! Beautiful pictures! Can’t wait to see the others! 🙂
Great pictures beautiful quote. What kind of flower is that?
Such a beautiful nature photo! The composition is splendid!