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Love the truth more than man-made fabrications and constructions. Look effortlessly (now and then) without separation and learned patterns.
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[These are Sulphur Butterflies (specifically, Alfalfa Sulphur Butterflies). They like to land on wet river bank soil to absorb needed moisture and minerals.]
A male and two females. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Don’t merely think and react as you were programmed to. Be a light to yourself!
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[This is a Viceroy Butterfly. Birds avoid Viceroy Butterflies if they have previously tried to eat a Monarch or a Queen Butterfly, which are poisonous. However, those birds that have not had this experience readily eat the non-poisonous Viceroy Butterflies.]
A bird’s folly. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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The magic of nature… let it touch you.
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[A very pregnant Praying Mantis, late in the season. Praying Mantis females are larger than males. She is already showing signs of aging (i.e., deteriorating wings) and slowing metabolism. Getting older myself, I can easily sympathize with her. Hopefully, she will soon lay another egg sac and there will be plenty of viable eggs waiting to hatch again in the spring.]
An old friend. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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It’s not how far or how many you’ve gotten in life… it’s how deep!
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[Grasshoppers would have made Jack’s job a lot more difficult with climbing the beanstalk! There would be grasshoppers flying everywhere!]
Grasshoppers and the beanstalk? Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Don’t let life’s great mystery pass you by!
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[Painted Lady Butterflies mating. They are discreetly using leaves for privacy. The Painted Lady Butterfly larva builds a webbed nest on the food plant, usually Thistle.]
Two as one. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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It may be a losing battle — getting this sick world well — but, like a good surgeon, we’ll keep fighting anyway! 😉
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[These are Ladybugs having an important conference. Both the adults and the larvae are predators, mostly of aphids; therefore, they are very beneficial in gardens. Ladybugs are common on plants and often overwinter as adults in large swarms under fallen leaves or bark.]
Ladybugs in an important meeting. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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The dichotomy — between the “perceiver” and “that which is perceived” — is essentially (psychologically) illusory and nonexistent.
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[Group of Monarch Butterflies on wild flowers, gathering nectar and preparing for migration.]
Preparing for migration. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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You can say “Namaste” until you are blue in the face… but unless you live like all life forms are not separate from your actual self, it is rather meaningless.
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[This huge wasp is a called the Giant Cicada Killer. The adults feed on nectar; the larva feed on cicadas. Several females use their “bushy” legs to make nests of branching tunnels in light clay to sandy soil. Front legs are used for digging; the hind legs are used for kicking out dirt. Females hunt cicadas one at a time; each victim is stung and brought back to the nest. One to two cicadas are placed in each cell; one wasp egg is laid on the last one. When this wasp was being photographed, I got quite close to it. It was aware of my presence, but seemed to be indifferent of me… seeming to know that it was equipped to attack if I truly threatened it. I used to keep bees, so was not intimidated by it; though I was glad that it respected me as I did it.]
Huge Wasp indeed! (1) Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
Huge wasp indeed! (2) Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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One should always think of and help oneself first… and oneself, by the way, is the whole of humanity and life.
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[This is a young Bullfrog, probably a female, in the security of a pond. Amphibians (and all vertebrates) evolved from fish… and this young frog has very fish-like eyes! The round disc behind the eye of the Bullfrog is the eardrum. For Bullfrogs, the eardrum is larger in males than it is in females. In males it is larger than the eye. In females, the eardrum is the same size or smaller than the eye. Female Bullfrogs grow to be larger than males. This one is very young… so it probably won’t croak soon. 😉 ]
Not green due to envy! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Insight is correct action to help life.
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[An elusive jumping spider. She jumped from one leaf to another plenty of times and was difficult to photograph. All those eyes signaled me out too easily! I finally got a shot and left her be!]
Enough eyes to see everywhere! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Interestingly, when thinking occurs, thought reacts as a virtual copy (in the form) of one’s own physical voice (as you tend to hear it). One can intelligently go beyond virtual “copyism.”
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[This wild plant became eaten by a small — but voracious — caterpillar culprit. However, he is not the only one responsible. Look very closely and you may see other cohorts involved with the crime… and (just like criminals) they’re good at hiding!]
Crime Scene. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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An insect’s priorities don’t include understanding the whole. Go beyond an arthropodan mentality.
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[Green June Beetles are metallic bronze-green underneath. Like other scarab oriented insects, Green June Beetles lay their eggs in the ground and their larvae develop as c-shaped grubs within the soil. Following having pupated underground, they emerge as adults in the summer and actively fly, feed, and reproduce from June–September.]
Green in Yellow. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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When sorrow enters a truly wise mind… sorrow’s essence and dross disintegrates.
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[This is a moth caterpillar… likely a Buck Moth. Buck Moth larvae have stinging spines. This is one cat you don’t want to hug!]
Ugly and beautiful! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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To be perceptive means to be observant, to be sensitive; and one isn’t fully perceptive if one does not have deep sensitivity and love for all living things.
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[Milkweed plants feed so many insects, yet seem to prosper and continue to do very well! True energy machines! These are nymph stages of the Large Milkweed Bug. Both the adults and young nymphs of the Large Milkweed Bug sip nectar and sap from plants and their flowers… but seem to do no significant damage. In the fall and winter they over-winter in the cottony growth of the milkweed pods. It would be nice if our homes were so edible and accommodating!]
One big happy family! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
It’s sweet when your home is what you can eat! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Normality is a common type of insanity.
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[Leaf beetles, Diabrotica barberi, and Ladybug beetles on a wild sunflower plant. Some species of Leaf Beetles are very destructive to corn crops. Ladybugs, on the other hand, eat many insect pests, though these are additionally getting the abundant nectar from this wild flower. (One can’t blame them for liking sweets!]
Can you count how many there are? Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Really… happiness is an inside job!
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[This butterfly is a Silver-spotted Skipper. Skippers have some characteristics of both butterflies and moths. They tend to have large, rather stocky heads, thick-oriented bodies, and relatively short wings, spanning up to 2 inches. The antenna are set far apart on the head and end in a curved hook. Adults love to sip nectar (as this one can be seen doing with its long proboscis.]
Like a moth to a candle! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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I’m not interested in just nonchalantly passing through life while having a lot of mundane, but essentially superficial, experiences; I want to delve deep and (no matter what the answer entails) find out about the true essence of the whole and about existence.
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[This is close up study of an adult Mayfly resting upon an outside-oriented window pane. Though the immature “nymph” stage usually lasts around a year (living underwater), the adult stage of this order of insects usually only lives from a few minutes to a few days, depending on the species. The primary function of the adult is reproduction. Eating (for such a short adult span of time) is unnecessary; the mature adults don’t even possess functional mouth parts. Often, they emerge as adults at the same time; that way, predators get satiated and can only eat so many at once, enabling the others to survive (though their time is not long).]
An adult Mayfly: Short-lived but beautiful! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Fingers apart are still — and will always be — fingers together!
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[These caterpillars — lined up and looking like puppies for sale and selection at the local pet store — are Milkweed Tussock moth (Euchaetes egle) caterpillars. They are eating and resting on a Milkweed plant. Caterpillars often look a lot different in appearance during each successive molt. Some species have completely different colors, or length of setae (fur-like covering), or may or may not have antennae or horns, for example. The variation between instars is one of the factors that makes it challenging to identify caterpillars.]
Milkweed Tussock moth (Euchaetes egle) caterpillars. This is no puppy mill! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Real passion in life cannot merely be taught. Real passion is not for one or two things, it is for the whole!
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[This slender insect is a Conehead Katydid. The Conehead Katydid feeds on flowers and foliage, such as shrubs and trees. Males chirp during the day and sometimes at night with a “tsip-tsip” sound; close-up, the call resembles a continuous, second-long buzz repeated every 2 seconds.]
Katy did it! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Go to nature… where there are no politicians!
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[This is a group of Hover Flies feeding on nectar from a Goldenrod plant. Many people mistake Hover Flies for bees; they are not bees and do not carry stingers. I love the way that they can hover in one spot (in mid-air), remaining (except for their wings) perfectly still! Adults drink nectar. The larva preys on aphids and the larvae of scale insects. It is considered to be extremely beneficial due to the eating habits of the larvae, aiding in eliminating harmful insects that attack ornamental plants and commercial crops. Often they get quite sociable and will land on you without fear.]
After the gold! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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If you have a really big nose — like I do — don’t be ashamed of it; it’s far better than having a big, fat ego.
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[This is a female Snout Butterfly. They have extensive projecting mouth parts (palpi) that resemble long snouts or noses. Similar to the metalmark butterflies, Snout Butterfly males have four walking legs and the females have six. Only one species occurs north of Mexico. The larva, which grows very rapidly, feeds on Hackberry.]
What a snoz! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Dorothy (from the Wizard of Oz): If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with!
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[Monarch Butterfly eating from Rosy Strife Flowers.]
Close to home! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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A true teacher is a “learning assistant” and fellow learner… not a manipulator or puppeteer!
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[This is a red Harvestman… often called a Daddy-longlegs. They have no venom and are harmless to human beings. Harvestmen have what are called Chelicerae, which in spiders are hollow in order to deliver venom, but in Harvestmen they are primarily used to grasp food; no venom is involved.]
Not a Mommy-shortlegs! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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It’s good, if you are human, to leave the superficial and the shallow (and the crowd)… and, instead, go deep. However, if you are a duck, leaving the group and going into the deep (on your own) can get you eaten by a northern pike or a muskellunge.
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[The real Duck Dynasty! These are young (immature) wild Mallard Ducks. Fortunately, the one going off on his own (into the deep) quickly came back and joined the group. Almost all domestic ducks are derived from wild Mallard Ducks. Mallards are “dabbling ducks”—they feed in the water by tipping forward and grazing on underwater plants. They almost never dive. (Fortunately, unlike some people, when I shoot ducks I only use a camera!)]
The real Duck Dynasty. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
The real Duck Dynasty (part 2) Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Don’t compare yourself with others… be what and who you are (in wise harmony with the whole).
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[Buffalo Tree Hopper… nicely camouflaged in (of all things) a tree. They feed on the sap of flowers, vegetables, shrubs, and deciduous trees, but do little damage due to their very diminutive size.]
“Time is a tree (this life one leaf)” — E.E.Cummings. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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One doesn’t (personally) care about the latest (current) fashions or trends; one cares about lasting and eternal truths that remain forever.
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[A Fire Beetle and a Sulphur Butterfly (i.e., Alfalfa Butterfly) contemplating their next move.]
Sulphur Butterfly and Fire Beetle. The Important Conference (2). Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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In a big way, you can’t distance yourself from your anxieties and fears; you are your anxieties and fears.
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[Praying Mantis head study. The two large, compound eyes of Praying Mantises operate much better than the eyes of most insects; dragonflies also have excellent eyes. A mantid can see to a distance of 50 feet. Between the two large compound eyes, there exists three simple eyes (and the middle simple eye is larger than the other two). Sometimes, right after mating, a female Praying Mantis will bite the male’s head off and eat him. (Males usually don’t live long after mating anyway… and the extra protein is excellent nourishment for producing plenty of viable eggs.) What a way to go! Actually, in the wild, scientists believe the male partner gets munched on less than 30% of the time.]
Praying Mantis Head Study. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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One has to be gutsy when looking for the truth… not molded to find comfortable answers that one is merely desiring to find.
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[A Ladybug resting in the center of a wildflower as a very diminutive insect ascends toward it.]
The Center of attention. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Be an oasis of goodness and order in a world that contains a lot of conflict and darkness.
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[A land slug crawling on a white mushroom covered in dew. Slugs love moisture, such as dew in the mornings or rainy days; on dry days they often hide under logs. The slug may eat the mushroom without problems; however, that is not the case if a human would eat this mushroom. It is likely a mature form of Chlorophyllum molybdites, a mushroom that is not edible by humans. However, it sure looks rather impressive (and edible). Stick with purchasing mushrooms from the grocery store! Leave the wild mushrooms to the slugs and wild creatures of nature!]
Slow but successful! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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True joy exists far deeper than superficial desires.
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[An avian friend… a small bird in a wooded area by a river. It is a Cedar Waxwing fledgling. Cedar Waxwings eat a lot of fruits and berries.]
Avian friend. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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To hate others involves despising images that are part of one’s own consciousness. Intelligently go beyond hate.
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[This is a Robber Fly. They thrive along woodland edges and are voracious predators. I often see them flying around looking for insect prey to snatch up. They can go after wasps, bees, flies, and even larger insects such as dragonflies.]
Quick and agile! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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I’ve seen the sunset from an eternal shore.
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[This is a Tree Cricket. Tree crickets are found around the world, in a variety of colors; they live in trees, shrubs, bushes, plants and grasses. If you’ve ever been outdoors in summer or autumn, day or night, there is an excellent chance that you have heard the loud and beautiful trilling songs of male tree crickets.]
Jiminy Cricket! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Feel and care beyond yourself.
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[This conglomeration of insects consists of Buckeye Butterflies, two or three Drone (Hover) flies, and other insects. Buckeye butterflies cannot survive freezing temperatures in any stage, so they must migrate south; otherwise, they will perish. Therefore, many Buckeyes that spend their summers in northern states, fly south to overwinter in Gulf Coast states such as Florida. The buckeyes enjoy being together often, and prefer to fly in open areas, where they sun themselves. Their wingspan is 1.5-2.7 inches.]
The Important Conference (1). Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Plenitude of insight exists with (and “as”) direct and simple clarity (beyond mere symbols).
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[There’s some simple clarity here! These aren’t skydivers dropping down to earth… they’re the insects known as Water Striders; they “walk” on water! Water Striders use their forelegs to grab insects trapped by the water’s surface tension and also to make ripples to communicate with each other. (We use sound waves when we talk/communicate!) They use their middle legs for rowing and their hindlegs for steering. There is a living clam to the lower left.]
Having the time of their lives! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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When you’ve been out in nature photographing over the years so long that the insects come and land on you… maybe it’s time — like so many do — to stay indoors! 😉
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[This is a Red Admiral Butterfly. When the insects come to you… doing macro photography is a whole lot easier! 🙂 ]
Another six-legged friend! (2) Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
Another six-legged friend! (1) Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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The universe is expanding and unfolding — like a beautiful flower — and we (especially when we are open and caring) are part of the blossoming.
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[This is a photo of a lily flower blossoming. In the flower, you can see the pistil and the various (topped in yellow) stamen. It is also a photo of the universe unfolding out of the folds. 😉 ]
Unfolding out of the folds. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. — Aristotle
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[This is a Southern Cloudy Wing Skipper. They prefer wooded margins, especially near clover and other legumes upon which the larvae feed.]
Favorite resting place. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Establish value in orderly, direct perception… not in limited patterns of the standard, (rather mediocre) norm.
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[This insect is an adult Green Stink Bug. They can, when disturbed, emit copious amounts of foul-smelling fluid. Both adults and nymphs (a nymph was photographed not long ago) possess large stink glands on the undersurface, opening through conspicuous slits.]
Watching me! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Nonviolence, like love and true meditation, is not a mere practice. One can’t practice what is alive, heartfelt, and beyond gross methodology.
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[Male Eastern Tailed-Blue Butterfly with a flying visitor. These butterflies have approximately a one inch wingspan. These butterflies often feed on seeds and flowers of a wide variety of plants in the pea family, including clovers, beans, and wild peas.]
Peaceful friends. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Many of us take immaculate care of our overly fancy cars — filling them with top quality fuels and oils — while we guzzle sugar, starch, wine, and fatty foods like there’s no tomorrow. We must change!
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[Many flowers — like this one — are superb and healthy places for insects to get needed nourishment; there’s plenty of protein and vitamins from pollen and energy from nectar; plus the view, while eating, is often spectacular! (They don’t have to put flowers on their dining tables!)]
A beautiful and healthy place to eat! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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In a rotten society, don’t be a mere pawn; act beyond the rigidity, the cold indifference, and beyond the crass mediocrity.
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[This caterpillar is a Salt Marsh Moth Caterpillar. Although they are decidedly hairy, the hairs are not as dense or as stiff as those found in Woollybear larvae.The farmers in the area will tell you what all that extra fuzziness means… it means we are in for a terrible and harsh winter! Prepare! 😉 ]
Get ready for a long, harsh winter! 😉 Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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It’s easy to belong to a group, a gang, or a herd; but to stand alone and think and feel for yourself is arduous!
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[This is, of course, a Praying Mantis; it is a Chinese Mantid. I will often, when I find them, pick them up and let them climb on my hands. At first, they bite viciously and don’t like it; but most, after around a minute or so, tame down and don’t want to leave your hand; apparently, it’s too much fun for them… the equivalent of a carnival ride or something! They love traveling from hand to hand on your fingers! At least that’s how they behave around here. I only encountered one that persistently didn’t want anything to do with me. Their long front “arms” are used as spike-vices to capture and subdue prey. Often, they will “sway” back and forth with their entire body before striking something, simulating a twig or branch in the breeze! They actively hunt or – often – they simply wait for something to come along. (Alien-like for sure!)]
There are aliens among us! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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The keyhole to unlocking life’s mysteries and wisdom’s treasures lies in silent awareness and magnanimous existence. Love is the key.
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[These are dwarf tropical catfish of the species known as Corydoras trilineatus. (In Latin, Corydoras means helmeted, and trilineatus means three-striped or three-lined.) They only get around an inch and a half long. These are one of the species of dwarf catfish that I keep as pets and that I occasionally get babies from. All Corydoras species are extremely peaceful and non-combative. Each species has a tank all to themselves. I really like the patterns that this particular species has, once mature.]
Small bottom dwellers. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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One can look young on the outside and be stale and old on the inside. One can be young on the inside and appear elderly on the outside.
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[This is an Acorn Weevil. They use their long snouts to drill and burrow into acorns. This one was photographed adjacent to a large oak tree. The adult female weevil bores a tiny hole in the immature acorn to lay her eggs, which then hatch into legless grubs. In the fall, the grubs bore holes through the shells from the inside to emerge into the soil where they may live for a year or two before maturing into adults. So these insects are frequently boring… like a lot of politicians these days!]
Boring like our politicians! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Internal disarray and disorder projects out as external disorderliness and chaos. Be orderly and stable.
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[This butterfly is a Black Swallowtail. Some males have very little blue on the hindwing. These butterflies frequent clover and garden flowers, usually flying very near to the ground.]
Beautiful and pristine! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Avoid the pitfalls in life if you are lucky… and relax and grow with nature!
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[Trees that have enmeshed themselves upon this planet. In the foreground is lots of poison ivy. Just being near it sometimes gives me rashes. Poison ivy seems to have an endless vendetta against vegetarians, such as myself! This year, it caused my arthroscopic knee surgery to be delayed by two weeks. Enjoy the photo!]
Let’s take the overpass! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Even one little drop of deep, heartfelt love can conquer vast darkness and begin to warm this planet!
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[Raindrop on a flower petal which holds the illuminating heart of love. (No special techniques were used to alter the natural imagery of this photograph.)]
Heartfelt drop of passion. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Real learning is often an ongoing unlearning… a true and fresh reexamination!
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[This is an annual Cicada. They are the loud noise-makers high up in the trees. Larvae of annual Cicadas take only five years to reach maturity; there are new batches, however, which emerge every year. The periodical Cicadas emerge once every 17 or 13 years.]
Singer of songs… an annual Cicada. Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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The silence that naturally — without practice — occurs between two sets of thoughts… can be the beginning of profound wisdom and deep insight.
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[This insect is a Broad-winged Katydid. Note (in the second photo) the openings on its front legs. Those openings are its ears! When one is a rather “narrow” insect… what better way is there to have true stereophonic hearing than to have your ears located precisely where your broad legs are?!]
Katy did… but I didn’t! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
Those sexy legs have ears! Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
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Real perception is direct and present… not second-hand and hand-me-down.
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[This insect is a Burying Beetle. These beetles bury the carcass of a small bird or mammal in a shallow pit. Their larvae hatch and feed on the carcass; adults feed on carrion and fly larvae. Eating fly larvae gets rid of your competition while providing you with lots of needed protein.]
Stealing some sweets. (1) Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
Stealing some sweets (2). Photo by Thomas Peace 2014
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 