The theme for March for the Be Zine is “renewal”. I think it’s a wonderful, appropriate subject, since Spring is practically at our doorstep (all the current snow and ice-storms notwithstanding) and our part of the world is waking up from the dark sleep of winter to the return of longer days (and light!). As the buds and bright green things begin to venture forth, it’s as if all of nature is renewing itself for another year.
It can be this way with people, too, you know. We can renew ourselves by shaking off the sluggishness of the winter season and stretching, reaching for the light. In fact, we don’t even have to wait until Spring to do it. Each and every day is a chance for a new start, a chance to renew ourselves!
The following photos were part of one of my mother’s art series called “Catch the Light”, where she explored the realm of digital photography by using light and shadows and various interesting objects. In these I’ve posted, she used a water lily flower from the pond in her yard and Aurora Borealis beads.
AB “Catch the Light” 13-7 Bettye Holte © 2003 all rights reserved
Both the beads and lily are great examples of “catching the light”. The beads, in case you’ve never heard of them, were created in the 1950’s by the famous Swarovski Crystal Company. To make the beautiful beads you see here, they use a stone/crystal that has been coated with thin layers of metal, to enhance the brilliance and reflective color qualities. The method of coating the stone/crystal involves vaporizing metals in a vacuum.
AB “Catch the Light” 13-11 Bettye Holte © 2003 all rights reserved
The water lily (or, as a symbol, the lotus) has also been used for thousands of years as a metaphor for enlightenment (and perpetual renewal, each day) in several religions. In Buddhism, different colors of lotuses mean different things, but the flower is generally associated with enlightenment, purity, beauty, spirituality, love and compassion. In Hinduism, it symbolizes purity, spiritual enlightenment and wisdom. In Egyptian culture, it has long been a symbol of rebirth and the Sun.
How can we, as people, “catch the light” and renew ourselves each day?
When you wake up each day, remember that you have a whole new 24 hours to make you and your life into what you want it to be! Something to become aware of, is what are the things you are passionate about? What makes you feel alive and enthusiastic about life? Are you doing them? Why or why not? Make time! Do them! You only get one life, so make it as full as you possibly can with what you love and what sparks happiness inside of you.
I believe another important thing to consider is becoming aware of what things drag us down or block our reception of the light (the happiness and joy) around us. Once you can see what’s casting a shadow on your life (so to speak), then you can concentrate on what you need to do to get rid of it. Speaking of concentration, energy focused on the positive things in your life is much more productive and rewarding than always looking at the negatives. Like attracts like. The energy you send out to the universe will return to you ten-fold, so why not try to catch (and project) some light? 🙂
~ Dragon's Dreams ~ 
These are so breathtaking. I love the theme of renewal and you’ve represented it in a stunning way–both words and your mother’s photos. And thank you for your rain dance on the 12th. I will put it on my calendar so that I may join with you in spirit.
Thanks, Victoria. I have said it before, but I really do love having such an artistic mother. About the rain dance, I’ve been trying to spread the word among my Facebook friends, so that we have more people and energy focused at the same time on the same day for that very thing! Here’s hoping it works. 🙂