John’s Stray Friday Thoughts.

Summary

John reflects on his contemplative experiences with nature, capturing moments with a magpie and recalling his son's lizard photo, while pondering the vastness of Gaia and the importance of perspective and context in understanding our place within the natural world.

Abstract

John's Stray Friday Thoughts are a collection of introspective musings inspired by his interactions with nature from his veranda. He attempts to photograph a magpie but is thwarted by its camera shyness, which reminds him of a patiently taken picture of a lizard by his son. John's gaze shifts from the sulking magpie to the vast, unpolluted sky, drawing parallels to an attic view mentioned by Filza Chaudhry. His thoughts wander to a lockdown photo he took, symbolizing a deep blue sky with little human activity, leading him to contemplate the limitless nature of Gaia. He considers how different perspectives establish our sense of place and context, feeling a connection with the natural world through the eyes of a lizard and a magpie. The article concludes with John preparing for a meditative walk in the forest, only to be visited once more by the magpie, an encounter he greets with gratitude.

Opinions

John values the inquisitive nature of the magpie, likening it to his own curiosity.
He appreciates the patience and skill of his son as a photographer, contrasting it with his own hurried approach.
John finds a profound connection with the natural world, particularly through the act of observation and photography.
He reflects on the beauty and tranquility of an unpolluted sky during lockdown, highlighting the impact of human activity on the environment.
John emphasizes the importance of perspective in shaping our understanding of our surroundings and our place within the broader context of nature (Gaia).
The repeated visits from the magpie are seen as a blessing, suggesting a spiritual or meaningful interpretation of these encounters.

Like a Magpie I’m Inquisitive, but I Don’t Peck.

Left: “Gaia know no bounds”. Picture by John Rose during Lockdown 2020. Right: “Gaia watching”. Picture from Family Album. Taken by eldest son 2008.

Sitting on Veranda, Magpie and mince, One hand, Iphone other hand, Picture doomed by , Camera-shy magpie, Pecked hand.

Magpie reminded me, Son’s lizard picture, Patient photographer, Unlike hasty dad, Love picture, Always thought, Lizard gazing at, Me.

Looking from veranda, Spotted magpie sulking, Clouds scudding, Sky blue streaked, Remembered, Filza Chaudhry’s Attic views.

Thought of my, Un-hasty picture, Deep blue sky, Lockdown photo, Little activity, No pollution, Looking at, Blue Infinity.

Ideas coalesce, Near and far, Perspectives, Establishing, Place and context, Wonderment gazing, Limitless Gaia, Yet conscious of, Gazing back through, Lizard and Magpie eyes.

Time for walking, Meditation in little, Forest.

But wait, Magpie’s back.

Blessed be.

Reddy Park. My daily forest walk. Picture by John Rose.