Merging

Summary

This web content is a reflective piece by Erika Burkhalter featuring a poem titled "Merging," accompanied by photography and a personal narrative, that explores the concept of losing one's sense of self and merging with the universe through profound experiences in nature.

Abstract

The web content presents a poetic and visual exploration of the transcendent moments when one's identity dissolves into the grandeur of the natural world. Erika Burkhalter, a yogi and nature photographer, shares her poem "Merging," which invites readers to consider experiences such as being enveloped by a sunset or losing oneself within a dewdrop. The poem is complemented by Burkhalter's evocative photographs of natural scenes, including dewdrops on nasturtium and a blazing sunset in Lanai, Hawaii. Burkhalter encourages readers to find their own moments of connection with the universe and to listen to her spoken recording of the poem for a deeper experience. Additionally, she suggests other related works for those interested in further exploration of such transcendent moments. The content concludes with a brief biography of Burkhalter, emphasizing her dedication to capturing and sharing the wonders of nature through her multifaceted artistic endeavors.

Opinions

Erika Burkhalter conveys a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature and its capacity to induce moments of profound connection with the universe.
The author believes that these moments of awareness can be provoked by observing simple natural phenomena, such as dewdrops and flowers.
Burkhalter suggests that to fully appreciate a poem, it must be heard aloud to capture the rhythm, cadence, and emphasis, and she provides a recording of "Merging" for this purpose.
She holds the opinion that personal encounters with nature's splendor can lead to a temporary loss of the sense of self, a state she describes as merging with the "all that is" of the Universe.
Erika Burkhalter's work reflects a personal wish for readers to engage with nature and find their own transformative experiences, as evidenced by her invitations to observe and reflect on natural beauty.

A moment in time

Photo ©Erika Burkhalter

Have you ever dissolved into a tunnel of light, or the sigh of the wind, or the depths of a blue, blue mountain sky?

Have you ever looked inside a flower, or a dewdrop, and seen worlds you didn’t know existed?

Have you ever been dipped in eternity, while standing mid-thigh in the ocean during a blazing sunset?

Have you ever lost the sense of “I,” and merged with the universe, for just a moment?

“Blazing Sunset,” Lanai, Hawaii. Photo ©Erika Burkhalter

I hope you enjoyed this poem about losing a sense of self and merging into the “all that is” of the Universe. Nature seems to provoke these moments of awareness. The sunset in Lanai, in the photo above, completely enraptured me, holding me tight in her arms until the last glowing ember left the sky and the stars began to fill in the enveloping darkness. My greatest wish is for you to take a few moments today to notice the dewdrops and the flowers, and to watch the sunset with a different “I” tonight.

I believe that to truly understand a poem, it needs to be heard. To hear the rhythm, the cadence, the emphasis, please listen to my recording of “Merging”:

If you enjoyed this piece, you might also enjoy:

An Arctic moment:

The world within a flower:

Or a sunset moment in Oslo, Norway:

Erika Burkhalter is a yogi, cat-mom, photographer, and lover of travel and nature, spreading her love and amazement for Mother Earth’s glories, one photo, poem or story at a time. (MS Neuropsychology, MA Yoga Studies).

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