Inspiring Paintings: Winter Landscape

The painter Caspar David Friedrich was born 5th September 1774 ~ How like a tree The spires branch to heaven ~ And hope once misty Indistinct ~ Descends To the crippled soul ~ In meaning clear And wonderful. ~ 'Winter Landscape' by Caspar David Friedrich

To Be Just There

Rainer Maria Rilke died 29th December 1875. This poem was inspired by one of his... . As if God lived . Next door Frequently troubled . By our urgent Cries . And when we listen sometimes We may catch . His silent breaths Sighing on the wind . The walls Are so thin . Dividing …

Witnesses of Time’s Marvels

. The trees Stood .  And watched The landscape . Witnesses Of time’s marvels  . As stars Turned  . And angels Sang  . In the Procession  . Of God’s Mysterious creation. . 'Afternoon', Caspar David Friedrich

The Gateway Is To Life

. The gateway is to life . And not to death . It is not . To a darkness unsurprising . But to light . And an eternal rising. . 'The Cemetery Entrance', Caspar David Friedrich

Some There Are Who Carry Lights

. Some there are Who carry lights  . From one place Of darkness .  To Another . May we Be  . Like Them. . 'Woman with a Candlestick', Caspar David Friedrich

Nature’s Greater Sign of Mystery

. The mountains tower Towards heaven . Height Upon height . The peaks vanishing Into obscurity . The spire Such an inadequate gesture . Compared with nature's Greater sign of mystery. .

With Grace So Statuesque

. The trees With grace So statuesque .  As if with vision Beyond the years . And reaching For eternity. . "Day", Caspar David Friedrich

Inspiring Paintings: “Evening”

The artist Caspar David Friedrich was born on 5th September 1774. . All Fades away .  The evening Dusk .  The fading Day .  The words We say .  All fades Away .  And what Remains .  But a certain Way? . "Evening" by Caspar David Friedrich

Spiritual Reflection – Contemplation (3) – Benedictine Contemplation

I am not a monk but I am very interested in spiritual traditions handed down through monastic orders. And contemplation is one of these! My first two posts on contemplation have considered the way we naturally contemplate beauty and awe-inspiring sights: Caspar David Friedrich - "Two Men Contemplating the Moon" Turn to a Benedictine writer …

Spiritual Reflection – Contemplation (2) – Why?

What should we contemplate? My first post on contemplation used images of sunsets, as a familiar example of times when many of us quite naturally stop, are silent, and look for a few moments of mindfulness. If we wanted to make contemplation part of life, then choosing only sunsets would be a bit limiting! We …