The river prepares to abandon its surface fluidity, its motion, its never-ceasing flow.
It prepares to bed down for the winter in underwater streams. It pulls its cover of snow and ice over ceaseless movement and abandons deeper into itself.
We can learn from the river. We can learn how to gracefully change shapes. How to turn with the seasons. How to form ice, when needed. How to melt in springtime. How to flow with infinite possibilities.
New shapes converge hourly down by the river. Circles here, waves there. Snow-covered rocks there, eddies here. The river never stays the same. It always changes, yet remains forever itself.
The river tenderly holds our reflection. But it also changes us. If you try to hold on tight to yourself in the river’s reflection, you will see only wavering and movement.
We are always changing, like the river.
When you look at all the particles of water flowing down the river, can you single one out and call it “river”?
No. A river is made of millions of droplets. It is larger than any one particle. The river flows of many individuals, but together they form something stronger than the parts.
What can we learn from the river changing its form? We can learn to let go of what no longer serves us. We can learn to embrace the new. We can learn that seasons offer different glimpses of ourselves. We can embrace the ice in December as well as the warm splashing in late August.
Look deeply into the river. She will show you more of yourself than you ever dreamed. She will show you your winter strengths and your summer flexibility, your spring rising and your autumn releasing.
We honor your shape-shifting into winter, dear silvered river. We hold you in our hearts–no matter what form you choose today. We vow to flow ever like you, ever like you. To never pretend we stay unchanging and limited.
“Look deeply into the river. She will show you more of yourself than you ever dreamed. She will show you your winter strengths and your summer flexibility, your spring rising and your autumn releasing.”
Lovely, Kathy, and powerful. The photos are spectacular. Puddle Ice and Reflections in Change = Awesome. But I could stare at Underwater Possibilities for days … I see human faces, owl faces, little alien creatures, paw prints … oh, the possibilities. Fascinating. Thank you for the ride!
The owl peers up from underwater and stares at you. It moves its head slowly from side to side. It shares its wisdom with you as it, suddenly, flies into the stars.
It pulls its cover of snow and ice over ceaseless movement and abandons deeper into itself……
Absolutel how – am feeling lately, I pray I will keep the balance of no abandoning too deep into itself (myself)
I pray for your balance, Kim. The river prays, too.
Lovely metaphor, Kathy. Thanks for giving me pause in what has been a hectic week.
May next week be less hectic, Karen. (That is your river-blessing for today.)
I find rivers, lakes and waterfalls very relaxing … hypnotic at times. The sounds the flow of motion …. thanks for sharing your river. A great way to end a very long week. It will be a long time before I see naturally running water .. things have frozen and we will be well below zero all weekend.
Things are–almost–frozen solid around here, too, bearyweather. I am thinking of the snow your way. Are you buried under several feet yet?
No new snow … I am too far north for the big storm today. Below zero all day, though. (I have over a foot of snow from the past few weeks)
Leaning into the backbone of winter and embracing a time of rest. Great Shots Kathy.
Love that phrase “the backbone of winter.” Sighing deeply in that backbone…
thank you
John, I found your comment hangin’ out with the spam today. How could a spam filter capture two simple words like “thank you”? That’s what I want to know. 🙂
Most “Amazing!”. Kathy, I love your ideas. Truly, Thats the true love towards nature that you have just displayed – the very fact that you keep the love for river no matter what shape it takes. How sweetest of thoughts! same thing we humans long for. true love no matter what. And the pictures are beautiful! great photography 🙂
Keeping our love for the river…no matter what shape it takes…that is our challenge and our gift as humans, I think. That’s the true meaning of “unconditional love”. Thank you, sweetie!
Is still cold while doing it Kathy! 😛
cold, cold, cold, Elisa! I could tell you a story about taking these pictures. About how weak I was. How challenging it was to climb the banks. But I will not! Because the weakness is gone now, replaced only by the flowing waters…
So beautiful; all these reflections of WE.
Being both strengthened and nurturing as we travel on our way to the SEA.
All reflections of WE! I love what you say, Jeannie. May we travel to the sea together, you and I, as we realize ourself as the Mighty River.
Great reminder of being flexible. Beautifully done.
Flexibility is one of our greatest potentials, I think, wolfsrosebud! Wishing both of us much flexibility…
You’ve used the river as a beautiful metaphor. Very nice.
The river is the most lovely of metaphors for so much in our lives, Tammy! Happy flowings to you…
Loved reading this yesterday and thought about how rivers remind me to stay in the flow.
Then this morning I re-read it and thought; Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream! 🙂
How much the river has to say! One moment it babbles merrily about the flow and the next moment it’s singing! Let’s keep flowing with it, Susie Q…wherever it flows next…(am that means whatever new house, too! lol!)
Love “reflections in change” and “underwater possibilities.” 🙂 Change is hard. Hard like ice….slippery sometimes too. But worth it in the end I think…like a cool drink after a long day of mowing the yard. (Sigh…missing summer…)
Hello, Ms. Dawn, from the Land of the Big Snows. Change can be so hard. When our Minds don’t like the way change seems to be going. I know… We must keep our minds focused on the end when we will be completely satiated by the perfection of its imperfection. Hugs!
Your analogy rings true, Kathy while your photos celebrate change. The look of winter upon the river is mesmerizing.
It IS mesmerizing isn’t it? To capture change just as it descends (or would that be ascends?) Thank you for stopping by the river as it changes.
Kathy, you’ve written true and wise words about our lives here – and you show us many amazing photos from this river. Great post!!
Truels, glad you find these words and photographs true! Loved seeing the river freeze… Thank you.