I'll be finding that out at the end of August after our geology camp at Frank Slide. Hope the weather is nice then too. (at least I think we are going through there after...Note to self: Check map)
Pocketct, I always do. Thanks for dropping by. I'll probably wander your way shortly.
Sirdar, August is typically a nice weather month. Don't forget to bring your bathing suits. If it's warm, you'll want to hop in the lake...best way to cool down.
Hi Nomad. I've shared a lot of thoughts with clouds. I've even been paid for it as a weather observer along the way. Clouds speak volumes. Have a great Wednesday.
Hi Annie, I can think of much worse places to have one's head than in the clouds. And if it helps with the creative process, all the better.
Peter, I too sometimes have difficulty sitting still. This morning we don't have much blue at all. It's rather overcast obstructing the peaks of the mountains. Oh well...
H'lo Nomad. So many things I haven't done, and want to do. So many. You just happen to cross regularly on some of the trails I've traveled. I hope my clock ticks long enough to hold through and experience much much more.
As a note on weather observing...whch I did in my early twenties (to give you an idea what lifetime it was in), learning all the technical names and stuff took some of the simple beauty away from cloud watching. No longer were they simply "pretty clouds" or "appealing" - they became nomenclature (i.e., "Alto-cumulus standing lenticular at 10, 000 feet"). It took a while to regain the poetic aspects after reframing my perspective in the jargon of the craft. I offer this as a notation of one of the detriments of naming and knowledge. Not "knowing" has some benefits. Have a great day.
Steffi, It seems almost universal for people to like those nice fluffy clouds.
Fool, I feel the exact same way about "So many things I haven't done, and want to do." Time just seems to slip away so quickly and I can't seem to get to all of it fast enough. Perhaps I should first make more of an effort to experience the stillness and calm...
Although I can see your point about technical jargon taking away from the simple beauty, I am one who has always loved naming everything. Words give me great pleasure rolling off my tongue and objects mean so much more when named. It's an acknowledgement of their existence.
Yes...I agree...and words are of great import to me also. The first steps laid down by Confucius are naming & defining the world with the greatest of clarity. There is another edge though...when names become black boxes, abstractions of abstractions, or confused with the thing itself. It's a zen kind of ying-yang kind of thing. What is gained by naming a cloud "alto-cumulus standing lenticular"? One can predict shape, height, and wind patterns (which are dangerous for planes). What also happens when one only looks at clouds from such a perspective? One loses the poetic, metaphorical allusions and feeling - such as the relation to soul and a larger system. Words are made of such powerful stuff. Thanks for making me think. Have a great day.
I like clouds; when you can define them. Yours have shape and depth and there is some blue sky around them. Here in Portland, they are just continuous!
Fool, I do agree there is a problem like you say, "when names become black boxes, abstractions of abstractions, or confused with the thing itself." But I think that it is a problem that we as humans create in our interpretation and construction of meaning. I do not think it is an issue with the name itself. As for your question: What is gained by naming a cloud "alto-cumulus standing lenticular"? I see it much like I do music. When studying music and learning to play an instrument, one gets to a point where things get complicated and might be seen as extremely technical and devoid of spirit. However, if one perseveres, it's like scaling a mountain where finally the cloud breaks and the view is magnificent. The spirit re-enters the music with far greater intensity and carries with it far more emotion than would have ever been possible in the absence of such a journey.
Okay, I'm perhaps trying to mingle too much imagery here. But my point was, things eventually move beyond the technical and become far more beautiful and poetic because greater depth of meaning is attached to what we are saying. We are now able to move beyond something that is simply literal and beyond that falls flat.
21 comments:
Enjoy your time aloft! The clouds are stunning.
I'll be finding that out at the end of August after our geology camp at Frank Slide. Hope the weather is nice then too. (at least I think we are going through there after...Note to self: Check map)
Pocketct, I always do. Thanks for dropping by. I'll probably wander your way shortly.
Sirdar, August is typically a nice weather month. Don't forget to bring your bathing suits. If it's warm, you'll want to hop in the lake...best way to cool down.
Hi Carla,
I'm a cloud lover too, Maybe that's why I write I have my head in the clouds to much.
Have a great day...
Annie
Such is the beauty of cloud formation that my one regret is my inability to study for longer.
Wonderful photos and I spot blue sky - which is missing here in Scotland at the moment.
Love your clouds, mine have a sunset today.
I could stare at the artwork of clouds for hours...
Hi Nomad. I've shared a lot of thoughts with clouds. I've even been paid for it as a weather observer along the way. Clouds speak volumes. Have a great Wednesday.
I totally love looking at clouds. Beautiful pciture.
Hi Annie, I can think of much worse places to have one's head than in the clouds. And if it helps with the creative process, all the better.
Peter, I too sometimes have difficulty sitting still. This morning we don't have much blue at all. It's rather overcast obstructing the peaks of the mountains. Oh well...
Tracy, Your clouds sound beautiful. They do often have that calming effect, don't they?
Hello Fool, weather observer, eh? What haven't you done? Many things speak volumes if we only take the time to listen.
Thanks Debbie. It seems that we are online at the same time. I was just responding to comments and came back and there was yours. Have a great day.
Your clouds pictures are beautiful.I like clouds too!
H'lo Nomad. So many things I haven't done, and want to do. So many. You just happen to cross regularly on some of the trails I've traveled. I hope my clock ticks long enough to hold through and experience much much more.
As a note on weather observing...whch I did in my early twenties (to give you an idea what lifetime it was in), learning all the technical names and stuff took some of the simple beauty away from cloud watching. No longer were they simply "pretty clouds" or "appealing" - they became nomenclature (i.e., "Alto-cumulus standing lenticular at 10, 000 feet"). It took a while to regain the poetic aspects after reframing my perspective in the jargon of the craft. I offer this as a notation of one of the detriments of naming and knowledge. Not "knowing" has some benefits. Have a great day.
Steffi, It seems almost universal for people to like those nice fluffy clouds.
Fool, I feel the exact same way about "So many things I haven't done, and want to do." Time just seems to slip away so quickly and I can't seem to get to all of it fast enough. Perhaps I should first make more of an effort to experience the stillness and calm...
Although I can see your point about technical jargon taking away from the simple beauty, I am one who has always loved naming everything. Words give me great pleasure rolling off my tongue and objects mean so much more when named. It's an acknowledgement of their existence.
Yes...I agree...and words are of great import to me also. The first steps laid down by Confucius are naming & defining the world with the greatest of clarity. There is another edge though...when names become black boxes, abstractions of abstractions, or confused with the thing itself. It's a zen kind of ying-yang kind of thing. What is gained by naming a cloud "alto-cumulus standing lenticular"? One can predict shape, height, and wind patterns (which are dangerous for planes). What also happens when one only looks at clouds from such a perspective? One loses the poetic, metaphorical allusions and feeling - such as the relation to soul and a larger system. Words are made of such powerful stuff. Thanks for making me think. Have a great day.
They always look as if you could jump into one and curl up in it. Wouldn't that be fun?
I like clouds; when you can define them. Yours have shape and depth and there is some blue sky around them. Here in Portland, they are just continuous!
Fool, I do agree there is a problem like you say, "when names become black boxes, abstractions of abstractions, or confused with the thing itself." But I think that it is a problem that we as humans create in our interpretation and construction of meaning. I do not think it is an issue with the name itself. As for your question: What is gained by naming a cloud "alto-cumulus standing lenticular"? I see it much like I do music. When studying music and learning to play an instrument, one gets to a point where things get complicated and might be seen as extremely technical and devoid of spirit. However, if one perseveres, it's like scaling a mountain where finally the cloud breaks and the view is magnificent. The spirit re-enters the music with far greater intensity and carries with it far more emotion than would have ever been possible in the absence of such a journey.
Okay, I'm perhaps trying to mingle too much imagery here. But my point was, things eventually move beyond the technical and become far more beautiful and poetic because greater depth of meaning is attached to what we are saying. We are now able to move beyond something that is simply literal and beyond that falls flat.
Jillie, They certainly do look comfortable.
Variant E, I do hope you mean just today. At times your clouds must vary, do they not?
You're right Carla, they vary. Sometimes they rain! ;)
Variant E, Oh how sad. It sounds like you have the most boring depressing sort of clouds.
Post a Comment