Day 21: Possibility

Thursday 16 April 2020 / 21 Days Lock Down Reflection

Closed to Possibility ?

So during the lock down I have been reflecting on things I have learnt from my personal life journey thus far. Looking back I see how much there is to be grateful for. Admittedly it’s been a roller-coaster ride of highs and lows, but with many amazing doors that have opened to life’s experiences. A road full of possibility.

I originally pledged that I would write a post each day for the allotted 21 days of lock down that we were first assigned, which of course has since been extended. I have dedicated a substantial part of my mornings to writing down my thoughts and memories, trying at best to be as authentic as possible. The purpose has been to contemplate moments that have had some significant impact on my life or required some deeper reflection. I have tried to be mindful that there might be others out there that could in some way benefit from my ramblings in amongst the motley soup of information, charts, memes, rants, propaganda and conspiracy theories. At the very least I hope some of you have been entertained.

But what happens now?

I have arrived at the finish line of the first 21 days. Will my life significantly change?

Disappointingly, there has been no thunderous parting of the heavens … yet.

The door seems shut.

Sorry folks, we are closed until further notice.

Open to Possibility

Like many of you I have concerns. It’s not just the virus thing you know … and I can handle the confinement for now, it’s not a major issue for me personally. This I know I can do.

The things of distress that seem to grab me tightly by the gonads is that I’m a self-employed individual, having worked all my life in the creative industry. I don’t think I need to ramble on with some useless dribble just how troubling this is whilst looking out onto the horizon of the world now painted with a very defined Covid-19 brush.

What I know in my heart however is that creativity is here to stay. It is impossible to snuff it out. No matter how many laws and protocols, manipulative tactics and life sapping rules are put in place, Creativity forms part of the natural law of life. Whether you believe in the Big Bang theory or Divine intervention – The truth is that out of the vibration of nothing, something emerges, something is always trying to birth itself … and that something is always on the level of Herculean possibility.

And so I remain patient through the birthing process as I also anticipate a world of great possibility. In order for a new model of life to emerge, the existing one needs to be dismantled. That process at times seems to be a little messy.

I exercise patience and keep the door of possibility open

The images above are from some of my sign-writing days. For some strange reason I find the art of sign writing a great doorway to meditation. Follow the link to my sign-writing gallery

Day 20: Release

by Donald Barnett

Wednesday 15 April 2020 / 21 Days Lock Down Reflection

Release

Deep run the whispers of change
Long is the path of fortitude
Acute is the clarity on top of a mountain

These photos bring back some tender memories of release. About 10 years ago, my kids and I went for a jolly up the Silvermine Mountains. On reaching the top of the path by the beacon, we were rewarded with a magnificent view looking down as the slopes below rolled into Noordhoek, with Long Beach stretching out to the lighthouse of Kommetjie in the distance. To the right was the mountain pinnacle which defines the start of the Chapman’s Peak Mountains and beyond lay the endless Atlantic ocean.

On top of the World

On this particular occasion we were honoured with a slightly different experience. As we reached this vantage point the mist started rolling in below us. Soon the whole spectrum beneath us was engulfed by the rolling white cloud. It felt like we were on the top of the world.

Releasing the Stone

I suggested to Courtney and Jethro that we each find a rock that caught our attention. Then we stood silently for a time staring out on our solitary wispy scene, imparting all our concerns for life onto the cold stone clutched in our hands. Silently but emphatically we each had a turn to cast our rocks into the void, which calmly swallowed our troubles.

Sacred Moments

I often think back to this magical moment of release. I hope someday for the opportunity to return the same place with my kids to capture an updated photo of us sitting below the beacon. As life would have it, today they are no longer children but young adults, each with a life of their own. It’s interesting how the business of our days is such that it becomes quite challenging to create the space for these moments.

At the time of this lock down I am unable to be with either of my children. Even though they are with me in spirit, I do miss their company, their wit and their energy.

One of the intentions I have once this confinement period is over is to follow through with the journey back up to the beacon of liberation with Courtney and Jethro.

Does anyone have any intentions for release of their own?

Day 19: Music

by Donald Barnett

Tuesday 14 April 2020 / 21 Days Lock Down Reflection

Music

Tones of Value

I’ve been thinking about things in life I truly value. What is life without music?

Leaning into that discussion of some imminent disaster about to wipe out everything you own in an instant, like a fire or a tsunami, it gives rise to some interesting thought. Have you ever put into context the value of the things you own? In a short moment, you get given a small window of opportunity to save just a few items. You have no time to think about it, you have just a small window to grab what’s important to you.

Of course family, loved ones, pets and so forth always come first, but it’s a hypothetical scenario to evaluate something physical of value, which of course gives indication to something much deeper that you value as a person.

My Cherished Guitar

The one thing I would gravitate to would be my Epiphone Gibson acoustic guitar. Looking back at this photo, she has been my companion for over 30 years. She is still in excellent condition and in fact sounds better with time.

Acoustic guitars have proven to the ears of many players to sound better as they age. The theory that best explains this is that as the wood in the body ages, it becomes lighter, more responsive and more resonant. The vibration of the strings alone produce very little sound.

The Timeless Gift of Music

What makes my guitar even more unique is the way she came to me. You see I never bought this beautiful instrument, she was gifted to me. I was in my early twenties when someone recognized the music in me that needed to be expressed; and so out if the blue I was given something of great value, my Gibson guitar. The value has not only in the physical item, but value in the many hours of resonating vibrations that has since been released through the years.

So I might not be a rock star, but I have enjoyed many special moments sharing the music with friends. She has been my companion in times of loneliness, she has been my outlet in moments of inspiration. She gave me the opportunity to share the gift of music with my son … now he’s a rock star in the making.

Music Shared

Music is a beautiful gift that resonates inside us all. It connects us, reminds us of moments grand and sad. Music gives rise to greatness inside us, moves us to dance and appreciation of things that are meaningful and powerful.

What is most remarkable to me is that music births itself from nothing, an emptiness, the silence, a void. The gaps of silence in-between the music become just as important as the sound. Together, they make up the whole. My definition of music is something that breaks the silence in an arrangement of sound. The vibration is either pleasing to the soul or just noise.

The power is within the vibration which gives birth to all things.

Day 18: Into the Light

by Donald Barnett

Title: Into the Light / Oil on canvas 80x60 cm, 2005

Monday 13 April 2020 / 21 Days Lock Down Reflection

Title: Into the Light / Oil on canvas 80×60 cm, 2005

A Delightful Adventure Drama

I loved the movie ‘Life of Pi’, adapted from the novel of the same name.

The relationship between the Royal Bengal tiger and Pi Patel on a solitary lifeboat bobbing around the wild blue Pacific, seemed to strike a chord inside me which resonated days after watching the film. Besides the mesmerising cinematography, the voyage of solitary isolation and survival had me thought provoked for days.

The crew on the surviving vessel after the sinking of the cargo ship, first consisted of a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra with a broken leg and of course the very hungry 450 pound tiger. As the story unfolds all who remain is Pi Patel and the tiger who develop a rather interesting alliance.

Into the Light

The story of course has much deeper context. For me personally at least. It reminded me of the wondrous journey of life even in the midst of calamity. The stupendous and desperate events that unfolded had some correlation to my own life journey; reflecting moments of wrestling angels and demons, pinnacles and dismal points of the swinging pendulum, Zen moments of yielding to God.

The fictional tale seems to be manifest somehow in the current narrative of world affairs. Isolated to my quarters, much time is spent staring out the window. There are days of jumping out of bed with such definitive purpose, only to trip over my own monkey mind somewhere down the passage. Some nights I find myself cowering under the bed hiding from the fear, then there are days that I paint my face in preparation for war, breathing deeply I drop down into my stomach and enter my enlightened self.

Am I going crazy?

Are the people on my boat real, or are they here to test me?

What is real?

What is a lie?

Will I swim out these dark waters,

Like the Tiger into the Light?

Follow the link to my wildlife art gallery

Day 17: Inherit

by Donald Barnett

Sunday 12 April 2020 /21 Days Lock Down Reflection

Inherit

An open letter all indigenous people, rightful inheritors of the earth:

“Dear defenders of all things sacred, guardians of the forests and the savannahs, sovereign caretakers of the earth. Those who hold in high regard the whispers of the trees, those who value the cycle of the waters, those who understand the purpose of all living things.

If we were to heed your ancient wisdom we would recognise that we have reached a great cosmic threshold. Many of us do not perceive the unfolding evolutionary leap. This time, is an important time, for us to consider our purification and our renewal. If only we would heed the call of our great Grandfather, but we have forgotten the instructions for how to live on earth. We have reached a crossroads of great problems, the door of great possibility revealed.

For generations your lineage has been treated with contempt. Your heritage has been plundered, your land has been fleeced. The ‘civilized’ world has washed its hands in the blood of your forefathers.

Forgetting that we are only here for a few winters, we have lost the understanding that all things are spiritual, all things connect, from every life form to every unfolding story.

We can no longer drink freely from any river, we can no longer breathe in sovereign air. The atmosphere of the Mother has become contaminated.

You have showed us that we have a common destiny with the tree, but no tree can grow by itself, connected to it are untold communities, from its leaves to its roots. You have taught us that as with light, nothing ever ends, everything has its cycle, as is the great cycle of Life. Why do we cling so dearly to that which is not real? The things we clutch so tightly falls through our fingers like the desert sand.

Your message has been, ‘responsibility to life for the generations’, but our leaders have lost their way. In a world focused on progress, we have become more absorbed by human liberties, we have become less concerned with taking responsibility for our home.

You have taught us that the earth unfolds through natural law. The natural law has no mercy. It is not personal, it is the sacred law of life. If we are to cross over at this time, we must work with One mind to challenge the values of the future. If we do not, we face the tyranny of wicked men until we can walk through this realm no longer.

Is there time enough to follow the way of peace? Time enough to respect the seed, to honour the Mother, to give heed to balance? Is there time enough to seek the answers to the right virtuous questions? Time enough to brush aside the veil and see clearly our brothers and our sisters?

The inheritance of the blue planet is guarded for those who have walked lightly upon her. May the Great Spirit protect you, guide you and keep you safe.”

Signed: Concerned inhabitant of the Earth

Ever since a child I have always had the desire to explore the Amazon basin. I count myself extremely fortunate to have had a brief opportunity to do so in my lifetime. During the course of my journey my desire was to make whatever contact I could with the indigenous people of this region. This was a bit of a naïve concept on my part. For one, the jungle is immense, words cannot describe its magnitude and depth, one simply cannot venture these parts without an experienced guide. Besides this, the tribes at the forefront of the struggle in protecting the Amazon and their culture, for the most part do not wish to make contact with the outside world, and rightly so.

For many, the Amazon is considered the lungs of the earth. 2019 saw a rapid increase in devastating fires throughout the region. This, as a direct result of government rolling back legislation to environmental protection, giving loggers and farmers additional motivation to launch their devastating onslaught. As the clearings emerge, more and more cattle and soya farms take root …just like a virus. All this so that we (in the developed world) might enjoy the luxury of a hamburger.

Please also read Boats of Brazil – A contemporary series dedicated to the boats of Brazil, large and small. From the shorelines of Rio to the embankments of the Amazon River.

Day 16: The Murder of Peace

by Donald Barnett

Saturday 11 April 2020/ 21 Days Lock Down Reflection

The Murder of Peace

I’m sorry John, it seems only the few ‘give peace a chance’.
We shrink in the wake of fear, with its rapid advance.

Living in harmony is the ultimate rebellion.The universal law that brings true redemption.

To money, power and prestige we kneel. From political and religious dogma we cannot heal.

It is the murder of peace.

“If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations.

If there is to be peace in the nations,

There must be peace in the heart.”

Lao Tzu

No animal was intentionally harmed in the creation of this image. In memory of the turtle dove that flew with full velocity into my studio window, leaving me with this message.

Please follow other creations from my studio and be sure to indulge in other elements of my website

Day 15: Christ the Redeemer

by Donald Barnett

Friday 10 April 2020 / 21 Days Lock Down Reflection

Christ the Redeemer

Standing below the towering concrete monument of Christ the Redeemer, I could not help but be moved. The sheer scale and craftsmanship of this iconic figure is indeed impressive.

The art Deco statue of Christ the Redeemer stands tall on the Corcovado Mountain, overlooking the sprawling city and favelas below in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Constructed between 1922 and 1931, the 635 metric ton masterpiece ascends to 30 meters, excluding its 8-metre pedestal, with its open arms stretching to 28 meters wide.

Even amongst the hustle and bustle of on-looking tourists, I could not help but be stirred. Regardless of one’s religious perspective, you feel compelled to a sense of virtue.

The statue has become a cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, and is listed as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. A symbol of Christianity, Faith and Devotion for many.

Faith & Redemption

… but what can be said of Faith at this time?

What can be said of Redemption?

Redemption from the virus, the beast in our midst?

Redemption from its cloak of death as it tallies up the list?

Redemption from our containment, to be granted back our freedom?

Redemption from our crazy mind which has lost its sense of reason?

Redemption of our hatred, our prejudice, our judgements.

Redemption from our greed, our deceitfulness, our indulgence.

Redemption from ourselves?

the Untold Path

Perhaps our Redemption has already been granted.

Do we recognise the fruits from the trees we have planted?

Do we have the courage to change our destructive course?

Or do we insist on finishing what we started?

To what extent do we embrace our Mother who gave us the seed of life?

Do we perpetuate the disease within, with its untold strife?

the Bequeath of all Time

Let’s remember the words of the great master.

Words that hold true for now and ever after.

“So now Faith, Hope, and Love abide,

These three;

But the greatest of these is

Love.”

The statue of Christ the Redeemer remains closed to the public at this time. Recently the monument was illuminated with images of continents and flags in a show of solidarity with countries grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.

You can view a short clip of the display from the link

Day 14: the Face of Africa

by Donald Barnett

Thursday 9 April 2020 / 21 Days Lock Down Reflection

the Face of Africa

Pride and Prejudice

Timid and Bold

Toil and Honour

Eyes of Dignity

Inquisition and Intrigue

Ray of Resonance

The Scar of Life

the Whispering Snake

Dutifully Devout

Tales of Endurance

Enchanted Memories

like Sunday after Noon

‘Faces of Africa’ images reflecting my early days of 35mm photography 1990 to 1994

Words from the poem match the sequence of photographs

My First African Encounter

My young adult years were very different to many of my peers. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend some time in most of the African countries south of the Equator. These experiences opened my mind in so many ways, defining my encounter with the Face of Africa. I think back to this time with fondness. Having traveled parts of Africa since, there is always a yearning to return.

Having signed up to a humanitarian NGO in the early 1990s, I was assigned the role of photographer, amongst other things. I knew nothing about photography, though it was something that had interested me since my youth.

Initiation to 35mm Photography

This journey of self-discovery was extremely exhilarating for me. It was the age of 35mm photography. The onslaught of the digital era was still yet to be birthed. During this time I built a fully functional darkroom. Many dark hours of frustration, trial and error were spent developing my processes. It was here in this darkness that I learnt most of the photographic knowledge needed, that I would later to apply in field work. The excitement of seeing blank pieces of photographic paper come to life through the trays of fixative, developer and wash is something very difficult to explain to those who have never experienced it. I remember the glee of pegging images on a string in the somber hue of my red light district. As time progressed, the boldness of this enterprise even led to the rolling of my own film in the dark, which would later be processed.

Photography Time Travel

These days I own a digital camera, which of course has many benefits, but also some drawbacks. Besides the many functions on the camera that I am yet to discover, I think the reliance on the camera itself has become overrated. Even your own cell phone can snap away unconsciously and suddenly everyone is an expert in the field.

There were quite a few things that were very different to shooting on 35mm. You only had limited frames to shoot. Standard rolls of film came with frames of 12, 24, 36 and 48. Losing your film was any photographer’s nightmare. Even worse, I have nightmare memories of a wedding I was assigned to shoot once where the film did not load. Needless to say, the bride and groom were not impressed. I think this was about the time I gave up the idea of becoming a wedding photographer.

Photographs had to be processed somehow in your head. You actually had to think about what you were doing and be confident that the manual settings in the moment had captured the desired image.

Then there was the long wait. Returning from the field work to the darkroom required a certain level of patience … as did the many hours of darkness in the processing.

Something like this lock down in some ways. We are all in the dark waiting to see what will develop. From your personal perspective, is the image good or is it bad?

As for my travels in Africa … I think those stories are for another day.

follow my photography journey

further journal entries on ‘the Face of Africa’ to follow

Day 13: Clench of Poverty

by Donald Barnett

Wednesday 8 April 2020 / 21 Days Lock Down Reflection

Clench of Poverty

From my journals:

As to what happened to these children

I do not know,

Did they survive the fangs of malnutrition?

Do they now have a family of their own?

Did they suffer the tyranny of the militia?

Were they subjected to rape, abuse or laundered?

Perhaps one was adopted by a lonely rock star

or did they fall prey to the aimless brutality of genocide?

As to what happened to these children

I do not know

What I know is they were hungry

and I took their picture.

Soup kitchen Dondo, Mozambique, May 1992.

Photos taken on 35 mm Negative film.

Poverty & Paradise

The year was 1992. I was stationed for 6 weeks with an associate of mine in the heart of Mozambique in a place called Pambarra. This remote village was located 20km inland from the coastal fishing town of Vilanculo. My initial impression of this rural area was that I had found myself in a place of paradise; pristine white beaches dotted with palm trees, tropical weather with the ideal sea temperatures, a not too distant cluster of islands teaming with exotic fish, flamingos and never ending dreamy sunsets. However there was a trend that seemed to follow every beautiful place I encountered during my African excursions – wherever I found paradise, I also witnessed unimaginable poverty.

Pambarra Orphanage

In Pambarra we were to assist in the oversight of an orphanage, whilst the family in charge of this mission station had taken a much needed vacation. These children had been displaced by a devastating war and were in need of shelter, food and primary care. There were some that had lost limbs due to the numerous land mines that had littered this war torn country. These 35mm pictures were taken at a soup kitchen not far from Pambara. These children had limited care, they were part of a group of refugees fighting for survival.

Mozambique’s History of War

Mozambique was a colony of Portugal until 1975. An 11 year war of independence ended with the establishment of an autocratic Marxist government. A 17 year civil war followed soon after independence with an internal military uprising that was supported by some foreign governments. The civil war affected Mozambicans severely, especially in rural areas. By the late 1980s Mozambique had one of the lowest per-capita caloric intakes in the world. It was in this post-war state that I found myself.

An Experience of a Lifetime

In Pambarra, there were no adequate roads or communication. The only way we were able to converse with the outside world was through a tottering telex machine in Vilanculo. Needless to say the experience was one of the most exhilarating and eye opening of my young adult life. Over the years there have since been vast improvements in Mozambique with intense land mine clean-up operations. I do hope in this lifetime I get another opportunity to visit this beautiful country.

Fast forward to April 2020

World stats: Currently Some 842 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead a healthy active life. That’s about one in nine people on earth. The vast majority of the world’s hungry people live in developing countries, where 12.9 percent of the population is undernourished.

So far this year there are over 3 million people across the globe who have died from starvation.

14 000 of them died today by 11am Greenwich Meridian time

https://www.worldometers.info

Please also see the Face of Africa

Day 12: A Good Laugh

by Donald Barnett

Tuesday 7 April 2020 / 21 Days Lock Down Reflection

A Good Laugh

“The line of distinction between day time and night time pajamas has become a bit blurred” … okay, go ahead and have a good laugh on my account.

I count myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know each of my four grandparents before they left this third dimensional realm. My grandmother on my father’s side was the last to cross over, but before she did she left me with some parting words.

I never got to see her much in her last days of human frailty. Living in Cape Town, visits to the family I have in Johannesburg has become an unfortunate rarity. The last time I saw her was at a family Christmas gathering. She needed assistance walking, she was losing both her hearing and her ability to see amongst other things.

Moments before our final parting she beckoned me to come closer. “Is that you Donald?” she said, reaching out to hold my hand to make sure it was me. I leaned in closer to listen to what profound message she had for me. We both had that knowing that this would be our last moment together. I listened intently, opening my heart to what blessing she might give.

She then proceeded to tell a random joke and laugh hysterically at herself at the end of it. This was something very distinguishable about my grandmother. Telling jokes for her was something of great importance. I remember family gatherings, usually Sunday lunches, where we all had to stop what we were doing and listen to her latest joke. I could never understand why no-one told her that these were from the same stock of jokes she shared the time before … and that they incidentally weren’t very funny. I think the tipping point of our anticipation though, was for the moment the joke ended and she broke into fits of laughter. This had some kind of contagious effect where we would all end up in a similar convulsion of laughter with her.

My grandmother calmed down from her giggles and then squeezed my hand a little bit tighter. I was all ears now, the profound moment of parting word was here. I was all ears,

“Don’t ever lose your sense of humour!”

And so folks, never a truer word spoken. I make make a point of having a good laugh at least once a day.

Hoping this brightened someone’s day… remember, none of us get out of here alive anyway (at least in this incarnation)