Monday, August 18, 2008

Time Machine, Pt. II



Watching a sky full of cumulus humilus clouds is a wonderful meditation because in order to see movement, you have to just stop for a minute, really stop, let your eye relax, and watch. A quick glance reveals nothing but a blue sky with fixed clouds. To see them move, you have to be a little more spacious, something that always helps me.

Staring at the ocean for a long time provides the same kind of brain cooling. I also believe it's calming to focus on something at a distance as opposed to the short-length focus that we're accustomed to: computer screens, someone's face four feet away, the TV, or whatever it is you're holding in your hands right now. Lengthening the gaze literally changes your eyeballs' shape. Did you know that?

The sequence above took place over a period of only ten minutes. So stop right now, go look out a window, watch some clouds float by, yes?

12 comments:

Merle Sneed said...

What a great practice, Reya.

A Concerned Citizen said...

Focusing on the clouds sounds like *exactly* the right thing to do today (apparently a week spent gazing at the ocean wasn't enough to clear my muddled head). I think I will go to the arboretum. Thank you, Reya.

Lynne said...

We've had great clouds and bright blue skies the last couple of days. Yesterday I floated around the pool with my head tilted toward the sky, just watching the clouds roll by. Very mesmerizing.

Cyndy said...

Staring out at the ocean, either from a ship or from the shore, used to be one of my favorite ways to relax and daydream. But the clouds, especially this summer, have become my new favorite diversion. The best thing is you don't have to go anywhere in particular to enjoy them!

tut-tut said...

A great heads-up for me, literally, as I am so concentrated on the screen or the page for most of my day. Sorry if I was a bit flip yesterday.

John said...

hey, that time lapse stuff is clever! and fun to watch.

Reya Mellicker said...

Sporadic time lapse, based not on regular intervals, but just whenever I feel like it. Fun!

Tut - were you flip? I didn't notice.

dennis said...

Dennis says it's especially nice to skywatch sitting on the shore when a seagull soars into the frame.

Pod said...

it's all about the stillness
x

lettuce said...

on my way reya.
this is great

(did get out to watch the stormy ocean yesterday)

mouse (aka kimy) said...

the whole time we were east the sky was spectacular - deep blue with those wonderful clouds. unfortunately right now in cleveland we are socked in with a huge grey lake effect mass.... no floating clouds to watch, so I guess that means I should go be productive!

just caught up after being "away" from the gold for a bit....very nice.... consider this comments on all the fantastic posts and thanks for the head's up on new things to see in dc and a book to avoid!

hele said...

Gazing at your site makes my heartbeats feel long and languorous.