Nothing is worse than a title spelled incorrectly. I have deleted Topic 29 and replaced it with this one. A summary of the posts on the previous topic are found below: Response 1 of 1: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Apr 12, 2000 (21:25) * 1 lines There are so many things I could put here that it would be easier to put what does not please me aesthetically than what does. For starters, a night eruption of Kilauea where fountain pulses toward the stars. The roar and aroma and taste make it a total experience of the genesis of a mountain. The ground shaking beneath your feet just add to the feeling...especially if you have been fortunate enough to have been there all night. As dawn slowly awakens the day, it is as though you are seeing the Earth on the very first day and the hand of God is very near. Since I am not gifted enough to paint it, I engrave it on my mind and soul and hope others can capture the feeling for me. Response 2 of 2: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Apr 12, 2000 (23:05) * 1 lines Actually, I created this topic with one �esthete in mind. He thought there would be nothing he could add to the conversations in Geo. He speaks so eloquently with brush and canvas that words are unnecessary - though he is gifted with the English language, as well. He is away from his computer for a few weeks, so until he returns, and I can work on enticing him to post, I shall write more of the places which stir my soul and hope you will join me in whatever medium you choose. Response 3 of 3: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Apr 13, 2000 (21:05) * 4 lines With the thought that I know someone who can - and very well, indeed, I give you a quote from someone who cannot: "It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it." -- Steven Wright Response 9 of 10: Maggie (sociolingo) * Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (13:20) * 5 lines This is from Elizabeth Goudge: The Herb of Grace, it just fitted so well here, and expresses some of what I was trying to earlier. "Ben decided, not for the first time, that all his family were quite mad, and turned his attention, as Grandmother had advised, to the view. It rewarded his observation, and in five minutes he had fortotten his family, the car, their destination - everything whatever except the ebb and flow of colour, the strong swing of the sky overhead, the circling of clouds and bird's wings, the flowing green curve of the meadows and the deep-welling life within him beating almost painfully against some closed door inside; until the door yielded and he poured himslef out, drawing in again in exchange the colour into his blood, the movement into his muscles, the strength into his bones and the quality of this spring world into his quality, to be part of him for ever. When he got home again he would try to paint what he had seen, or write a poem about it, letting the colour and movement and strength flow out of his blood and muscles and bone upon the paper. " Response 10 of 10: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (19:51) * 3 lines We each express this overwhelming feeling with what gifts we have been given. Some more eloquently and movingly than others, but whatever the means - even tears - says it all and we come to appreciate the infinite beauty of the earth more each time it happens. There is an incredibly beautiful statement about this process of causing us to create beauty to mirror nature's, but until I can get him to post it, I shall just let it rest quietly and eloquently. Thank you, Maggie. That was spot-on! Response 11 of 12: Wolf (wolf) * Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (20:54) * 1 lines yes, i have cried just giving thanks for the beauty and for witnessing beautiful things. (am a sap, i know) Response 12 of 12: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (21:03) * 1 lines No you are not! I do that on occasion, as well. Great music can do it to me, as well. I am almost to the stage where great art can, also. Response 13 of 14: Wolf (wolf) * Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (21:06) * 1 lines i know what you mean! i bawled in a mall while some lady played the piano in a music shop. haha!! i get goosebumps anytime i hear anything or see anything that comes across as pure. Response 14 of 14: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (21:07) * 2 lines Me too...but I am not surprised, my twin sister *hugs* Response 15 of 15: Wolf (wolf) * Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (21:09) * 1 lines *grin* Response 16 of 17: Maggie (sociolingo) * Fri, Apr 21, 2000 (02:44) * 1 lines Rejoice with us - the bluebells are out, and the woods will shimmer with a magical blue haze. It's so special it makes my heart sing. Response 17 of 17: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Apr 21, 2000 (15:54) * 1 lines * s i g h * It sounds incredible. Wish I could see it. Response 18 of 19: Maggie (sociolingo) * Sat, Apr 22, 2000 (07:01) * 1 lines If the light is right I will try and take photos and you can put it in english gardens, but somehow I never suceed in capturing the magic. No option - you'll have to come and see! Response 19 of 19: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Apr 22, 2000 (12:57) * 1 lines *grin* What a thought....I need hardly any excuse at all to visit the land of my fathers. Maggie, capturing magic on film is about as easy as capturing the fragrance when photographing lilacs. Whatever you get, I will be delighted to post for you!

*Whew*

Ok, Wolfie, do you know why I created this topic? A simple yes or no will suffice...*smile*

I don't know about Wolfie... but I'm with you on this Marcia :)

Welcome, Gena. I thought it was a good idea...especially when we complain about the weather like it was supposed to be to our liking, and worry about astromical alignments...It was a nnatural to create a topic for admiration and worship of thing with which we had nothing to do but to admire. What sorts of scenery does it for you? Living in New England, there are lots of opportunities for admiration.

I have walked in his footsteps, as others have, and been mute in the face of such magnificence: "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." --John Muir

um, i think so, marcia! i was wondering why my conference list was showing a new topic here. hadn't noticed any misspelling.

Well, Maggie noted the oddness of the spelling, but I left it until a distinguished artist spelled it differently, as well. I researched it last night and decided I could not leave it improperly spelt when he finally comes in to see and - with extraordinay luck - to post. Actually, esthetics is listed as a variation of aesthetics - and I thought I would be making it sound too serious when I first created the topic, to put the � in the beginning. I shoulda...!

haha!! understand completely...

*grin* I knew you would...!

Where do I put this - on which conference where he will see it... "Skill without imagination is craftsmanship and gives us many useful objects such as wickerwork picnic baskets. Imagination without skill gives us modern art." -- Tom Stoppard, Artist Descending a Staircase, 1972

I am amused by the spelling - I thought the American word left out the e! Ha - Its good to see - as for the bluebells - that is my favourite. Two years ago I want back to Ranmore just beyond the A25 and found my favourite bluebell wood in Surrey. It makes me rather homesick or as they say in Welsh Hierath - the smell of bluebells, the haze of the blue is almost unearthly, magic and wonderful.

The American version leaves off the A, which is what I did in the original. How could one not be enamored of a field of bluebells. It sounds like a French Impressionist Painting!

Yes Marcia, thats it exactly. My sister-in-law and my nieces had a most spiritual experience last week. They spent the morning playing with wild dolphins. The video they took was wonderful and the underwater photogaphy - what could be more magic than that.

Beyond words to describe it are the feelings you get with an experience like that. I know, and I have the "chicken skin" to prove it!

In the interests of Aesthetics, I have changed the wallpaper. Opionions are welcome!

Looks okay to use a prosaic word! Most tasteful.

Mahalo, Anne. I am mostly concerned that becuase the original marble wallpaper was found for me by a very special person who I would rather die than hurt, I really am hoping he gives me some sign of approval... Otherwise it is back to his.

As we look at a beautiful sunset, we hear the wind sighing through the tree-tops, and we see beauty in our surroundings, our minds become flooded with emotion. It is this feeling that the spirit of the scene is speaking to our spirit, and that there is an energy in it that corresponds to an energy within ourselves. This feeling of communion of spirit can be so irresistible that we long to share it with another, by words, by paint or by sound, and we cannot rest until we have communicated it.

...yes....!

I guess this sorta goes here too. MY PICTURE I have a small canvas of mine that is the family 'treasure', it goes wherever we are. It is my soul in paint, and reminds me everyday day of where I've been and where I'm going and speaks to me of growth and movement, yet there is a dark heart of unknowing. It's not a true landscape in that it was sparked by some wood and developed as a sort of journey in paint. Everytime I look at it I can trace the journey. I guess it's a bit like an australian aboriginal dreaming picture, a songline. I painted it in anguish at 17 on unprimed canvas stretched over an old picture frame. It is oils and polyfilla. It's there on the wall for people to see, still unframed after all these years, but, just like 'me', the meaning is hidden unless you look with different eyes.

It's your signature work?

Not exactly my signature work. I found it elsewhere and "borrowed it. It is here only until I get word from the original creator as to its acceptability. It must pass his critical eye. But, since you did not go see him yet, and I am flying unaided in here right now...I am asking for others opinions. The family geologist likes it very much and his prof emeritus father likened it to real marble. I rather liked the color and "marbling effect" but I have the original saved just in case. If the original creator is not interested, then it stays here... The best part is that his clipart globe on the cover page seems to be suspended this side of the wallpaper and not glued thereon. Your opinion?

Are we going to get to see it?

Not sure what it is you want to see, but you gotta get out of telnet and into Windows to see anything, unfortunately, other than text and some html stuff in pointy brackets. (Almost anything...Of course you might see it, whatever "it" is...)

I like this topic, dear. You are getting better and better!

Thank you! You are very kind. I though it was high time to let Gaia know how much we appreciated her for what she is not just what she could do for us!

Pardon the sytax or lack of it altogether, but the sentiment remains the same. Have another banquet to attend...*sigh* If it is more teriyaki chicken, I'm leaving!

Hello all. I haven't in Geo for a while, but this topic's name could not but call out for me. Are we allowed to post pics of enchanting places?

Please! That is what I created it for. Seeing the world through your soul rather than just your eyes and anylitical brain. I created it with artists in mind, actaully, and Here you are! Your Home on Geo~!

Gi, you may do whatever you wuld like to do in Geo - Please post pictures!!!

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched -- they must be felt with the heart." -- Hellen Keller "Remember how in that communion only, beholding beauty with the eye of the mind, he will be enabled to bring forth, not images of beauty, but realities (for he has hold not of an image but of a reality), and bringing forth and nourishing true virtue to become the friend of God and be immortal, if mortal man may." N.B.: This famous aphorism is often misquoted, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." -- Plato, Symposium

A lovely word picture of where I live. It goes so well with the pictures we posted in Travel and inspires me to paint. ENGLAND We have been dwellers in a lovely land; A land of lavish lights and floating shades, And broad green flats, bordered by woody capes That lessen ever as they stretch away Into the distant blue. A land of hills; Cloud-gathering ranges, on whose ancient breast The morning mists repose; each autumn tide Deep purple with the heath-bloom; from whose brow We might behold the crimson sun go down Behind the barrier of the western sea; A land of beautiful and stately lanes Aerial temples most magnificent, Rising with clusters of rich pinnacles And fretted battlements; a land of towers., Where sleeps the music of deep-voiced bells, Save when in holyday time the joyous air Ebbs t o the welling sound; and Sabbath morn, When from a choir of hill-side villages The peaceful invitation chimes. So were our souls brought up to love this earth, And feed on natural beauty; and the light Of our own sunsets, and the mountains blue That girt around our home, were very parts Of our young being; linked with all we knew; Centres of interest for undying thoughts, And themes of mindful converse. Happy they Who in the fresh and dawning time of youth Have dwelt in such a land, turning their souls To the deep melodies of Nature�s laws, Heard in the after-time of riper thought, Reflective on past seasons of delight. (Henry Alford (1810-1871, a friend of Tennyson)

Feelings of longing to reunite my soul with my genetic code imbedded in the landscape of England are sometimes overwhelming. This lovely bit on Britain is wonderful. Thank you for sharing.