mosaic muse {words}

1. focus, 2. life is good, 3. Live, 4. how to brighten your day..., 5. Why yes! I am! {019/366}, 6. i will., 7. reflection, 8. At the Corner of Happy and Peace, 9. Shine., 10. 2012's fortune, 11. may peace prevail on earth!, 12. "...for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." - Philo of Alexandria, 13. P.S. I love you, 14. Untitled, 15. 35/366 it's up to you, 16. Hope is Beautiful 3

Looking through the Mortal Muses pool for words, I was inspired by all of the positive messages to be found!  I'm an optimist, so I believe when you are looking for the positive, you find it. I hope today's mosaic lifts you up with these encouraging messages from the universe. 

Have you found any new ones? Add them to the muse mosaic by sharing your "words" images in the link up below. 

Kat of Kat Eye Studio

<center><a href="http://mortalmuses.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/6036986994_81c277cf91_o.jpg"/></a></center>

a love for words

I was a late reader. I struggled with words as a kid, and frustration set itself right beside my heart, for quite a while. When reading finally clicked within me, there was no stopping my passion for words. I read everything I could get my hands on. I wrote stories, poetry and even made up crossword puzzles, for friends to do. Words became my life. And with these words that came tumbling out of books, plus a little imagination, I would travel near and far. That statement alone, reminds me of a favorite childhood read, Gertrude Chandler Warner's, "The Boxcar Children".

Still today, I adore words. Snail mail, sends my heart soaring. The handwritten words, spilled across an envelope... it never gets old. I am the first one in front of the tv, when the Spelling Bee is about to begin- "Akellah and the Bee" is one of my favorite movies, and I rarely leave an antique store, without an old, tattered book in hand. My collection of books, really makes me smile. It is a true love affair that I have with words.

"All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind."

 Kahlil Gibran

I have never forgotten those days of being a little girl, struggling with reading. It's one of the reasons, why I am so proud to volunteer, at a adult literacy program. It brings me an amazing amount of joy, to assist adults in learning how to read.

When I saw the winter colors, and inspiring words that pthurmund1 captured in her photo below, it really spoke to me.  How lovely! Only six words, but such powerful and inviting words.

Warmly,
Christina {soul aperture}

beyond layers "6 words" by pthurmond 1

storytelling without words

Trying to tell a story when the words don't come is like pulling teeth, it's hard. As photographers we can bypass the keyboard pick up a camera and let the story unfold in the frame. We don't need to explain and sometimes the words just get in the way of the photo. If we just leave well enough alone the photo will talk for itself. Maybe the photo paints an entirely different story than the one that was intended, its completely up to the viewer and their experience.

Take time to look around at how your photos play the role of storyteller.

When I saw this photo in the Mortal Muse Flickr pool I immediately conjured up the history in my mind behind the rusting red Dodge.  I can't make out the license plate but I believe that's a peeling RedSox bumper sticker, I can almost smell the salt air. I'm wondering how many miles and how many stories has this truck seen. I want to see more.

Lindsey aka Modchik

Still runs by Dorian Susan

the power of words

Often words may be big and bold; you shout them out to the whole world! While at other times, they remain plain, even silent. Tiny letters forming thoughts, expressing feelings. Funny to think how much power they hold. One phrase, "I love you," can make our hearts soar, while the lack of them can crush our souls into little pieces. Absent from loved ones, you long to hear their words flow freely in a constant chatter. His voice. Her laughter. Once you hear these beautiful messages, your heart sings in happiness.

Last month, my close friend had her first opening at a gallery in Chelsea. She'd flown in from Florida on New Year's Day to prepare, her first trip away from her one-year old daughter. She'd mentioned in a previous email that if I'd like to help her paint the piece, a 20' x 14' temporary installation, I could arrive early. The day after New Year's the phone rang. Her voice wavered as she quietly asked if I'd considered her proposal. I knew this voice. 25 years of friendship, 8 years of fine art classes, and countless broken hearts between us, I could recognize it anywhere. Toneless, without inflection, but exhausted with a trace of sorrow. The words weren't there, but the message was clear, she needed help.

The next morning I caught the train from Philly up to New York. Although we've only caught up in person a handful of times since college, like all true friendships, the passage of time was irrelevant once we were together. In all the craziness of preparations, she hadn't allowed herself to miss her little girl. 24 hours later, with the completion of the piece and nothing left to do but wait, it finally hit her. But before she crumbled into sorrow missing her family, a video arrived in her inbox, filled with laughter and love from her little girl, and filled with the words she needed to hear.

This Valentine's Day, are there any words you need to share with someone you love? VeronicainMo's photo below is a lovely reminder to us all about the power of love and the power of words.

Holly ~ Soupatraveler

How about LOVE by VeronicainMo

mirror mirror

 

Words have a funny way of making you think. For example, I have a small mirror in my office that was once meant to attach to a computer monitor. I found it one day as I was de-cluttering my desk. I remember thinking, "oh cool...I could use a small mirror," even though I already have a much larger mirror in my office. Then I looked closer...there in fine print, it read "It is not about..." Ouch. Something tells me that I found this message on purpose - I mean...isn't that the way life works?

Much like a Chinese fortune cookie (if you buy into that sorta thing), we're often faced with words that cause us to think about what we're doing or what we will be doing in a more intentional way. Most recently, I was having dinner with my husband just before going into my 12 week ultrasound appointment (oh yeah...for those of you that don't know already...I'm expecting) when we opened two fortune cookies. We often giggle at the fortune messages, but have recently found ourselves flipping the message over to "learn Chinese." On this particular evening, the words left us speechless...one said "summer" (I'm due in August) and the other said "girl." Granted, at this point we don't know the gender, but we definitely saved these words as they might have significance later on.

I also like how Mom Photographer's photo causes me to stop and think. There's certainly some thinking involved in just reading what it says. More importantly, it requires us to look in the mirror. Not in a Snow White, "Mirror Mirror on the wall...who's the fairest of them all," kind of way...but in a way that we can see ourselves as the beautiful, intelligent, artists that we know we are.

So maybe it's not all about "me." However, let us not forget to look at ourselves in the mirror...to speak encouraging words to one another...and to live a life that reflects who we are from the inside out.

Until next time,
Ashley of Ramblings and Photos

...and what do you see? by Mom Photographer

imagine

I use words all the time. We all do; at work, at play, for fun, at school. I took so many pictures of words for this theme, but it was as we walked along the beach that I found this boat. And I realised that with this theme, I enjoyed finding words which conjured up an image for me; those were the words that spoke to me. I'm not sure this boat is still in use, but the words on the back of it made me think of the story behind the name. Who was Dorothy May? Was she a sister or a dear friend? Maybe a daughter or a wife. Is she still alive or is this the only memory of her? I imagined the person who named this boat looking out to it across the beach and having fond memories of his time spent with Dorothy May.

I liked to imagine the story behind the words. Just as with this VW camper van taken by meeganz. Where has this bus been on its travels? I found my mind wandering as I thought of the happy people jostling inside on the journeys to the beach or maybe through rainy forests. I even imagined the passengers singing as they drove along, and just look at that snow on the bumper and the rust on the side there! I bet this minivan has stories to tell...

What have you imagined as you looked at words? What stories can you make up behind the words that you find today?

kirstin of fleeting moments

i m a g i n e by meeganz

we all have a story to tell

Sometimes it's easy to forget how much our lives matter. As everyday people with everyday dreams we often lose sight of our own stories. While most of us may not be on the evening news, or winning a Super Bowl (go Giants!), or labeled as heroes on a grand scale, the fact is that we are many of these things and more to the people who love us.

We all have a story to tell.

Each day our stories flow forth from our hearts and through our tears. Tales of love, adventure, excitement, broken hearts, dreams, disappointments, and everything in between. We just need to slow down and take the time to absorb the moments, not just live them.

Although we often turn to our cameras to tell our stories through pictures, today let's try to bring an awareness to our lives through words. If you need a place to start check out triple the sugar's photo below...I found it so powerful. "Today is ________." This little phrase signals hope and anticipation. It hints at the unknown, the unexpected.

What story will you tell today? Tell it for yourself...or tell it for your friends and family. Maybe you'll even share it with us here. Tell me what "today is" for you.

~christy {urban muser}

today is ______? by triple the sugar

words that comfort.

Like this cup of tea above, the words you see in the photo below are a comfort to me. Sadly, this is likely an old sign. If you've been following the news, Kodak declared bankruptcy in January. Luckily, there is some speculation that this action may save the company. There is lots of debate as to why this is happening (some say they relied too much on the movie film industry which is moving to digital, others say they were unable to make it in the digital camera market), or what the implications may be for other film companies (maybe nothing since every company is different in its core business and strategies). Regardless, it sure got me thinking about what life would be like without film. I'd hate for it to become obsolete and unknown as the cassette tape is to my teenage cousins. I get panicked to think I won't be able to load film into the camera my grandfather gave me, no longer stand there timing my instant prints, and put my Nikon F100 on the shelf like an antique. To me, the process and its results are irreplaceable. Digital cannot console me. No matter how "film-like" the presets may get, that is not the point, and it just wouldn't be the same. Instead, I'll be keeping an eye on this news and stocking up on my ektachrome, ektar, and portra!
Keep clicking! ~Cara of cararosephotos

the merriest of Christmases by damiec

and the next theme is..........WORDS

They say a picture paints a thousand words, but words can make good pictures too.  If you start noticing, you'll see words everywhere.

Maybe you love to read on a sunny veranda:

day 221 by preserved by a promise

Or curled up by the fire with a cup of something hot:

reading by the fire by autumnsun08

Or you find your words in a recipe for something delicious:

365:103 by rocking_robin

Perhaps there are words to treasure in a hand-written letter about a child:

new beginnings by gilly 

Or by a child:

true love by gilly 

Or maybe you like your words packaged in modern technology:

wordless sunday by islandgirlsj

Even if you don't like to read, there are words everywhere you go.

On street signs:

brookfield street by alphabet soup studio

sign by ~ania

eat by mary vican

Or graffiti:

 kiss me by xojy

Where do you find your words?  Which words are important to you?  We look forward to seeing your WORDS photos in our Flickr pool.

And remember to join us tomorrow when we start musing on Looking In, Looking Out - as always, on the last day of the theme we'll be holding our usual linky party where you can add your own links and show us how you've interpreted Looking Out, Looking In.

gilly of the camera points both ways