Mandalas of Joy

 

blue whippet in a winter jacket running through the dunes with morning frost on bent grass

 

if I could paint joy
there’d be a lightness of brush
a palette of earth’s finest treasures
the colours would sing
inviting you in
to dance in a rhythm
of bliss beyond measure

© Xenia Tran

 

close up shot of melting frost on bent grass, with blurred mandalas in the background

We are overcome with joy and gratitude that after three years of campaigning, our local wildlife and award winning beaches will be safe from proposed ship-to-ship oil transfers. One leading academic described our home and breeding ground of bottlenose dolphins and other precious wildlife as ‘the least appropriate location on the whole coast of Europe to undertake this activity‘.

The entire campaign is a testament to what communities can do when they come together for the greater good, helped by environmental and wildlife conservation groups as well as local politicians.

I forgot to readjust the settings on my camera when taking the photograph of the melting frost on bent grass. It looks as if in that moment, the camera captured my feelings. To me, the mandalas dancing in the light represent happiness and all that is good in the world.

The source of the quote and more information about the campaign can be found on the Cromarty Rising website.

With love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx

 

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/2.8, 1/320 s, ISO 160 and f/2.8, 1/1250 s, ISO 100.

 

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Author: whippetwisdom

The stories, poems and photographs on this blog are the original creative work of Xenia Tran. Inspired by life in the Scottish Highlands and in awe of nature she gives voice to the wisdom of her adopted and fostered whippets.

59 thoughts on “Mandalas of Joy”

    1. Thank you dear friends and a big thank you too for your beautiful Christmas card which arrived today 🙂🎄💞 Ours was posted on Monday and will hopefully reach you soon. Much love to you and Lily from all of us here 🤗🐾💖🐾 xxx

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  4. That is awesome news, Xenia! Congratulations with all the efforts, determination and reaching your goal. It makes my day to know that there is still good in the world and that people still manage to work together for the greater good. There is so much going on that makes me feel helpless. And, it’s easy to feel depressed about it. Well done!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Liesbet 💜 There’s often a way when communities come together like this and Cromarty Rising has done a fabulous job in raising awareness, organising a petition and lobbying parliament 🙂💖🐬💦 xxx

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  5. I’m so very glad your campaign was successful, it would have been a tragedy for oil transfers to take place. I actually love that the drops of melting frost are out of focus, it creates a wonderful photo 💖💖 Congratulations and much love to you all xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Cathy, it would have been a tragedy and this has been a hard fought campaign. We are over the moon that our dolphins, whales, seals and birds are safe now 🙂🐬💦 Hope you are having a fine day too and much love to you and Finn from all of us here 🤗🐾💖🐾 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Tina 💜 Offshore seismic testing is so harmful for whales and other marine life. We are with you in this very worthwhile cause and hope your campaign will be successful too! 🤗💖🐳 xxx

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  21. What an inspiring post, Xenia. Congrats on the success of your environmental efforts. I LOVE your ‘mistake’ photo. It is lovely. And your poem is absolutely joyful. You did indeed paint joy with your words.

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  24. SMiLes mY FriEnd
    When FriEnd says
    What i Will
    Love to Sing
    too Ascending
    Transcending
    one With A Force
    oF Love as Dance
    Free
    to
    other
    Friends
    who cannot
    Hear the Music..
    “Dancing in a rhythm
    of bliss beyond measure”
    by my FriEnd Xenia Tran too..:)

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