Places: The Spirituality of Space

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Fisherman at McKeldin Falls
Have you ever noticed that there are places in nature that are, for lack of a better word, special?  I do a lot of nature photography, so I frequently walk around beautiful places.  But there are times when I am at a particular place, and something about it affects me in a special way.  It may not be any more beautiful than another place, but at that particular place and time, I become more acutely aware of its beauty and my place in it.  It's a spiritual experience, I think, that is granted to us as we become more in touch with the beauty of our surroundings.

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Light on the Path, Alberton Rd area of Patapsco State Park
I can still remember many of these moments: seeing a fisherman resting at McKeldin Falls, seeing a Pileated Woodpecker fly by as I'm alone walking a path in the woods at Patapsco Park, noticing the light falling on a decaying Hemlock tree at Swallow Falls.  Many times, in these experiences, I don't even care so much if I get the picture, but here's a few instances where I did.  If I may write this post as a question of you, have you had similar experiences?  If so, share them in the comments below, and if you have a photo of it, link to it.

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Light Falling on Decaying Tree, Swallow Falls
The ancients often believed that certain places were spiritual, even sacred.  We're so scientifically oriented today that I think sometimes we lose our sensitivity to the spirituality of space.  I'm not offering any dogmatic assertions here, simply sharing my experiences.  Feel free to share your thoughts.

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Snowy Egret, Orlando Wetlands Park
 

Comments

  1. I love that feeling of solitude, awe, appreciation, and overwhelming beauty. There's nothing else like it!

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  2. Hi Scott,

    I just found your site and it's great! Yes, i have had similar experiences walking thru areas in Central Maryland. Are you still in Maryland? Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Blackwater Refuge and Marshy Point are some ares I've experienced that "special" feeling. Great images and I'll be looking at the site for a while..Thank you!

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  3. Thanks! I'm not longer living in MD, but I do get a chance to visit 1-2 times per year, which I love. MD is so beautiful.

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