SOUL MIRRORS

     The air was so limpid on that morning, soft, naked, completely undressed of impurity and shadows. The light and the soul travel faster in such a pure air and apparently so does the wind. It was hard to believe how he could slid so fast across the sky if not even the thinnest grass was moving, leaning, waving or trembling on the ground. And yet everything seemed to be moving or changing or… perhaps it was just the flowing of life. No, it wasn’t. Life doesn’t leave the head spinning and dizzy just because it’s flowing. It’s always flowing.

     When he saw the persistent cloud almost touching the tops of the trees he felt even more bewildered. The trees weren’t only growing in a more visible way; they were changing shape, texture, colour and even the odor. It seemed they were playing with his eyes and all his senses. And the same was happening with the seagulls, the shells, the sand, the water of the sea and even… the persistent cloud. Hardly able to speak, he stammered:

     — Principessa, what’s happening to you? It’s raining sun and rainbows in your hair. Your eyes are making stars. Your mouth is blowing flowers, your arms are growing into feathers and wings, your feet are seashells, your neck is a circle of leaves, cherries and white flowers, your head is emanating sunbeams… I feel dizzy! What’s happening here?!

     — I’m happy that you are noticing that something special is happening, restless rider! It happens lots of times but this is the first time that you can see it or at least a part of it. It’s not an unusual phenomenon. It’s constant, it’s always happening; only you couldn’t notice it… until now. Perhaps it is because the air is so pure today, perhaps it’s because your mind and soul are more open to what’s inside, perhaps it’s because there’s no shadows on the beach… Take everything as natural, because it’s really very natural, and you’ll stop feeling dizzy. You’re feeling dizzy because you’re trying to see logic where there are only things to feel and see within… Close your eyes, breathe deeply with your soul and feel! — the persistent cloud suggested.

     — I’m trying to breathe deeply though I don’t know if it’s with my soul… — He said closing his eyes. First with an apprehensive expression and then, gradually, with a growing tranquility, he began to breathe deeply. His heart was beating fast but he wasn’t feeling restless anymore. It was a kind of joy fulfilling his soul. Then, when he was completely calm, he asked:

     — I feel calm now, never felt such a peace inside… but I still don’t understand what’s happening here… I see a few different things here. That shadow isn’t on the beach anymore; the little bird, the luminous woman and the tiny ant are on the Island of Stars doing things that I don’t understand on that bright dwell they are building… I just can’t see the Light Boat and that sparkle of light that appeared on the deck some days ago…

     — It’s all very simple… — She began to explain. It’s only the natural soul mirror effect working with more splendor and intensity. Once I told you a little bit about the genesis of the Forest of Dreams… I told you about the primordial seed that still lives intact within the primordial Tree of Dreams, constantly generating more seeds and more trees. I told you that seed was the guarantee that the Forest would never be destroyed or cease to grow… But there’s another important thing about the genesis of the Forest and the constant process of creation and recreation behind all the magic and beauty around… It’s the soul mirror effect… It’s nothing that you can produce with your hands or material things though the result may be very concrete and deep and it really has an effect upon all the real things you do…

     — What do you mean with “soul mirror”? I don’t see any mirrors around… except in your eyes… — He asked.

     — Everything that is and happens here came from the inner of a mind and soul. Here, the thoughts and dreams become reality. All that you see and feel around is the reflection of a soul. And all that is here reflects in the souls that inhabit here. What doesn’t belong here just disappears… — She was saying when the wind interrupted her.

     — That was why that shadow disappeared?

     — Yes, no shadow belongs here, only light, love and truth. What remains is the light and the light lasts forever. The Lost Sailor disappeared; this wasn’t the right place for him. The Luminous Sailor that is on the deck of the Light Boat will stay. — She continued to explain.

     — Is the Luminous Sailor real? To me it seems just a sparkle of light… —He asked.

     — It is very real. It was born in the mind and soul of the little bird, so it’s very real. All that is born in her mind becomes real. What was born inside and lives within the soul is always real. There’s nothing more real! And here everything has a creator soul, the sea, the birds, the trees… me and you. We are also a part of this reality. Look, the little bird, the tiny ant and the luminous woman are entering into the boat… —she said with a tranquil smile.

     — Where are they going? They seem so radiant and happy…

     — Look inside, restless rider, and you’ll know where they are going…

The colours of happiness 6 - Naked Rainbows, photography and drawing by São Ludovino.

Walking on the rainbow sea I - Naked Rainbows, photography and drawing by São Ludovino.

 Liquid Belvedere I - Naked Rainbows, photography and drawing by São Ludovino.

 Simple Life I - Naked Rainbows, photography and drawing by São Ludovino.

 The Gates of the Rainbow I - Naked Rainbows, photography and drawing by São Ludovino.

 Along the way I - Naked Rainbows, photography and drawing by São Ludovino.

Companion II - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

Companions II - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

Companion III - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

 Nightsky 16 - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

  Nightsky 2 - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

  Nightsky 4 - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

Naked rainbow VII, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

 Naked rainbow XII, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

Embracing the Infinite Rainbow I - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

 Embracing the Infinite Rainbow II - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

 Rainbow sands I - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

A Home for the Light I - Naked Rainbows, photography and drawing by São Ludovino.

A Home for the Light II - Naked Rainbows, photography and drawing by São Ludovino.

Protecting Rainbow - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

Rainbow maker - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

Genesis of Dreams 8 - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

In the jungle - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

Nightfall in the jungle - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

Always on the Moon I - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

Embracing III - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

In the jungle - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

Nightfall in the jungle - Naked rainbows, drawing & photography by São Ludovino.

A HOME FOR THE LIGHT

     The sun is a very generous being, it shines all over the Earth but it is not the same everywhere. In some places the sun brings more than light and warmth. His own soul comes down in each sunbeam, kisses the waters of the sea softly, caresses the trees and renews the energy in the wings of the birds. It’s very rare, once in a thousand years, but sometimes the sun chooses a place or a being to reveal the secret of his light, works side by side with some restless dreamer and when he returns to the sky leaves behind a precious piece of his soul.
     On that morning there was more light and warmth than ever in the beach by the Forest of Dreams. The persistent cloud was hovering very close to the dunes, sweeping across the paths between the rows of magnificent trees. Fertile dunes bathed by the sea and caressed by the sun. As so many times before, that simple combination of tranquility and beauty were making her to sing within. Well, perhaps it wasn’t only within, because someone else was listening to her chant.
     The wind arrived softer than ever, looked in every direction for the source of that chant. He couldn’t see the little bird, the tiny ant or the luminous woman. Only the Lost Sailor was below on the beach, throwing stones to the water as usual. This time the wind was surprised with his presence there again, doing the same thing he ever did. He thought that after that magical night in the Light Boat he wasn’t lost anymore… He was so surprised that decided to blow directly in his face… in vain. The Lost Sailor didn’t even notice the wind. So the wind began to blow sand over his feet until they were completely covered… in vain. The Lost Sailor continued throwing stones to the water, completely indifferent to all the rest.
     The wind thought to himself that even if he covered him completely with sand, everything would remain the same… so he gave up and went on looking for the persistent cloud, his inseparable companion. After many swirls, twirls and whirls around the trees he finally found her. She was wearing a tiara of flowers and dewdrops. She was so shiny and peaceful singing softly that he didn’t dare to disturb her. He just stood there, listening for some time. When she finally stopped her chant, he hopped joyfully in front her, just like a free wild corcel.
     —So, you also sing, principessa?!
     —I learned with the little bird. Her chant is contagious. But I wasn’t singing… — She denied.
     —Oh, yes you were, I heard you… You were singing about a home of light… What is that? — He asked with great interest.
     —Restless rider, I wasn’t singing in an audible way, just my soul was singing, but if you heard me even so, that’s a very good sign… And you already got a glimpse of that Home of Light, right there in the Island of Stars. It is still there… can’t you see it? Usually, during the day is less visible, but today is a special day… Look at the sun… —she invited mysteriously.
     —Incredible! I didn’t notice before… The sun seems closer to the ground… The light seems more intense and warmer… but it doesn’t burn!!! How is it possible?! Is the sun falling down, principessa? — He asked a little scared.
     —No, he isn’t, he’s just paying a special visit to us… Today he brought us a most precious gift… a piece of his soul… — she answered smiling to the sun.
     —What?! Does the sun have a soul too? And if he does won’t he miss that piece of his soul afterwards? — He asked really bewildered.
     —You always make funny questions, restless rider, that’s why I love you so much. You spend your time riding across the world, always moving so swift that you don’t pay attention to simple beautiful things like this… The sun won’t miss this piece of his soul because we are always together… this way we’ll be even closer. Today is really a very special day… The Island of Stars is completely visible and shining bright. — She explained with great tenderness.
     —Well, it seems to me that not everything is shining bright… Look that shadow over there… It seems the shadow of the Lost Sailor… I thought that finally his First Day of Creation had come and he was now sailing in the Light Boat…
     —And he is, his true soul is… If you look deeply you’ll see a sparkle on the deck… What you see there is just a walking shadow… it doesn’t belong here. He just wrecked on the wrong harbor… Let’s hope that he will wreck in the right harbor next time… There are plenty of harbors for shadows around the world but just a few for the light… I am on the right harbor… I’ll be here, I belong to the light…
    —WE belong to the light, principessa! This is the only place in the world that I really miss always… Though I do not have a home, my home is everywhere, this is the only place that my heart calls home! We’re lucky principessa, aren’t we?
     —We surely are, restless rider! If you happen to cross again with that shadow again, take a little bit of our light to him… Though he isn’t aware of that, he really needs it…

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     The drawings below are from the second album of Glimpses & Twinkles. Truly, some belong to the first one and were made some time ago... and some that belong to this one aren't still here because I couldn't finish them...

Inside the Seed II, drawing by São Ludovino.

A Home for the Light, drawing by São Ludovino.

Born to be eternal, drawing by São Ludovino.

Inexhaustible, drawing by São Ludovino.

Luminous V, drawing by São Ludovino.

Nautilus, drawing by São Ludovino.

Roots and Roads in the Sky, drawing by São Ludovino.

The Gift of Making Suns, drawing by São Ludovino.

The Source, drawing by São Ludovino.

Through the gates, drawing by São Ludovino.

Twin Souls II, drawing by São Ludovino.

Water of Light, drawing by São Ludovino.

Chrysalis, drawing by São Ludovino.

Luminous I, drawing by São Ludovino.

Luminous II, drawing by São Ludovino.

Luminous III, drawing by São Ludovino.

Dedication II, drawing by São Ludovino.

Listening to the Song of the Ocean, drawing by São Ludovino.

Made of Sky, Earth and Water III, drawing by São Ludovino.

Made of Sky, Earth and Water II, drawing by São Ludovino.

Open Stories' Path, drawing by São Ludovino.

WINTER SIGHTS

     Paraphrasing Magritte, this isn’t a post, at least it isn’t the post I intended to do. My computer crashed very seriously… As soon as I have conditions to work with it again I’ll complete this…Meanwhile I’ll work with my daughter’s computer and I’ll try to do something else… 
     Below are just a few images from my backyard in the country… an album to complete later…

Embracing the infinite I, photography by São Ludovino.

 Embracing the infinite II, photography by São Ludovino.

Firebird II photography by São Ludovino.

Firebird I photography by São Ludovino.

Precious, photography by São Ludovino.

In the Winter's Sun I, photography by São Ludovino.

A home in the wild, photography by São Ludovino.

Aging together II, photography by São Ludovino.

Dew bridge, photography by São Ludovino.

In the Winter's Sun II, photography by São Ludovino.

Infinite arms I, photography by São Ludovino.

Infinite arms II, photography by São Ludovino.

Light feeds the colour, photography by São Ludovino.

Old chalice, photography by São Ludovino.

Stars under my feet, photography by São Ludovino.

Winter's rebirth I, photography by São Ludovino.

Suspended garden, photography by São Ludovino.

The key is the tree, photography by São Ludovino.