Project Athena - Day 167 (Freedom)

Who Holds the Key?

One of my favorite experiences of freedom is that profound instant when I recognize that I hold the key to my own prison doors. I have had this occurrence many times over the last few years as I inquire deeply about certain beliefs I hold or labels that I have identified with. Limiting beliefs and disempowering labels may serve their purpose but when their time is up, they become extremely suffocating and make me feel as though I am trapped behind steel bars. Luckily, I have some great tools for deep self-inquiry that allow me to remember that I am always at choice and the prison doors, like in this photo, are never holding me inside. In fact, what I usually discover is that the perceived containment is an illusion at best.

Smiling to be free.

Project Athena - Day 166 (Freedom)

Land of the Free?

Let me start by saying this, I love the country I live in and the planet I live on. I just want to be clear about that part because for those of you who know me, you also know I am very cognizant and critical of our political systems (world corporations) and our so called leaders. Even as I write this, there is a part of me that wants to reframe it all and make it "not so bad" and avoid any possible conflict. But I can't. I made a commitment this week to speak the truth of what is showing up for me.

I may step on some toes when I say that not only America, but most of human kind, has lost its way in the search for freedom. The major issues in this world such as war waging, destroying the environment, discrimination, subjugating others, poverty, violence, irreparable political systems, gross violations of basic human rights and dangerously corrupt leaders stem directly from corporate and individual greed, the dissemination of fear in an effort to control, radical religious craziness and the addiction to power.

I know....the U.S. is truly one of the better places to live on the planet in terms of basic needs and comforts. I get that and I give thanks on my knees everyday for the abundant and the relatively peaceful life I lead. I also understand that these "freedoms" have come at a HUGE cost over the course of our history. Maybe there will never be peace on this planet or a day when everyone has enough. Still, I pray for the day when we fly NO flags to claim our freedom but simply recognize that we are all in this together, no matter where we live on the planet. We, the human race, must decide what that coexistence looks like and know in our heart of hearts we are already free simply because we have the ability to choose.

American Flag

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 55-200mm lens • 200mm • F/5.6 • 1/320s • ISO 800

Project Athena - Day 165 (Freedom)

Setting Suns & Freedom

As this day unwinds and I witness the beauty and stillness of a Colorado winter's sunset, I am reminded that there is freedom in completion. At the end of the day, when all has been said and done, there is some energy at work that is so much more vast than my mind can even conceive. All that is left is surrendering into this unknown. That to me is freedom.

Colorado Sunset
Nikon D3200 • Nikon 18-55mm lens • 18mm • F/10 • 1/800s • ISO 200