Spiritual sites abound in the great wide world. But we need not go far. Sometimes they are within our homes, or mere steps away. Occasionally they are only in our minds. They may be felt in the presence of the quotidian. A napping cow in Varanasi. A pair of pigeons in Casablanca. Painted panels in a college chapel in Maine.
Such sites and sights, for me, are portals to the past. A single gold flower in the wet heat of sunrise over the Ganges in an ancient city. Storks nesting atop ancient Berber-Roman columns’ capstones, open to the heavens after the structures they held have crumbled away. In Volubilis, a nesting parent appeared to bask in the perfection of her landing atop a now freestanding pillar near Meknes.
Although I have been known to suspect saints are underfoot, I tend to find more traditional spirits while looking up.
Sometimes, neck-craningly high….
My daughter took me to Qutb Minar, where brilliant lime parakeets looked down on us from a crown of carved bricks on a minaret taller than ten stacked Green Monsters. The view from the ground left me thunderstruck. I can only imagine the awe in surveying the earthbound from such heights.
Lowering my gaze to the horizon, I also regularly find spiritual sights and sensations. On gray and pastel mornings, and when an ordinary day catches fire–sometimes just for a few minutes–and on every day in between.
Love in the Spaces 
A beautiful post Stephanie – I’ll admit I was a bit confused thinking you lived in India but linked to Boston’s famous Green Monster. Then I read your short bio at the end and it made total sense! My husband is from Boston and we’ve seen many a game there. Once a Red Sox fan, always a Red Sox fan despite their ups and downs!! Your images are wonderful as are your thoughts along with them. I see you included “Lens-Artist Photo Challenge” but if you use the spelling Lens-Artists your post will appear in our reader section which will invite more visits. Thanks so much for joining us this week!
I did do a bit of an unexplained geographical shuffle! Thank you very much for reading and for helping get me back on track blogging. I was so disappointed when the weekly photo challenges ended yeards ago, and didn’t realize helpful bloggerts had launched it in new forms until my across-the-country friend scillagrace explained the new system! Now, if only I could organize all the photos I took in the meantime……
DUH, I just saw you ARE linked in our reader section. Sorry, I didn’t see it earlier.
I think I overdid the tags today!
Wonderful post. One of the best moments (among many best moments) in Spielberg’s The Color Purple: “I think it pisses God off when you walk by the color purple in a field and don’t notice it.” – Shug Avery
I am ashamed to say I haven’t read that yet (or seen the movie), but I wholeheartedly agree. It’s like walking past a friendly beagle without talking to it!
Have a box of tissues ready. Among his best.
I’m with you
Wow!
Mesmerizing clicks indeed!
Love the meditation of the bird, Volubilis, Morocco!
It was quite a lucky shot, lurking in the ruins while my friends were anxious that we get going!
👍👍👍
🙂
Fabulous
Wonderful photos, as always, Stephanie!
Thank you, Greg! It’s a beautiful world out there still, much of the time