Welcome to my blog Healing Perspectives

I am a psychologist and my great passion is photography. Unconsciously, I have long used photography as my mindfulness and meditation practice, as I often find it difficult to be still, especially in times of heightened tension. By discovering the beauty of nature and noticing it every day, I find grounding, return to the here and now and gain peace, strength and access to inspiration.

Why practise seeing? We rush around and don’t notice what is right in front of us. We are too much in our heads, we talk too much, which distracts us from what is. Mind and body are out of sync. And it is the mind that usually keeps us stuck. We need to stop talking and learn to see again. Although it is deeply rooted in our history, we have forgotten how to read pictures. At school we learn to read and write, the meaning of words, but we don’t learn to observe and describe the things around us. To see with all our senses, to follow our intuition and to develop trust in our feelings.

Photography as Mindfulness-Practice

Photography can serve as a medium for reflection and meditation, with the camera being an extension of our eye. Mindful photography is a slow approach to mindfulness, using the act of seeing as our anchor, much like the breath in traditional meditation. It can be an easier introduction for those who find it difficult to sit still. Mindful photography allows us to explore at our own pace and without judgement, strengthening our awareness and powers of observation. What we learn is then easily transferred to ourselves and strengthens our resilience as our nervous system is exercised, like a muscle.

Seeing with a Beginner’s Eye

A camera does not know the name of the object in its viewfinder. It sees light. You can learn to see the light, but you have to forget the names of things!

In the words of Michael Moore, “It’s not about creating the sun, it’s about removing the clouds so the sun can shine”. See clearly, we don’t have to travel to places, there is an infinite perception available at all times, look right, it’s your world, it’s your FEAST.