SteveTanham – writing, mysticism, photography, poetry, friends

Category: Consciousness

June 29, 2023 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Lake District, Photography, Silent Eye School, Spirituality

Water-Circle+Cross (5-End) Gummer’s How

by Steve Tanham

There is always a poignancy about meeting up on the final day of one of the Silent Eye weekends. So much has been shared that it seems impossible that the beginning was only two days before. Everyone arrives ready to depart at the end of the morning, or – if they have the luxury of another hour or two – at the end of … Read More Water-Circle+Cross (5-End) Gummer’s How

June 25, 2023 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Consciousness, Lake District, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography

Where Seagulls Dare

by Steve Tanham

Didn’t know they were there until I was reviewing the photos later – the seagulls. A whole flock of them whirling overhead, back right of shot; unseen but brightly present… Fell Foot Park on the south-eastern tip of Windermere. It’s a National Trust estate with a delightful walk in a figure of eight that takes you away from the final basin of the lake … Read More Where Seagulls Dare

June 22, 2023 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Lake District, Photography, Silent Eye School, Spirituality

Water-Circle+Cross (5) The Wray home?

by Steve Tanham

Wray Castle is an imposing neo-gothic building on the north-western shores of Lake Windermere. It’s not a real castle, but looks very much like one, and was crafted according to authentic historical plans. It was built in 1840 for a retired surgeon from Liverpool, James Dawson, who also commissioned Wray Church on the same estate. He used his wealthy wife’s fortune to create it, … Read More Water-Circle+Cross (5) The Wray home?

June 15, 2023 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Lake District, Photography, Silent Eye School

Water-Circle+Cross (4) in the realm of the sky-god

by Steve Tanham

There is a feeling – as Lake Windermere falls away below – that you are leaving behind one realm and entering another – one dominated by a sky-god. Within minutes we were climbing strongly, part way up the road that snakes over the hill and down to Hawkshead. Fed by the traffic from the chain-link ferry, it climbs steeply, twisting and turning its way … Read More Water-Circle+Cross (4) in the realm of the sky-god

June 13, 2023 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Consciousness, nature

Wildflower meadows

by Steve Tanham

Perhaps the loveliest we’ve ever seen. Any guesses where? Post update 19:00 Tuesday 13 Jun. The location was Hampton Court Palace, next to the River Thames. Several people guessed correctly, as per the comments. Well done and thank you for participating…. ©Stephen Tanham 2023 Stephen Tanham is a Director of the Silent Eye, a journey through the forest of personality to the dawn of … Read More Wildflower meadows

June 13, 2023 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Lake District, Photography, Silent Eye School

Water-Circle+Cross (3) Roof of the World

by Steve Tanham

**** Author’s note ***** For some obscure technical reason, this post failed to publish last week here on Sun in Gemini… and I’ve only just noticed. It did publish on the Silent Eye. For completeness, and ahead of the publication of the next part here on Thursday, I’m sending it to the printers, now! The Saturday morning of the Silent Eye’s 2023 ‘walking workshop’ … Read More Water-Circle+Cross (3) Roof of the World

June 6, 2023 + #Silenti, Consciousness, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose

Lancaster’s canal – a local photo tour

by Steve Tanham

Just down from the extensive Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and passing under the busy A6 road from the south, there begins one of the most attractive sections of the old Lancaster Canal, as it leaves behind the gentle countryside of north Lancashire and enters the old industrial landscape of the former ‘county town’ from which the county name derives. The House of Lancaster features … Read More Lancaster’s canal – a local photo tour

June 4, 2023 + #Poetry, #Silenti, #wantonwhimsy, Consciousness, esoteric psychology, Love, Mystical poetry, Photography

One god of two

by Steve Tanham

One god of two, she chooses From the young faces at the bar While he, her husband? To be or not… Long, lean and known to her every wish Smiles into his cigar Did God post the envelope you open with your lips In a reverse of time? And the page within is blank Save … now it says: ‘The page within is blank’ … Read More One god of two

June 1, 2023 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Lake District, Photography, Silent Eye School

Water-Circle+Cross (2) “… a spell that changed my life.”

by Steve Tanham

In 1930, a 23 year old accountant from Blackburn arrived by train in the small town of Windermere, high above the lake that shares its name. He asked the way to the ancient path that climbed from the edge of the main road (what is now the busy A591) and, fastening his battered tweed jacket against the stiff breeze, strode up to the peak. … Read More Water-Circle+Cross (2) “… a spell that changed my life.”

May 30, 2023 + #Phoetry, #Poetry, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Collie dogs, Consciousness, English Lake District, guided mystical walks, landscapes, Mindfulness, Photography

Wander Wood #phoetry

by Steve Tanham

And is there time in wander wood Or slow, abiding, gentle ‘should’ Without resistance: touch and kiss A reaching for midsummer’s bliss So powerful this May surprise I need not leave my seat – just close my eyes To wander in the wonder wood ©Stephen Tanham 2023 Stephen Tanham is a Director of the Silent Eye, a journey through the forest of personality to … Read More Wander Wood #phoetry

May 28, 2023 + #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, landscapes, Photography, Places and Prose

Sunrise at Amlwch

by Steve Tanham

Each May and November, we like to spend a few days on the Welsh island of Anglesey. It’s hard to say what draws us back, year after year, but there is a certain tranquility and peace about the place. The hotel we stay at is a former farm, run by a brother and sister who inherited the place and set about making it one … Read More Sunrise at Amlwch

May 25, 2023 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, guided mystical walks, Lake District, Photography

Water-Circle+Cross (1) Coffee under the old woman’s claife

by Steve Tanham

What’s a claife? Actually a Claife… we’ll get to that. The Silent Eye’s spring workshop (SE23) began in glorious May sunshine, as those attending – our companions – began to arrive and assemble around a triangular picnic table on the quayside at Ferry Nab, a short distance south of Bowness-on-Windermere. Once complete, our happy band of explorers were led down to the ferry point … Read More Water-Circle+Cross (1) Coffee under the old woman’s claife