Happy New Year 2014! I, Margaret Bednar, have selected orbs as January's challenge.
The word orb conjures up ghosts in the form of balls of light - life forms that are believed by some to be the human soul or life force that once inhabited a physical body here on earth. It is said they have stayed behind because they feel bound to their previous life or previous location for whatever reason.
But I think Ella describes it best in the comments below - she said they feel like portals of wonder to experience.
Milkweed orb
An orb can also be a globe surmounted on a cross, used as a symbol of monarchial power and justice.
Onion orb
These orbs I am sharing with you today are the photographic work of Deborah Glessner. Her website is "Lark Photography".
She graduated from Shippensburg State College (now Shippensburg University) with both her undergrad and graduate degrees. Moved to Bucks County, PA in 1970 to work in Council Rock School District as a librarian for 34 years and a district library-media coordinator for 3 years.
After 37 years, she retired and became co-founder of a therapy dog organization called "Nor'wester Readers Canine Assisted Learning Program" which puts therapy dog teams into school classrooms to work with children having learning and emotional challenges.
She is passionate about photography and has loved it since she was a child. She recently has delved into digital art, creating montages using layers, processing photos with a variety of filters, and creating orbs.
Pinecone orb
I thought it would be fun to approach this in a mystical way - but it is not necessary. Deborah Glessner has given us permission to rotate these images - you may see something completely different if you tip it upside down. I have provided the name of each image she photographed, but feel free to interpret the images any way you like.
Beads orb
Canadian Geese orb
You may choose more than one image and please feel free to post late. Friday is often a hectic day and I will be here all weekend and even Open Link Monday! Please give credit to Deborah Glessner and link to her website. As always, link your specific post below with Mr. Linky and for this challenge I DO request a new poem.
"ghosts in the form of balls of light - life forms that are believed by some to be the human soul or life force that once inhabited a physical body here on earth" Wow. I never heard of such a belief before. Very interesting. Not that I'm going to write about any such thing. I've already chosen one of Deborah Glessner's orbs as my inspiration. I'm off to bed now but I'll be back tomorrow (er, today, in the morning). K
Fascinating challenge, Margaret, and very engaging images. An orb can encompass an entire life, or the sphere of one of its domains. I chose the "Landscape Orb" because it posits two realities, in the same orb, as if the same door opened two ways. Something I experienced yesterday came immediately to mind. Thanks!
We actually have quite a few glass orbs around the house. I will look at them a little differently now that they might be ghosts in the form of balls of light!
I don't think the glass balls are considered "ghosts" or (I think) it is a light that one sees - usually it is more easily seen on photographs (of course, not all believe in it). It was just a possible approach to a poem, but does not need to be heeded.
I love the photos Margaret ~ For me the story is in the eye of the beholder ~ I wrote one quickly this morning before my work and I will be using it again in my future posts ~
These are just gorgeous Margaret--really beyond mere eye candy into something very thought provoking, and I love the idea of trying to interpret them in words. I am not sure when or how or even if I can do that, but will see what percolates. Thanks for another excellent challenge--I love your eye for this stuff, it is flawless.
Many thanks to Deborah for sharing her images for our poetic inspiration. So many images have impacted on me today. You may find more than one in my poem.
I do think of orbs as ghosts, but Deborah's view feels like portals of wonder to experience-a perfect jumping off point for poetry! Thank you Margaret and Deborah~ I love several-what a beautiful challenge!
Yeah, orbs haven't let me to post the comment immediately...There are the group on FB, discussing any and all appearances of orbs with photos following... Margaret, Deborah, these photos are really inspiring! Thanks!
These are beautiful Margaret. I hope to get to it some time next week. I am blessed tonight to take part in the filming of Mike Zito's music DVD/CD and then on to Gruene Texas to sell merchandise for him at a show at Gruene Hall.
This was fun Margaret. I had a hard time finding Glessner's web site and finally had to Google her name. She does have some fun photos and interesting to see they were not created with a special lens but by manipulating and spinning the photos.
Hi Margaret! Thank you~ I have a new lap top and everything is backwards compared to my husband's...augh! I am trying to get over it and post~! You are sweet~
Such beautiful orbs!!!!! I linked a re-post, at Margaret's request, as she felt it fit with the orbs, so my apologies that this isnt a new poem:) I seem to have hit a January fatigue slump, right on schedule!
I was thrilled to provide the orbs for your creative inspiration. I have read some of the poems and am so impressed with the writing here. I will continue until I read all. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful group for this challenge. Debbie
26 comments:
"ghosts in the form of balls of light - life forms that are believed by some to be the human soul or life force that once inhabited a physical body here on earth"
Wow. I never heard of such a belief before. Very interesting. Not that I'm going to write about any such thing. I've already chosen one of Deborah Glessner's orbs as my inspiration. I'm off to bed now but I'll be back tomorrow (er, today, in the morning).
K
Fascinating challenge, Margaret, and very engaging images. An orb can encompass an entire life, or the sphere of one of its domains. I chose the "Landscape Orb" because it posits two realities, in the same orb, as if the same door opened two ways. Something I experienced yesterday came immediately to mind. Thanks!
We actually have quite a few glass orbs around the house. I will look at them a little differently now that they might be ghosts in the form of balls of light!
I don't think the glass balls are considered "ghosts" or (I think) it is a light that one sees - usually it is more easily seen on photographs (of course, not all believe in it). It was just a possible approach to a poem, but does not need to be heeded.
Have fun with the challenge.
Wow. Really cool photos! I'll give this a think!
I love the photos Margaret ~ For me the story is in the eye of the beholder ~ I wrote one quickly this morning before my work and I will be using it again in my future posts ~
Happy Friday to all ~
Stunning images, if only I could get my brain in gear.
These are just gorgeous Margaret--really beyond mere eye candy into something very thought provoking, and I love the idea of trying to interpret them in words. I am not sure when or how or even if I can do that, but will see what percolates. Thanks for another excellent challenge--I love your eye for this stuff, it is flawless.
Many thanks to Deborah for sharing her images for our poetic inspiration. So many images have impacted on me today. You may find more than one in my poem.
Glad to be here after a long time. Margaret! your pictures always inspire and draw me into them! Thank you
These are so cool!
I do think of orbs as ghosts, but Deborah's view feels like portals of wonder to experience-a perfect jumping off point for poetry! Thank you Margaret and Deborah~ I love several-what a beautiful challenge!
You never fail to enchant with artistic challenges ...
Yeah, orbs haven't let me to post the comment immediately...There are the group on FB, discussing any and all appearances of orbs with photos following...
Margaret, Deborah, these photos are really inspiring! Thanks!
These are beautiful Margaret. I hope to get to it some time next week. I am blessed tonight to take part in the filming of Mike Zito's music DVD/CD and then on to Gruene Texas to sell merchandise for him at a show at Gruene Hall.
Ella - yes! You captured the feeling much better than I did in your description above. Thanks!
This was fun Margaret. I had a hard time finding Glessner's web site and finally had to Google her name. She does have some fun photos and interesting to see they were not created with a special lens but by manipulating and spinning the photos.
Hi Margaret! Thank you~ I have a new lap top and everything is backwards compared to my husband's...augh! I am trying to get over it and post~! You are sweet~
Moving! Lovely. Thanks, Margaret, for expanding my horizons again.
Apologies-I am having trouble with blogger...mine looks like stories not poems....
Blogger is a pain!
Such beautiful orbs!!!!! I linked a re-post, at Margaret's request, as she felt it fit with the orbs, so my apologies that this isnt a new poem:)
I seem to have hit a January fatigue slump, right on schedule!
The beautiful and generous Saint Margaret of the Orbs, patron of late birds like me! ;-)
cool images, Margaret - glad to visit those who penned ~
Thank you, everyone! I truly enjoy presenting these challenges and reading your creative responses.
I was thrilled to provide the orbs for your creative inspiration. I have read some of the poems and am so impressed with the writing here. I will continue until I read all. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful group for this challenge.
Debbie
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