This amaryllis bloomed at the Meditation Studio, brilliant to the point of obscenity. It bloomed for a few precious days. It is now withered and sits in its pot reminding us of impermanence. It will stay there for a while before being cut and put into the closet, where darkness may coax it to bloom again.The flower sits in front of Thermopylae, painted by Todd Sargood.Both the flower and the painting are touched by human hands, shaping them into statements of beauty.

This landscape shows the impermanence of the day. A daily reminder of the cycles of life.Beauty can be found in any moment, whenever  you are paying close enough attention. It’s not just sunsets and flowers. Yet,these examples can show us a lot, wake us out of our trance to notice what is happening around us. It is as if these scenes reach into your brain, squeeze it, and release the internal dialog, if only for a moment.

This photograph speaks to the human landscape, constructed, solid, and also impermanent.Beautiful too, and capable of that awakening jab between the eyes to announce the world is here, even if you weren’t paying attention to it.

Obscene beauty is always around. Look for it.