“The amount of happiness that you have depends on the amount of freedom you have in your heart.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh ~

I love how these rocks compliment each other in this arrangement.. simple elegance. :) gotta love the deep reds in many

Even after spending thousands of hours practicing this art, I still find the greatest challenge in describing the feelings that the balance inspires. As an experienced psychic once described, the formations are “immune to analysis” by their very nature of touching on the everything and nothing of life itself. Therefore, the art is as timeless as the rocks used to create it..

“To say the word Romanticism is to say modern art — that is, intimacy, spirituality, color, aspiration towards the infinite, expressed by every means available to the arts.”

~ Charles Baudelaire

Going out to the creek lately has been very peaceful and quiet compared to the warm busy days of summer. With Fall underway, the colors are in full swing here in Boulder.  Temperatures have also dropped considerably along with increased rain this week.  These conditions have an intimate effect on the balance experience, and just being outside in general. Normally most people like to stay inside in these conditions, but I find the atmosphere quite romantic. This sense of romance really came through yesterday in my balance session. This balance felt right through the entire build. very little hesitation, then, before I thought, it stood elegantly over a slow moving pool in the creek.  Humidity was high and colors were full after the fresh rain.  And the reflecting balance and turning trees added the final touch of comprehensive perfection to the experience.

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery (The Little Prince)

Here is a balance I made during my visit and presentation at Ottawa BAWI 2012, which took place during August at Remic Rapids in Ottawa.

This balance demonstrates simplicity with great complexity.  The design is elegant through its simplicity. To the point. The rocks look to be dancing on the water, light as feathers. The complex nature of this balance comes from the extremely precarious mixture of point balance AND counterbalance.  Extreme multitasking. Truly surreal to watch the water flowing around this balance. :)