Everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round . . . The sky is round and I have heard the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind in its greatest power whirls, birds make their nest in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. Our teepees were round like the nests of birds. And they were always set in a circle, the nation’s hoop― Chief Black Elk
Many centuries ago, when humans worshiped the earth and her goddesses, the circle was revered. Societies were egalitarian, not hierarchical. Life-death-rebirth were honored as the great circle of life. So were the seasons, the planets. There was a powerful connection between humans, nature, and the gods until human consciousness shifted and reason took its place. Reason disrupted humans’ connection to the natural world by elevating humankind to the role of ruler over nature. The circle was replaced with the straight line–of reason, of hierarchy, of progress. Life became a straight line–from Point A (birth) to Point Z (death). But indigenous and spiritual people like Chief Black Elk remember the past. They invite us to draw deep into human history and our spiritual traditions and make those connections to nature, to the earth, to humankind once again.
For the “rounded” photo challenge Ben asks us to create images that feature rounded edges. My collection has two themes–rounded in art and in nature.
Rounded in Art
Art is when things appear rounded.~Maurice Denis
Rounded in Nature
Up, down, left, and right are parts of an unbroken continuum merging birth and death, light and darkness, heaven and hell in a holistic ideal. Such was the old feminine vision.–Barbara G. Walker. The Woman’s Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects
As you can see, I’m still catching up after another hectic and stressful week! But the light is starting to appear at the end of a long work tunnel. Moments of relaxation are starting to free up my mind and give me the peace I long for. That’s what I am hoping for you this week–moments of quiet and introspection, that will bring you strength, peace, and inspiration.
Categories: Photography
P.A. Moed 
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
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Great take on this – There are different ways of looking at life and the living…I prefer the circle. It makes for harmony and peace of mind.
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Hi, Ann-Christine. Me too! I work in a straight-line world and do creative work in the circular! I prefer the circle too. 🙂
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Aha! But, fractals are different! However, we humans like circles
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Hi, Rajiv! Wonderful to hear from you! Fractals are different, true. I think in the West we prefer the straight line over the circle! When we lived in Detroit, Henry Ford laid out the streets in straight lines marking the number of miles from downtown Detroit. So there was Two Mile Road, Ten Mile Road, etc. That to me was the epitomy of straight-line thinking! II suspect it’s different in India.
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Nice perspective on symmetry and how we see the world.
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Hi, Sally. Thanks! Hope you have some creative and inspirational moments this week. It makes me believe all is right in the world when I’m in one of those moments!
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Interesting how we as humans tend to copy the shapes we see in the world around us.
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Hi, Amy. It’s true–we imitate nature a lot and sometimes have the audacity to think we can improve on it!
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Which in some ways is good but a lot of times laughable.
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Fascinating. Someone told me once that dogs get upset inside of round. So if you put them in a round room they go crazy. I don’t know if that’s true.
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Hi, Luanne. Interesting. I read the same thing about a house that had no 45 degree angles. (It was a part of a psychological experiment. Two people had to live in the house for a certain amount of time.) It was disturbing to one of the occupants, but if I recall correctly, the other person liked it! Not me. I like curved lines…up to a point!
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Loving the flower burst and spider web. Thank you for the timely reminder.
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Thank you, Bespoke! So glad you like them!
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A very beautiful post Patti – and a fine wish! Especially loved your nature shots.
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Thanks, Tina! So glad you enjoyed this one! Enjoy the weekend.
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