When I need peace and comfort, I head to Washington Park in my home of Portland, Oregon, and visit the Portland Japanese Garden. Considered the most authentic Japanese Garden outside of Japan, it is a beautiful, tranquil place all year round.
Springtime brings the pink and white blossoms of Weeping Cherry , Yoshino Cherry, and Dogwood trees. Summer brings the purple and white blossoms of Japanese irises. Autumn brings the fiery red, orange, and gold leaves of the exquisite Japanese Maple trees. Winter brings the white blanket of snow and the red blossoms of Camellia shrubs. Each season brings change, reminding us that life is beautiful, fragile, and impermanent. I feel it, especially so in autumn—and especially so this autumn.
The tone and texture of the times we live in also bring change. Here in the United States of America, good and talented people have spent the last four years trying to navigate our country from the deep darkness of despair toward a stronger light of hope; heal the bitter cold of hate with the warmth of compassion; and confront the rough and dangerous rhetoric of conspiracy theories with truth, facts, empathy, and love.
As I write this piece, the presidential election is still undecided. A lot is at stake—democracy, decency, human rights, public health and safety, environmental health, global economic markets, relationships with foreign allies, American values, and mental and physical health of people like me who are exhausted from feeling so outraged every day.
If Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win, it will not be easy to restore what has been lost in our democracy. But we will never restore the lives lost to COVID-19, police brutality, immigration torture, white supremacist terrorism, and so many other failures of the current White House administration.
So, while I watch the election returns come in, and as every vote is counted, I wait and hope. And I go to the Japanese Garden for peace and comfort.
I spent three hours there yesterday, the morning after Election Day, and then created this video of a selection of the photographs I took. The music is the lovely “Kimono of Tears” by Mandala Dreams. May the images and music—in all their tone and texture—bring you peace and comfort. Take care and be well. Rise up, reach out, and stand strong.
Composed on November 5, 2020—two days after Election Day, after a visit to the Portland Japanese Garden in my home of Portland, Oregon.
Stunning beauty, peace, and serenity. Lovely photos of an amazing artist’s palette of colors, textures and compositions. I will return to this video all the days when I long to return to the Garden. Thank you for sharing this visual and musical beauty.
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Thank you, Carole. It’s my first video project. Every autumn in the Garden is stunning—but especially so this year. One day, you’ll have to visit this time of year. I thought of you and Nancy as I strolled.
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What an exquisite garden that your photos capture with great beauty. The photo that heads this post is particularly stunning.
In the US there is so much at stake as you describe so acutely, and a lot has been lost. Let’s hope that some kind of restoration and reconciliation may be possible if there is a new administration, even in the face of such awful polarization. These past few days have been stressful even from here – a peculiar mixture of disappointment and hope, outrage and queasiness, while needing to remain calm and steadfast.
You will likely be needing the healing space of the gardens to retreat to in these turbulent times as seasons change. Take care.
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Thank you for your understanding and empathy. You describe the stress of the moment perfectly. We are in this together because we share a view not based on self-centeredness and greed. Our view is a global view—one that acknowledges our shared humanity and our stewardship of the earth. I appreciate your comments and your connection.
I fear for young people especially and hope that in the days, years, and decades ahead a brighter light will shine and goodness will overcome. On this day, though, and at this hour, we grieve and hope.
The Japanese Garden is a treasure. I am fortunate to live in Portland, where we value our parks, the environment, and more. I am grateful. Walking the ever-winding pathways of rock, dirt, stone, and pavement that climb and descend is good therapy. One must pay attention a good stretch of the way. There are so many surprises in the windows through the trees, shrubs, and flowers. It is a good place to reflect and be present. You take care as well.
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It seems there is a lot of shared emotion across the globe in the face of rising authoritarianism tendencies.
It is difficult to workout why rejecting science-based evidence and embracing conspiracy theories is considered to be so canny by so many. I suppose it has always been so, but these days such views are so amplified via social media etc. If a raging pandemic and climate change do not encourage people to take science seriously what will? . Although it might be that more people are acknowledging the reality of climate change …
I am also fearful for the broader and longer-term future, especially for young people.
Being grounded in the solid, tangible and living realities of the Japanese garden is a good way of regaining a sense of balance, I should think.
Take care and let’s hope that at the very least moderation will prevail through the political transition period in the US.
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Science, fact, and truth vs the Bogeyman! I don’t get it. The next couple months will be trying, but at least the election outcome was a vote for decency and other good things. That’s a relief. We’ll see what can be accomplished once the president-elect is given what he needs to govern and lead. I’m feeling more hopeful.
Yes, balance indeed. May we stand upright and be strong. And stand together.
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