"Transmission" by Bodhi Smith

Apr 07, 2023

"transmission" is my new impression and blog...
 
"streaking across the heavens through all time and space, the gorgeous milky way breaks the silence of the night sky with its higher message from the universe…it's a "transmission" full of mystic rhythms that's super clear, if you only just listen. can’t you hear it? don’t you know what it’s trying to say to you? i do!" ― bodhi, transmission
 
"pictured here is a uniquely beautiful sculpture of a lady embedded in the ground, and she is transmitting her own message connecting the cosmos and earth...with hands that have circular openings in their middles like that of the earth, and a forehead that's graced with a crescent moon, she speaks volumes in the quiet of the california desert, and equally like the milky way above, she's a "transmission"...can't you hear what what she's trying saying to you as well?" ― bodhi, transmission
 
"be humble for you are made of earth. be noble for you are made of stars" ― serbian proverb
 
"look up; notice how the stars shine. look in; notice how the stars shine" ― laura jaworski 
 
"only from the heart can you touch the stars in the sky" ― jalaluddin rumi, the essential rumi
 
"transmission from the stars, a message from the atmosphere etched into my heart" ― falling in reverse, coming home
"life comes at the speed of light, but there's a place and time for me when love runs into every day over every place that i've been. i wanna wipe these stars from my eyes. i wanna search and see what i find. i will send a transmission home to say that i've been out here too long alone"― yellowcard, transmission home.
 
"transmission truly speaks to you when you are in her presence. she reminds us that we are all rooted in love, unity and the divine, always. your breath may seem deeper in her presence, your soul more at ease, your mind quenched by the reminder of our ever present divine connection" ― morgan brown, owner mojave moon ranch
 
"she gently pushes you towards your true purpose, your authentic self, nudging you onwards towards your personal cosmic expansion. sometimes you need to be hit over the head to be reminded how beautiful life is. with her towering twenty-eight foot stance, you can’t seem to miss the message" ― morgan brown, owner mojave moon ranch

"the piece, titled transmission, is intended to symbolize the confluence of earth and sky. and, by extension, the confluence of the spiritual and the physical. visitors are invited to soak in the energy and light that the hands transmit and revel in the symbols, such as the crescent moon, that adorn the sculpture" ― morgan brown, owner mojave moon ranch

"while such themes gesture to the heavens, transmission is deeply rooted in the land, her unseen body—one imagines—extending far beneath the desert sands...with her likeness paused in meditation, the sculpted figure offers reflections on our relationship with the earth and the universe, and reminds us of our place within the vast expanse of space" ― daniel popper, transmission artist
 
"your longing for me is my transmission to you, all your attempts to reach me, are in reality my attempts to reach you" ― jalaluddin rumi, words of paradise
 
"i must
transduce, transform, transition,
transpose, transcend, transfix
to let past transpired transgressions
transmute...
i become
transplanted, transected,
transhaped, transubstantiated,
transvaluated, translucent,
 transparent, transported...
so i can translate,
transcribe, transfuse,
transfer, transmit, transmiss,
transilluminate
the love inside"
 
"if your love for me was a star in the sky, my love for you would be the milky way, glowing alive with billions of you inside of me" ― bodhi
 
this first song i have selected is an ethereal song by the canadian band, rush, from their power windows album (1985)..it's easily my all-time favorite rush song, and it's also one of the tunes that was repetitively going through my mind while i was photographing this scene under the stars in the chilly high desert of california...it's a perfect tune to match this image, with great rhythm, drums, and guitars that feel like you are under the stars, combined with lyrics of wonder and fascination that match my feelings on this night: "mystic rhythms" by rush. ...i sound old, but they just do not make songs like this anymore... (just click on any of words in the powder blue links to listen to the song)...  

"so many things i think about when i look far away. things i know, things i wonder, things i'd like to say. the more we think we know about, the greater the unknown. we suspend our disbelief and we are not alone...mystic rhythms capture my thoughts carry them away. mysteries of night escape the light of day. mystic rhythms under northern lights, and the african sun. primitive things stir the hearts of everyone...we sometimes catch a window, a glimpse of what's beyond. was it just imagination stringing us along? more things than are dreamed about, unseen and unexplained...we suspend our disbelief, we are entertained...mystic rhythms capture my thoughts carry them away. nature seems to spin a supernatural way. mystic rhythms under city lights, or a canopy of stars. we feel the powers and we wonder what they are. we feel the push and pull of restless rhythms from afar" ― geddy lee (rush lead singer), mystic rhythms.
 
"i need to just leave my mind behind and send a transmission of love from my heart to all who will listen, feel and share my world--especially her" ― bodhi, transmission
----------------------
 
MEANING
"the message of the milky way is love...and the message of transmission is to transmute hope, peace, love, and unity with all living creatures on this beautiful planet of ours" ― bodhi, transmission
 
pictured in my photograph here is the magical and amazing "transmission" sculpture by daniel popper and morgan brown, such a perfect name for this sculpture as well as for my impression of her as well...she's located on the side of a hill (on private property--please read the section below) in the middle of the high desert just north of the town of joshua tree, california...
 
"transmission" is defined by merriam-webster as:
1. an act, process, or instant of sending a message, broadcast, or a signal for others to recieve
2. the passage of radio waves in space between sending and receiving stations
3. a message, communication, or signal with meaning
 
and abiding by these three definitions, there is a transmission of two different types that are in my image today...
 
streaking across the heavens through all time and space, the gorgeous milky way breaks the silence of the night sky with its higher message from the universe…it's a "transmission" full of mystic rhythms that's super clear, if you only just listen. can’t you hear it? don’t you know what it’s trying to say to you?
 
but also pictured here is a uniquely beautiful sculpture of a lady embedded in the ground, and she is transmitting her own message connecting the cosmos and earth...with hands that have circular openings in their middles like that of the earth, and a forehead that's graced with a crescent moon, she speaks volumes in the quiet of the california desert, and equally like the milky way above, she's a "transmission"...can't you hear what what she's trying saying to you as well?
 
i do...i hear both these important messages: one coming from heaven and the other coming from earth...i hear them loud and clear...the transmission of the universe is coming through them both like instruments in an eloquent orchestra playing a beautiful symphony that's being broadcast for all living creatures to hear, if they only listen...
 
"the transmission of love and peace is greater than any fear and sin" ― bodhi, transmission
 
the message of the milky way is love--to know we're all loved, that the heavens are there above us for a reason, for support any time we look up, for evidence that there truly is a higher meaning of life in this beautiful universe surrounding us all. it's all a transmission filling us with hope, love, peace, and unity...
 
and the lady is concrete evidence that we're all divine. grounded in this earth with her mind on the message of the heavens...that we're all one with each other and nature. her intention is to remind us all to strive to transmute hope, love, peace, and unity with all living creatures on this beautiful planet of ours...while at the same time never forgetting that higher transmission of the universe above...
 
completed a little over 1.5 years ago in november of 2021, "transmission" is now fully realized...
 
"i must transduce, transform, transition, transpose, transcend, transfix to let past transpired transgressions transmute...become transplanted, transected, transhaped, transubstantiated, transvaluated, translucent, transparent, transported...so i can translate, transcribe, transfuse, transfer, transmit, transmiss, transilluminate the love inside" ― bodhi, transmission
 
as for me in receiving each transmission, i realize i need to forgive those who have wronged me, lied to me, and distracted me from my path...i know i need let it go, let it just be...once and for all just finally drop those issues of the past that continually come back to clutter my mind with unpeaceful thoughts, haunting things that cloud up my hope and make it hard for me to truly transmute love to others...i need to just leave my mind behind and send a transmission of love from my heart to all who will listen, feel and share my world--especially her...
 
and with that said, i cannot think of a better song to add to the meaning of my blog and impression here...released exactly six years ago in april 2017, this tune is a bit heavier than ones i usually include, it comes from an alternative hard rock band out of las vegas, nevada...for me, this song is about the transmissions of her coming to me recently, and along with the messages of this meaningful sculpture in the desert and the milky way above, i'm listening and thinking about not being so alone in this world, thinking about coming home again (if she can hear me and is listening to my transmission)... "coming home" by falling in reverse. ... (just click on any of the words in the powder blue links to listen to the tune and watch the video) ...

"tell me who you are. your father has forsaken you, left you with those scars. my hope is that you'll make it through. hate must never win, even when we're worlds apart. your love is not a sin, even if it's hard. even when i'm far, i will always be there. hold on my dear, i'm coming home. don't let your fears take control. i can finally hear her message loud and clear: hold on my dear, i'm coming home. transmission from the stars. a message from the atmosphere etched into my heart. your purpose there is still unclear, the ghost of you lives on through everything i see and touch. even when you're gone. even if it's hard. even when i'm far, i will always be there. hold on my dear, i'm coming home...don't let your fears take control. ican finally hear her message loud and clear: hold on my dear, i'm coming home. a fallen angel is what you are. your father has forsaken you, left you with those scars (transmission override complete). my hope is that you make it through (five). hate must never win (four). even when we're worlds apart (three). your love is not a sin (two). even if it's hard (one)...(initiating self-destruct sequence now). hold on my dear, i'm coming home. don't let your fears take control. ican finally hear her message loud and clear. hold on my dear, i'm coming home, i'm coming home (hold on my dear, i'm coming home)" ― falling in reverse, coming home.
 
"i never plan what to write. when i'm writing to her, the transmission is being sent directly from my heart" ― bodhi, transmission
----------------------
 
MORE BODHI QUOTES
and now here are a few more quotes from bodhi. from past blogs to help add to the deeper meaning of this blog today...
 
"in trying to understand myself, and things that really make me glow with happiness, i created something special here...one fusion joined together from my psyche, dreams, visions, feelings, emotions, thoughts, and illuminations from the inner workings of my combined mind, heart, and soul" ― bodhi, zen to me
 
"at this time, at this place, i know something of this certainty comes but once in a lifetime, this juncture in my life is exactly where i was supposed to be at exactly this moment" ― bodhi, this juncture 
 
"realize, the single most important juncture between heaven and earth is, you" ― bodhi, juncture  
 
"standing here on this night, under this glowing milky way, i feel so utterly lost in silence...and at the same time, i'm found, knowing my meaning is written somewhere into all those billions of stars above me" ― bodhi, written somewhere    
 
"all through the night, out under this beautiful canopy of the milky way stretching across the entire sky. it's my favorite place to be, when the darkness is so dark, that the stars light up everything inside me and out, illuminating everything all around with their collective energies...i was in the midst of an experience with a pure spirit so truly exceptional, time disappeared... and it became obvious soon with all of the coincidences brought to my attention, that this night could not have happened by chance...for all the while as the cosmos moved across the sky, the universe was sending signs that could not be overlooked or dismissed, signs so obvious and clear...and when i laid down in bed later just before dawn, i fell asleep with a smile on my face, finally" ― bodhi, signs from somewhere over the milky way
 
"eternally each night, she glows down freely from the heavens, but without somebody to see her, she has no meaning... his eye is what interprets her impression. his eye sees and understands her for who she is...so, his eye creates the art of her light for all to see, and captures her beauty forever...he becomes the eye of her light, he becomes her meaning...and she becomes his purpose"  ― bodhi, his eye her light
 
"i love the milky way...she is my beautiful temptress that visits me constantly in my visions, both awake and asleep. she is made up of the light glowing from billions of suns, shining eternally, leading me into and though the darkness, guiding my path...and my meaning is destined to be forever written in those stars of hers" ― bodhi, written in her stars
 
"my father is time. my mother is space. and i'm their child, the juncture between serendipity and synchronicity" ― bodhi, i'm the juncture
 
here is another great tune, this one a cover by one of my all-time favourite old-school alternative bands, new order, who released in 1989 their version of the joy division classic song from 1978, and it's one that carries the same exact name as my impression and blog today ..."transmission" by new order (joy division cover). ... (just click on any of the words in the powder blue links to listen to the tune and watch the video) ...

"radio, live transmission. radio, live transmission. listen to the silence, let it ring on. eyes, dark grey lenses frightened of the sun. we would have a fine time living in the night, left to blind destruction, waiting for our sight. we would go on as though nothing was wrong. hide from these days, we remained all alone staying in the same place, just staying out the time touching from a distance, further all the time. dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, to the radio. dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, to the radio. dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, to the radio. dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, to the radio...well i could call out when the going gets tough, the things that we've learnt are no longer enough. no language, just sound, that's all we need know to synchronize love to the beat of the show and we could dance. ance, dance, dance, dance, dance, to the radio. dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, to the radio. dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, to the radio. dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, to the radio" ― new order, transmission (joy division cover).
 
"in sweet silence of the star light, i see her radiance glowing bright above, i feel her angelic innocence, i play in her magical wilderness...i know my focus is always up to her" ― bodhi, bright above 
--------------------
 
STORY OF THE TRANSMISSION SCULPTURE
"i hear both these important transmissions: one coming from heaven and the other coming from earth...the message of the universe is coming through them both like instruments in an eloquent orchestra playing a beautiful symphony that's being broadcast for all living creatures to hear, if they only listen" ― bodhi, transmission

ATTENTION: due to the overwhelming response to this new art installation, moran brown, the owner of the mojave moon ranch where "transmission" is located https://www.themojavemoon.com is informing everyone that trespassing is NOT allowed onto the property. close-up viewing is reserved for guests of the ranch. this is private property. any trespassing and media obtained from illegal entry onto property will be legally resolved. the minimum shoot fee is $20,000....the ranch has constructed a turn out on sunfair road for the public to view and take pictures and video. please respect this property, the natural land that it is upon, and the owner's requests. be aware it's criminal to trespass, plus you'll be damaging the natural desert land surrounding the sculpture, which is being carelessly destroyed by trespassers. please do not make fake booking inquiries to ask the ranch for sculpture related questions. you can email them for information at: info@themojavemoon.com. thank you for your cooperation and helping them to maintain the natural balance of this land, this beautiful sculpture, and it’s inhabitants...

joshua tree is home to many creators and eclectic works of art, providing a splash of color to the wide expanse of desert. this new work of art has caught the attention of several locals, captivated by the size of the artwork and what it embodies.

located on the 220-acre private property called mojave moon ranch, it's a curious sight that can be seen from the road on the way to the joshua tree lake rv park.

on the hillside, a striking statue depicts two sets of hands and a head with a crescent moon cutout on the forehead, towering 28 feet tall. this piece, "transmission" has been remarked upon by many for its grand scale and mysterious appearance.
 
short clip of "transmission" officially endorsed by the artist: https://www.facebook.com/reel/577131474277749
 
a serene and striking large-scale goddess is anchored by two sets of palms on either side, juxtaposed with an endless golden landscape. each organic form features emblematic cutouts adorning dichroic mirror mosaics that change color as you change position, reflecting the cosmic mojave moon ranch setting. it stands as a divine medium that seems to connect the heavens, the earth and the viewer in a truly magical way.

morgan brown is a designer and developer who founded, created, and curates mojave moon ranch. she wanted the property to have a specific "out of this world" style, so she quickly began planning art pieces to display on the ranch. she wanted to keep a cosmic theme consistent with art pieces she planned to create for her recently-purchased 220 acres.

"i wanted the art to translate what the houses and property were feeling, so i started with this art piece,” brown shared. "i’ve always been really moved by daniel popper’s work in tulum, so i contacted him and he agreed to make "transmission"...she really represents transmuting love and unity between ourselves and mother nature"

"i found daniel popper and we ended up having an interesting collaboration...he flew out to joshua tree and met me there, which he said he doesn't do with clients, and we sat for the weekend and created her and it was a really special moment...weirdly, it took nine months. it was truly like birthing this incredible beauty" ― morgan brown, owner mojave moon ranch

world-renowned south african artist daniel popper continues to leave viewers in awe with this latest work of his, "transmission" located at the mojave moon ranch. this property, known as the "jewel of joshua" indeed has a jewel of its own with this remarkable and mystifying installation. rising 28 feet above the vast joshua tree sands, this ethereal giant made of concrete, steel, and embellished with glass mosaics is truly a sight to behold.

daniel popper made in his mark in the art world with distinct statues that tower with intricacy and emotion. his larger-than-life work has been seen from australia to mexico...even so, "transmission" is the largest piece popper has ever been commissioned to create. the hands of the statue are 22 feet, 11½ inches tall while the head is 28 feet and 5½ inches tall.  

popper’s "transmission" is truly a collaboration with los angeles based interior designer and land developer morgan brown. it was conceived in february of 2021 and little over nine months later completed in november 2021. now that it's finally fully realized, "transmission" is a stunning and revealing piece that's an ode to unity. when brown commissioned popper to complete the work, she envisioned a monument that would convey to those who see it a sense of love, peace, and connection. that aim of hers has undoubtedly been met.  

image above courtesy of morgan brown at www.morganbrowndesign.com

“there’s a strong magical presence when you’re standing near her, and i feel she will add a beautiful flavor to the rest of the property. i also hope the people of joshua tree keep admiring her from afar and are just as captivated"  ― morgan brown, owner mojave moon ranch

brown owns historic properties in los angeles, california, but this is her first property in joshua tree. she was attracted to the high-desert for its artistic characteristics, having grown up in the art world....and although they have not broken ground, brown has concepts for moon- and star-shaped houses that will echo the "transmission" aesthetic.

brown’s inspiration as a designer comes from the specific space she is working in; she believes spaces speak out loud and it is her job to bring that message to light.
 
"mojave moon ranch has a completely different design than that of any of my other properties. and i was so excited to build here because i have such a nonconventional space to work with that has a special flair"  ― morgan brown, owner mojave moon ranch
 
however, there have been unforeseen negative side effects for morgan in commissioning and helping to bring such a beautiful work of art to the high desert of california...unfortunately, ugly problems have arisen recently because of social media...
 
publications like joshua tree voice and hi-desert star praised "transmission," and google maps added the location as a cultural landmark. so, it wasn’t long before instagram and other social media outlets latched onto this striking sculpture, and word got out about "transmission" leading to widespread attention and interest to see this marvel, which also created disrespecting and careless trespassers disregarding the law and destroying brown’s private property and the land....

"news of "transmission" just spread like wildfire, and there is not a time that i go there without seeing trespassers. there are massive instagram influencers...that have hundreds of thousands of followers who are blatantly standing in front of it with drones everywhere...it's sad that we don't seem to respect each other. what ever the instagram shot takes, without a thought about common decency or respect for the laws, these influencers go to any lengths to get their "shot" no matter what the costs. people have climbed the fence right in front of me, which i find really incredible, brash, and offensive." ― morgan brown, owner mojave moon ranch

brown was happy to share the artwork with the community by creating a turnout on sunfair road for the public to view and take pictures and videos (the spot where i've taken this impression of mine you see here legally). but for some, it wasn’t enough, and trespassers forced brown to install a fence to prevent destruction of the land, she said. but that has not been enough. now she has even needed to hire security guards to capture trespassers...

"weirdly, it's supposed to represent unity between each other and to mother nature...and sadly, it's seen me having to get security guards and arguing with people, and people littering, tossing their mcdonald's trash, and climbing on it and it's just been the opposite of everything that "transmission" was supposed to represent, it's sort of like the ugliest part of human nature is rebelling against it" ― morgan brown, owner mojave moon ranch
 
the mojave moon ranch reserves close viewing only to paying guests of the ranch. all others are trespassing on private property, including those flying drones over the property. trespassing here is illegal and punishable in court by legal fines. trespassing by definition is the illegal entry onto private property, and the fee to shoot up close (or the fine if you're caught) is $20,000. brown says she hasn’t filed any cases yet as of march 2023, but there are ongoing investigations into people and photographers who have crossed the line onto her property without permission...

there are posted signs all around the guest viewing area and perimeter of the 220 acre property saying, do not trespass and respect the artwork and the land...
 
"it's a sculpture that's art. it's not a jungle gym! i'm happy to share "transmission" with everyone and i'm so glad that people are touched by her, but it's really sad to see the blatant disrespect that's come with it"  ― morgan brown, owner mojave moon ranch

brown is grateful for the people that are willing to see "transmission" for what it is — a beautiful and magnificent sculpture, a masterpiece of art.

"some people are very respectful and i'm truly thankful. i've seen a lot of posts of people actually defending the statue and defending my property saying, 'listen, there's a carve-out there, you can legally take photos,'" she said. "i really appreciate that support."
 
to learn more about Brown’s other properties and projects, visit www.morganbrowndesign.com ...
 
here is another meaningful tune go along with my impression and blog today ..."test transmission" by kasabian. ... (just click on any of the words in the powder blue links to listen to the tune and watch the video) ...

"standing here on this burning bridge trying to figure out but there's nothing here. seems like they got the fear, cattle grids rattle gold chains, pay it back, just cancel the chickens. and tell your son, that he should steal the gold. kings send their knights, check these soul satellites...test transmission is calling me back home. too messed up to perform this, can't you see i'll only miss you now. and memories, they get washed to the sea. feeding tape through the fabric must tune in unless you're trapped tomorrow. and get out the sun, get out before it gets you back...kings send their knights, check these souls satellites...test transmission is calling me back home and i feel, close enough, taste the change, feel the rays, its gonna get you again, setting sun is coming back again" ― kasabian, test transmission.
 
"for me in receiving these transmissions, i realize i need to forgive those who have wronged me, lied to me, and distracted me from my path...i know i need let it go, let it just be" ― bodhi, transmission
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MORE QUOTES FOR EXTRA MEANING
released in 2014 by the emo alternative band yellowcard who hails from jacksonville, florida, here's one more tune to go along with the deeper meaning of my impression and blog today ..."transmission home" by yellowcard. ... (just click on any of the words in the powder blue links to listen to the tune and watch the video) ...

"i'm here reaching out again, lean into the wind on my knees. my fear is a memory. it's a reverie and i'm free. i wanna take this crown from my head. i wanna build something with my hands. i will send a transmission home to say that i've been out here too long alone. and i wanna come down now. i will send a transmission home to say i should have called in so long ago and i wanna come down...life comes at the speed of light, but there's a place and time for me when love runs into every day over every place that i've been. i wanna wipe these stars from my eyes. i wanna search and see what i find. i will send a transmission home to say that i've been out here too long alone and i wanna come down now. i will send a transmission home to say i should have called in so long ago and i wanna come down. oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh i will send a transmission home to say that i've been out here too long alone and i wanna come down now. i will send a transmission home to say i should have called in so long ago, and i wanna come down now" ― yellowcard, transmission home.
 
"one of the most beautiful things to do is to paint darkness, paint the void which nevertheless has light in it, just like the starry night" ― vincent van gogh, dear theo 
       
"she was at once a mystical journey into the heart of the earth and the calm found in the fading light of sunset. she was like a moonless sky; dark, deep and eternal. upon her skin a blanket of stars was scattered to be traced by knowing fingers" ― c. ara campbell
 
"night air, good conversation, and a sky full of stars can heal almost any wound" ― beau taplin, remedy  
 
"and i, infinitesima­l being,
drunk with the great starry
void,
likeness, image of
mystery,
i felt myself a pure part
of the abyss,
i wheeled with the stars,
my heart broke loose on the wind" ― pablo neruda
 
"she was that wild thing i loved. my dark between the stars" ― atticus, love her wild
 
"astronomy compels the soul to look upward, and leads us from this world to another" ― plato, phaedrus
 
"i will love the light for it shows me the way, yet i will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars" ― og mandino, the greatest miracle in world
 
"in the future...if by some miracle you ever find yourself in the position to fall in love again...fall in love with me" ― colleen hoover, it ends with us
 
"the journey to a thousand stars is not too far a journey in the quest to have true love abiding in a pure heart" ― c. joybell c.
 
"she had studied the universe all her life, but had overlooked its clearest message: for small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love" ― carl segan, contact
 
"at certain junctures in the course of existence, unique moments occur when everyone and everything, even the most distant stars, combine to bring about something that could not have happened before and will never happen again. few people know how to take advantage of these critical moments, unfortunately, and they often pass unnoticed. when someone does recognize them, however, beauty happens" ― michael ende, momo
 
"the universe, so far as we can observe it, is a wonderful and immense engine; its extent, its order, its beauty, its cruelty, makes it all so impressive" ― george santayana
 
"unknowingly, we plow the dust of stars, blown about us by the wind, and drink the universe in a glass of rain" ― ihab hassan, in quest of nothing
 
"the universe has been conspiring to help us since before our souls’ arrival on this earth. our support teams have long been in place. our job is simply to remain open to receiving these messages of love and guidance. when we do, we will know the most powerful truth of all—that the universe is constantly loving and supporting and guiding us, even on our darkest days" ― laura lynne jackson, signs
 
"only in the darkness can you see the stars" ― martin luther king, jr., strength to love
 
"why are you so afraid of silence? because silence is the root of everything! if you spiral into its void, a hundred voices will thunder the transmissions you long to hear" ― jalaluddin rumi, poems of ecstasy and longing
 
"what transmissions are momentarily flashing from your eyes to mine—may my eyes be gladdened and intoxicated by your message!" ― jalaluddin rumi, in the arms of the beloved
 
"the entire space of my soul is burning in agony. how long can i hide the flames wanting to rise out of this fire? how long can one suffer the pain of hatred of another human, a friend behaving like an enemy? with a broken heart, how much more can i take the transmission from body to soul? i believe in love. i swear by love, believe me my love. but how long like a prisoner of grief can i beg for mercy? you know i'm not a piece of rock or steel. but hearing my story, even water will become as tense as a stone. if i can only recount the story of my life, right out of my body flames will grow" ― jalaluddin rumi, fountain of fire
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ABOUT THIS IMPRESSION
"the message of the milky way is love--to know we're all loved, that the heavens are there above us for a reason, for support any time we look up, for evidence that there truly is a higher meaning of life in this beautiful universe surrounding us all. it's all a transmission filling us with hope, love, peace, and unity" ― bodhi, transmission
 
this is a spring composition of the stars taken on march 25th, 2023, the early season of shooting the milky way when the entire arch is a lower elevation from the horizon and the position (azimuth) of it's glowing core is more east southeast at about 125 degrees in the sky...even as i type this only two weeks past, it's already too late in the milky way season now to photograph the milky way at this location with its galactic core's azimuth continually moving south and its elevation becoming too high of an angle in the sky to capture this scene...
 
and on this night, i was supremely lucky to have an abundance of the atmospheric phenomenon know as "airglow" in the cold desert sky...this is what makes the beautiful luminous light green color from the underside of the milky way arch down to the horizon...
 
captured at the mojave moon ranch on sunfair road in joshua tree, california, this impression of mine is comprised of two separate compositions that were then merged together using adobe photoshop cc...one single long exposure of the sculpture taken during blue hour at 7:07pm on march 24th, 2023 (f/11@111mm for 111 secs, iso-64)... merged with a 11-shot panoramic composition of the full milky way arch (taken in portrait orientation) created a little over eight hours later in the frigid cold night (22f with a biting wind chill of 11f) of the high desert at 3:33am on march 25th, 2023 (f'/1.4@24mm for 13secs, iso-2000)... 
 
in my photography, i always use filters to create longer exposure effects, saturate colors naturally, and balance the light in my composition in-camera...i often use as many as four filters at time, and i always use at least one filter in my completed impressions...
 
to get the effects and balance i was looking for in the sculpture exposure of this composition (f/11@111mm for 111 secs, iso-64), i used two progreyusa filters. along with the progrey g-120z antarctic magnetic holder. to secure these filters to my nikon d850 with a nikon nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. ... 
 
first, a 3.0 nd progrey antarctica filter. to bring the light in the image down 10 stops and permit for the long 1 minute and 51 second exposure which naturally saturates all the red, green, and blue (rgb) colors in the image...
 
combined with the second filter, a 0.9 gnd progrey aurora filter. to help balance in-camera overall the image the way i envisioned it...in this case, to stop down the much brighter light in the sky, the post dusk light, an extra three stops and help permit details in the shadows of the sculpture to come out better in the exposure... 
 
for the separate exposures of the stars and milky way arch 11 x (f/1.4@24mm for 13sec, iso-2000), no filters were necessary, so none were used...
 
i wish to openly thank my sponsors who have always supported me through both the good and bad times...for truly this long exposure impression would not be possible without the use of my induro phq3 series 5-way panhead with an induro (now benro) stealth carbon fiber tripod. in combination with the progreyusa filters. which i use with every photo i take...
 
"you were blessed with 84,600 seconds today, have you used one of them to say thank you?" ― bodhi, blessed 
 
"if nothing else...if i open my eyes, if i hope, if i cry, if i think, if i sigh, if i giggle, if i dance, if i love, if i breathe, then i have lived a full days worth of life...nothing is wasted, nothing" ― bodhi, if 
 
"i do not want you to just be into my photography, instead, i'd much rather you take a journey into my pictures, and feel the impression i have created, feel it with all your senses" ― bodhi, into my photo
 
"my photography is my way of keeping a diary " ― bodhi, my diary
 
"contemplate without thinking. be certain only in your uncertainty, content to be completely incomplete. stop the rush. slow down time. breathe and notice. slow down everything. let it all be. shut off the noise. hush. relax. seize this higher moment. reconnect. feel and sense what surrounds you. listen to all the colours of light whisper as they envelope you. see the melody and harmony that float about unnoticed. taste the solitude of all this wonderment. smell the beautiful silence. now discover your peaceful serenity. then, reach out and touch your faith with all your senses. this is my world. awaken!" ― bodhi, my world
 
leave you today wishing that bright joy 
and spiritual peace fill your life...
imploring you to make every moment count, 
no matter what, always and forever, 
for that is the only thing that truly matters...    
 
and above all else,
i hope this message and impression find you well.
 
namaste,
bodhi
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