By Susan Joseph

RE: the making of Nature Kisses Your Soul, photo book on Blurb.com

Nature, Art, Soul Expression. Wow, what an incredible trinity. My unique combination of driving passion ignited as one. Reality Is Not As It Appears.

I love taking pictures and seeing what reveals itself. As life is all in changing perspectives to the events around us. We can repeat events and what seems to be the same theme and be surprised with a truly different experience when a different version of our eyes are seeing from a different view. This book which remains the same in form opens the door to different views, experiences, emotions, revelations, inspirations, ( I think you get the idea) each time I choose to open it again and see with different eyes. Another journey, yet the same.

I have often found myself frustrated by the paradox of life, however this experience has offered an opportunity to actually laugh, smile, cry, and sigh into finding the irony pleasing rather than frustrating. I hold the power to command the direction of my energies and experiences simply by changing the view from which I am looking. However, to change the outside view requires I change my inside lens/filter through which I look out, altering what out there I see and send back the interpretation. Just think, one book, same in form each time I open it, another chance for a different experience. I don’t need to reach out and grab for another book, and another still, which of course is an option, however, simply, by going in and flipping the filter I can start again and again and again (I think you get the idea).

When I started this book, having been inspired by a dear friend and nudged by yet another dear friend, and yet another dear friend, each not knowing what they actually inspired in me, at the time, even I at the time did not know yet what was deeper than the surface. I hope through the confusion you got the point- ha haa.

Blindly, excitedly I thought, ok, let’s give it a whirl and see what happens. Immediately, I started my escape route of the usual exit doors, excuses, rationalizations, and endless mind ramblings of why not, and said YES, WHY NOT? From a different yet not, meaning completely to that phrase. Again, looking confusing, but I think you got the point, ha haa. Remember, paradox? I just went about playing with it, experiment, see what happens. Trust the process, lose sight of the destination. Explore, Free Fall, Let go……

My focus remained just that throughout. I closed the door of - what’s the point, anyone can do this, why does it matter for me to do it, other people have better pictures than me, we don’t need one more book, no one will like it, it won’t earn me the money I need for my bills, I don’t have time, I should be doing something I need to get done, ( I think you get the idea). UGGHHH!!! Just proceed………….

Let me tell you. I had Great Fun!!! YES, PURE unadulterated, sensual, unrated, innocence of child, FUN. Imagine That!! I learned many things, surface and deep, I expressed many things, surface and deep, I felt many things, surface and deep and am now sharing things, surface and deep. Playing with each step fully engaged, open, and allowing, revealed to me the process of the experience, multi- sensory, multi- leveled, and surface and deep. My gosh, it just keeps unfolding……… That truly is soul gratifying and engaged living in form. Brilliant!!!! Now, to sprinkle that magic to each opportunity for event, of each moment of each day, ever unfolding!!!

OK, back on the ground. For all you experts and critics and true artists and professionals, Yes, this is not a perfect production. The pictures could use refining , the lighting may be off, the clarity lacking ( I think you get the idea). The point is, I fully engaged all of my selves with the desire, choice, unlimited by outcome and goal of achievement to be present each step of the process of creating and expressing and sharing my perspective, my soul of who I am playing in the experience for the experience and sheer delight of what unfolded.

I gave myself permission to play and expand and experience and express and then share it with others purely for that only. Simple yet complex. For fun ,yet incredibly rewarding. Prosperous in many ways, ever unfolding.

Now, I am writing about it, yet another median. Having ah has about it, embodying it, making real in form, surface and deep. Now, I am a published author, have my “business card”, artist, marketer, spiritual teacher, soul playing in this time and space, the physical result of my creating and expressing. The communication behind the communication, the energy of the non-physical multi-leveled experience, deep, profound, mystical, transformative, soul engaged living. A glimpse of the deeply impacting indescribable process of soul creating in form. ( Oh, look, my heart’s desire revealed) It just keeps unfolding (I think you get the idea)

I am not making money on this book, Blurb might, which is shared wealth, you might gain incredible inspiration and wealth as a side effect of this book, which is shared wealth, and the ever unfolding side effects this book has on me is shared wealth. My gosh, there is that incredible trinity again - wink, wink. Ever unfolding exponentially.

I’m confused on the surface but deeply I am not. After all, it’s just a book right? If we look with “different eyes” we can feel the undercurrent of energy for the real nuggets of experience, the surface and the deep, the space between the words, between the inhale and exhale of breath, that something more I think or is it just my imagination (I think you get the idea) Are you with me on this? Do you “hear” me?

I encourage you to create your unique expression on Blurb ,Authors Den,( or anywhere else- just tell me where) simply for that, I will be watching to see how many of you will give it a whirl. While you’re there creating leave me a comment. Better yet, I dare you to try it…….. Really, right not, before you talk yourself out of it, go comment to me and then create, Please?? Reality Is Not As It Appears.

And it is a good thing, yes??