Realm of the White Heron

The Heron is a bird that has been given a symbolic nature in many cultures. In China, the Heron represents strength, purity, patience and long-life. In Egypt, it has been honored as the creator of light. In Africa, the Heron was believed to communicate with the gods.

As a creature of the water, the Heron is symbolic of going with the flow, and working with the elements of nature, rather than trying to manipulate and struggle against it.

The White Heron may then be seen as a representation of the purity and cleanness that is present in nature when it is not tampered with by mankind, and that is why I have chosen to title this project the Realm of the White Heron.

It is time for Homo Sapiens to stop its insane plundering of the planet and it's resources, as well as the blatant manipulation of plant and animal life. Already we are seeing dramatic climatic change in many parts of the world, as well as the melting of the polar caps.

Those perpetuating these insidious crimes against nature, or associated with them through greed, are guilty of crimes against humanity and the planetary bio-sphere. It is time to hold those who are perpetuating these horrendous acts accountable, as has the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society http://www.seashepherd.org/. This society has put a damper on the brutal whaling industry in the Southern Ocean.

We stand at a nexus point, or crossroads in all of our lives. We only have to look about us, or listen to the daily news, to understand that the path mankind travels each day is becoming more and more precarious. Each day our planetary bio-sphere is being subjected to new abuse from chemicals and toxins, whether through technology, mining, nuclear energy, or the oil industry. Our air, water and food is becoming increasingly more and more contaminated and unstable, as well as the emerging of new virulent species of bacteria, such as E. coli, which has recently emerged in Germany, and already spread to many parts of the world.

The images you will see within this ongoing project, entitled the Realm of the White Heron depicts a world that is visually free from the many toxins that are polluting and driving our planet and species into a crisis mode. It presents the wonder of nature as it is, and may be, by simply becoming environmentally friendly, and working together for the mutual benefit of the planet and mankind. If we do not begin in this "now" moment to correct the damages to our bio-sphere, planet may one day look like the surface of Mars.

As you view the images presented herein, and the beauty that earth's wildlife and nature has to offer us, please consider taking part in some type of action, to help stop the destruction of our species and planet. Whether you write or email letters to your local, state and/or governmental representatives, and/or join groups such as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Green Peace, or Wildlife Conservation Society, whatever you do, can only make a positive difference. We know not how long these images from the Realm of the White Heron will be a valid representation of life forms on Earth.

"One little light can light ten thousand." Koichi Tohei-sensei
To view the Realm of the White Heron, please go to: http://www.behance.net/gallery/The-Realm-of-the-White-Heron/1543327

Seeds of Insanity

[Baut Images: Cain]

They say it all started

when Cain slew Abel,

and the seeds of insanity were sown.

For who of a sane mind

would kill another,

and not even think it was wrong.

Then came the long march

of death and destruction

from Babylon to Egypt, then Rome.

Mighty Rome took it further

through conquest and legions;

by burning and salting the ground.

But empires rise, and empires fall

as it seems they so often do,

and with avarice, friend, build they tombs.

Then look to religions,

saving souls with fools gold;

shadow empires amongst all the rest.

Priestly travelers call

with their banners unfurled,

and a sword hung close at the hip.

Yes, they say it all started

when Cain slew Abel,

now those seeds have all fully grown.

Roger Allen Baut

We are the Children of Earth

[Image: Fee Easton]

We are the flowers of Earth,

And we come in many colours.

We reach toward the Sun in its glory,

And kiss turquoise skies that meet land.

We live in peace and unity,

And celebrate our life every day.

For we are the children of Earth,

And at-one with all flora and fauna.

We sing and dance on the breezes,

And fill the air with our scent.

For we love all that life has to offer,

And to play with and tease humming birds.

Yes, we are the flowers of Earth,

And we bloomed long before Atlantis.

We watched as life crossed the planet,

And brought food and shelter to Man.

Yes, we are the flowers of Earth,

And our fate lies within your hands.

Roger Allen Baut

Today’s One Stop Poetry Challenge prompt was shot by UK photographer Fee Easton