Auspicious
Still reflecting on the Orthodox wedding of Ryan and Masha. Prompted by receipt of a link to the professional photographer’s pictures (outstandingly fine work). And by receipt the day before of heirloom negatives from my cousin Marsha. Wedding photos of old relatives passed from living memory. The near rhymes and coincidences accumulate.
The recent wedding was a delight. Just so vivid and meaningful.
Formal church weddings are solemn. Minimal “majestic motion.” The celebrants are static most of the time. Witnesses moreso. Everybody like statues.
A favorite part for me then of the Orthodox service was the energy and swirl and asymmetry of the majestic “Isaiah’s Dance” where the priest leads the couple in a circle three times anticlockwise. Symbolizing their journey through life in its most ideal purposeful form. A reminder maybe, when we err and wander clockwise or otherwise stumble or mess up.
Anticlockwise is the ancient auspicious direction - the direction of the aryan sun symbol and the direction of monks and pilgrims spinning prayer wheels as they pass around the circular shrines. Of the earth itself in its majestic motion viewed from above the northern hemisphere.
Meaningful directionality -- like much about the Orthodox ceremony that goes back to root times. You might say this direction stuff is just coincidence but I don’t think so.
Wish I could simply attach Dan's image from the wedding, but here’s his online photo ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/parksdh/8418459592/in/photostream/
The professional photographer included black and white images in the set. Selected portraits, grave and sober and iconic and beautiful. What the wandering couple might hang on the wall of their yurt for generations until nobody knows who they are any more.
The recent wedding was a delight. Just so vivid and meaningful.
Formal church weddings are solemn. Minimal “majestic motion.” The celebrants are static most of the time. Witnesses moreso. Everybody like statues.
A favorite part for me then of the Orthodox service was the energy and swirl and asymmetry of the majestic “Isaiah’s Dance” where the priest leads the couple in a circle three times anticlockwise. Symbolizing their journey through life in its most ideal purposeful form. A reminder maybe, when we err and wander clockwise or otherwise stumble or mess up.
Anticlockwise is the ancient auspicious direction - the direction of the aryan sun symbol and the direction of monks and pilgrims spinning prayer wheels as they pass around the circular shrines. Of the earth itself in its majestic motion viewed from above the northern hemisphere.
Meaningful directionality -- like much about the Orthodox ceremony that goes back to root times. You might say this direction stuff is just coincidence but I don’t think so.
Wish I could simply attach Dan's image from the wedding, but here’s his online photo ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/parksdh/8418459592/in/photostream/
The professional photographer included black and white images in the set. Selected portraits, grave and sober and iconic and beautiful. What the wandering couple might hang on the wall of their yurt for generations until nobody knows who they are any more.