The Yoga of Fireworks

Dear friends,

I hope that you had a safe and fun holiday weekend. It was hot!

One part of the Independence Day holiday that I enjoy (besides the watermelon and the cookout and the corn on the cob, etc.) is the fireworks show. I love being outside in the darkness, watching the colors in the night sky. It's amazing how the pyrotechnics explode into interesting shapes and forms. Add in some patriotic music and wow! Just beautiful!

I've tried taking photos to preserve the memory...

As you can see, my photos never quite capture the moment. It's not because of the quality of my phone or my skills as a photographer (well, it might be!). It's because those tiny bursts are so ephemeral - they're here and they're gone just as quickly. They're meant to be enjoyed right in the moment that they explode.

But even if I had taken great photos or video at the peak of the burst, looking at it again later just doesn't have the same impact. There's no night sky, no belly full of watermelon. There's no amazement. These photos aren't satisfying because something is missing. The camera catches the image, but that is only one aspect. The camera doesn't record the wonder, the awe, or the joy.

Those other aspects of the fireworks display are captured within us - no digital record is needed. When we are truly present for those ephemeral moments, whether it's a fireworks display or anything else, we are able to have an experience beyond the 5 senses. It's something that the camera can't record, but we can savor it within our selves.

That's the yoga of fireworks.

Love & awe & joy,

Nina G

PS I took the photo above in 2023. I gave up trying to take pictures of fireworks after that!