A rose by any other
name, said Shakespeare, would smell as sweetly.
Perhaps, that is true; and yet there is something
in a name; something of substance and meaning that
helps to define us and to say who we are and what
we are about; something that helps to say how we
are, or at least seek to be, unique.
When Nancy, Les and I were thinking and wondering what to call our new workshop company, the possibilities were endless. Still, there seemed to be two ideas that we felt were necessary for our name to convey; those two being “heart” and “beauty”.
Since from the very beginning we had realized that what we represented to ourselves was three unique visions brought together in a single heart, Photography with Heart came quite naturally; but the idea of beauty took more reflection, until we remembered the Beauty Way song.
For the Navajo people, or Diné, as they are properly called, all of existence is suffused with a striving for harmony between human beings and every other aspect, or phase, of nature. One way in which this harmony is created is through the conduct of ceremonies. Chants are integral parts of ceremonies and are comprised of numerous individual songs, whose backgrounds are the very myths by which the People know themselves.
Beauty Way song is from the Night Chant ceremony. It is sung by Dawn Boy as he enters the presence of the deities at Canyon de Chelly seeking instruction from them. It proceeds in this way:
Talking God and Calling God, who are the chief gods, have said, “Who is this stranger who has entered our house unbidden? Is he one of the People of the Earth? Such have never dared to enter this place before.”
Dawn Boy replies, “It is not for nothing that I come here. See! I have brought gifts for you. I hope to find friends here…
“Where my kindred dwell, there I wander.
I am the Child of the White Corn, there I wander.
Where dark kethawns (prayer sticks) are at the doorway, there I wander.
With the pollen of dawn upon my trail, there I wander.
In the house of long life, there I wander.
In the house of happiness, there I wander.
Beauty before me, with it I wander.
Beauty behind me, with it I wander.
Beauty below me, with it I wander.
Beauty above me, with it I wander.
Beauty all around me, with it I wander.
In old age traveling, with it I wander.
I am on the beautiful trail, with it I wander.”
And the gods were thus moved and allowed him to enter, and so began his instruction.
It is our purpose and intent to walk in the beauty of this world, heart to heart. We invite you to join us.
When Nancy, Les and I were thinking and wondering what to call our new workshop company, the possibilities were endless. Still, there seemed to be two ideas that we felt were necessary for our name to convey; those two being “heart” and “beauty”.
Since from the very beginning we had realized that what we represented to ourselves was three unique visions brought together in a single heart, Photography with Heart came quite naturally; but the idea of beauty took more reflection, until we remembered the Beauty Way song.
For the Navajo people, or Diné, as they are properly called, all of existence is suffused with a striving for harmony between human beings and every other aspect, or phase, of nature. One way in which this harmony is created is through the conduct of ceremonies. Chants are integral parts of ceremonies and are comprised of numerous individual songs, whose backgrounds are the very myths by which the People know themselves.
Beauty Way song is from the Night Chant ceremony. It is sung by Dawn Boy as he enters the presence of the deities at Canyon de Chelly seeking instruction from them. It proceeds in this way:
Talking God and Calling God, who are the chief gods, have said, “Who is this stranger who has entered our house unbidden? Is he one of the People of the Earth? Such have never dared to enter this place before.”
Dawn Boy replies, “It is not for nothing that I come here. See! I have brought gifts for you. I hope to find friends here…
“Where my kindred dwell, there I wander.
I am the Child of the White Corn, there I wander.
Where dark kethawns (prayer sticks) are at the doorway, there I wander.
With the pollen of dawn upon my trail, there I wander.
In the house of long life, there I wander.
In the house of happiness, there I wander.
Beauty before me, with it I wander.
Beauty behind me, with it I wander.
Beauty below me, with it I wander.
Beauty above me, with it I wander.
Beauty all around me, with it I wander.
In old age traveling, with it I wander.
I am on the beautiful trail, with it I wander.”
And the gods were thus moved and allowed him to enter, and so began his instruction.
It is our purpose and intent to walk in the beauty of this world, heart to heart. We invite you to join us.
