apple star photo

Trust

Can you guess what time of year this is?
Yes, March last year…the gorgeous deep Spring emerging is coming!
As some of you already know my love of photography is deeply intertwined with my love of learning, and observing learning. For me noticing, and then painting the pictures for all to see, telling the story of Free Range Learning, Wilderness Play, Un schooling, honouring learning styles, and weaving strong attachments to community and place is gorgeous, yummy stuff. its what I do. That is why I started Apple Star Photo and Apple Star Independent Learning. It’s all about trust, being present, and opening your heart. Of course, as a parent I have learned so much from my own child, Daniel, quiet man that he can be, thinker-tinker, explorer, runner. We are both so lucky to have access to Denman Island’s wonders. Here at Maresia, my parents place, and the beaches surrounding, Daniel has been able to discover the very palpable silence of still waters, slowly drifting air, suddenly brought to life by a soaring flock of sea birds…he’s marvelled at that, and seen the Divine in it. I always say nature is the great equalizer…She gives us space, space to be ourselves, space to collect, to gather, to disperse, to go slow, to quicken like a pulse excited by discovery. Space to feel small, and huge all at once. Space to belong. She shows us unconditional, bountiful love by holding us to her boossom, and at the same time she shows us clear boundaries – the waters edge, the flight of a wild animal at our approach, the unclimbable tree, the polluted waterway. Here, with her gifts and her storms, her softness and her edges, we encounter ourselves, our own capacity to love unconditionally, our own boundaries and limitations, lour very own resilience. This is why free range learning with access to nature, time, self exploration, and freedom of movement and association are so vital. While I have not been able to give my son the home learning, un schooling I would have liked. I have done every thing I could to allow for these times. Watching him grow up with this brings me so much joy. I am so proud of us. Dan taught me at the age of 3 to hold baby crabs for the first time. Dan has been leaping over this stream every year since he was two! Dan loves to crack these slate like slabs to make natural puzzles. Dan and his friends run through the tunnel under the road, where, during high river salmon return upstream! With his walking, sword, drum sticks in hand, my son plays!