End of the Year Ceremony for the Ancestors

Today four sisters in Vodou went to the bay to offer our prayers to the ancestors and lwa. We constructed a simple raft and sent our words and offerings out to sea. I didn't realize until later that most of my photos centered on Abena. I was simply drawn, perhaps, to her devotion--so deep, so open.

Abena: "TODAY at the OCEAN building a Raft . .. to send out my PRAYERS to MY/OUR ANCESTORS . . .
The Sun came out BRIGHTLY . . . WE SHINE! The CIRCLE became STRONGER for the Right Reasons . . .
AYIBOBO . . . AYIBOBO . . . AYIBOBO . . . ASHE"

Shenandoah National Park - Thanksgiving Weekend Hike

Every year Donna, Liz and I hike in Virginia the day or two after Thanksgiving. This day we explored the Compton Gap Trail, about 10 miles south of the Front Royal entrance to Shenandoah National Park.

Donna in front of a beautiful rock formation and silver lichen. 

Liz in front of massive columnar jointing. A result of lava cooling millions of years ago. 

Donna and Liz in the exhilarating mountain top wind.

A rainy day in Brugge (Bruges)

grote markt (la grand-place)

girl finally gives in to posing for her father

michelangelo's pietà, church of our lady. it was the only sculpture taken out of italy during
the artist's lifetime and it was twice removed from  belgium due to war (1794 and 1944).

alex taking cover from the rain

Quimper, Bretagne

the odet river

woman and child next to saint corentin cathedral

sufi dancers

along the odet