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Oct 14
in Tonga

Pilot whales in Tonga… an exhilarating experience and so much fun!!

 

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In the rough water on a very windy day we spotted the misty spray of the blowing of air from a surfacing Humpback whale, and as we approached slowly the boat slowly turned 90 degrees to where we were aiming for. Ali – our skipper had a grin from ear to ear. He pointed with his arm and said laughing ..”PILOT WHALES”… “And a very large pod of them.

Because Pilot whales are toothed whales and didn’t have the same characheristics and nature of humbbacks – we were all allowed to go into the water at once. The pilot whales have a very clear direction and they swim FAST!!!. So the plan was to anticipate the approximate direction they were headed…drop in front of them and wait. Darren said they were different and that it was ok if we saw one we could swim toward it, because it would swim away quickly anyway because usually they are on the move. Our little fins from us two footers was a very unlikely match for a fast toothed pilot whale.

So in the very rough water..adrenaline pumping and on Ali’s command – “In the water guys”… I slid in… not knowing what to expect. I waited for a minute or so and then all of a sudden out of the blue came an armada of pilot whales. I didn’t know where to look…. there were about 30-50 of them. I remembered Darrens words about just picking one…so I did.

OMG… I saw one and just gently finned toward it’s path and it just slowed down ..looked at me… we had a bit of an interaction and just looked at each otehr in the eye, and I felt it say to me  – “great seeing you …Well..time for me to be out of here” (Yes more anthropomorphism again- LOL) … and in a couple of minutes it was all over.

The boat came and picked us up and we repeated this about half a dozen times and was absolutely the most fun and exhilarating swim!!!

…not to mention the large Bronze whaler shark Darren and I saw at the back of the boat as the last swimmer entered the boat! We kept that to each other by non verbal glances between us until the end of the day. 🙂

Another fantastic day. It was the experience rather than the photography which was the most memorable for me, but here are some pics of the pilot whales so you can have some idea of the shape of them. The males were HUGE though and their dorsal fins were strong and solid. Unfortunately I could not capture this on my camera… but hey… the experience is in my cells for ever and was just amazing!!!

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About the Author: Julie
I am a Journeywoman. I live my life as an explorer. An adventurer. An Observer. An Artist. There is no differentiation between how I live my life and the art that is an expression of it. It is through my experience adventuring the unknown, that I learn more about myself. My aim through this connection is to live where my expression is fully in alignment with the essence of who I am. “In the field of Fine-Art Photography, Julie stands apart from others with the way she sees the world and expresses her connection within it. Julie Stephenson’s photographs are sublime. Her work is an expression of her deep connection; and a gift to the world.”

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skeinydipping

I looked down and saw my hands. Hands which have t I looked down and saw my hands. Hands which have touched; have loved; have created; have worked; have nurtured. My hands.   

I looked down and saw on my wrist and fingers items from around the world which have so many stories; items which have all been created from the heart and made by the hands of others. 

I looked down and saw beautiful yarn. Yarn which has been handled carefully through shearing, dyeing, skeining, balling; and now being knit in my beautiful hands. 

My hands are one of my gifts. This year I’ve really missed the touch of another with my hands, to feel the heart of another through my fingertips; but so grateful and love my hands which touch and feel; work and play!

What do you see when you look at your hands?

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Knitting a fabulous  #slipstravaganzamkal by @westknits .
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#gratitudeattitude #westknitsarethebestknits #westknitsmkal2020 #knittersofinstagram #knittersoftheworld #knittersofaustralia #indiedyedyarn #handmadewithlove #handmade #handmadejewellery #fromtheheart #createeveryday #livetotravel #healing #healinghands #creativehands
My life is wonderful… and I have so many stories My life is wonderful… and I have so many stories. I’ve had adventures on all continents. Slept being rocked by the sea; felt the ice on my skin in both polar regions, and felt the silence of the deserts. I’ve walked stone steps in monasteries at altitudes where each step I’ve taken consciously and mindfully; focussing on treasuring every molecule of oxygen in the rarefied atmosphere. 

COVID has paused those adventures, but I draw upon my experiences as I navigate adventuring my days in a different way, on our ‘home range’. 

I recall my steps in Tibet as I walk through our bushland. I am mindful and conscious of my surroundings. I listen. I feel. I feel happy here. I am content.

My new stories may not hold the same experiences of connection with others; and may not be of extreme challenges or crazy things  (which I am rather prone to doing! 🙂 ) but they are not less wondrous… as I smell the warm eucalyptus waft from under my feet. 

I weave my stories, and this story is of my personal journey on my daily walk through our bushland. 
You can see some of my other woven stories on my website - link in profile. 

How do you express your life’s stories?
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#weaversofinstagram #indiedyedyarn #indiedyed #rigidheddleloomweaving #ashford #inspiredbynature #contentcreator #emotionalbalance #homedeco #handcrafted #makersmovement #creativelifehappylife #wellbeing #travellerlife #journeywoman #weavingaustralia
“....The Assookinakii cowl was created for those “....The Assookinakii cowl was created for those times in your life when you need a meditative and healing knit. Assookinakii (ass-s-oo-kin-uh-k-EE) means ‘healer’ in the Blackfeet language, thank you to Cut Woods School in Browning, MT for the tradish language support”. –  Candice from @thefarmersdaughterfibers 

Knitting this beautiful cowl by Candice from @thefarmersdaughterfibers for @sistersunitedmt ; WAS healing. 

As my hands gently formed the repetitive stitches I reflected on the word ‘Assookinakii ‘ - healer. I am a healer. I don’t understand it. It’s something unseen. Something within me which has been recognised by Ngangkari and ‘clever men’ here in Australia; and shaman and healers around the world as we travel. This recognition always has caught me by surprise; as I seem to walk a line between two worlds. 

As the stitches slipped from one needle to another and the beautiful colours of @spincycle_yarns revealed themselves; in the pauses between the stitches I heard a voice whispering to continue to seek connection with the natural world and listen deeply. 

What has been healing for you this year?
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#healingjourney #meditationpractice #dyedinthewool #assookinakii_cowl #knittersofinstagram #knittingaddict #livinglifetothefullest #happydays #shaman #healer #healersofinstagram #listentoyourheart #indiedyedyarn #handmadewithlove #knittersgonnaknit #knittersoftheworld
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2017 All photographs created by and property of Julie Stephenson.