Throughout the past decade nature and photography have been the primary grounding force as I watched much of my life be dismantled, controlled and manipulated in order to keep the ‘information’ I was forced (under existential threat) to carry for Nome and Russell Smith of SAT (The Society of Abidance in Truth in Santa Cruz, CA) and Candace O’Denver, aka Candice Rinpoche (Great Freedom/Balanced View, Marin, CA) from becoming public knowledge.
Refer to https://integrityintruth.com/clarification-of-videos/ for a partial explanation of what, exactly, this ‘information’ was. (I say ‘partial’ because there are some whose lives have been affected and for which I do not have permission to discuss.)
Photography enabled me to zoom in. It enabled me to look closer…and to be more present, especially amidst the trauma of what was unfolding, that was yet to be seen…but was most certainly felt. It brought me into intimate relation with what was, and is, beautiful. It enabled the Beauty of nature to administer her ever-available Medicine…and to provide a most profound Healing Ground. ❦
Pick a word…any word…
The process of this life-saving Ground began with the discovery of the cropping feature on various iPhones. The first photo I adjusted via cropping was of a dandelion puff…taken in Santa Cruz, CA with an iPhone 4.
Walking for relief turned out to be not only physical exercise but dropping into the magnificence of nature. Walking kept my feet on the ground and kept me from what could have easily become a downward-spiral from such a ‘Soul murder.’
It provided a very necessary “bypass” to the extraordinary burden I was being forced (under threat) to carry by spiritual teachers where essentially the entirety of their own karma was foisted solely on these shoulders.
The following drop-down pages contain some of the images I captured during this time…from 2011 thru 2021. These will be arranged chronologically with liberty taken to arrange for visual coherence and structural appeal.
After moving to Portland, in July of 2018, I hooked up with two local hikers who knew where they were going! During those walks, I fell in love with the luscious landscape of this exquisite city. Many of the hikes took us through the largest inner-city park in the country…the beautiful Forest Park…bathing us in the healing power of green, the quiet stillness of the forest canopy decorated with the sound of birds and the verdant, larger-than-life ferns.
These walks were/are profound therapy. Please enjoy your walks through the garden that follow. It is my hope and joy that this healing balm is transferable and to share this Space with you.
All the photos used on this website have been taken by the author, Leslie Read, and can be purchased with an any-amount donation.
All images are copyrighted (© IntegrityinTruth.com). All rights are reserved.
If used on any public domain website please reference the photographer.
The images used on this website that are not mine are ones such as the meme images used to make various points on the blog posts.
If there are any photo images you would like to use they are available for uploading for a donation via the PayPal link of any amount that you choose on the ‘Support this Work’ page.
Warmly and with deep gratitude…❦
-Leslie