As a photographer and writer, a gardener and sometimes traveler I have the good fortune to tune to the actual elements. I live in the countryside with a garden and a view of the hills and mountains and the ocean is less than 3 kilometers away. My home is in Japan but looks much like the east coast Blue Ridge Mountains in my home birth state of Virginia. Doing these breathing attunements outdoors in the elements is a special blessing. But there also days when I do them in a hotel room looking out the window or standing on the platform before catching an early morning train. When I lived in Tokyo I mostly did them walking on my morning commute to the station.

I have shared these Purification Breaths at writers’ conferences, poetry gatherings, photography workshops, on Nature Meditation walks, and with a variety of activists as a way to tune to nature and awaken creativity. I also work as fashion model and like to think that this attunement to the elements aids my presence before the camera and the viewers of the resulting photos.

I happen to be a member of The Japan P.E.N Club. When I heard they had an “environmental committee” I thought to join that, but friends who were on the committee told me “all they discuss is nuclear issues” - important yes but not necessarily my focus. I believe it’s places like these that could definitely be enriched by these simple breathing practices and some other Nature Meditations in addition to their “harder” activism issues. I hope to reach out more to this kind of group and other venues. In the meantime, I keep up the daily practice as much as possible enjoying what it does to me personally, those around me, and those far and wide who need our positive energy more than ever.

Reference Notes:

"Elements Breathing Practice"

Earth
Breathe in and out through the nose
Water
Breathe in though the nose, breathe out through the mouth
Fire
Breathe in through mouth, breathe out through the nose
Air
Breathe in through the mouth, breathe out though the mouth
Ether
Breathe gently in and out through nose

4 or 5 breaths for each element or more if you like –
Note: when inhaling through the mouth, just slightly open, feeling the breath though the lips. Standing or sitting by an open window or outside is recommended.

“Salutations”
All productive Mother Earth, I humbly offer my homage to Thee
All purifying Water, I willingly offer my homage to Thee
All consuming Fire, I wholeheartedly offer my homage to Thee
All pervading Air, I gladly offer my homage to Thee
Oh Ether essence of All, I humbly offer my homage to Thee

(Related stories see the book Whisper of the Land)

Tags: Photo essay, Meditation, Elements, Elements Breathing

"Other Peoples’ Shoes"　「他人の靴」
(Poem starts below the photo, followed by more photos! 詩は写真の下にあります。他の写真もあります！)

Other Peoples’ Shoes
 
He was no stranger to pain.
Felt it in his shoulders his neck his stomach.
He walked and dreamt
miles and miles
in other peoples’ shoes
or in their bare feet
feeling their pain
of no home of no food
no peace no love…
their simple desire for a healthy life.
He walked with these strangers
in his mind
in his meditation
in his reading the news
in his shopping for food and life necessities…
he tried to walk with the strangers in pain.
 
And when he has
his own precious Moments of Joy
he humbly offers a Smile of Light
a Warm Nourishing Thought
to these friends who are no longer strangers.
And even if it’s not enough
he believes it does some good.

Edward Levinson Aug. 15, 2025

(More photos below Japanese text)

他人の靴
 
彼は痛みを良く分かる人だ。
彼の肩に首に腹にも感じる。
他人の靴の中またははだしでも
遠く遠くへ、歩いた、そして夢見た。　　　
かれらの痛みを感じながら
家もない食べものもない
平和でない愛がない…
かれらの単純な希望は健康的な生活。
彼はこの見知らぬ人たちと一緒に歩いて　　
彼の心の中に
彼の瞑想の中に
彼がニュースを読むときに
彼の食べものと生活に必要なものを買い物するときにも…
彼は痛みがある見知らぬ人たちとともに歩いてみた。
 
そして
彼は自分の貴重な喜びの瞬間があるとき
謙遜を持って光のほほえみと
暖かい栄養豊富の思いを
もはや見知らぬ人たちではないその友だちたちに
差し上げる。
そして彼は、たとえそれは十分でなくとも
役に立つと信じている。
 
 
エドワード・レビンソン　2025年8月15日

Tags: peace poetry, Poetry and photos