The Great Sculptor

It worked on the primordial energy fields, bit by bit, to form all that we see around the Universe today. Like an alchemist, it first transformed energy fields into particles. The particles are fused into elements to create stars, nebulae, galaxies and us, the sentient beings on this moist rock. The alchemist then worked as a sculptor to chisel out beauty, the very notion of which it also formed within our neural chemistry. It is Time, the great sculptor, is continuing to transform and sculpt nature in front of our eyes at a scale that our brain was not evolved to fully comprehend. We can perceive the sorcerer’s work only after millennia are passed over its creations. Never have I felt Time’s work more intensely than while standing in a sea of magically sculpted red rocks of Northern Arizona during a recent trip. This page captures some of my experiences of Time’s work there.

Canyons of red rocks were formed the same way as the Grand Canyon was formed
Golden hour in Sedona
Golden hour in Sedona
An eight million year old sculpture
An eight million year old sculpture
The other rock: a quarter million miles away
The other rock: a quarter million miles away
Chiseled with human neurochemistry
Chiseled with human neurochemistry
Oak Creek is the chisel for carving Oak Creek Canyon and much of Sedona’s rock systems
Spray of gold just before our star’s departure
Spray of gold just before our star’s departure
Drama of shadow on red, orange, and yellow
Drama of shadow on red, orange, and yellow
The creek down below the Oak Creek Canyon
The creek down below the Oak Creek Canyon
Chiseled with a meteor that almost came with a purpose
Grand Canyon with its color and grandeur, and the mighty Colorado river in its cradle
Grand Canyon with its color and grandeur, and the mighty Colorado river in its cradle
This mountain did not rise; layers of rock were carved by a river to form the mountain range
This mountain did not rise; layers of rock were carved by a river to form the mountain range
Final freedom: Turkey vulture soaring in the updraft of the valley
Final freedom: Turkey vulture soaring in the updraft of the valley
Ego is the first victim of nature's stoicism
Ego is the first victim of nature's stoicism
Meditative participation of the departed
Meditative participation of the departed
The river is still working for Time to deepen the canyon
The river is still working for Time to deepen the canyon
Thousands of feet deep gorges were carved over millennia
Thousands of feet deep gorges were carved over millennia
Gold plating of the red rocks during sunset
Gold plating of the red rocks during sunset
Here shadows have grandeur of their own
Here shadows have grandeur of their own
Temple that celebrates eternity of change
Temple that celebrates eternity of change
As the sun goes down, the drama of shadow and color over the rock and the horizon
The river at work in Glen Canyon
The river at work in Glen Canyon
Carved about 1000 feet down below from the canyon rim
Carved about 1000 feet down below from the canyon rim
Water color of water: shot from about a mile far and 1000 feet above
Water color of water: shot from about a mile far and 1000 feet above
Mermaid's Rock
Mermaid's Rock
Persistence of life
Persistence of life
Waltzing with the shadow
Waltzing with the shadow
The turkey vulture and its shadow on rock were shot from the canyon rim
The turkey vulture and its shadow on rock were shot from the canyon rim

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