And now for something completely different. While I’ve never participated in The Weekly Photo Challenge before, the theme “Geometry” this week spoke to me. This week’s challenge “is about the shapes and rhythms that make up the geometry of our world.” This week, I have found the normal shapes and rhythms of my world disrupted. In the midst of a major storm in the East and a bitter, divisive election, we buried my grandmother this week. She was 98, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise, but it kind of was.
This week I have found myself almost longing for a bit of predictability, a return to normal patterns and rhythms. A rational ordered life; a practical science made up of points, lines and planes. I find myself searching for theorems that explain life and loss the way geometric formulas allow you to compute volume, surface and area.
Of course, contemporary geometry goes well beyond Euclidean principles, taking us into contemplation of multiple dimensions and space. This also fits with thoughts of life and death. Maybe I’ll think on that later. But in this week of turmoil and endings, I find comfort in what the early Greek mathematicians Euclid and Archimedes called γεωμετρία. Geometry.
I took this picture recently on the Greek island of Hydra. When I look at it, I can’t help feeling that the early Greek geometers were right: there is some order in the world and we can figure it out. And it is all going to turn out just fine.
For more entries to this week’s challenge: Geometry click here.
I myself have turned to the clarity and precision of Geometry and Calculus during times of grief and confusion. For me, it was more of a question of emotional survival until I could get to the place and time when I was ready to grieve. Staa paa.
LikeLike
You Mathemagicians are definitely onto something. Thanks for your comment, kjære!
LikeLike
Nice entry for the Weekly Photo Challenge !!!
You can see mine here : http://sebastienouvryphotographies.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/253365-2-novembre-2012-p-l/
See you
LikeLike
Thanks! I look forward to checking it out!
LikeLike
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge – Geometric « melonpopzdropz …
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry | Mirth and Motivation
geometry with an amazing view!
LikeLike
Yes, this was taken during a visit to a historic house/museum in the port of Hydra. Gorgeous! Wish I had had a better camera as this was taken with my iPhone. Thanks so much for your comment!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Theres nothing wrong with just a taste of what you paid for.
LikeLike
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry « The Kindness Kronicles
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry « What's (in) the picture?
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry « patriciaddrury
Awesome Jennifer! Good for you for participating too! I love your new layout as well for your blog. Really cool! Hope you are well and sorry to hear about your grandmother. My grandpa passed away last may and was 96. He lived a full wonderful life! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Nicole! As you know, my blog is a work in progress…slow, but still progress. I feel so lucky to have had my grandparents in my life for as long as I did – and especially that my kids had a chance to know them, too. Thanks for your comment!
LikeLike
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry | Wind Against Current
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry (2) « What's (in) the picture?
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry « Beijing Daily Photo 2
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry | Here & Abroad
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry « Ruined for Life: Phoenix Edition
Wow! Thanks, everyone for all the likes, comments and pingbacks! If you are interested, you can read more about my recent trip to Greece in this post: https://humanrightswarrior.com/2012/09/07/the-other-greek-crisis-xenophobia-and-migrant-detention/
Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry « Natsukashi Kansai
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Renewal « Ruined for Life: Phoenix Edition
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Renewal « Jinan Daily Photo
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Renewal « Beijing Daily Photo 2
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Renewal | No Fixed Plans
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Renewal | Here & Abroad
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: The Colors of Cameroon | The Human Rights Warrior
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry | The Blog Farm