THE SPACE BETWEEN THINGS

When I look, it seems I always look at "things." I am discovering now to see the space between things.

I’ve become aware of the silence that exists between objects—between the tree and the fence. Between the branches on the tree. Noticing the space is noticing the silence that exists. What I find wonderful is that noticing "this emptiness between" brings bliss; blissfulness.

Why is this? I’m not quite sure. Perhaps it is because this is where bliss lives. It might be contained in this silent place we think of as nothingness.

One thing I do know is that by noticing the space between, I notice objects in a different way. Instead of just seeing a branch, I see the roundness of it—the length and the shape—all aspects of the branch become more important and my view of the branch is different. My awareness of the branch is heightened.

I’ve noticed in the past that whenever I’ve gotten back to my painting, and where it is really necessary to look at the subject at hand, my awareness has always been heightened. So it is perhaps because I’ve started to paint again that again I am beginning to see. This heightened awareness sometimes also happens by viewing artworks. I’ve noticed that museums are great places to exercise my consciousness.

Noticing the space between things connects me with everything—and I mean everything. Everything in the universe becomes suddenly and seamlessly connected because notice the space between things which is the thing that connects everything that is.

Noticing an object, I notice only that one thing. That’s what I see. That’s what I’m aware of. But when I see the space between things, suddenly I notice everything at once.

This is very cool! Try it.