Eagle Spirit's Official Tie Breaker Entry
Starting this tie breaker round I began by letting go over the "speed" issue I overcame during a major move of six hours south from my current living location. After a very long day of moving, I ran around getting the photos in order to enter them all in within record time.
Fortunately, the judges accepted all photos and I was forwarded on to this tie breaker round. The rules are as follows:
You must find pictures of these items somewhere in the physical world. (Also please don't risk your own safety to get the lightning image or any other image, if you wanna try to get real lightning I suggest being VERY FAR away.)
I have to say that "very far away" part had me laughing for a few days!!!
In order to further reduce the chance of a tie, in this round.. Pictures of the real thing will be worth double, and representations of the real thing IE pictures on DVD covers or books or whatever will be worth the amount listed.
This rule seemed reasonable enough, try to get the real thing, Right??!!
For example.. If you found a picture of a swimming pool on a DVD cover or in a book it would be 1 point, but if you find a real swimming pool in person in the physical world it will be 2 points.
Sounds good to me, make a double or triple effort to get that darn real shot of the item requested.
And you can find virtually any representation of the item as long as it's not like a pic off your TV/phone or computer/the internet or an encyclopedia something like that.
Okay, will do ! I can do it (those were my thoughts while reading.)
We do want to encourage people to be creative with their images, though a few have been a lil questionable, so.. Please try to be more clear when possible and try to not leave it up to judges interpretation if you can help it and if you really want to win.
No kidding, I saw some weird stuff while perusing some folks images. LOL!
You can still get 2 for 1 or more as well, what I mean is.. You could get multiple items on the list in one picture, for example a Graffiti of flowers would be two items checked off the list. No extra points for that, but it will be one less picture for you to take and upload.
Awesome, but if you know me I am going to make one of each. That's just how I do.
And for anyone curious. A power spot is a special place where you feel extra "powerful" so to speak and in order to HOPEFULLY prevent another tie ... The judges will vote on the power spot they like most as well, and 5 points will be awarded to the player who gets the better power spot!
I'm not sure how many power spots we get, but hey I'm all up for finding as many power spots as possible. I'm all in folks ... and here are my entries:
Oh and let me not forget that today is July 4, 2018, so Happy Fourth of July to all Americans and God Bless our Vets!!
Flowers (1 point)
Okay, so I forgot that I had taken a photo of two roses in this photo, which would account for flowers plural. These roses I found are on the Southern Ute Reservation and their symbol is the rose. The rose is on everything they wear, whether it is moccasins, vest, hat, bling, you name it the rose is everywhere. It is said they incorporated it after the Spanish Conquistadors came to the area.
So, because I got a little freaked out that I only captured one rose I had to ensure that I had all more than one flower and took this photo while I was in Denver. This is in front of the Denver Art Museum and I caught the angle of the pyramid shaped building above the flowers. I like angles.
Swimming pool (1 point)
Fortunately, my new area that I moved to has this awesome swimming pool where I go on the daily. I'll start a new swimming regiment starting next week.
Cave (1 point)
The photo above is not of the actual cave but me walking to the cave, and I did get a bit lost because there are a few caves in the area and I had never been to this one. The Garden of the Gods is very close by along with cliff dwellings.
Apparently, this area was a homeless encampment and well, the internet doesn't always tell us everything about an area before we attempt to visit. The actual Rainbow Falls was closed, but there were a few other caves that I was able to find with the help of some locals.
As you can see by the graffiti this is a local hangout for the youth, and unfortunately there was a lot of pollution in the way of garbage, excrement, clothes, and books. I was very disheartened to have to walk through this in order to find a cave.
As I found this particular cave, the trail had been blocked off with yellow tape and a huge sign warning of damaging city property. It looked as if there had been a recent raid as an attempt to extricate the homeless camp and prepare for restoration of the area.
The entry of the cave seemed a bit harmless, I tend to be claustrophobic and you can forget about closed in dark places.
Inside the cave but not too far in, I was able to capture this shot with my flash and I quickly left. Tons of more graffiti inside the cave, but I didn't spend too much time inside.
Interestingly, on my way out of this area I came upon another huge cave called the Cave of the Winds that is privately owned. The entrance fee was $21 USD to get inside, and since I only wanted to take a photo (of cave #2) I asked if I could just take a photo and they were kind enough to let me. I even got someone to join Steemit during this part of the challenge.
This was a photo of the front of the second entrance to the cave and according the Lead Guide this was all closed up and "found" in 1881. I have my doubts, but who am I?
The photo above is of the original "sink holes" that first brought this cave to the attention of the cave.
Twin pillars (2 points)
The two rock pillars I chose are from my ancestral lands called Chimney Rock, I even wrote an extensive blog about it entitled Chimney Rock National Monument approximately six months ago. If you would like to know more about this location that encompasses spiritual journeys, astronomical events, and celebration please read my first post about this very special place.
There are many aspects to this site that make it very special and one of them is the fact that:
From 2004 through 2007, as seen from the recently removed Forest Service Fire Lookout Tower, the MLS moon rose periodically between the two stone pillars that give the site its name. This spectacular sight, which occurs every 18.6 years, is believed to have influenced construction of the Chacoan-style Great House atop Chimney Rock’s high mesa. Whether coincidence or planned, the Great House Pueblo is a natural observatory for the MLS.
Call it coincidence, but personally I do not believe in coincidence. I attend different ceremonies throughout the year at this location, one being a spring celebration and now that I live closer then I will attend the special lunar events that take place here. Chimney Rock is a sacred location and for that I am grateful that these two pillars are still in existence.
From the moment I first entered the state of Colorado, and I saw Chimney Rock it literally “called” to me. Amazingly, as I drove past it, a rainbow showed straight through the pillars and onto the kiva (not shown). Take a look at my full blog on the details of this location to get an idea of the layout.
Due to the powerful calling, the Native American connection I feel at this location, and modern day ceremonies I attend this is my POWER spot. I feel regenerated when I hike in this area and a kinship to the area. See a photo of me next to the pillars in my first blog, you may get a sense of how special this location truly is to me.
Spider (2 points)
Honestly, I could not believe I was able to capture this spider while scouring the corners of my temporary home. As you can see it was night time and I had to make sure I was fast enough to get the shot. Let alone the lighting had to be just right. I got it!
Shield (3 points)
Fortunately, I work with a few people that carry a shield for work and they were kind enough to lend it to me for this contest. The above is considered a shield and I had to do some research because some are considered a badge and not a shield.
The above photo is considered a badge and not a shield. Go figure! I would've thought a police officer would wear a shield not a badge.
Dream catcher (3 points)
The story behind a dreamcatcher is quite a bit detailed, but the Reader's Digest version is that one should never buy oneself a dreamcatcher. It should be a gift. The dreamcatcher is a protection and many people place them next to their bed to recycle a dream through a dreamcatcher so bad dreams to not filter into the psyche. The dreamcatcher I'm presenting was made for me by shop owner that i gifted a very special healing crystal to and she gifted me this hand made dreamcatcher.
Graffiti (3 points)
Even though I was surrounded by graffiti and already posted quite a bit in the caves, I had to share this one with you all. I caught this while looking for the Mayan calendar and was blown away by this graffiti art. The owner confirmed this was all done by spray paint and as a way to assist youth in overcoming their graffiti addiction. They gave permission for this work to be done to help those in the community.
Mayan calendar (4 points)
This was not easy to come by in the very least as I went hunting for this in a good sized city. I even found a historical movie theater called the Mayan, which was a great place to visit but no Mayan calendar. Who woulda thunk it?
Anyhoo, a hostess at the movie theater gave me a great lead and that was a local burrito place. That is where I found not one but two Mayan calendars. I had to ask a few people for their permission to take a photo above their heads while I took the photo. Blessed be!
Lightning (5 points)
So, I began my lightening journey by praying for lightening but comon' would the skies above really grant me an "act of God?" I mean who are we kidding, I am Eagle Spirit but there is only so much us lowly humans may be granted, right? The night I drove from southern Colorado to the north believe it or not I saw lightning but I was driving more than six hours, fires were raging so I had to take a detour and there was just no way I was able to capture lightning. Yet, I had hope!
I saw the above lightening bolt on the chest of a wood carved Indian but was not quite satisfied. I knew I could do better.
After a few phone calls, one to a photography shop that gave me a few photography classes, and they suggested I take a trip to the Denver Art Museum. Well, long story short the Supervising Security Guard, Volunteer, Reception Desk, or the Cafe workers could not help me. I scoured art books for an hour and finally came up with a book.
Even a kind worker held the book with Frida Kaloh's original works open for me and as you can see, there is a tiny red lightning bolt.
You would think this would satisfy me but it didn't, the little red lightning nor the bolt on the sculpture didn't quite settle well with me. I started asking the heavens for some lightning. I'm not kidding but this is really kind of funny. If not a bit miraculous. I even started singing a Native American chant and this is what happened.
Some folks would say never doubt the power of prayer, and I would happen to agree. Where I currently am relocating there has been a drought and dry as can be. I drove six hours north to only drive through a thunderstorm.
The day after, on the Fourth of July I was storm chasing in Denver and from a safe distance captured this video right over Denver’s Union Station:
How lucky can a girl get, or was it luck at all? Peace.
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Greetings,
Thank you for stopping by to read my blog. I’m a First Nation member of the Hopi & Apache Native American tribes, Medicine woman in-training, first time blogger since November 2017, (right here on Steemit), paralegal, researcher, and writer based in the Mountains of Colorado, USA. I work closely with fellow planktons and minnows in a few groups by helping them adjust to Steemit and curate quality content. I’m especially interested in finding others who love natural medicine originating from ancient practices, gold and silver, energy work, and the spirit world. Additionally, I'm the creator of #MedicineCardMonday, so if you are interested in receiving a Native American blessing stop by my blog every Monday, or just say hello!
See you soon,