By the numbers...

After my initial posting I thought further about the passage from Perek Shira related to the crane (and other water fowl) which speaks of the lyre and David's ten-stringed harp (Psalms 33:2). There is some question as to whether Perek Shira refers to actual songs, audible on one level - though maybe not ours. If however we are to learn from these songs, this passage, moves our understanding to an actionable realm to give thanks through music.

As the title of this blog entry is by the numbers, it seems appropriate to relate to the number 10 mentioned in the verse. The number 10 is significant and symbolic on many levels, including as a representation of completeness. The number 10 is also part of my photage artwork Each image is divided into 10 sections; and, despite the hyphenation the entire image is still present in the composite image. It is also how I tend to shoot images - full frame without cropping the image so as to capture the moment...in its entirety.

One such photage entitled, "walkabouts" showcases a magnificent snowy egret prancing along a railing and which is juxtaposed with a bull snakeskin shed along a path and raccoon tracks in the sand, both of which are vestiges of movement past, and stand in striking contrast to the elegant egret. Each of these other creatures have a passage related to them in Perek Shira as well and so in many ways each photage represents a chorus of songs made up the various elements - animal, vegetable and mineral - contained in the each photage expression.

Perek Shira link: http://zootorah.com/assets/media/perek-shirah-booklet.pdf