Structures
A teacher I respect once told me that there's a fine line between research and plagiarism. He explained that using the ideas of others to construct your own creative expression is perfectly acceptable - desirable, in fact - and a practice that's been part of
One of the most fascinating aspects of watershaping is the broad array of personalities that define the industry. From my perspective, getting to know those who contribute to these pages is a process of discovery that makes preparing every issue a
The 19th Century poet Eden Phillpotts once wrote, "The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." I've always loved that line and the way it shines a light on the rewards of
The 19th Century poet Eden Phillpotts once wrote, "The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." I've always loved that line and the way it shines a light on the rewards of
As I was graduating from college many years ago, one of my professors predicted that more than 30 percent of us would eventually hold jobs that hadn't been invented yet. With the emergence of the Internet and other mass-communication technologies in recent years, I'd be hard pressed to think he was anything but conservative with his forecast. It's exciting to think we live at a time when new vocations are constantly emerging to provide us with ever-broadening sets of employment options. And it's exciting to point out that one of these new professions
As I was graduating from college many years ago, one of my professors predicted that more than 30 percent of us would eventually hold jobs that hadn't been invented yet. With the emergence of the Internet and other mass-communication technologies in recent years, I'd be hard pressed to think he was anything but conservative with his forecast. It's exciting to think we live at a time when new vocations are constantly emerging to provide us with ever-broadening sets of employment options. And it's exciting to point out that one of these new professions
I recently enjoyed an experience a long, long way from my familiar surroundings in southern California that nonetheless had me feeling right at home. A few weeks back, I had the distinct pleasure of flying to
For all the beauty and creativity that characterize the finished watershapes we cover in our magazine, I often find just as much inspiration in the stories behind these polished works of art. Quite often, in fact, I perceive that these
One Saturday during the summer of 2000, I sat down for breakfast in Santa Monica, Calif., with Suzanne and Ron Dirsmith. They had just published the first of what have now become several articles in WaterShapes and had flown in from Chicago to
During a lifetime of driving up and down the part of Sunset Boulevard where it finally meets the Pacific Ocean, I'd often noticed the sign pointing to "Lake Shrine" but had never taken the time to stop and have a look. I suppose the "shrine" part of it made me think it was the exclusive preserve of adherents or members of the Self-Realization Fellowship - an organization I knew nothing about other than that their facility was in one of Los Angeles' most beautiful locations. I finally overcame my hesitation about visiting the Lake Shrine a couple years ago, when a friend told me it was a place where people of all faiths and religions were welcome to stroll, meditate and enjoy the tranquility of the setting. Curiosity overcame skepticism and I finally visited the place. What I found at the Lake Shrine was a serene, calm, meditative oasis of lush, beautiful gardens surrounding a lake. To this day many years later, the minute I drive through the entrance gate, I'm always swept up by sensations of serenity and peace - and have since
