The Lewis Chessman

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  • The Lewis Chessman – The National Museum of Scotland
  • A Bishop
  • A Berserker
  • A King
  • A Bishop
  • A King
  • A Berserker

The Lewis Chessman were found in 1831 on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The Chess pieces are of Walrus ivory and sperm whale tooth and found in an underground chamber. Scandinavian in origin, late 12th and early 13th century.

Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland

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  • Edinburgh Castle – view from down below
  • Edinburgh Castle
  • Entering the Castle grounds
  • The castle grounds
  • Doors in a corner of the castle
  • Edinburgh Castle
  • The Chapel
  • Seen from the courtyard
  • Guarding the Chapel
  • Guarding the Chapel
  • A corner of the great hall
  • Seen from the courtyard
  • Seen from the Canon – Arthurs Seat
  • Edinburgh Castle Cannon
  • Entrance to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum
  • Views from the Castle
  • Views from the Castle
  • Views from the Castle
  • Views from the Castle

Inside Iona Abbey

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  • Inside the door of Iona Abbey
  • The Baptismal Font
  • The cover of the Baptismal Font
  • The watching Room
  • Inside the Watching Room
  • The pulpit
  • The Howling face in the wall
  • Figure on the pulpit
  • Carvings on the Columns
  • The resting place of the Duke and Duchess of Argyle
  • Carvings on the columns
  • The Choir
  • Grave slab
  • Ferns growing out of the wall
  • One of the faces on the Sedilia
  • Paton on the Communion table
  • Carving on a screen
  • Monkey carved on the column
  • The prayer corner

On Our Walk about Inverness

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There was an amazing  surprise on our walk.
Inverness Cathedral.

In the corner of The Cathedral lawn,
lit by the evening lit,
a grassy place.

Upon inspection, the grassy place was
a labyrinth.
High grass and low grass made the path.

It was in the corner of the lawn.
Open to the public.

It was noisy in that corner of the lawn
next to the street.
All sorts of sounds.
Talking. Laughing. Languages. Cars.

It was out in the open.
I could have easily missed it.
Almost looked like an uncut patch of grass.

Except for the cross. There was a cross in the middle.

The labyrinth path was narrow.
I had to walk heel to toe.
The path had some debris,
twigs and candy wrappers.

To stay on the path , I had to focus.
All other “distractions” – noise, people, cars –
blended into the background
as I walked into the center.

It was a very worn path.
The” walls” of the path were fresh, soft, and  springy.
The path circled closer to the cross.

I reached the center.
The cross was simple and eye-level 
I had no space between me and the cross.

I paused for a moment.
Close to the cross.
I then turned and journeyed
back through the circle
to the beginning of the path.

Reflection by JBR – May 2023 – Inverness, Scotland

The Windows of the Iona Abbey

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I love taking pictures of windows.
Windows allow light into dark places.
Windows frames  the story of the world just outside our “window”.
The Abbey windows  grants a glimpse into the past story and prompts us to see
the present story around us. 
These windows remind us of the work of God and the church and 
encourages us to be open the movement and whispers of the Holy Spirit.
I love taking pictures of windows.  

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