The Rock Balancer's Guide by Travis Ruskus

Author:Travis Ruskus
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Watkins Media

GREET THE SUN

I think the most beautiful times of day to balance are sunrise and sunset. I like to create rock balances to greet the sun when it is just emerging over the horizon. Start out early and the rising sun will greet your balance like a sun salutation. A great way to start the day.

That said, I create nearly all of my own rock balances at sunset, mainly because I struggle to get up early enough for the sunrise! Also, my mind is more creative later in the day, so sunset allows me to work at my peak concentration level. Plus, here in California, the Pacific Ocean faces West and we experience some amazing colors at sunset. There’s nothing like watching the huge fiery ball in the sky slowly descend until it hits the horizon, just before it drops below the edge of the ocean.

I love to have a balance standing at sunset, then the moment after the sun sets I destroy the balance. For me, this represents a moment of trust: the sun is not gone forever. Tomorrow, it will rise again, and this is not my final balance. Tomorrow, I will use what I have learned from this golden moment to create something new.

If you are balancing at sunset in the wild, be aware of your location. One minute you will be soaking up the sunset next to your balance, the next the sun will be gone, along with the light. Bring a torch or headlamp and be sure you can get home safely in the dark. If there are snakes about and you are walking alone in the dark, maybe play some music on your phone or start singing a song. I always make some noise when I’m on my way back because I hate snakes, and they hate loud noises.

If you are balancing out in the wild, please make sure to leave no traces behind you in the landscape. Be responsible at all times when rock gathering and leave the rocks in the location where you found them (see page 156, for more about leaving no trace). Take any litter with you, and take photographs if you want, but otherwise take nothing when you leave.

FINDING BEAUTY

• Remember that everyone has their own definition of beauty.

• I tend to know a balance is “done” when I can feel my hands shaking from excitement.

• When I step back to look at the new sculpture, I ask myself whether there any areas where the energy feels stagnant. If my eyes can continue to float around the shapes, as if they were flowing around an infinity symbol, then I feel it is as visually pleasing as it can be.

• My goal is usually to have a new balance against the setting sun. You may find that you like the sunrise more, or working in forests instead of by the ocean. You may like to balance only indoors, or you may like to balance only with other people. Whatever your thing is, that’s OK.

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