This week’s theme is inspired by a beautiful photograph Vlad posted over at Wind Against Current. Click the link to see his photo, and when you pick your jaw up off the floor, come on back over here and join in this week’s challenge.
Mystical is an evocative term with many nuances. I chose this word because it can be interpreted in so many ways. It can mean spiritually symbolic, otherworldly, ethereal or mysterious. I also love how this word sounds when you speak it aloud, and I can’t help but associate it with mists that conceal the everyday, cloaking the mundane in a veil of mystery. The verb ‘to mystify’; to make mysterious or obscure, is derived from the words mystic and mystery. Ooh, the possibilities are endless.
Last weekend I visited Washington State’s Olympic Penninsula and got a few photos that capture the essence of what mystical and otherworldly mean to me. I hope you like them.
Foggy day in the Hall of Mosses
In the depths of the Hoh rain forest
Freezing fog over Lake Crescent
So what does the word mystical conjure up for you? If you’d like to join in this week’s travel theme (everyone is welcome to join in), here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel Theme: Mystical
- Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
- Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
- Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes
Mystify me.
xxx
Ailsa
Where's my backpack? 
Pingback: Travel Theme: Mystical | quite simply…
Thanks for the inspiration. Mystical can mean different thing to different people.
Here’s my second share of the mystical theme. Thanks. Love your blog.
Gorgeous photo, Pablo, such intense colour.
There is something mystical about the practice of voodoo. When you are in New Orleans take a little time to explore the mysteries at one of the local voodoo shops.
Very cool, Daniel, I know very little about voodoo other than what you see in mainstream media. It’s really interesting to get a different take on it. You inspired me to read up a little on Marie Leaveau – what a fascinating lady!
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Widow’s watch … http://beyondthebrushphotography.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/widows-watch/
Ooh, the name itself conjures up many a story. Lovely shot, Lynne, and the Longfellow excerpt fits perfectly! xxx
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Your photos never fail to amaze me and these ones are mystical too ;-).. i loved your capture of Lake Crescent.
Here’s my entry for your theme: Mystic wind and waves
Lovely shots, Deepali, and great quotes – especially that first one, how wonderful!
Thanks, Ailsa. I love that one too 🙂
Pingback: Travel Theme: Mystical Niagara Falls | My Sardinian Life
Oh, fun theme this week!
http://laavventura.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/travel-theme-mystical-niagara-falls/
Ooh, snow-covered Niagara, how wonderful. And that shot of the double rainbow is brilliant! 🙂
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Very cool this week. Can’t wait to see what people post.
Here’s mine: http://50yearproject.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/travel-theme-mystical/
Ooh, yes, volcanoes are truly mystical, you can really understand why ancient man believed them to be a temperamental god.
Reblogged this on paganpages and commented:
Another mystical photo, i love the look of the enchanted forest.
Thanks so much for the reblog, paganpages 🙂
Pingback: Weekly Travel Theme: Mystical | The Way I Live Naturally
Industrial mysticism: http://mothergrogan.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/travel-theme-mystical/
An excellent interpretation, mothergrogan! 🙂
Pingback: Weekly Travel Photo Challenge: Mystical | breathofgreenair
Here are some mysterious and mystical photos of a Scottish peat bog
http://breathofgreenair.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/weekly-travel-photo-challenge-mystical/
These are amazing, greenmackenzie, the texture in the top two is so beautiful, and that last one, wow, I can imagine it as a gateway to another world. I love peat bogs, the smell of the peat, the way the water runs brown – whereabouts in Scotland was this? xxx
Thanks for the lovely comments 🙂 It’s on the hills at the back of Plockton, Wester Ross . Up in the North West Highlands…just across from the Isle of Skye 🙂 In the past before they put water purification into the area the tap water ran reddy brown, so you had a peaty brown bath!!
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Mystical as seen through an infrared filter:
Can’t wait to look through the other postings!
Cheers!
Love it, PJB, you made good use of your borrowed infra-red filter. Really enjoyed the other two on flickr too. 🙂
Thanks so much for your comment. Thank you for checking out the other images as well.
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I had a difficult time finding the right picture. I loved how you defined the term mystical. Here’s my contribution: https://wheresmybackpack.com/2012/11/16/travel-theme-mystical/
Lovely shot, bebs1, I can almost see the clouds scudding across the landscape, wonderful movement in this photo. xxx
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My thoughts on “Mystical Laos:”
http://ronmayhewphotography.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/mystical-laos/
Fabulously well executed composite, Ron, I could look at it for hours. I also love the header, with the tiny vivid slashes of orange from the monks’ clothing.
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What a great theme, I love the fog on the lake. Here are a couple of mystical pictures for your theme. http://thegingerbreadcafe.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/travel-theme-mystical/
Ooh, I just love tree ferns, you’re right, they feel like they’re from another time!
Pingback: Travel theme: Mystical « Just a few photos
Nice chellenge this week, I struggled!
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂 And a nicely mystical shot – I wonder what that sliver of emerald green is at the end of the path? Very mysterious. xxx
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I hope it’s okay to add a second entry for mystical. It’s about a wild prairie and field at sunhttp://canoecommunications.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/travel-theme-wild-mystical/set:
This was a truly wonderful moment you shared, c & c – I have a great image in my mind of the buck and the rustling grasses, such gorgeous colours. xxx
I’ve been reading you for a while but this is my first time participating. I love Vlad’s picture.
gigi
Hi gigi, so glad you joined in this week, love the green sphere, and yes, it reminds me of a mystical crystal ball too. xoxo Ailsa
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Here’s mine. Thanks!
Hi Pam, I like what mystical means to you! Lovely shot too. xxx
The pistures are beautifu… Very mystical too….
Thanks Lori 🙂
Sorry for the misspelling… Didn’t have my glasses on…
Grin. Pesky glasses when they go missing 😉
Pingback: Travel Theme: Mystical « Brett Winn Art
What a great theme! I am looking forward to seeing all those who submit posts. Here is mine: http://wp.me/p1TUd3-f0
Woah, Brett, that’s an awesome shot – it kind of looks like a ghost ship – I love it! 🙂
Thank you for you kind words. It was a very unusual day out to sea. I’m glad I had my camera.
Thank you for your kind words. It was a very unusual day out to sea. I’m glad I had my camera.
I’d love to be out there in your mystical forest. Some beautiful shots. I may be a little late to the party but here’s mine; looks like I now have to play catch up and see what everyone else has submitted. http://photovignettes.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/ailsas-travel-theme-mystical/
Oh Paul, this is spectacular. Where did you take the shot? I want to go there right now. Such a lovely photo. xoxo Ailsa
Believe it or not, this shot was taken just a few blocks from my home in Henderson NV as the moon was setting one morning.
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I have chosen a mystical mountain for this: http://sueannm66.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/weekly-travel-theme-mystical/
Lovely, Sue Ann, and truly mystical. Tell your son well done!
Thanks to you for the inspiration!
Pingback: 11-18-12 Travel Theme: Mystical (Take 2) « The Quotidian Hudson
2nd verse, different from the first…
http://quotidianhudsonriver.com/2012/11/18/11-18-12-travel-theme-mystical-take-2/
I’m ‘enery the Eighth I am… haha, you just brought back some memories!
Ok so I couldn’t kick the feeling that while I was looking at that photo, that photo was looking right back at me… mystical indeed…
love it my contribution: http://yassminelnazer.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/travel-theme-mystical/
Lovely series, Yassmin, I love that one of Petra (i’m guessing it’s Petra, right?) xxx
Wow what a collection of mystical! Here is my link also
Hot steaming mud, how fabulous!
It is a special tourist attraction. 🙂
I love this topic. Here’s my link…http://geophiliac.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/travel-theme-mystical/
Lovely shot, jubileejourney, I love fog!
Pingback: Travel Theme: Mystical « A Day In the Life of Jennay
Love the them this week!!
Here’s my entry:
Lovely series, Jennay. Where was that 2nd shot taken? It looks very mystical indeed.
Thank you!! =) The 2nd one was taken while I was visiting my boyfriend’s family in Kentucky. Not sure exactly where in Kentucky it was taken, we were on a road trip and I just happened to see it and had to capture the view!
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my favourite mystical places are old woods
Gorgeous, traveller2006, that Exmoor shot is my fave, it screams mystery! 🙂