The cold air against bare skin at an outdoor hot spring can feel startling, like the shock of ice on the nape of your neck in the summer. But when the water beckons, an almost childlike emotion takes hold, and before you know it, you are buoyant, letting yourself be enveloped in stillness. As you dip your toes into the hot spring, you discover a newfound sense of comfort in vulnerability, realizing it’s okay to be exposed. That brief, awkward moment of undressing is quickly forgotten as the warm water wraps around you. Nothing hugs every curve of your skin quite like water, sinking into the crevices and cradling you fully.
The body navigates each day between the tension of wakefulness and the serenity of sleep. Rarely does it align perfectly with consciousness. Yet, in moments of rest, when the mind is set aside, we can observe, listen, feel, savor joy, and revel in delight. In the apparent weightlessness of water, the mind forgets its usual functions and surrenders to a pure state of being.
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Photographers’ Assistant Garry Belinsky
Styling Trinette Reed
Production Saul Germaine
Model Andrea Margaret
Special thanks to Wilbur Hot Springs