About facing mortality and learning to enjoy what it brings. Inspired by Pablo Picasso's observation "No pleasure without the taste of ashes"

1. BEYOND THE ASHES Colin Perrott To cancer survivors & caregivers

2. Thrust down into fires of destruction

3. Thrust down into fires of destruction,seared by deep, numbing desolation

4. Thrust down into fires of destruction,seared by deep, numbing desolation,our purpose and hope both stolen.

5. Thrust down into fires of destruction,seared by deep, numbing desolation,our purpose and hope both stolen. We warmed to the color so golden.

6. Thrust down into fires of destruction,seared by deep, numbing desolation,our purpose and hope both stolen. We warmed to the color so golden. Learning at the hearth, we adapted.

7. Thrust down into fires of destruction,seared by deep, numbing desolation,our purpose and hope both stolen. We warmed to the color so golden. Learning at the hearth, we adapted. Now - we live, we grow, we thrive

8. Thrust down into fires of destruction,seared by deep, numbing desolation,our purpose and hope both stolen. We warmed to the color so golden. Learning at the hearth, we adapted. Now - we live, we grow, we thrive;savoring the peace that nourishes -

9. Thrust down into fires of destruction,seared by deep, numbing desolation,our purpose and hope both stolen. We warmed to the color so golden. Learning at the hearth, we adapted. Now - we live, we grow, we thrive;savoring the peace that nourishes -for our journey beyond the ashes.

11. The gentle breeze excites the fire

12. The gentle breeze excites the fire to play with cinders at its desire.

13. The gentle breeze excites the fire to play with cinders at its desire. Warm earth is startled into flight.

14. The gentle breeze excites the fire to play with cinders at its desire. Warm earth is startled into flight.The sky awakes in cascading light.

15. The gentle breeze excites the fire to play with cinders at its desire. Warm earth is startled into flightThe sky awakes in cascading light. Each point a focus of life renewed

16. The gentle breeze excites the fire to play with cinders at its desire. Warm earth is startled into flightThe sky awakes in cascading light. Each point a focus of life renewed,a taunt of mysteries not subdued.

17. The hearth strikes intense fear

18. The hearth strikes intense fear,but strength too, is forged here.

19. The hearth strikes intense fear,but strength too, is forged here: Preserved long after the flames

20. The hearth strikes intense fear,but strength too, is forged here:Preserved long after the flames‘til just a taste of ashes remains.

21. BEYOND THE ASHES Thrust down into fires of destruction,seared by deep, numbing desolation,our purpose and hope both stolen. We warmed to the color so golden. Learning at the hearth, we adapted. Now - we live, we grow, we thrive;savoring the peace that nourishes -for our journey beyond the ashes. The gentle breeze excites the fire to play with cinders at its desire. Warm earth is startled into flight.The sky awakes in cascading light. Each point a focus of life renewed,a taunt of mysteries not subdued. The hearth strikes intense fear,but strength too, is forged here:Preserved long after the flames‘til just a taste of ashes remains. Colin Perrott©2010 INSPIRATION: Le repas frugal, Pablo Picasso 1904

22. Photo credits Object NGC 7635: Erwin Diener 2009. In our galaxy 11,000 light years away, a bubble of hydrogen gas ~10 light years across surrounds a star 30 times bigger than our sun. Flame:Mark Brown 2006.

23. BEYOND THE ASHES Thrust down into fires of destruction,seared by deep, numbing desolation,our purpose and hope both stolen. We warmed to the color so golden. Learning at the hearth, we adapted. Now - we live, we grow, we thrive;savoring the peace that nourishes -for our journey beyond the ashes. The gentle breeze excites the fire to play with cinders at its desire. Warm earth is startled into flightThe sky awakes in cascading light. Each point a focus of life renewed,a taunt of mysteries not subdued. The hearth strikes intense fear,but strength too, is forged here:Preserved long after the flames‘til just a taste of ashes remains. Colin Perrott©2010 A building in ruins after aerial bombing, Guernica, Spain, mid-1937 Source: German Federal Archive (Bundesarchiv) ID Code: Bild 183-H25224