Customer Reviews

The Soul in Balance: The Gardens of Washington National Cathedral

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The Soul In Balance: The Gardens Of Washington National Cathedral pairs photographs with short quotations from Biblical, Philosophical, and literary works thereby creating lovely, inspiring images both visual and philosophical. Alexandra K. Scott's color photographs pair beautifully with quotations selected by Heddy F. Reid and New Testament passages chosen by Frederica Isabelle Scott. The Soul In Balance is an ideal gift book to commemorate special occasions, and to browse through in search of heart's ease and the spirit's inspiration.

This is such a soothing, satisfying book. The photographs are exquisite, with a wonderful sense of intimacy and color: red berries glistening in droplets of ice, poppies with the fine blonde hairs along their stems backlit in the sun. Scott's sensitive, observant eye takes you places you wouldn't know to go, pulling your eye deep into a hydrangea, where tiny growing leaves curl into infinity. There is a real synergy between the photos and the thoughtful quotes, to a degree that I have never seen. Reid is a poet and you can tell; when you read the quote and look back at the picture, you understand it in a different way. I've been giving copies to everyone I know.

I had been in hospitals for 12 months when I read Alexandra Scott's book. It was so peaceful and beautiful, while the text and pictures enhanced one another. For people in distress with little energy, it is balm for the self.

Scott's photographs are exquisite and beautifully married to simple but sophisticated text by her co-author, Reid. In an era of "Chicken Soup for the Soul (which I also occasionally read and find helpful), The Soul in Balance is a visual delight and a book whose messages are challenging, thought-provoking, and soothing. This book would make a perfect gift for almost anyone whose life is too hectic, fragmented, and in need of some inner direction. Scott's understanding and appreciation of the natural world are reflective and direct descendants of the best 18th century traditions. But no mistake, she is a complete, late-20th century sensibility with an remarkable eye and camera technique that excels.