This work was inspired by a common panic attack coping mechanism of taking ten deep breaths, counting to three at the top of the inhale and at the crest of the exhale. To capture the motion of my body, I laid down on the ground and placed my pinhole camera on my stomach. The rise and fall of my stomach as I breathe became an integral part of each image. Each exposure was dependent on how long it took me to get through ten breaths.
Calm down and breathe.
Ten. Deep. Breaths.
Stop. Lay down. On the ground.
Look up. This scene will stay with you while you are here.
With every inhale, collect your worry, your guilt,
the pressure you feel.
With every exhale, push that all
away from you.
Let that all go. Do it again.
Have your belly rise with each breath in. As far as it will go.
Make all of this space yours.
As you breathe out, feel your body come back together again.
Be whole in this moment.
You are in control here. You know the next step.
If you come back to this breath, other paths through your struggles will make themselves clear to you.
With your inhale, find your heartbeat.
With your exhale, find that it doesn’t change.
It’s always here for you.
Lose yourself in this rhythm.
Once you’re lost here, you’ll find yourself again.