Now, it’s Smoke.

Cleansing at Sensō-ji

Sensō-ji Temple, Tokyo

There’s a song by Ben Folds Five called “Smoke.” For years, it’s been burrowed in the back of my brain. Each time I hear it, I’m reminded how simple, and how hard, letting go can be.

“Leaf by leaf, page by page, throw this book away.”

Those lyrics were written about moving on from a broken relationship, but to me, they’re about acknowledging the heaviness we carry. Write down the anxieties, grief, and pain. Put those chapters on paper, then burn them.

“Now, it’s smoke”. It’s a physical act that can become emotional relief.

When I visited Sensō-ji in Tokyo, I was struck by the large incense burner. Visitors gather around it, bathing in the smoke believed to bring health and purification. Watching people circle the rising smoke, hands reaching, faces briefly lost, brought Ben Folds’ lyrics back to me.

I know the smoke at Sensō-ji has its own spiritual meaning, separate from my own interpretation. Still, the connection felt personal. In the days and weeks since making this photo, I keep thinking of that song. That’s the beauty of art and of moments: we each find our own connections in them.

You don’t need to write a book and burn it. But maybe there’s something you can release today, something heavy you’re ready to turn to smoke.

Let it go.

I’ll be back later this week with comments on the process for this shot plus some of the others from that day.