Corinna Lander
Photographer/ Protector of Light/ Baby Cousin
Where were you raised? Has the landscape of that place influenced your work in any way?
New Canaan, CT
I grew up in a tiny town, with big expectations. Excelling, and being the best felt standard by age 10. It never left much space to truly feel into your own values. I always felt a deep sadness around where I grew up, constantly fleeing to the world outside to really feel a connection to the world inside.
The benefit to all of this of course was that my longing for something real, attracted me to all things that reflected a sense of authenticity and intimacy. My work is widely influenced by this, as my soul comes alive when I get to truly stand across from someone and see them in their light.
How do you recharge your creative battery?
Exploration without expectation. My most favorite thing in the world is taking road trips with friends, bringing my camera and tarot decks, and being able to freely and openly create without a road map. There is a special kind of magic in being open to the unknown, and creating within it.
Light has always acted as my compass, amongst these explorations. Bearing witness to all that it touches, and the way it’s presences exists both amongst the coming to life and the transitioning over.
Since I was a little kid, the very first thing I would do in the morning was open the blinds and watch the light pour through my window. I was mesmerized by it. The way it spoke to me, the way it touched my face to say good morning, the way it always spoke the same language but always with something new to share.
It has been my greatest teacher and closest friend through some of life’s harshest moments.
#heartsareeverywhere
What book are you reading?
The Emotion Code by Bradley Nelson
I’m a deeply sensitive human, it’s one of my superpowers. It also means I am in an evolving relationship with learning the boundaries of my body and what is not mine to take on. The emotion code looks to understand how “trapped emotional energies can cause blockages or imbalances in your personal energy field.”
Most important quality in a human?
The belief that we get to, and that we can grow. Within and amongst each other.
What was the last thing you fell in love with?
Hummingbirds. I recently went to a friends cabin high up in the mountains, that was frequented by hummingbirds.
I’ve had a long love affair with hummingbirds as they have always represented my mamma angels in the sky, as well as the sticker shared on the back of cards between my best friend and I for almost 20 years.
During my experience at the cabin, I fell in love with them all over again. They had a tenaciousness to them I’d never quite seen before. Flying just inches away from my face , unafraid, unapologetic. As if we were visitors amongst their land, and they had the right of way. There is deep power in the balance between their feminine and masculine, that I feel we can all learn from.
What do you love most about yourself?
I make myself laugh. And put on shows in my living room with or without company.
And my ability to meet anyone exactly where they are at. Sometimes this is just staying in the presence of their emotions, and being a safe space. Other times it’s supporting them when they are willing, into their next transition, and being witness to their brilliance. All with a side of fairy dust of course.
Do you have a spiritual practice?
I’m workinnnn on it. Hehe. I am and for always have been a spiritual person, who does the work, kicking and screaming along the way. Finding the sweet subtleties of the practice has always been a beautiful dance of mine. When I get there, I love getting creative with bathtub soaks, and morning meditations. But going for walks and treating myself to creamy lattes are where it’s at in this moment.
Who are your role models?
Our sons and daughters. I say “ours” because I believe kids or no kids we all have a great responsibility in seeing and honoring our young souls.
In my experience, they are the ones coming in to be teachers to us, not the other way around. They are so brilliantly beautiful, and the more we begin to celebrate their uniqueness the more room we are creating for their wisdom to shine through.
If you could change one thing about our world what would that be?
Compassion over comparison.
I fully believe our world can heal, with the opportunity to do so. And that starts with understanding where as a society we are lacking to create space and opportunity to do so. Where we need to truly see one another and support each other.
Before I die I want to?
To fully love and honor all of me. And shine it so bright.
OUR MOMS <3 <3 <3 All photos courtesy of Corinna Lander.
