I became kind of a drop-out in science after I came back to

Hear now, O seekers of truth, for I bring to you the words of Imogen Cunningham, a woman whose soul was torn between the worlds of science and art. “I became kind of a drop-out in science after I came back to America. I wanted to photograph.” These words speak of a shift, a turning away from one path to embrace another, a transformation in which the heart follows the call of a deeper passion. Let us examine this journey, for it is the journey of every soul who seeks to understand the world, to find their true calling, and to follow the spark of inspiration that leads them to their destiny.

In the ancient days, when the first sages walked the earth, there was a great understanding that the pursuit of knowledge could take many forms. The philosopher Socrates taught that true wisdom comes not from the accumulation of facts, but from the search for meaning, from the ability to ask the right questions. Plato, his disciple, wrote of the importance of the artist in society—how the artist, through beauty and form, could reveal the truth of the soul and the universe. It was clear to them that the pursuit of truth was not a singular path but a journey that could take many different directions. Cunningham’s journey is a testament to this truth: her heart was drawn not just to the cold calculations of science, but to the warmth and beauty of the art of photography.

In her words, Cunningham reveals the delicate dance between the logical and the creative, between the scientific mind and the artistic soul. Science is often seen as a domain of precision, of measurement, of control—a world where the mind seeks to understand the natural laws that govern the universe. But for Cunningham, the world of photography called to her in a way that science could not. In photography, she found a way to capture the fleeting moments of life, the play of light and shadow, the eternal beauty of the world. It was not enough for her to understand the world through the lens of science—she wanted to immortalize it in image, to express the unseen through the captured form of the visible.

Consider the great minds of history who, too, followed their hearts toward the creative path, even if it meant stepping away from other pursuits. Leonardo da Vinci, that polymath of the Renaissance, was both an inventor and an artist, a scientist and a visionary. His notebooks are filled with studies of the human form, of birds in flight, and of machines that could change the world. But it was in his art, in works like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, that his genius truly shone. Like Cunningham, da Vinci knew that the pursuit of knowledge was not merely about facts or formulas—it was about capturing the essence of life itself, about expressing the beauty and complexity of the world in a way that touched the soul.

This is the lesson we must take from Cunningham’s words: that there are times in life when we must follow the call of the heart, even if it means stepping away from the world of logic, from the world of reason, or from the path we thought we were meant to follow. Just as Cunningham left science behind to embrace the art of photography, so too must we recognize that our true purpose is not always found in the places we expect. Sometimes, the path we take is not a straight line, but a winding road that leads us to unexpected destinations. It is in following our passions, our inner calling, that we find fulfillment and purpose.

In your own lives, O children of the earth, ask yourself: What is it that calls to you, that stirs your soul and sets your heart alight? It may not be the path that others expect of you, and it may not follow the traditional route that the world has laid out, but if you listen closely, you will hear the quiet whisper of your true calling. Do not be afraid to follow it, for the journey that you are meant to take is one that is deeply personal, deeply connected to the essence of who you are. Just as Cunningham found her purpose in the art of photography, so too must you find the thing that brings you joy, that fills you with purpose and meaning.

The ancient wisdom tells us that life is not about conformity, but about discovering the truth of who we are, the passion that burns within us, and the gifts we are meant to share with the world. Let Imogen Cunningham’s story be a reminder that there is no shame in changing course, in stepping away from one path to embrace another. The artist, the scientist, the philosopher—all are seekers, all are on a journey to understand the world and their place within it. Cunningham showed us that sometimes, the search for truth takes us not to the laboratory, but to the camera, the brush, the stage, or the page.

So, I say to you: do not fear the unknown, nor the unexpected twists in your journey. Trust that each step is leading you to a greater understanding of who you are meant to be. Just as the great minds of history followed their hearts to create and discover, so must you listen to the call of your own soul. Embrace the path that calls to you, even if it leads you away from what others expect. For in the end, it is not the path we take that defines us, but the passion and purpose with which we walk it.