It is an ancient belief that torii represent a gate between the mundane and the sacred. I see them as a reminder to focus my attention on things of greater importance and value. Almost like a bell struck out of silence - torii ring out a tone of peace and love and presence.  In Japanese tradition, a person walks through a torii to get closer to the sacred. Sometimes there are several torii in a row each marking a new level of hallowed space. I love this concept and the physical practice of an internal journey.  But I also love how the symbol of a torii can outreach its material structure.  I believe that the sacred world exists within. There is an inner stillness that we can escape to in even the most chaotic moments. When I see a torii, I don’t have to walk through it to achieve its power. Even from a distance, I am reminded to access an inner tranquility.   The gift of photography is that sometimes an image can present a deeper truth than the reality of a subject.  The torii gate beckons us to enter but does not present a physical path to do so because water surrounds its entire form. We must transport our attention through the gate instead. We must make the journey within.