A reader’s comment to this blog, thank you “Urban Liaisons,” prompted me to explore the word, Lucifer. “Lucifer”, in Christian tradition, refers to the devil as it was in a time of glory before the fall from grace. The original, ancient meaning of Lucifer is the planet Venus as it rises just before the sun at dawn. In this sense, the name refers to the bright beauty of the spot. The effect is heightened at midday when the hiker passes from the relative gloom of Devils Kitchen to the full light and sweep of the waterfall chasm.
Standing next to the falls on the Gorge Trail, the stone wall of the Rim Trail Overlook is overpowered by the grandeur of the 300+ foot cliff. The falls photographs were taken from behind the wall.
Occasionally, we have experienced individuals climbing over the wall to stand on the other side. “Why?”
Summertime thick stands of tiger lilies flourish on the cliff face. Can you find the withered leaves?
I must delve into symbolic interpretations to explore the connection between Lucifer and the Tiger Lily. Lucifer, traditionally associated with rebellion and the fallen angel in Christian theology, symbolizes a break from divine order and beauty tainted by pride. On the other hand, the Tiger Lily is often seen as a symbol of wealth, pride, and prosperity in various cultures. The connection lies in the shared symbolism of pride and beauty. Just as Lucifer was a beautiful angel before his fall, the Tiger Lily is a strikingly beautiful flower, often associated with pride. This juxtaposition creates a metaphorical link, suggesting that beauty and pride, while alluring, can lead to downfall, mirroring Lucifer’s story.
This session I finally “cracked” the puzzle of the Devil’s Kitchen Waterfall. I posted the results to the online gallery yesterday, for your enjoyment. Click the link to go there.
Click link for my fine art print “Devils Kitchen.”
Click Me to view my photographs on Getty.
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 
Exquisite shot, Michael! I wonder if the full-on Nature of the scene appeals to peoples’ Inner Nature in such a powerful way that they climb over the wall to stand on The Other Side, to have a foot on both sides so to speak that takes them deep within. Just a thought.
And random non sequitur prompted by your delving into Lucifer. It reminds me of a Calvin & Hobbes cartoon way back that I think was edited by a fan, that I edited n my mind. Calvin was standing in the dark in front of a light appearing, himself, to glow, and his parents said, “You are our little Angel.” … and my modified response from Calvin was, “COOL! Lucifer was an Angel!” 🙂 In the context of the beauty of your picture of the falls on the Gorge Trail and that “impish editing in good fun” you’ve given me quite an excellent laugh at almost 5:30 in the morning. Wonderful experience to take into my day. Thanks much. Again, exquisite shot. A thing of beauty.
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I am always nervous, standing on our overlooks, not trusting the crumbling rocks holding it up.
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I hear that. There’s a big levels of acceptable risk metaphor in that… which I gather contributes to the majesty and intensely serene power of this image.
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Beautiful post 🌹
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