On the way.......

May 2:
On the way to Colca Canyon, we stopped to pee/eat/shop here. Actually, I just looked around, taking pictures. I bought a hat here for John while Mai-Liis and our guide were inside having some coca tea. One always needs to have a sol for taking a picture. Worth it!
The dollar isn't so great there, unlike the Euro which was over 4 sol to the Euro. The dollar ranged between 2.50 to 2.77 s. to the dollar. Last year, it was about 3.30.
My favorite subject is taking pictures of the children. I liked how they got a kick out of seeing themselves on the camera and would blow up the picture so they could see themselves clearer.

View from above

In Arequipa, we stayed at Casa de Ana, and you can go up to the roof top type patio to look out over the other buildings. To me, Peru always seems to be in a state of construction. They are always building, always in this "process" of building up or repairing.
Peruvians are hard working people.
Jake would like Peru - Rauchen can run free.
I love being surrounded by Mountains... Apus. Feelings of protection.

Wandering the halls.......

Still enthralled with this color blue.
I could have spent a whole day here wandering....
One thing I am so grateful for is my own bed!!!

Discovering a sanctuary

We wandered a bit after our lunch, trying to find a market. Nothing really there, so we wandered back to the monestary that was recommeded. We still had time, although it was getting late. Monasterio de Santa Catalina is a beautiful, peaceful place to visit... well worth the visit.

It was this color blue that made me salivate. Rich, gorgeous color painted the walls. I wandered around following paths that led to various rooms, down streets and past gardens. So beautiful.

So peaceful......

Arequipa - Day 1

Arrived in Arequipa the next day, taking an early flight. Arequipa is known as the white city because it is made of the white rock from the volcano Misti.
The Quechua word for it means, "yes, stay". It is beautiful with colonial architecture. We stayed at Casa de Ana, away from the Plaza de Armas, (which every city has) a house run by Ana who was friendly and very informative. The streets are so narrow that two cars are in competion in passing. Ana, also is a tour guide and opens her home to tourists.
We were starting our trip in a way to acclimate to the altitude. Our first adventure was to see Condors at Colca Canyon.
In Arequipa, Ana took us to a place to have lunch, but the place was packed. It was a holiday and no room, so we went to the plaza to eat. Upstairs, on one of the balcony's that surround the plaza, we ate our lunch and then began to explore... I have never seen a dog on a leash in Peru.

I'm back from Peru

I love Peru. I love the people. I love seeing a culture so very different from mine. Earthy. Warm and friendly..... but it is good to be home. Now it almost feels as if it were a dream.

We arrived in Lima very late. Our flight from Houston was delayed, due to having to change a valve on the plane. Because we landed so late, our "greeter" left.

Here we were in Lima at 2 am and no one there to greet us, not knowing where our hotel was and with no vouchers.

We received help from a taxi driver who called the number I had if we had a problem. He took us to the hotel next to the airport and found all our vouchers waiting there for us.

It wasn't the best beginning to this trip and we were tired. It was 3 am NY time and we needed to get up early for our flight to Arequipa the next morning.

Getting off the plane in Arequipa, we were greeted by these two smiling faces :-)

my horoscope for today....

Wednesday, Apr 30th, 2008 --
"You must accept a dilemma for the next few weeks as you try to withdraw from the noisy hustle-bustle of life. Your inner voice is attempting to convince you to stay home and take it easy, but this could directly conflict with your job or your desire for more social activities. There is no need to struggle; recharge your energy by enjoying time with friends and family or just take off for a while by yourself."

Of course it would be nice to have John with me, but I am taking off.........................
Ciao!
Life is good :-)
I'll miss you Johnny boy YYYYYYYYYYYYY

Space and Space

Two full days of classes and gathering up the loose ends before I head back to Peru. The first picture above is created by one of the kids from class. He came up with some invented planets in space, including the chocolate planet!! I will miss the kids, but look forward to photographing the children of Peru. I'm bringing some crayons with me.
We will be going back to Machu Picchu and Cuzco, and a quick stop at Ollaytatumbo, but the rest will be new. Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca - staying with a family on one of the islands.
Packing begins the adventure.
I've been quiet with my blogs lately, but will be really quiet for two weeks... I return May 14 and will be sharing lots of photos.

25 tips

Received this in my email this morning and thought I'd share:

25 TIPS FOR A BETTER LIFE – 2008

1. Take a walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti- depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up the following statement, 'My purpose for today is ________

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea & water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts. 6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste energy on gossip, the past or negative thoughts…invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince & dinner like a pauper

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything

18. What other people think of you is none of your business

19. GOD heals almost everything.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Before going to bed: I am thankful for ________ Today I accomplished _________

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. Pray more; complain less.

Blessings,

Chrissie

The planets incline; they do not compel.

Visit http://www.chrissieblaze.com/ to find out more.

Wonder if these guys will still be in Cuzco when we get there?

The Reception

A fun time with the kids. The parents were great in providing lots of goodies and I am grateful it is up, over and I can take it down when I get back from Peru.
And as life would have it, one of the parents who happens to work in the building had to open up the building... as no custodian showed up. mmmm. Trust. The Universe provides once again. ...
Now I get to refocus my attention.
Getting ready for Peru :-)

Trust

The 11th hour and 59th minute.

I was aware of how yesterday was flowing. All the boards were brought over, I just needed to show up and hang them. I had only yoga at 5:00 and no other obligation.

I showed up. Work was still hanging from the previous show and some pieces were still in the case. ok, well I'll take them down and put them in the conference room.

Conference room is where all the boards I needed to hang were stored as well.

The thing was, there was a conference going on in the conference room!!!

"Excuse me, I so sweetly said, but I need to get these boards out of here" and my reply was they would only be another 15 minutes..... so I went to the powers that be and told the mayors secretary and she quickly responded by getting the custodian to get the boards out of there... much easier for me :-)

mmmm... I walk back into the conference room again, "Excuse me again," this time speaking with the mayor herself, there are boards still hanging from the middle school. Where can I put them?" I ask ever so sweetly........ she looked to the Superindentent of schools sitting right next to her and me who coincidently has his office at the school where these teachers happen to be.

"I'll call and have a custodian come".

ok. Life is good and I begin the process of placing boards along the hallway. Taking down the old work and replacing it with the new. It's now 1:30 and no one has come for the boards and now I need to case. I prepare to leave and in walks the teacher. Perfect timing.

He didn't need to come any sooner really. He needed to be there when I was ready and he was.

This quote from The Intenders came today:

"In fact, he said, as hard as it is to get used to, there are times when it's definitely in our highest good to have things come to us at the last minute. How else, he asked, would we learn about trust? "

I began putting things in the case, art - photos - quotes.... squeezing it all in. Done at 4:30!

Just enought time to go home and get ready for yoga class. Trust - even if it comes at the 11th hour, it still comes. Not always on our time - our comfort zone time - but as it should be.

Did I tell you how it just so happened that a group of town workers came out into the lobby just in time to help me move a shelf?

Thanks to the Universe for another round of Trust Lessons!

New Moon - Spring??

I like writing some intentions for the new moon. This one seems especially important as it's in Aries and we begin again. New cycle starts this circle of time.
It didn't really feel like spring yesterday. Cloudy and chilly and I still needed my winter coat.
But it IS spring and with it the new moon in Aries in my 8th house. Interestingly this is the house of taxes and I'm sure one of those planets is playing havoc because it has been an odd money week. I "miscalculated" my milage.... don't ask. Works out that the money Bush is giving us goes right back to him.... mmmm. so much for stimulating the economy...
A VERY old bill came calling... At first I allowed it all to hit me. WHAM!
But then decided I can choose to let this get to me or "it is what it is" - deal with it and let it go.
Non-attachment.
After all, I have the money, but it was the old "pain-body" awareness that I saw. Thanks Eckhart. You know what I mean if you're reading A New Earth. So, oh yeah, I see that. I see where it's coming from. So..... seeee YA!
And this is what brings me to my intention. To catch this stuff you have to be present with what you are feeling. Be concious of your thoughts and how you are feeling.
My intention is being in the present moment NOW. Also to deal with it NOW. Procrastination gets me into trouble and way too stressful.
Aries is about ACTION and that is what I intend. Taking action as it comes up.
Letting go of stuff I have no control over (taxes). I can choose to feel differently about them, or to think differently, though.
From Chamalu':
"The past is a corpse....Don't go through life carrying a casket on your back. Mistakes aren't bad in themselves. If we are conscious, they form part of a valuable teaching. Extract the nectar of what has happened to give you power for the present. (love that) The worst we can do is to wander disoriented on the periphery of the present, which each day, upon awakening, we are given. Forget what has happened: the future is only the harvest of the seed you plant in the present..... the best way to have an acceptable future is to be happy in the present."

LOVE WHAT EVER YOU DO, MAKING YOUR ACTIONS A MEDITATION.
I do what I love... and love what I do.
Make it ALL a work of art :-)

I under estimated how long this project of mine would take.
I collected all the boards (35 40"x60" foamcore boards). I wrap them in paper - black, purple, blue.... and then begin mounting the art and photos and quotes.
I have photos of the children and match them up to their art. Clever quotes are strategically placed here and there. I keep printing out photos, ones that catch that perfect moment of a child being in the creative moment.
I've been working on this for two weeks now - every spare moment. I was thinking it would have been brought over to the exhibit space by now - having it hung by today.
Nope. I still have 4 boards laid out but not "attached" and two boards that need to be done.
I ran out of tape - the one that roles out so easily.
I ran out of ink. (Magenta - yikes!)
I ran out of steam.
Yesterday after working all day long, through lunch, with the time cutting close to yoga class. I had to stop and clean up in order to go home to get ready for my class.
Exhausted. Hungry. and what do I do... spill sequins all over the floor. Sequins and rhinestone scattered about - "WHAT THE #*%! "
I stopped.
I laughed.
I took a picture.
ok. Putting it in perspective..... it is what it is.
There are times when we have these grand ideas. We expect it to be as perfect as in our mind, but I wonder if there isn't a larger "law" out there that we need to learn from.
It happens as it should happen, no matter how much I push my agenda. So I learn to let go. I allow the flow of the process to unfold.
There's a matter of balance. Putting my energy into something to the exclusion of all else does not make for a healthy life.
Why do I forget this?
Next year when I look back at this blog.
Here is a reminder to my Self..................
START EARLIER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, so ya see that face of mine, with arms open wide............
well, that's close to how I feel because I finished my tax preparation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not as painful as I anticipated. I think I had help from the tax gods. Yesterday, after having a hard time getting into that left brain, I called out, "I could use a little HELP here!!!"
Once I said it, I found the missing Amex statement and the rest just seemed to flow. (Thank you) It took less than half the time it took me last year. My system got a little better this year. Still needs some tweaking though.
Today is one month before I leave for Peru. Meeting my traveling buddy in Houston and then there is that wonderful "me pictured above" again.
This time we are adding Lake Titicaca and Arequipa. Going to Colca Canyon to see the condors. I have been reading so much about the prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor.
More on that later.
I'm just so happy the taxes are done :-)
I feel like dancing ... instead I'll go out for a nice walk.

My passion project

My journeys take me into the next big project - the exhibit of the young child.

Here lies a passion.

After teaching, or more like "inspiring", approximately 60 preschoolers in class, (no, not at the same time) now is the time to put it all together. I take pictures as I go along in class, because it is the process that really should be focused on here, not the end result.

I throw in some quotes about the importance and benefit of art and it's "showtime!!"

I usually underestimate how long this really takes and go into a bit of panic mode. Fortunately, the Universe has provided as I had some days off from teaching to do this. The art and photos are displayed on foam-core boards - 35 of them, plus a case for some sculptural work. A lot of work, but I'm passionate about it, so I put my heart and soul into it. Maybe work is not the right term.

The panic comes in mostly because there are other obligations... getting my taxes together being one of them. oh well.

Gratitude

The inside of the rose reminds me of the GoGratitude symbol. Here I am today very grateful to have some "catch-up" time. I really need to vacuum and put some things away. I may even start on my taxes and end the astrological year by closing the books :-)
Either way, I am stopping to smell the roses. Each time I walk by them, I stop. I keep wanting to photograph them!!!
They remind me to stop and go within. A good day to listen to that still voice within.

4 Directions

I received some beautiful roses for helping a friend and could not resist playing around with photographing them.

A rose is a rose...

or is it.

Altered photo of a rose taken this morning.

Playtime!

Yes to Life

thank You God for most this amazing day:

for the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a true blue dream of sky;

and for everything which is natural

which is infinite

which is yes

- e.e.cummings

New Moon intentions for Pisces

Courage to Play

I get these great newsletters in my mailbox and this one especially hit me as this is what I am focusing on in my art classes... Play. The older we get the harder it seems to let go and play. This is probably why I prefer to teach young children - they have no problem with this at all.
Play, experiment and discover for me seem to be a prerequisite to making art.
We get too serious when we get older and so much of our lives take on numerous responsibilities so we NEED to take time to play.
When we come to the canvas or any other surface, we need to approach it with fresh eyes,
eyes of a child perhaps... open to possibilities and allowing art to move where it wants to go.

I just started reading Echart Tolle's book, A New Earth and so I thought I would share part of Robert Genn's newsletter here. You can go here to see it in it's entirety and subscribe as well.

In his latest book, "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose," Eckhart Tolle discusses how the human mind is almost constantly engaged in private thoughts. These inner rumblings reflect our personal trials, dreams, needs and obligations. To function properly as a creative person, an artist must divorce himself from some of this clutter and begin a process of rebirth into another mode. "Even though people may travel," says Eckhart Tolle, "they tend to remain where they have always been--in their head."
Early yesterday morning, my daughter Sara and I were painting at the end of the Laniloa Peninsula, Oahu, Hawaii. From a parked car nearby, a young man in a white shirt and tie watched her out of the corner of his eye. As I passed by, he rolled down his window and said, "That girl just took out a canvas and started painting. She hardly drew things out at all."
The fellow and I struck up a conversation. He turned out to be a Teaching Assistant from the nearby Brigham Young University at La'ie. He was "having a quiet read and some meditation."I told him the girl was my daughter and that she was working "alla prima--all at once." Then he said, "It looks quite a lot like play."
Later, when Sara and I were going over our day's efforts, we agreed the young man had got to the truth of the matter. As far as plein air painting is concerned, play has its own methodology: Feel and relish the environment.
Get into a "be here now" state of mind.
Start your work anywhere.
Look cleanly and with an uncluttered mind.
Be joyous and unencumbered in your stroke.
Work everywhere at once when you can.
Try to leave your strokes alone.
Do not labour or think too much.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
Let the painting tell you what it needs.
Though it may be small, make your picture big.
Without being a wimp, serve your subject.
Don't verbalize your sight--sense the being.
Surrender to earth's beauty and wisdom.
If you make errors, fix them in good humour.
Be suspicious of what you've been told, how you ought to do things, and what you ought to think.
Best regards,Robert
PS: "Van Gogh didn't say, 'That's just an old chair.' He looked, and looked, and looked. He sensed the Beingness of the chair." (Eckhart Tolle)
Esoterica: The plein air act requires a mental transformation and a shift in consciousness. Playful looseness is a virtue. Running on old methodologies or rigid game-plans can be detrimental. Sara and I both remarked on the value of amateurism. Amateurism can induce clear sight and creative optimism. At least you are not held in check by a lot of stuff you already know.
Current clickback: If you would like to see selected, illustrated responses to the last letter, "Seeing red" about the observation of colour in our world, please go to: http://clicks.robertgenn.com/seeing-red.php

Youth Art Month

We celebrated the 28th year of Youth Art Month yesterday. This is the Harrison Council for the Arts program, and a successful one at that. I've taken on the role of chairperson for it and have been involved with it for about 24 years.

It involves putting together an art exhibit of students work in public and private schools in the town. Three high schools, two middle schools and four elementary schools. 12 teachers participated.

Although it is work pulling this all together, the teachers are amazing in their dedication and participation in this program. Each year I am more impressed with the art the students create and when the reception is in full force, the town house is energized with proud parents, students and teachers.

For me, I get to see students that I've had in preschool and elementary school. It's been a long road as some of my previous students are now in the upper grades, and some have graduated and gone on to art schools. I like to think I've given them a good start in the love of art and then passed them on to art teachers in school. It's amazing to see these kids, once upon a time playing with play dough and creating art with me at 3 or 4 years and now grown... actually, a bit of a shock when they are now taller than me!

Where'd everyone go?

Most artists know that wonderful feeling of being oblivious to anything going on around you because you are so engrossed in the process of creating.
The other 22 children left. This child is always the last one, continuing to create. He told me yesterday that he loves art. I knew this. I can see the "acorn" in this child. Nothing distracts him from his work, except probably me. He looks up to smile every once in a while for the camera.
The Process of Creating!
This is when we are in touch with our inner self when the outside world falls away and we are in our bliss. Here is where I believe I am closest to that feeling of "enlightenment" which to me is that state of Being.
It is when the chatter has stopped. The inner critic is silenced. Time becomes nonexistent.
Creation is no longer in the mind, but rather moves lower in the body to the heart and into the soul, getting in touch with who we really are.
Good and Bad fall away.
It's only NOW and THAT is where I want to be.

Lunar Eclipse

I spent a good deal of time pondering that beautiful sight last night. The lunar eclipse.

I watched it slowly disappear in the comfort of my room until it was cast in the shadow of the earth. Here is where I wish I had a better camera, a telescope even to view this beautiful orb in our sky. Here's where I really got a sense of it's roundedness and what it must have been like for ancient one's to look upon this and wonder why it doesn't come crashing down on us.

So here is this moon in opposition to the sun. Moon in Virgo, still in my 12th house. The house of the unconscious, things hidden, secrets, the inner self, the spiritual, mystical side of life. Here is where the moon is.

Interestingly enough it is opposite my 6th house, where the sun is in Pisces. Pisces is the natural sign for the 12th house, but it is here where Virgo's house is. Virgo the analytical one. If the 12th is the unconscious, then the 6th is the conscious - out there in the world. It is the house of work. The house of service - service to others, also the house of health.

Here is the pull of the two, my analytical self wanting to know and digging deep into my subconscious mind, or trying to, to find answers.

All cast in shadow.

How symbolic.

I'm wondering what I did with my ring. A mindless moment? Did I subconsciously take it off and put it somewhere?

I'm wanting to know and I realize how much wanting to know things mean to me. There is a need to know.

As I was lying in bed, I was distracted from reading, because I had this theory that maybe the ring came off as I took the glove off my hand when I was cleaning... and John threw out the garbage! I entertained the thought of going out side and getting the bag, but it's way to cold and I'd have to get dressed and maybe the garbage men don't come tomorrow...... when in walks in wonderful hubby inquiring what was on my mind and told him.

"THIS IS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU"............ and goes out and brings in the garbage.

I didn't find it. I could have sworn this was the correct senario. Nope.

It made me think how attached we are to our ideas and theories about things.

It also brought to surface, into the light, how much it means to me to know. I need to know the how and why of things.

What hidden things need to come to light in order to know ourselves, reveal what makes us who we are....... what is hidden in the shadows that needs to come into the light?

(ps note my moon and forgot where i got it from)

I choose this...

THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER CHOICE

You don't have to buy from anyone.

You don't have to work at any particular job.

You don't have to participate in any given relationship.

You can choose.

You alone steer the course you choose in the direction of where you want to be today, tomorrow or in any distant time to come.

You hold the tiller.

You can decide to alter the course of your life at any time.

No one can ever take that away from you.

You can decide what you want and go after it.

It's always your next move.

This came from the http://www.thedailyguru.com/ and it's a reminder that we ALWAYS have a choice. I choose my reponses, my thoughts, my beliefs.... yes, even those deep-seated beliefs that you would never thought to go away... even those, with enough work, can be changed.

Change in consciousness. It is something we need to do to evolve here on this planet. We need to make the necessary changes about how we feel about this planet and every living thing on it. But first we start with ourself.

You can go here to learn more about achieving balance and harmony between the conscious and subconscious mind.

I've started to read Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth and finding it to be a very worthy read.

Vision Mini Quilt class

My friend Mai-Liis has been creating these wonderful art dolls. I took a class online at joggles.com and fell in love with the process. I made two dolls with the intention of making a lot more and now she has moved into healing art dolls and now this one with a background for it.
Here is some information regarding this class. Go to her website to see some amazing dolls from her previous class with healing dolls. Sorry I missed that one!

This is a sample of the Vision Mini Quilt class I will be teaching through Joggles.com, beginning March 7. The concept is a take-off from the "Vision Boards" you may have heard of....a cross between fantasy and subconscious plans for the future. The doll will be made separately, and can be added to the mini quilt (16 x 20) permanently or by the use of a few bits of Velcro. The mini quilt, serving as an extension for the doll which represents the maker of the art piece, is an easy entry into the realm of art quilts. I will assist each student in expressing a personal vision. My own doll has feathered arms for flying, and is adorned with many power objects. She is both beautiful and "tribal", perfectly at home in an ethereal setting which contains birds and flowers.

Law Of Attraction

http://www.abraham-hicks.com/YouTubeLOA.php
This is a new video from Ester Hicks on Abraham... Law of Attraction.
Some great stuff. In 5 parts, so you can taste a little, but once you watch, you'll want to watch the whole thing.
Life is Good.

Peace Frogs :-)

I found this frog at Pier 1 and being that I LOVE frogs and yoga... well, now he sits on my meditation desk. John wanted a picture of him for some school project, so I set him up on the stool we use to climb into bed for a picture. I love his peaceful face.
Our Peru Itinerary is set.
We are going for 2 weeks and it is going to be quite an adventure!
I need to get through two major exhibits before that, so I need to FOCUS... but my head is already in the clouds.............
LIFE IS GREAT!!!

In the flow of things....

I woke this morning feeling extremely blessed!

I love those kind of days... feeling grateful for my wonderful husband, grateful for my work and grateful for BLOGS! The internet, ways to connect that in the past we couldn't have imagined, (although someone did :-)

I had a wonderful class last night. I'm feeling more comfortable and confident and I love the class and the people in it. 6 students with different perspectives and it is a joy! It's stimulating my own ideas and it is exactly the forward move that I needed.

Back to Blogs.... I was thinking how important it is to share with others our excitment about the blessings in our life. When we feel good, we want to share it, and sometimes no one is around to share it with, for whatever reason. Too early in the morning to call anyone, husband is off to work, people are at a distance, maybe it's something our family just won't get... but we need to share with someone! Blogs! Here to share with anyone interested........

I thought of my artist/healer/traveling friend Mai-Liis that I have met because of the internet. She was able to share some wonderful news here in cyberspace rather than open her doors to the neighbors and release her joy (although I did recommend she do it anyway :-)

And there is dear sweet Carmen who shares this sentiment with me. It is one of my favorite blogs because she is so uplifting and strong and caring... she has become a blogger friend :-)

It has opened up a whole new exciting world, with friends around the globe that I can visit anytime.

Feeling blessed, filled with love to overflowing... this is a perfect way to wake to a new day.

Life is good.

thank you Universe :-)

Life is full of surprises.
The Universe has such a sense of humor! and at times can be very accomodating.
This morning I woke up wanting a "do-over" - yes, too many should-haves on my mind.
Mondays are busy for me... ususally, starting with bringing mom to therapy, then it continues with 2 art classes back to back and yoga to end, coming home around 7:15.
It's snowing. (could have sworn they said 40 something and sunny)... anyway, thanks Universe for providing me with a partial Sunday :-)
Now I can go PAINT!!!!!!
This came in my mailbox and will take it's advice:
AQUARIUS (04 February US/Canada/UK/Europe - 05 February NZ/Australia)
The heavens are giving you permission to follow your heart, with every ounce of your being. Whether it's a romantic love affair or a creative passion, if it's fun and it gets you excited, then it's got to be your No. 1 priority. Life is too short not to put your needs first. Make this the year when your sense of play, fun and creativity is just as important as anything else in your life. Find the right balance between work and play.

2 paintings

This is the still life from class... (Painting 101 :-) Needs a little tweeking which I may do with the class on Tuesday. The one below is partly taken from an idea in Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. I painted on a collaged background which is kind of interesting. Different.
"Preparing for Flight" is one of those ideas that starts as one thing and ends up as something else. And as it should be when painting or creating... Allowing Spirit to come in... Allowing that Creative Self to come, call her the Muse, but it is when one stops THINKING about the painting and just paints.
She is visioning her journey about transformation. I painted in the Macaw and hawk fluff feather that was given to me as a gift on my birthday. Parts of it will be "refined" as well.

Solar Return

Sun has returned to the place of my birth... Happy Birthday to me :-)
and it has been a happy one. Wonderful cards and gifts. I have the day off to create.
Life is Good :-)

Mercury In The Solar Return Chart
Mercury Aspects Neptune
Neptune in aspect to Mercury in the solar return chart suggests working with the less clearly defined psychological drives such as compassion, creativity, and spirituality. Your sensitivity to subtle emotional connections among all people increases your concern for certain individuals in particular and humanity as a whole. You are able to acquire information through intuitive and psychic insights. Dealing with these subtle themes can lead to some uncertainty and confusion in the thinking process. Increased intuitive or psychic awareness can precede the ability to weigh this information for its accuracy. It is sometimes difficult to discriminate between what is really psychic and what is more closely akin to worry, fear, or false hope. It is also difficult to find practical applications for idealistic concepts and inspirations which are represented by this combination. Therefore, stress can sometimes be associated with the more spiritual manifestations of Neptune-Mercury aspects.

I'm counteracting that "uncertainty and confusion" with
I AM CLEAR ABOUT MY PATH AND I KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I treated this statement like a mantra yesterday and noticed that my path was actually very clear as I drove yesterday... I call it a "green light" day.
I had given into the faith that I would know what to do for classes as well. Learning as I went along last night, I know now how I need to alter my approach. I'm finding my groove in this new studio, acclimating myself. It's new. It's exciting. I'm open to possibilities and I'm growing.
This is going to be a great year!

Seagull

Kate who left a comment also left a link to power animals. Over the weekend, while cleaning up, I came across seagull feathers I collected at the beach......
thanks Kate :-)

The Seagull
Joy Freedom Perspective

Take a deep breath and let the spirit of the seagull fill you.

Soar in joy. Soar in freedom. Feel your power. You are the seagull!

The seagull knows that freedom is a state of mind and of the heart. She can teach you to let your heart soar on the wings of freedom and joy, no matter where you are and no matter what you are doing. She will help lift you out of the sands of worry and petty concerns and into the soaring heights of being one with all that is: one with the ocean, one with the land, one with the vast and glorious sky.

The seagull will also teach you perspective. Whenever you care to, she will take you for a ride, up into the sky and across the vast ocean, where you will see that your cares are as small as the grains of sand on the beach. She will teach you that your power is limitless and unbounded and that all you need to do is stretch out your wings and let life carry you.

Feel the freedom in your heart. Smell the salt air as you soar across the vast ocean. Feel the wind beneath your wings lifting you higher and higher, endlessly higher. Fill yourself with all of this power, the power to be all that you truly are, fully and freely expressed. For you are the seagull, and freedom is yours!

Knowing

I spent a good part of yesterday cleaning and clearing the bedroom. This area, according to Feng Shui is my Fame and Reputation area as well as my Prosperity area. Both were cluttered.

I swept away the cobwebs and set the intention that I too was clear on my path. Knowing and seeing clearly my path.

Setting an intention is powerful, but it's pretty hard to set an intention if you don't know which direction to take. Knowing is key.

I had a conversation with my son the other night about "knowing". We are both Aquarius's and that is our key phrase, "I know". I recalled how he always said this as a child and whenever you told him something... he would say, "I know".

I tend to say it as well, when I do know, that is. But there is an issue of not wanting to know, which he sees in me. This is my LaLaLand syndrome of not wanting to know. But that is another story.........

Knowing something in order to pass it on, teach it. How well do you know something before you feel comfortable in teaching or sharing it?

In art, you paint and draw well those things you know. Knowing comes from experience, not from books or here say. It has to be in your muscle in order to pass it on.

How can I teach a yoga posture if I have not experienced it myself?

This is what I intend for myself: To clearly see my path and to know, which is to have confidence , that I am where I am supposed to be. To know my spiritual path, my creative path, which are tied up together... to know it in order to teach it.

To stay true to my path, listening to what is in my heart and not be distracted by "thinking" what someone else may want. I cannot teach what I do not know.

In walks honesty. Being true to one's Self. Being honest with oneself on what it is I know.

Anything is possible!

want a little inspiration?? Amazing how we adapt to situations that life gives us. This woman is amazing! http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=909829629&channel=687582926

Awarded!

A most wonderful blogger friend sent me an award. How cool! It's always good to know that somehow you contribute and make a difference in someone's life... someone out there is paying attention. Listening.

Sometimes just one comment, one word, one tiny smile or gesture, can make a difference in someone's day. One encouraging word. One kind action.

This blogging community has opened up an amazing world of friendships. Friendships with people I have never met face to face, but have become friends with just as if they lived next door.

One blogger friend became a traveling companion! We met online and traveled to Peru together and we are planning another trip. Without this internet and blogging, we may have missed that opportunity.

Life is so amazing.

You bloggers out there... YOU MAKE MY DAY!!!

I'm supposed to send this on.. I'll do it later, but for now, thanks to Carmen for my award... My first one :-)

Yesterday was my first class in the new studio!!

I'm back :-)

After a most wonderful yoga class, I continued with meditation. After class and a short relaxation, there is an option to stay and take the meditation class which is geared to suit our needs. Susan chose a meditation through the chakras where you would meet a "guide", be it animal, an ancestor, a saint... or whatever appears to you.
The images that came to me were mostly animals.
The first chakra, Snake came to me. His message was that I needed to move more. Walk. I move enough, but it is in and out of the car, short trips in and out of places. I found Snake in the jungle, which to me meant, Walk in Nature more. Walking clears the head and I have become lazy with this. I thanked him and said good-bye. I will at least go out for a walk, even if it's around the block.
We spiraled up to the 2nd chakra, where Turtle appeared. He seemed to be reiterating what Snake said. "You need to come out of your shell, your home, your comfort zone. If you want to move, you need to reach out, be courageous. Move. Act."
Hyena took his time to materialize at the 3rd chakra. He seemed unable to commit! But soon he was clear. "Don't take it so seriously. Laugh more!"
At the heart center, in the 4th chakra, what appeared first were large eyes, then moving away to reveal the side of a face. A lion's face. An image of a male lion appeared lying down. Maybe he had just opened his eyes. His message to me was, "When you need to rest, rest. Work when you have to work. Balance them".
I did not see an animal at the 5th, throat chakra, but a name, Peter, came to me. I only saw light, a sphere of light, more like "spirit". My message was to trust my own "Voice" - shine.
Eagle appeared in the 6th, third eye center. Take in the bigger picture. (I have been caught in too many details) Changing my perspective, my perception of things, I can view it from a different angle. I had an insight here about my whiny, resistant behaviour to clearing out the closets where I work. This was actually a good thing for me, but I fought it as hard as I could until I couldn't any longer. The Universe, through the use of Ron, said "enough". You need to move through this, clear out the old stuff (aka, useless crap). Now I was being grateful for this.
At the crown, was butterfly. "Be Light. Time for change and transformation."
The tools are there: move in order to act, but act with lightness, balance and in joy. Come out of your shell and shine. Be true to yourself. Play. Laugh, and it will transform into beauty and joy.
This is what happens when I give time to myself.
Take time for yourself.
Namaste'

The Middle Way

To be so engrossed in the moment as to not know what is going on around you. To be so absorbed that the past and future are no where to be found. There is only NOW.

This is where I want to be. Of course there really is only now. We are continuously only in Now.

Unfortunately, I tend to get stuck in the Now thinking about the future or past. Lately, it's the future and in more of an anxious state of "how it's all going to get done" than I care to be. It does all get done. That which doesn't really didn't need to be.

It is the path of the Middle Way I would like to walk. This morning I thought, "How can I just be content with myself without being influenced by outside circumstances?"

If something goes awry in my life, I am effected by it as it is with when something happens that is good. The pendulum is swinging hard.

Last week in yoga class, I was filled with doubts - not being 'good enough'. Am I on the right path?

Yesterday's class brought me an answer, or so I thought at the moment. One of the students came up to me after class with much appreciation and praise. I felt I was serving my purpose.

But why must outside circumstances dictate how we feel. It should come from within.

I wonder if that is what Christ really meant when he said we must become as little children in order to enter Heaven.

Children are in the present moment, not stuck wondering how they will approach something, worrying about the outcome or if they should have gone in a different direction.

They just do it. Then they do it again. They play.

We all know that feeling of being in the moment when we are playing or creating.

*Bliss*.

It's all there is. No self-conscious obsessiveness. We're in Heaven - a state of Being.

So today I'll attempt to be child-like. Placing one step in front of the other and enjoying to the fullest each moment. Each present moment.

Delight in checking off the list of things to do.

Make it a game.

Play.

Play Time!

"All is well, and you will never get it done. Life is supposed to be fun. No one is taking score of any kind, and if you will stop taking score so much, you will feel a whole lot better -- and as you feel a whole lot better, more of the things that you want right now will flow to you. You will never be in a place where all of the things that you are wanting will be satisfied right now, or then you could be complete -- and you never can be. This incomplete place that you stand is the best place that you could be. You are right on track, right on schedule. Everything is unfolding perfectly. All is really well. Have fun. Have fun. Have fun! "

The above quote is from Abraham and it is something I really needed to hear this morning.

What would it look like to have it all done? I wonder if even Death is having it all done. I mean, if we are energy and continue, then it never is done.

Back to the mundane....

All I really want to do is have fun with it all. I don't mind so much having 50 million things to do, but I don't like having the feeling that I might not get it done or that it crowds my brain so that I can't focus.

I just want to have fun with it. I usually have fun with something when I am in the moment, focused on the task at hand, oblivious to anything else around me. I love being in that "space".

I chose coffee and conversation with hubby today instead of yoga. I watched the clock tick away getting closer and closer to 9:00. ("Can I be ready in 20 minutes... 15.... no friggin' way can I be ready in 4 min., so just enjoy the coffee")

I woke up thinking about snakes and how this images is so strong in different cultures... The kundilini serpent from our Eastern friends and the snake from our friends south of the border, in the Andes. Reading Villoldo's book, The Four Insights, he referrs to the serpent as part of the four levels of perception. This is our physical world, our survival skills, how we can be effective in our every day world. Serpent is helpful in putting one foot in front of another to get us through the day. We need to pay the bills :-)

Don't much care to spend too much time there. I'd rather break out of this materialistic, survival mode into that of doing more creative and fun stuff. Create. Paint. Play.

That's where I would rather hang out. That's the place where your bank account really dosn't matter or what car you are driving. ( Do you really need that ------- Hummer?!?)

So this brings me to the above quote. Today I want to have some fun. Change my perception. It gets done when it gets done. It always does. Why stress over it!

Let the serpent rest and play. It's Saturday!