We ARE worthy

Morning meditation on Easter Morning..

I think on these things..

REbirth.. REnewal..

and the deeper mystery of life..

it's changes, transformations and how to rise above the fears that change..

unwanted and quick change.. creates.. change that comes to us when we do not understand what is happening or why.

The pain that comes along with the knowledge of someone else's pain.. compassion, empathy.. and the fervor of praying so hard it just has to change the outcome!

I think on this and the miracles that surround it..

Easter is the celebration of Christ rising...

ascension

is the message to us saying there is no death...

and therefore should not be feared..

then why do we fear it..

because we are not so sure..

How do we rise above the fear of losing, not being good enough, strong enough, loved enough..

In my mandala, I sent out prayers to the four directions of the Earth..

to the sun,

to the land,

to the waters..

to all of us.. for peace.. for love..

to overcome small pettiness, hurts from our childhood, from words spoken carelessly..

for healing..

We are worthy of all the abundance the earth offers.. we are entitled to happiness and the right to live a life that is secure.. that supports our basic needs..

healthy food, clean water, the right to breathe fresh air...
We should all be living a life that is filled with joy.. the opportunity to use our talents..

the encouragement and support to move forward -

discovering our true purpose,

our higher spiritual reason for existing.

We all deserve unconditional love.

Christ was all about love.

Whatever your beliefs are, we all share that..

that we are worthy of love..

I love you :-)

Namaste'

Blossoming to the edge

Spring is a time to blossom..

we open our doors and windows..

take a deep breath of fresh air..

we grow.

We open ourselves up to new possibilites.

How much we grow is up to us.

How much risk do we want to take..

how far can we move outside our comfort zone..
how close to the edge can we go...

Nourish yourself.

Bathe in sunlight,

drink in all the beauty that surrounds you.

Make new creative decisions,

expand.

New beginnings are on the horizon...

Angels among us...

I went to a lecture the other night and I was very aware of the continuing insights I was receiving.. and this even before the meditation. In this lecture, I was reminded of my path.. where I have been on this journey and those synchronicity moments that led me along the way. Reminded of the events leading to where I am today, I thought, if we all took the time, we would be in a constant state of awe. One thing leading to another until we reach our full potential. I had felt I had come full circle sitting there... another lecture years ago, committing to my path, the path of the artist. Here I was recommitting myself. Affirming my path and the direction I am taking and feeling very good about it. One of the ideas discussed was to take those challenging moments and look at them and ask, "what are they teaching me?" Why has this been placed upon my path, and what can I learn from it, what am I missing.. how can it make me grow... This usually happens afterwards.. we see in hindsight what that challenge was there for. How conscious are we in the moment of this "challenge" to ask that question... something I will work on. When we make a commitment to something, the Universe conspires to help us along the way... the path becomes clear for us, our vision laser-like. Yes. We can cut through the debris, knowing we can get to the destination.. the destination of our Self. It's the me.. the real, authentic "me" - the reason I am here.. to use my talents/gifts to the best of my ability. Allow the acorn to sprout and grow to it's magnificence. I'm not sure if I will know the "highest" purpose, whose lives I touch, what difference I am making.. but if I can know just some of it, I am satisfied. A simple decision can make all the difference to someone else's life. Know that. A decision made to do one thing differently, or try something new.. venture out to an unknown place.. can change the course of history.. and why not allow that to be you.. or me.. all of us. To bring to this life our highest potential, our courage to create, would this not be one wild ride! To dream the biggest dream. Not play safe, nor to doubt our desires, feelings, thoughts... but instead feel the embrace of angel wings gently guiding us to our true destiny. Some days we take gentle steps... and other days, we need to skip, jump, run... fly!

EVIDENCE

Evidence of Spring.. my brother unwrapped the fig trees today. I went over in time to help a little bit, taking the tarps off the smaller tree.

Here, the tarps are laid out to dry.

before that, John and I went to the beach for a walk and it was so nice to find these flowers in bloom and the buds on the trees...

evidence

that

spring

is

finally

here!

Art and Joy

The children's art exhibit is opening this Sunday. During approximately 20 classes, I work with preschoolers creating art, taking pictures... capturing moments in time. Moments of concentration, the true meaning of living in the moment. Being present.

The satisfaction of a work completed.. a thrill to watch their expressions of pleasure and joy.

They teach me the real meaning of play, exploration.. of creativity.

Along with the art, their photos, I have posted quotes. I do this mostly for the adults that view the exhibit.. held in the Municipal Building in Harrison .. so they can be reminded how important creativity is in all our lives.. We need to return to play, taking time for ourselves to enjoy the things we love to do.. sing...dance...paint.. glue.. stamp... photograph.. CREATE!

Rediscover the joy within you that you once had as a child.. take some time today to play and create and see how the world around you dissolves....

Eastern rising

Spring. New beginnings. Uranus moved into Aries for some change.. big change! Lots of newness.
Looking towards the east, new horizons, I begin to ponder what is coming. What am I moving towards. What surprise do you have in store for me Uranus?
We watched the full moon rise the other night and it was such a spectacular site to see. Big orange glowing orb coming up over the water. It filled me!
Now it is Spring.. finally. It has been a long winter, but I have enjoyed it much more this year than any other living in our new place.. more room to move and play and create. It made all the difference.
Our exhibit was exciting and opened up new doors for us. Both of us sold our art and we both feel very blessed about that. Validation! Yes. We are on the path we should be on....
My focus on the Art of the Young Child has begun. Printing out photos of them, quotes to go along with the art work.. and I'm beginning to feel the pull between things. Tension.
Still need to do my taxes, but at least they are gathered in the same place. Camp order is almost done. These are the necessities of life right now.
I take it on.
They all take time and I juggle it.. trying to balance it all between teaching classes and taking care of other obligations and taking care of myself. I finally got an adjustment after over a year and making an appointment with the dentist after a broken tooth. The scales tend to tip towards the side of "others" and I pay the price.
How to fix that... my lesson in balance. Taking the time for me....
I do with my art, my mandalas as they are my greatest teachers right now.. and for now they tell me to look east.. towards new horizons. Keep open for new opportunities and
ASK FOR HELP.

focusing on the light..

I love reading D.K Brainards horoscopes each week.. Words for the People.

Today, part of it, pertaining to my rising Virgo and Uranus in my 7th house, I read this:

In his thousands of channeled readings, American mystic Edgar Cayce repeatedly said that art and creativity are the most powerful and clear ways for humans to bring Divine energy and intelligence into the world. With Uranus, the ruler of your 5th House of creativity, sitting on the volatile Aries Point in your 7th House of relationships, this is a sacred time in which your art (and artful response to the fear, polarization and uncertainty of the times) can inspire the world to envision and create a better future. The Aries Point, which the Sun further activates as we build up to Sunday’s equinox, always invokes the collective consciousness somehow. The picture I see here is that by choosing to radically shift your relationship energy and emphasize those relationships where creativity, innovation, optimism and transformation are present, you are actually shifting the foundations of our society and making a better world possible. I mean, how else is it going to happen?

My husband just called down to me from upstairs that my art was compassionate. Originally, my husband was doing the art show on his own and was calling it, Dark Matters... too negative for me.. and he invited me to share the exhibit and therefore of course we needed to add some light... Thus, The Dark and Light Matters became the title of the show.

Both do matter. We need them both. We need the dark to rest, to renew our selves so we can move into the light more refreshed. We need balance.. too much dark is not good.. we get depressed.

Balance. Yin and Yang.

I can appreciate the light.. Light.. so much more these days after experiencing some pretty scary "darkness"... and that's what our show brought out to anyone who views it.

I choose to focus on the good, positive side - compassion, love, light! This is what I say in my art. At least the mandalas.. not always with the assemblages.

It's nice to be validated here and with a nod from the Universe saying, Yes, you are on the right path.

thank you :-)

Art show

These are the pieces I sold in the show.. they went to good homes. I loved creating them and now, like children, I send them on their way...

Creating art and releasing it into the world is such a great feeling... and it makes room to create something new.. I am so very grateful for everyone who came and shared this wonderful experience.. I sold two mandala prints along with these three assemblages and I'm thrilled to have them out in the world :-) I created mandala cards.. all went out the door. Thank you.

John sold some of his work as well, so we both came home very happy.

Again, we find that we have very good friends... and made some new ones.
Namaste'

Art Show this weekend

Anyone in the area of Harrison, NY is welcome to our opening reception on

Saturday, March 5

at Masterpiece Framing

243 Halstead Ave. Harrison, NY

2-4 pm

My husband and I will be exhibiting our art including assemblages, mandalas and drawings.

Refreshments and music

(very excited :-)

The Awakening

Under the blanket of snow, seeds stir, break open.

One warm day, sprouts peeked through the ground, offering us their intention of renewal.

I too awake from winter's slumber...

ready to offer my internal messages,

my gleanings of this deep introspective time.

I bring what was buried inside, out into the world... my offerings.

Why am I here?

I have guessed this is a part of it...

...what brings me joy flows out into the world...

Awakening to the gifts and sharing them.

Thoughts become....

We have all heard that we are what we eat... but we are also what we think.

Our thoughts define us.

Where we put our attention is what we draw towards us..

Law of attraction.

"All that we are is a result of what we have thought.

The mind is everything. What we think, we become."

~Buddha

We become the light if we choose to focus on the light

and looking towards beauty begets more beauty.

When in fear and doubt,

turn.

Look out a different window.

It gives me a different perspective on thinking - that we can change so much in our lives by doing this and I wonder what keeps us from it..

"Wait..

I can change all this by changing my thoughts on it."

Enough thinking on the good stuff will change a belief.

Believing in this change has to accompany the thoughts, otherwise you will be counteracting it.

Can we change our whole perception of the world???

Can we all heal ourselves and others???

Can we create a world of peacefulness and joyfulness and love???

Move in that direction..

Let your thoughts be ones of gratitude.

Thank you for reading my blog.

(and turn off the TV :-)

Heart Chakra

Inspired by a conversation on color.. green in particular and what went with it.. I played with greens and pinks as these are the colors of the heart chakra. Challenging to limit myself to a few colors but there are 3 shades of green and used a burgandy as another shade of pink.
I've been wanting to do some mandalas that are focused on chakra and this one is for the heart center.. being grounded in love.
Love sets us off into flighty directions at times, making us feel light as if our feet barely touch the ground... but here I am saying that my love.. your* love helps to ground me. Gives me comfort and stability and helps me to keep my heart open and brave. Yes, you* give me courage and confidence to go out and be my Self and try new things.
I love you*.
you* = my hubby :-)

Mid point

We are at the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.. Imbolc.. Candlemas and the groundhog didn't see his shadow- supposedly we will have an early spring... mmmmm.
Tonight is the new moon and a great time to set intentions.
Mine?
They are to bring my inner Self out into the world more... let the light within shine.. it's a process that I keep working at and little by little I am bringing the me.. the real me.. out into the world via art and teaching and yoga.. and also not to play so small and safe but to open up and take more risks with my art.. my spiritual practice.
Ironically, it's all happening more from inside these days as again weather is keeping us in. But the internet.. definitely ruled by Uranus/Aquarius.. allows it to happen that we CAN share our true selves out into the world.. and to a greater audience... Community.. very Aquarian.
We can "be" with friends and all sorts of people we will never meet in person.. amazing, huh...
It's also a time for me to do some internal spiritual dwelling.. keeping myself clear on what exactly I should be sharing... my heart rather so much in my head..
Winter is a time to go within (nature being our example) and become less active, more receptive. The weather forces us all to slow down.... and so it is.
The art exhibit is in a month and preparation for it is my focus.. Exposure.
and then for tomorrow.. the Chinese new year.. Metal Rabbit.. so much to celebrate.
Here's to new beginnings!

Potential

This morning as I worked on my birthday mandala

I thought about

how we are born with the potential

to be... to do

become

whatever/whoever we desire

because we are born with

free will.

We get to choose.

My first title - the thoughts that rummage through my mind-

was "beans and buds"

they both have potential

beans into coffee

buds into blossoms

but only if there is nurturing

water, sun

some grinding..

and of course that thought gave rise to

am I using all my potential

all my gifts

Life is a gift

and in return for it

I believe we give back to life

all we are capable of

all the love and blessings of giving to others

in whatever way or form

we can

WE ARE THE GIFT!

Waiting Room Mandala

Waiting

for

you.

While I wait, it gives me time

to listen within

but instead

I hear so much outside my self

and try not to make judgements

Sometimes I find compassion rising

and other times

I learn so much more about myself

People come and go

but I continue to sit and wait for you

conversations change

but

I

remain

the

same.

This must be a record...

waking to snow again here in NY...
although I must say, it is really beautiful to look at...

it look so heavy

and so very full

clinging..

and now the fun begins...

digging out the car once again..

where do I put this stuff?!?!

community

Union

joining together

community.

These are the thought that entered my mind as I created this mandala.

Like-minded souls coming together

to share their piece of truth.

We live on the outer edge of the wheel

each of us going about our lives.

It is a special moment as we enter into union with another

or a group with common interests..

joining together

coming into the center

of

what truly matters.

Love.

Reap what you sow

Whatever seed you plant, that will be what comes to fruit. We all know that if you plant an apple seed, it will be apples that you will feast upon when the fruit ripens.
Why would it be any different with our thoughts... where my attention lies is where things will come to be.. my loving thoughts will manifest into loving attention on those things around me. If I look to the outside world focused on beauty.. that is what I will see.
Obvious.. no?
Well, why do we...I.. keep forgetting.. I won't speak for you. Only myself.
Sometimes we dig our heels in, stubbornly seeing only our side of the situation... only our own perspective.. and we know there is always another way to look at something.

I had in mind an idea... but for some odd reason, I could not find what I was looking for.. I looked and looked because there was this IDEA I had.. and I could not let go... I searched and searched. Moments of hope whithered away when I still turned up empty handed...
Finally, this morning I had a shift. Let it go. I wrote in my journal, did morning pages.. questioning the situation.. why, why could I not find what I was looking for.. did I even HAVE it.. doubts entered but nooooo, I do, I know I do... but the good thing was out of it came more unpacked boxes and I put more stuff away, progress of a different sort. It was good, very good that I was also finding other things.. things I needed to use.
Then another idea... If you continue to come upon a brick wall, take another path.
Change your mind.
I did.
I was planting a seed, but for some reason I expected a different outcome. Maybe it just isn't ripe yet and I need to wait with it.. be patient.
Instead with a shift in my willing to let go, something else entered into the picture and I became just as excited about it.
thanks for the lesson Universe.

layers

I was thinking about healing and how it comes in layers. I would love for it to happen instantaneously... but find it comes in waves.. in layers.
This is the second mandala I did while waiting for John yesterday.. the other one is here.
It is what helps keep me from worrying and freaking out by keeping my mind focused. The snow is what had me concerned, but mandala helped me get through it.. keeping me calm and using it as prayer.
I believe our healing abilities come when we are in balance, so I try to do what brings balance. Bring the body, mind and emotions into balance. Easy to say, not so hard to follow when you are pulled in many directions by the outside world. One MUST come to a point where you give back to yourself the nurturing you need... quiet time, good healthy food, rich relationships, and even having to say "no thank you"... to turn inward to find your own answers, live your own truth and find what makes you deliriously happy and go there :-)
We learn in layers. We heal in layers.. moment by moment... learning to be absorbed in each moment, being the best we can be.
Savor each and every one.
Namaste'
Doreen

Mandala's Magic....

The above mandala in the round is from my friend Kie and given as a gift to my husband for healing. Her mother in law made it and it is so very beautiful and special and hung where we see it all the time. Thank you Kie. My husband is deeply grateful.
I love mandalas - making them and seeing how they are made from others, from my many friends from the Mandala Oasis group to others found on facebook. They have the magical quality of calm for me. I become centered while making them and have been creating them in abundance this past year - one of the benefits of the year past.. thank you.
Looking back, there are those gems, those moments when you realize how strong you are, how you can actually move through a challenging situation and find yourself on the other end of it.
This is something to remember.
When you go through a crisis, and then know when another crisis comes around, you can say: I did it before, I can do it again... and this too shall pass. It always does.
There is always the other side of the door - grow through it!
There's where mandalas magic lies.. in it's presence.. a centering calm... a grounding... the Now.
Being in the present moment is the only place you can find peace.. never in the regrets of the past or the fears/worries of the future...never.
Only here.
Only now.
and that's where healing comes from. being in the now and enjoying this moment.
loving this moment.
being love.
and then sharing it.
I send a new year's message to you, my friends.. one that wishes you to always look to love for your answer. It will never steer you wrong.
I wish you all those deep dreams and desires to become manifested. To know your true north, your purpose in being and share it.
Shine a light on your talents
and may 2011 show you how wonderful you are.
Namaste'
Doreen