Permission to Play

May we all be as the little child coming out to play.

Coming out of our composed, adult, responsible self for a bit of wild mad playtime!

I wish you less stress and more joy.

Pure spontaneous joy!

Give yourself some permission to play this holiday season.

Give this gift to yourself.

More blessings

I am grateful for the library because that is where I am now.. no computer for now and that may be a blessing in disguise. I found a "computer guy" in town.. he came this morning to pick up the computer and get rid of a virus and clean her up...
A big change in attitude today even with a packed laundromat.
It was an opportunity to be pleasant amongst the chaos.
Picked up a new color for the bedroom too.
A good day

Open Arms

I find it amazing how some days one wakes and just feels great and other times.. not so much.
I feel good today, and I am sure it is because I am aware of life's blessings. This is where my focus is.. the good stuff, all those wonderful things that are going right in my life.
The students I work with, watching them produce some amazing, creative work - a big blessing. I love it when I am giving a student the opportunity to express themselves in some way and it "clicks".
I am feeling good that I was able to help someone special financially and in return it came back to me four-fold!
Today is a day I want to open my arms and take it all in. I want to embrace each moment and because this is what I WANT and focusing on that, that is what the Universe provides more of.
Placing your focus on the good stuff and more good stuff is what appears.
Namaste'

Today I appreciate assistance

Gratitude Exercise here

Today a very nice man helped my mom with the wheelchair, went to the car with us to help some more and brought the chair back to the office... So many very kind people :-)
Thank you to all of you out there that hold doors open, are patient with others that are disabled, and do it all with a big smile.

being grateful

If you read the comment underneath this post, you'll know where the inspiration for this came from. Laura inspired this idea for me to post my gratitude for the many things I am blessed with. "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was thank you, that would suffice" is one of my favorite quotes from Meister Eckhart.
Yesterday, while at class, a previous student came by with her mom and dropped off a HUGE bin filled with art supplies. Paints, paints, paints... feathers, wood, beads, chenille, gems, foamie stuff... and empty oranizers! Thank you .. Thank you.
I will not have to buy paints for awhile and those sculpey molds are just the things I was looking for. I am soooo very grateful!
Life is good :-)

Bowing before the moon

Another doodle to comtemplate.

I thought about it in the shower and while driving to class.

What came up is the unpredictablness of life and how I deal with it. We expect certain things done in a certain way, other people's behaviours, just because it's been this way... and when something comes along to disturb the peace... well, here's where the challenge comes.

How present can I remain.

I tried not to react, but I did. I fell into victim mode,

"Why me, Why me, Why me... wwaaaaaaa, wwaaaa, wwwaaaa"

yeah, I could easily had a full blown out temper tantrum :-)

and then I remembered,

"don't shoot the messenger"

and I looked at it much more deeply.

I looked at my habitual behaviour. Stuff we repeatedly do from our past childhood.

Then, I looked at what was really happening behind all this. What was the REAL issue here and... Why is it pushing my button?

I began thinking about my habits, my rituals, my addictions... all those things that bring comfort to me, and the things that help to bring ease into my life.

Take astrology for instance.

Every day I read my personalized horoscope for the day right along with the general ones.. These include planetary aspects, rising signs, what house the moon is in...

It is ritual... and most likely an addiction andI wondered if I could be more intuitive without it.

This caught my attention:

It is from The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. -Shraddha: Faith, trust. We need to trust in the intelligence of the Universe and welcome any experiences that come our way. It is about accepting and loving what is, rather than what we think should be.

This message spoke to my heart about the matter and I began to relax into seeing there might be other alternatives, other options, solutions to be had (instead of pouting).

It's been my ongoing intention to remain in the present moment and allow life to unfold, not always to my whim, not always how I think it should be, but delve into the unpredictableness of life and see what the Universe has in store for me. Sometimes I blow it.

I must say, I see growth. I bounce back more quickly, look at where the resistance is and cut through it easier... faster... but of course, some instances are more challenging than others, and I forget.

It's an interesting concept, bowing. It is a sign of respect - humbleness. And we bow from the gut. Maybe I need to bow, to honor my gut, follow my gut and see where that takes me.

Hopefully I won't bump into any walls :-)

Dancing on the Edge

Balancing act.

My Sunday doodle while relaxing with hubby. He coloring (took my markers) and me doodling and mandala-making. Although the "should-haves" danced around my head, I relaxed.

Doodling is the art of allowing.

It's later that I "see" what my subconscious wants to say to me.

The image is on the edge, but it's not very high, so if I fall off, I won't have a long way to go.

It's not a big risk.

I noticed a mitten (winter) on one side and a butterfly on the other (summer).

The extremes again. The duality of life.

As a body, water is at the level of the throat chakra. To me it's symbolizing my emotional expression, something I have been more comfortable with, but still need to conscious of. To express my feelings has been a challenge for me, but I am working with it.

The creative eye, the third eye, is peering through two mountains. Two obstacles.

One I know, the other I'm not sure about..

Snow behind me, falling into the water. Coldness melting into the open seas.

Ah. That is my cold, seperate-self, the one that can push other's away.. it is the self that gets caught up in ego stuff, the need to be right.

melt away... melt away...

I am not seperate, but part of the whole.

I am the ocean and the drop.

We all are.

And it is through love, that the realization happens.

We each carry our light and that light is to be shared with others.

It is the talents we have that are to be spread out into the world, the light of our true self, the light of the divine within us, each of us, that needs to be given away in order for it to be returned to us.

see, the doodle can tell us many important things :-)

Releasing seeds for new potentials

Finding the beauty in change.

The new moon fell in my 2nd house of values, and being in Libra, also beauty and balance.

And that is why I began this blog, as a reminder to regain, or come back into balance when I notice I am teetering on the edge.

I've notice the theme of extremes in my life over the last few months. It was visible in my life, and in my face to see clearly.

Always reminders.

Life constantly gives us messages in so many ways. In our relationships, or in nature. We just need to keep our minds open to it and our hearts as well.

Nature, and it's cycles of life and death, present us with an abundance of examples.

In the summer, I usually photograph these lotus in full bloom, but I can see the beauty in their releasing as well.

Releasing the seeds for new flowers, new blossoms that will capture our attention.

New moons are like planting seeds, new intentions for ourselves.

I choose to plant seeds of nurturing myself.

I read that if we can nurture ourselves 51 % of the time, we can easily nurture others 49 % of the time.

We must fill our own well, in order to give to others.

Find that fine line of balance between you and others. Libra rules relationships.

There is also a reminder from that lotus, that in order for the new to come, you must release, let go of that which needs to leave.

Make room for something new.

Let go.

There is a risk in letting go, a fear that what will come may not be to our liking.

We are comfortable with what we know, but in order to grow, we must learn to take risks, or the Universe just may do it for us.

So, I look to what needs to be released, what has lost it's value but I continue to hold on to anyway... just in case.

If I let them go, I can look at them as seeds. Releasing them to the wind, finding fertile ground in which new life will begin.

Where have I been?!?

My husband and I exhibited our art together, which is still up. Photos on the art blog :-)
This was one of the highlights of our year.
Very exciting! Great energy.
We've got so many more ideas cooking :-)
I have learned so much about my Self these past few months, and where I find myself in balance. My art, my spiritual path are highest priorities for me and sharing what I find. My husband and I walk together on this path moving towards a special place where we can share with others.
The most important lesson for me has been to connect with my heart center, keep the heart open, using the breath to stay centered and in the moment.
Some harder lessons of "space" and letting go, looking at a bigger picture, attachment.. these were the challenges and knocked me off my center.
But, I get back up. I try to do better and find compassion for my self. Yoga helps.
It is one of my activities that grounds me, humbles me, and keeps my heart open.
A blessing of community.
Have a most wonderful day... and be grateful :-)
Namaste'

Towards........

So much has come together for me in the last month or so. Not sure if it's the meditating along with the reading, the show.. my life back to where I want it to be as far as work is concerned. I'm guessing it is all of it. It's because it is what I want. Where I want it all to be.

Focusing on that, what I do want rather than what I don't.

duh.

Most of the summer, I was focused on just that.. what I DIDN'T want and that is exactly what I got.. more of what I didn't want.. It was the moving away from experience rather than the moving towards experience.

I want this.

Working with the assemblages has been such a blessing. They've all come together easily for the most part. Anything that didn't, I left to sit with awhile. It was when I pushed rather than went with the flow - that it didn't fall into place.

Sometimes I just walked away and worked on another piece until it some how clicked. Many times it was the rummaging throught stuff that the perfect piece was found and then the flow came back. Wonderful.

It's pretty much a lesson of life. Stop pushing, resisting, but rather focus on what it is you do want, focus on the end result or the feeling it would provoke instead.

and stop carrying other people's baggage!

Travel lightly.

If something is unclear, ask questions, even if it is to yourself.

Choosing to move towards that which brings me the greatest joy, the best feelings, towards that which feels full of love. Respond to the experience of each blessed moment.

Be in it.

Make Art and Have Fun.

Y

Power of the elements

If there is one thing I have learned, it is the importance of spending time in nature. The power that Nature brings to us... soothing quality of water (until there is too much of it)... clean, clear blue skies (until there is too much of it).. Nature teaches us the importance of balance.
We appreciate rain, when there is too little of it and the sun when there is too much.
Balance of the elements. Balance in our lives.
Appreciating when our lives are in balance, each time working harder to maintain it.
It is appreciated more so when we lose that balance and then find it again.
It is difficult to maintain.
We fall into drama, allow fears, worries and other's opinions, to control our decisions... fear of what? What or who are we listening to, allowing our judgement to be contaminated?
We all need to be media-free for awhile. Turn off the TV, the radio, your cell, computer, and whatever gadget you may be addicted to and spend some alone time, quiet time... just listening.
Listen to nature. Listen to your Self. Your wise, sacred and divine Self. Pass the chatter of ego, you will eventually hear Her or Him.
Please remind me of this.

Swan's message

Lessons from Life on the issue of balance... Swan speaks of commitment among other things.

I've noticed how I have commited to things this year that I was unable to complete. It's not something I relish. I like to honor my commitments... but I have been remiss in this area.

I have over committed.. AGAIN. Maybe I'm just naive, thinking I can do more than I am capable of.

My mother used to say my eyes were bigger than my stomach... and this has held true for more than my food appetite.. It is my wanting to participate in all those cool projects, interesting jobs and those things that challenge me to move outside the box.

yes.. yes.. yes.. one too many times. ok, more than ONE too many times.

I'm thinking we should have a mute button on us. I am just too quick on the words without thinking it through. Too impulsive.
I should practice, "I'll get back to you"....

Swan has such grace and I've lost it a few times this summer. MELTDOWN is being kind.

Swans mate for life, which is why they are thought to symbolize commitment... and if I had unlimited time to bring forward all that I've committed to, then I don't really have a problem.

Unfortunately, other's don't see it this way.

As far as the balance thing, over-committing means it leaves scant time for my own stuff... my "thinking process" time, my own art, mandalas, journaling, blogging, my upcoming show of assemblages and shrines... what-in-the-world-was-I-thinking?!?
The new moon eclipse brought up a buried old dream/solution. Starting a morning only Art & Yoga camp for preschoolers 4 days a week next summer. Saying goodbye to 25 years of camp art. There are attachments, but I know I need this for my sanity. It is time to let go.

For balance, I need a committment to myself.

Om :-)

Mercury retrograde was not very nice to me this time around... I went to Wordpress for a bit, because I think I may have deleted something terribly important while I tried to get rid of some squawking chicken sounding bogus anti virus thingy....
go here:
http://doegrozart.wordpress.com
and for more art stuff.. http://mandalas4me.wordpress.com
see you there...
bring on some balance!!!!!!!

Where's my Tao!

Coming to the computer, I find all sorts of messages... Well, actually, ALL of life has messages for you if you are one to look for them :-)
I walked outside the other day and this was my first one. Yes, what a life I have!
For the past few months, it feels as though all four burners have been on high. Life is cooking with all sorts of jobs, projects, obligations with family care, tax prep, art show, clients being added to the list of to-do's ... My plate was not only full, but overflowing.
My pendulum had swung to the extreme right........
and you all know, when it swings one way, it needs to swing back the other way.
The other extreme is what I felt yesterday and it is lingering now.
I'm depleted. I want to rest, regroup, clean up the mess in order to move on to the next project.
Messages today seem to validate that feeling:

"You might also take frequent breaks throughout the course of today and focus on creating a serene mind-set. The more centered you are, the easier it will be to calmly get your points across."
"Allow yourself a break in the action "
Centered. That is what I would like to be, feel..
The middle way.
The Tao.
No extremes, just centered in the middle.
I don't see myself as being still, but move to the right a little and work, move a little to the left and rest (play).
The above astrological messages give voice to what I need to do.. small bites, a little time here and there to balance out the energy. The sun is opposite my natal Neptune, calling for the balance of energetic giving of myself vs. the dreamy down time of doing some art work for myself.
I have to sneak it in, but what my body really wants is fullness of play - yes, the other extreme of a vacation!
But for now, in finding the middle ground, I will take frequent breaks.

Love :-)

I just had to share this wonderful poem. It was on Sue's blog with her wonderful mandalas and it touched me. I don't cry easily, but I did because it felt so true. This is what I believe.. that it is Love that changes, heals, creates, and fills us with Joy.

If you have Love, anything is possible.

Love Is The New Religion

On the surface of the world right now there is war and violence and things seem dark

But calmly and quietly, at the same time, something else is happening underground

An inner revolution is taking place and certain individuals are being called to a higher light

It is a silent revolution

From the inside out

From the ground up

It is time for me to reveal myself

I am an embedded agent of a secret, undercover

Clandestine Global operation

A spiritual conspiracy

We have sleeper cells in every nation on the planet

You won't see us on the T.V.

You won't read about us in the newspaper

You won't hear about us on the radio

We don't seek any glory

We don't wear any uniform

We come in all shapes and sizes

Colors and styles

Most of us work anonymously

We are quietly working behind the scenes in every country and culture of the world

Cities big and small, mountains and valleys, in farms and villages, tribes and remote islands

You could pass by one of us on the street and not even notice

We go undercover

We remain behind the scenes

It is of no concern to us who takes the final credit

But simply that the work gets done

Occasionally we spot each other in the street

We give a quiet nod and continue on our way so no one will notice

During the day many of us pretend we have normal jobs

But behind the false storefront at night is where the real work takes place

Some call us the "Conscious Army"

We are slowly creating a new world with the power of our minds and hearts

We follow, with passion and joy

Our orders from the Central Command

The Spiritual Intelligence Agency

We are dropping soft, secret love bombs when no ones is looking

Poems

Hugs

Music

Photography

Movies

Kind words

Smiles

Meditation and prayer

Dance

Social activism

Websites

Blogs

Random acts of kindness

We each express ourselves in our own unique ways with our own unique gifts and talents

"Be the change you want to see in the world"

That is the motto that fills our hearts

We know it is the only way real transformation takes place

We know that quietly and humbly we have the power of all the oceans combined

Our work is slow and meticulous

Like the formation of mountains

It is not even visible at first glance

And yet with it entire tectonic plates shall be moved in the centuries to come

Love is the new religion of the 21st century

You don't have to be a highly educated person

Or have any exceptional knowledge to understand it

It comes from the intelligence of the heart

Embedded in the timeless evolutionary pulse of all human beings

Be the change you want to see in the world

Nobody else can do it for you

We are now recruiting

Perhaps you will join us

Or already have....

All are welcome...

The door is open

-Brian Piergrossi (From the book "The Big Glow")

Lion Heart

A friend from the Mandala Oasis group wasn't feeling well and when I went into my studio I did this mandala holding the intention of healing.

She gives a lot, has a big heart.. a very encouraging person.

As I was just allowing, I thought about balance. It's when we are out of balance that we become sick.. even with a simple cold. Sometimes it's the imbalance of taking care of others without giving ourselves some nurturing.

Us, nature... everything must be in balance in order to function to the best of it's ability. We've all been there.

As I was coloring it, courage entered my thoughts. I thought of the lion, fire, and the courage it took to change.

It takes courage to heal. Healing means something needs to change. Whether it be our diet, balancing work and play, releasing worries or grief... the big stuff needs more change and that takes a lot more courage.

I watched my husband transform his lifestyle due to a health scare. It took courage to say no to so many things that he took for granted and became comfortable with.

When we become so embedded into a certain way of living, it is hard to change. Our comfort level becomes disturbed. Warning. Warning.. change or die.

With so much information about smoking, why do people still smoke... or drink too much... or eat too much.. because it's hard to change. It takes a lot of courage.

This is what this little mandala had to say to me. It spoke to me of courage.

It takes courage to do art and put it out there. To sing your song, to be your true self.

e.e. cummings said it so well...

" To be nobody else

but yourself

in a world which is doing it's best,

night and day,

to make you everybody else -

means to fight the hardest battle

which any human being can fight,

and never stop fighting."

As I teach, the hardest part is to get this across. We all want to belong, so we conform. We copy. We wear what's in style, play the same music... it's all about comfort and sometimes being different is not so comfortable... and that's why it takes a huge amount of courage to be yourself. It takes you out of the comfort zone... "what will They think???"

Do that what brings you joy in play and work.

How courageous can you be today... in your art, your relationships...your clothing... ?

The path of Heart

This is one of the mandalas I did as a healing. I believe healing comes with focusing on love.

I meditated on the path we choose to walk.

I choose the path of love.

I choose the path of passion.

My art is my passion, but so is helping ~ comes in the form of teaching or perhaps a better term is sharing. Also in the form of taking care.

Sometimes we must walk a path on our own and ultimately it is always our own path,

but being that we are "here", it is so much better to share the path..

To walk in step with another, side by side.

Sometimes we lead.

Sometimes we follow.

Some of the time, it is alone and sometimes with a group of like-minded souls.

Walk gently and harmlessly on your path,

but walk with passion.

Take bold steps!

Determined with direction.

Walk with balance.

Great strides along with standing still make for variety in life.

I don't think it matters how many paths we choose to take as long as they all lead to love.

Love is the center.

It is home.

It is me.

You.

Us.

Y