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I took this photo a few days ago while watering my garden.  I saw this beautiful strawberry, large and luscious, hanging from its stem and wanted it to be ready now...I had to stop and laugh at myself and say thank you to the garden for teaching me once again about patience...temperance...balance.  It's easy to want what I want when I want it but sometimes it is time to wait.  Remember that beautiful bible passage...To everything there is a season...a time to reap, a time to sow...well,there is also a time to wait and be patient.  This is such a struggle for me sometimes.  And so I sat and looked at this berry for a while.  I thought about time for action and time for waiting. I thought about forcing life and letting life come to me.  Who knew that all of that was waiting for me in a beautiful strawberry.
For me, the question has always been...is now the time to act?  time to wait?  I find that sometimes I miss out on things because I am too patient and then other times I find that I've, once again, forced something into fruition and the resulting fall out is unpleasant.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if life showed us a strawberry like this so that we knew exactly when the time was ripe for action...well, the more I think about it...life does give us a way to know that the time is ripe for action...it is my inner guidance system...you know what I'm talking about.  That feeling that says...go, go now!  I had that feeling recently about the workshops I'm offering and I know that they fill with ease.  If I had acted sooner when the feeling was "No, too much to divide my attention.  Too much unsettled feeling" then there wouldn't be movement.
So, once again, it is nature, my garden, or the animals that let me know what my lessons are.  Pay attention everyone...the messages are out there...even in a beautiful, luscious strawberry!
 
 
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One day I was working on some collage stuff and literally whipped this out in a few minutes.  I was recently reviewing one of my art journals.  Looking through it, reflecting on what it might have to teach me...that kind of thing...and I came across this page.  It made me smile and laugh.  I love this bird stretched out in the grass, hanging on for dear life and yet looking so balanced and poised.  The playful line, "Look what we found" reminds me of what happens when I create.  It often feels like, "Wow, I had no idea that was there."  It is playful, a little hairy and soulful all at the same time. 

I love coming across this stuff months after I create it.  In the moment, it may not seem very important but it sits and waits for me.  When I return to it and am ready, BAM, I get the gift and for today, that was the reminder of how much I love this work and how it takes me to places I might not otherwise go.  It teaches me and stretches me and helps me to grow.  Amazing!!!!
 
 
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When you allow the art to just flow amazing things can happen.  I created this piece of art during a particularly turbulent time,  I was drawn to this angel and spent a great deal of time cutting her out and just admiring her.  When I found the child on the stepping stones, the words, "no point in worrying",  fell in my lap.  What I love about the piece is that it is a great source of comfort and a reminder that there really is no point in worrying. 

I was having a conversation wtih someone, I'm sorry I can't remember who, and they were sharing wtih me a story about worry.  It went something like this.  They were listening to a speaker who was discussing worry with them.  He told them that worry is an absolute waste of our energy.  For if you are worrying about something over which you have no control...well, what's the point of worrying.  You have no control over it anyway.  If you are worrying about something over which you do have control then...what's the point of worry...do something about it.  I LOVE this story and the way it came right on the heels of creating this art.  This is what I mean by the act of creativity will take you places.  Like a bottle one might find on the shoreline, open it and there is a message inside.
 
 

When we let go of our battles and open our hearts to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present moment.  This is the beginning and the end of spiritual practice.     ~Jack Kornfield

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This piece of artwork captures what this quote feels like to me.  When we are able to "ride the waves" so to speak, then we have arrived home. 
 
 

The request has been made...how do we shut the thing up?  I've been watching these young people all week as the muppet arises through distraction, avoidance, fidgetiness, you name it.  We've been talking all week long about...what do you do when you can't get the thing to shut up.  Here's what we've come up with so far:

Ask it a question:  Is that true?  Is that really true?  How would it be if I didn't listen to this lie?

Replace the muppet's message with a more powerful mantra:  "Yes I can"  "I can so!"  "You're not in charge"  "Anything is possible"  "Can't get it wrong"  "Just be"  Use any phrase that brings you strength and comfort.  All a mantra is, is a thought that you keep repeating.  Whose thought would you prefer to repeat?

Go to the ridiculous:  You are absolutely right...I suck,  I'm the worst, the world is ruined because of me or if I do this...blah, blah, blah

Gather evidence of how the muppet is wrong:  Look at how many places the muppet tried to silence you and the negative repurcussions of that one.  Look at where you ignored it and all went well.  Hit it with the facts, m'aam!

Leap anyway:  sit with the uncomfortable and GO!  Notice what happens.

 
 

I've just returned from a week long family trip.  We love to pack up the tent and head to San Elijo SB for some relaxation and fun.  What always amazes me is how these weeks fulfill so many other needs.  I came to this trip particularly spent and exhausted.  With each day that passed I could feel the ocean carrying away the tension that I held.  On the first night I felt particularly keyed up and decided to sit and watch the sunset.  As the sun moved from its place in the sky to the horizon I imagined all that I held setting with it.  The glow that remained was filled with peace and mirrored the feeling I now held from simply connecting to nature and letting her work her magic!

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Later in the week,  I received a phone call from one of my sisters.  She was sharing with me some difficult situations she is facing.  I listened and shared my thoughts and my love with her.  I looked down at one point and there climbing up the fire pit was this friendly little caterpillar.  Now, I know that caterpillar is a particularly significant sign from nature.  Caterpillar is part of the totem of butterfly and signals the beginning of a transformation.  The good news is that the caterpillar always transforms into the beautiful and free butterfly.  For me,  this was a signal that while my sister may be entering a potentially challenging situation that all will be well and all will unfold beautifully. 

 

I am always amazed by the way nature always lets me know where I am.  It reminds me of what is true and guides me along the way.  This is why I LOVE to bring nature into as many expressive arts experiences as I can.  It is wise.  It is always right on and it always knows.

 
 
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I have fallen in love with this spirit doll that I created.  I love it so much that I decided to use it as the main image in this site.  It came out of some work that I did at an amazing expressive arts training workshop at Sky Mountain.  Anne and Lali, the facilitators there, told us an amazing story of Vasilisa the beautiful.  Here's a link to the story.  http://www.oldrussia.net/vas.html    In this story,  Vasilisa receives a blessing, a gift from her mother in the form of a spirit doll.  This doll guides her throughout the story and utimately brings her to safety.  It was very powerful for me to connect with the idea of the blessings that we pass from one generation to another.  What blessings have I bestowed on my daughter?  And also, what blessings have I received?  It is my deepest belief that listening to our intuition and our inner wisdom is the single greatest gift that we pass along.  This doll, created after this story telling is filled with the energy of wisdom and truth and love of my father.  She has the wings of an angel and the heart of love.  She feels like my guide and I love her.  She embodies what this place is about for me...connecting to one's guidance, inner voice and wisdom...for it is always with us.  All  we need to do is access it.  That is my greatest wish for all who come to Expressive H'arts Studio!  Many blessings to all of you!