Inspired

A Short Break

 

Playing at Whittey’s Lagoon on a summer afternoon

Be a dynamo of irrepressible joy!

Babaji

There will be a short break…so short in fact that you’ll barely even notice!

Magic and Alchemy

Love’s Glow

acrylic paint and water soluble crayons on canvas (24” x12”)

"In love's glow, there is great magic"

 

I finally finished the painting that I’ve been working on (more off really, than on) all summer. I wanted to create something that felt magical to me and was inspired by Stephanie Lee’s sweet lanterns and yes, I’m still obsessed hooked on turquoise.

Magic and alchemy happen when we live from a place of love. Alchemy isn’t just about turning lead into gold…it’s the transformation of one thing into another. Love transforms life. Oh, I know that’s the simplistic version but truly, when we bring love into the equation, it transforms us, it transforms situations, it transforms relationships and it transforms the world.

This painting is, for me, about seeing the ordinary with new eyes…with the eyes of love. It’s transformative. A whole new world can appear that never before seemed possible, especially when we perceive ourselves with loving eyes.

 

One way can be learned by starting to see the magic in everything. Sometimes it seems to be hiding but it is always there. The more we can see the magic in one thing, a tiny flower, a mango, someone we love, then the more we are able to see the magic in everything and in everyone. Where does the mango stop and the sky begin?

Joshua Kadison

 

Where indeed does the mango stop and the sky begin? Blessing of love, magic (and the blurring of lines), to each of you.

 

Light

This lovely chandelier is hanging in what seems at first to be the unlikeliest of places…a pub! It’s just one of many hanging in Victoria’s old City of Lights Building which was originally built in 1894 to house the coal fired electric generators that powered Victoria's streetlights. It seems quite fitting that these beautiful chandeliers are now hanging in the old City of Lights building!

 

So much is said about becoming enlightened these days. With 2012 bearing down creeping up on us, and all the information and mis-information around that, there almost seems to be an urgency about it. I’m not sure how others define enlightenment but I’ve come to understand what it means for me.

Enlightenment is not about bunnies and rainbows, nor is it about the “woo woo, airy, fairy”. It's not about retreating to a mountain top or meditating in a cave. Enlightenment is about personal growth and using that growth to live a balanced life...in the world, not hiding away from it.

It's about releasing fear and it's about trusting. It's also about loving myself and emanating my truth. It’s about being disciplined and becoming the spiritual warrior (the heart needs to keep the ego in check!). It’s about drawing a line in the sand and calling on courage from the very depths of my being because I know that's what I deserve. It’s about ending struggle, letting go of drama and realizing that I’m never a victim…never, ever, ever. Enlightenment is about knowing gratitude and it's about asking myself what Einstein considered to be the most important question...Is the universe a friendly place?...and listening to my answer. If our thoughts become our reality, then the answer to this question is crucial.

Perhaps enlightenment means something different to you or maybe it’s not something that’s ever been on your radar. (You’re probably not a naval gazer like me!) but as long as we have the intent and determination to live to our greatest potential, to live in peace and joy with kindness as our north star, then we’re seeking enlightenment.

It’s time to power up…turn our lights up brightly…and be the very best we can be. We deserve that and so does the world.

Knowing others is wisdom;

Knowing the self is enlightenment;

Mastering others requires force;

Mastering the self needs strength.

Lao Tzu

Have a lovely weekend dear friends and if you're considering a movie, I saw The Help earlier this week. I loved it! The acting is great and although I didn't read the book, I've been told it's not a disapointment.

I'm so glad you came to visit!

The Heart of the Matter

 

a basket of gorgeous artichokes…picture taken at the Ganges Saturday Market, Salt Spring Island, BC. Canada

I love artichokes…especially the hearts. The outside of the artichoke is a bit tough and fibrous but there are tender parts on each “leaf”, near the center. Eating one is a hands-on affair and another case in life where the "journey is as important as the destination"…the heart of the artichoke being the destination!

And speaking of heartful journey’s, I’ve been following Lilou Mace on her Juicy Living Tour - a 12-month inspirational, filmed tour across the US and the world, which began on 1-11-11. Lilou lost her job (in marketing) in 2009 and floundered for awhile but has used the opportunity this gave her to grow in so many ways (one of which was writing a book...I Lost My Job and Loved It) and since 2008, she’s been sharing her personal growth quite openly via her You Tube video’s.

In Lilou’s own words, the purpose of the Juicy Living tour is to inspire people globally to focus on positive living and thinking in times of financial, social, and economic chaos. My mission is to follow life – wherever it leads me. This is a healing journey – for me and for all of those watching who want to let their soul guide them.

I find what she’s doing, both amazing and inspiring. The tour is funded completely by donations, and she stays with friends that she meets along the way or has come to know through the internet. The energy of the tour is building on itself and as she interviews people, more and more are eager to be a part of it and it now looks as though she will be extending it into South America and Europe next year. As of this writing, she’s created 1,557 video’s, done 798 interviews and had 8,924,916 views on her You Tube video’s....and yes, that's almost 9 million.

Her interview’s include a billionaire on his spiritual path, well known authors, spiritual teachers and many, many ordinary people doing the extraordinary…living a heartfelt and love filled life while following their dreams. I may not fully embrace every point of view that is shared, but I very much appreciate Lilou's openess to always listen and acknowlege that there are as many opinions and idea's in the world as there are people. Her philosophy of loving and appreciating everything rather than making something "right/wrong, good/bad, positive/negative" mirrors my own philosophy and personal mission statement in life.

I see Lilou stepping off the edge of the cliff and trusting her wings to unfold. I love that she’s so open and is finding strength in her vulnerablity. I also love that she inspires thousands to do the same in their own way. I especially love her boldness in following her dreams and her heart.

And that’s really what we all want isn’t it…to take that leap and to fly? To follow our heart and our dreams?

And that I believe, is truly the heart of the matter.

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

Confucious

(A happy Friday and a beautiful weekend to all of you. All of life is beautiful but it's not always easy, so it's wonderful to have the time to nurture ourselves. As always, I am so grateful for your presence in my life!

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My Life in Turquoise

I’ve been painting…I mentioned last month that I thought I might paint a wall in my hallway a turquoise blue…and I did!  I’m still in shock over the colour, I love it, but it’s shocking (for me).  I’ve never, ever, ever painted anything in my home even remotely this bright, but I wanted it…I needed it…so I did it. Yay!

I know I’ll get used to it and as I decorate around it, it will blend in a bit more…but it’s still shocking.  But shocking is good. Shocking is bold.  Shocking shakes me up…gets me out of my comfort zone…and that’s definitely a good thing.  In the end, it’s only paint and paint can disapear if I decide I can’t live with it.  I’ll let you know!  In the meantime, it’s bright, it’s bold, it’s cheerful and it’s happy.  I love the happy and cheerful part.

 

I’ve also been painting some bottles and the lids on a few tins, the same colour.  Our home is small and open plan, so the same colour needs to tie into the kitchen and living room. The tins (thrift shop finds) will sit on the counter to hold tea.  The bottles are also thrift shop treasures (as well as an old jam jar) so it’s a low budget project!  The bottles are painted on the inside and I got the idea here.  I’m also painting a few more, a soft lime green and white.

My next project includes a wrapped canvas, more paint (different colour) and vinyl letters as a mask for text.  It'll go on the turquoise wall…if it turns out!

I’m having fun with it all.  Years ago I did quite a bit of painting/decorating and considered my technique “not too bad” but the day I did this, I was covered in turquoise paint from head to foot!  Mr. I had a good laugh when he saw me and thankfully, offered to finish the rollering.

I’m also really, really enjoying the summer weather that has finally arrived.  We’re working outside almost every day and checking lots of things off that “finish the house” list. 

I love August.  I love listening to the crickets, I love the way people are a little more laid back, I love eating on restaurant patios, I love the outdoor living…there’s just something so “open” about August, and when doors open, people seem to as well.

I hope August is shaping up to be a good month for all of you. 

Stay open dear friends.

Shovels and Ladders

This is an art journal page that I did last summer. At the time I was asking myself this question a lot…is my hand on a shovel or is it on a ladder?  In other words, if I’m in a “hole” somewhere in my life, am I digging a deeper hole or am I climbing out of it?

This is one of Eloheim’s many “tools” to help us transform what isn’t working in our life (or as they call it…the pit of pain!.  This week Victoria Torres features this particular tool on her website feature “Tool Tuesday”.  It was such a valuable reminder for me when I was deep in the process of changing my thoughts and habitual patterns, that I really wanted to share it here…but I’m going to let Eloheim explain it…

 

Shovel or Ladder

The choice for consciousness is challenging, but habitual response is a pit of pain.

You get a shovel or a ladder, it’s your choice to dig yourself in deeper or to climb up the ladder and out of the pit. The shovel is repeating habit, it’s you not being willing to say, “What the hell is going on here in me?  Not with him, not with her, not with the boss, not with the kids, not with the bank, not with the credit card statement but within me. What is going on in me?”

“Am I going to dig myself in deeper out of fear, guilt, lack, victim hood, or am I going to put my hand on the ladder and say something has to change? And am I going to keep climbing the ladder even when my pit partners look at me and say, ‘What are you doing? Where are you going? Who do you think you are? You’re getting too big for your britches!’” and all those other lines that they might give you. The ladder isn’t just a hop. You’re so far down in these pits of habitual response that you need one of those tall ladders, but the beauty is, your ladder is tall enough.

 

 

You figure it out by putting one foot in front of the other and continuing to make the choices that say, “Habit is not who I am.” Because when habit gets to tell you who you are, the scenery doesn’t change. Do you want a shovel or a ladder? We will not give you shovels. But we have loads of ladders of all different sizes, shapes, and lengths and we even know how to make them taller. So if you get dug down in there, don’t think you’re ever lost. You’re not ever lost in the pit of habit. You simply have to keep making the choice.

We’re standing there cheering you on. Just lift your foot. We know it’s challenging to break habits, but it will get easier. If you want your life to change, you need to choose and choose again to climb the ladder of consciousness.

***

Veronica writes:
When Eloheim first came up with this one, I was blown away. It is classic Eloheim, funny and practical. I picture them standing at the top of the hole saying, “We have ladders for you!” There is something so comforting about the image of them standing in the light looking at us down in the dark just waiting for us to reach up for the ladder they are lowering.

 

Have a wonderful day my friends, climbing ladders to where you really want to be…and enjoy the change of scenery!