Faithful

I've had an awful lot of thought lately about the difficulties and challenges of life. There's no secret that we, like many, are struggling through the slow economy and tight job markets that have become common place in our society, today.

I'm tired of the finger pointing and blaming that happens when people become frightened and desperate. I have my own beliefs about politics, the corruption of government, and a self-perpetuating system which abuses those they claim to represent. It is neither here nor there.

I believe my function is this: to accept. There are many flaws around me, but not nearly as significant to my life as the ones WITHIN me. It is THERE that I must focus in order to bring any level of peace to my existence. It is WITHIN that I must draw my attention.

Because, no matter what the outside world offers, I believe in one sure truth: A faithful heart cannot hold fear.

Blessed Be!

Goddess Rising Done

She is finished. Puffy paint and glitter glue added for shine, texture, and detail.

Overall, I'm pleased with her. She speaks to me of power, of sex, of sparkle, and magick, and passion.

She twists and pulls at my heart. And, at my core.

She is strong and aware.

She is beautiful.

She is an aspect of every woman. And, perhaps, every man.....

....A dream. A fantasy. A pathworking. A scintilation.

She dances furiously.

She screams primally.

She is one with the universe, and it with her....joined, connected, alive.

Life...I mean, WORK, in progress

Isn't it funny how things evolve as they should? Not funny ha-ha, but funny ironic. :)

I've noticed that I felt very very creatively blocked until I started to see the bigger picture -- that creativity isn't a specific pursuit, it is (in fact) a way of life. It is a theory for living, a structure for support, a setting for all things.

And, then, POP, there was an explosion of ideas, of thoughts, of perceptions, of images...all needing to be set free. Immediately!

And, there is no doubt that this is the way of my life. When I am able to be open to the creative energy that flows, like life energy, through each and every one of us, I am able to channel it effectively onto some type of media.

I'm not a snob when it comes to art. I think that it is the most stunningly beautiful, amazing thing ever, because it can be laid out on so vast a collection of media that there is no limit to the possibilities:
canvas
paper
cloth
wood
metal
soil
chalk
charcoal
skin
more
more more

None of these pieces are finished, of course. They are, merely, works in progress....







much like myself.


Many blessings!

The Most Versatile Blog

The Versatile Blogger Award!

We were honored this morning, by a nomination by Witch Cats Blog! Thank you!

Now, for my blog nomiations and the rules. The Rules of The Versatile Blogger Award are:

1-Display the award logo on your blog.

2-Thank and link back to the person who nominated you.

3-State 7 things about yourself.

4-Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award.

5-Notify these bloggers of the nomination by linking to one of their specific posts so that they get notified by ping back.

7 things about me! Okay, here goes ~

1) I am a woman of scattered and varied interests.

2) I am a practitioner of the Craft.

3) I am a sucker for creatures and have 3 dogs and 3 cats...all rescues.

4) I am a hopeless romantic.

5) I strongly believe that we, as women, have a responsibility to lift each other, encourage each other, and gather together in support.

6) I've been married to my soulmate for 23 years.

7) I enjoy other people, but require quite a bit of solitary time to remain serene.

The blogs which I nominate for this award are:

1) Broom with a View

2) Ellen Dugan's Blog of Witchery

3) Expressive Souls

4) Hedgewitch at Home

5) Laura DeLuca

6) MagicLoveCrow

7) Realm of a Green Witch

8) Recycle Reuse Renew

9) Silver Linings Studio

10) The Creative Fire

11) The Life and Times of a Contemporary New England Witch

12) The Sisters Elemental

13) Wild Creative Heart

14) Writing the Witchy Way

15)LilyWheelSlide Studio

And there you have it! I will leave a comment on each of the above blogs letting them know that they have been nominated should they wish to accept.

Warm, bright blessings all around!

Busy Work

I've continued in my quietude, for a month, now. Its been kind of wonderful. I haven't picked up a paint brush, once. Instead, I've been busying myself with a variety of tasks of self discovery and domestic bliss that I've found truly pleasurable. That is not to say that I've dropped my brush. Quite the contrary, I just felt the need to rest, to rejuvenate, and to feel DESPERATE to paint, again.

I'm swiftly getting to that point. In fact, my fingers are literally beginning to ITCH to have the brushes back, to feel the spring of the canvas, to smell the fresh scent of acrylic swirling about. I've been thinking about what I'll paint when I get the chance.....I've got a few nudes in mind. I've also been thinking of dancing, resting, the female form in all its glory.

But, let me lay that aside for the moment. I've been continuing to work my way through The Artist's Way program based on the book by Julia Cameron. It is challenging me and has caused me to look at my creativity in a way that I've never considered before....as a way of life, rather than crafty pursuits. Living creatively opens the door to so many opportunities that I'm boggled by them. What I lack is not ideas, nor skill, but motivation. So, I am learning to unblock myself by feeding my soul with beautiful things, those that speak to my spirit, that enliven my imagination, that give rise to my feet.

I've been making soap, working herbs and florals into infusions that become the base for a variety of salves and compounds and balms for various uses, eating raw food that is real, and feeling alive. My first batch of soap is cured, today, so that I can begin another for when this one is gone. I've got comfrey root salve, chamomile-calendula ointment, and rose lip balm made up; along with some new moisturizer for my body, face, and hair; and, an invigorating eucalyptus body scrub.

My life is blessed.

Quiet

I've been fairly quiet lately. I haven't painted in a month. Instead, I've been working through the Artist's Way program, based on a book by Julia Cameron. In the pursuit of unblocking my creativity and creative self, I've taken a sabbatical from creating paintings and begun exclusively exploring me.

In the pursuit of the process, I've done lots of creative things, other than paint -- baking, kitchen witchery, cooking, participation in a wide variety of events that capture my attention and expand my soul. I spend time, every day, transferring the clutter from my head onto notebook pages. Surprisingly, it does a miraculous job at emptying out the nonsense so that I needn't focus on it, or become scattered by it. I've found the process to be cleansing, but also cathartic. It spurns me to do more, think more, explore more.

I also do what Julia Cameron calls weekly "Artist Dates." In other words, I experience things that fill my mind with images. I visit antique stores, go to the movies, walk in the woods, participate in spiritual activities and meaningful rituals that touch my soul. I spend time with people who challenge and support me. In short, I become connected to the world in an expanded way.

Naturally, I do other things as well -- exercises as prescribed by the author, attend workshops and classes on the chapters in the book, complete weekly check-ins where I evaluate progress and commitment. The class is spread over the duration of one year.

Only in my second month, I've never felt more alive. I've never felt more connected. I've never felt more excited about second-by-second living.

I've got several paintings in the planning stages. But, in the end, any planning I've done will fly out the window when my muse comes to call. She has the final say. And, I'm learning to abide her wishes; because (when I do) the work is powerful and meaningful and important.

Acceptance

When I look back upon 2012, 1 word comes leaping to mind: Acceptance. I've had big lessons in accepting a myriad of things:
1. Me - I'm a middle-aged woman; curvier than I used to be; eyes etched with laugh lines; sober; pescetarian but leaning toward vegetarianism; environmentalist; conservationist; artist; partner; parent; grandparent; graying; still learning and growing and becoming; teacher and student.
2. Relationships - some are so fabulous that I cannot believe my luck; some had to be released in 2012; some may revive; some may die; they do not define me.
3. Work - at an impasse after 20 years in my field; wanting transition or relief, but unsure of direction; waiting for guidance.
4. Faith - out of the broom closet, so to speak, fully; re-avowed to study and craft.
5. Powerlessness - I can change only myself; control only myself. Some things I am not meant to understand, despite my own desire to do so. I am not the director of my life's stage, rather, an observer.
6. Future - it is always unsure; never certain. I'm OK with that. I don't need to project what will happen. I like being focused on RIGHT NOW.

This is my first piece of the year. I've been long fascinated with symbology and imagery. I sat with her a while, but realize that she doesn't want a face, so that everyone can add their own, if they wish.