Clay in the life of a LIfe Artist

A snippet from my playful Expressive Art weekend: three days of playing, creating and self- expression together with six other " Life Artists ". Painting , directing , and " sculpting" multidimensional kinetic forms using fellow participants are all on the agenda .Finally ,working with clay and creating of a huge mandala painting together. The mandala is my height , painted on paper and gracing the only still empty white wall of my living room.

I've worked with clay before , but not quite like this. Anyway , Sunday morning found me sitting with a two pound slab of clay in my lap wondering what to do next.

" Make friends with it "" Talk to it. Listen to what it says "come the instructions.

It's the first time I've sat with a two pound lump of clay in my lap and I decide to jump in and give it my all involving the whole of my body in the shape - giving process. I decide too that this particular lump of clay will remain whole. First thing to do is to get this heavy lump of stuff into to a more manageable pliable state.

I've no idea of what it was going to be and I don't want to know either , just yet and I resist the urge to make it into something practical like a bowl or vase !!!
" trust the process "" allow "
come further instructions this time from my higher self as I sit there with my lump of clay , the parent creator responsible for breathing life into it, for birthing it. As in creating your life trusting is easier said than done. So I knead, I squeeze, I pull and pummel this lump of grey stuff. Bits of it fill my nails as they too dig in.Sweat starts to appear on my brow from the sheer effort of it all , the concentration and the focus, Then it starts to become malleable .. pliable ..bendy and formable .

First a container appears , then a chair or is it a throne but that disappears too and I know that that's not what is going to be .Next , the whole lump goes into a plastic bag and I knead it from the outside before taking out and inspecting the result . This is such fun !

Tiny cracks have appeared in its parched " skin ". It looks like an elephant's skin .
I add water .. smoothing surfaces . This is as sensuous a process as moving oil paint around on a canvas and soon the thing starts taking on a life of its own .A snake appears ....and compartments.. chambers.. rooms and more clay gets stuck under my finger nails but who cares .I'm hooked and creating , totally immersed , lost in the process of giving birth .... and then .. time is up. Voila ..... a work of art is born !

Hope

Hope

It hovers in dark cornersbefore the lights are turned on,
it shakes sleep from its eyesand drops from mushroom gills,
it explodes in the starry heads of dandelions turned sages,
it sticks to the wings of green angels that sail from the tops of maples.
It sprouts in each occluded eye of the many-eyed potato,
it lives in each earthworm segmentsurviving cruelty,
it is the motion that runs the tail of a dog,
it is the mouth that inflates the lungsof the child that has just been born.

It is the singular gift we cannot destroy in ourselves,
the argument that refutes death,
the genius that invents the future,all we know of God.
It is the serum which makes us swear not to betray one another;
it is in this poem, trying to speak. ~ Lisel Mueller ~


(Alive Together: New and Selected Poems)




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Cordless phones and health

Last year , I bought a cordless phone with a built- in answering machine. Great , I thought, convenient, no wires getting all tangled up. Recently my doctor and shrink , had me fill in a questionnaire and averted me to the dangers of cordless phones. He'd noticed that there was a connection between cordless phones and mental/ phsyical health. I slept on this question for 2 weeks before I finally unplugged my cordless phone.

Check this link :

http://www.tetrawatch.net/science/dect.php

My dilema now - what do I do with it ? Conscience doesn't allow me to sell it and these things need to be diposed of properly!

ON A DAY WHEN THE WIND IS PERFECT -- Rumi

ON A DAY WHEN THE WIND IS PERFECT -- Rumi


On a day when the wind is perfect,the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty.Today is such a day.

My eyes are like the sun that makes promises;the promise of lifethat it always keeps

each morning.

The living heart gives to us as does that luminous sphere,both caress the earth with greattenderness.

This is a breeze that can enter the soul.This love I know plays a drum. Arms move around me;who can contain their self before my beauty?

Peace is wonderful,but ecstatic dance is more fun, and less narcissistic; gregarious He makes our lips.

On a day when the wind is perfect,the sail just needs to openand the love starts.

Today is such a day.

~ Rumi ~

Vipassana Meditation

Interesting.

The Buddhists monks at the Vihara taught me Vipassana meditation years ago and I've done weekend retreats observing the 5 precepts , but 10 days seems quite a challenge.

All who attend a Vipassana course must conscientiously undertake the following five precepts for the duration of the course:

1. to abstain from killing any living creature;

2. to abstain from stealing;

3. to abstain from all sexual activity;

4. to abstain from telling lies;

5. to abstain from all intoxicants.

Do I dare? Ten days. The process of self-purification by introspection is certainly never easy. The code of discipline at the centre is strict , but then rewards are great.

" Vipassana is a technique that will eradicate suffering.
It is an art of living that one can use to make positive contributions to society.
It is a method of mental purification which allows one to face life's tensions and problems in a calm, balanced way. "

Dhamma Dipa Vipassana Meditation Centre, UK

Poets

Poets are not those who write poetry,

but all those whose hearts are filled with the sacred spirit of Love.

What if death is like an orgasm ?

What if death is like an orgasm ?
The French call the orgasm " le petit mort " - the little death.
Apparently , the moment of orgasm can be intensified by holding the breath.
People have died while practising and experimenting with this technique.
There's a name for this ... can't remember it right now.
BREATH .. yet another common denominator in life and death.
Breathe life into something
Hold your breath and die.
Breathe in.... and be IN-SPIRED !

Autobiography of a Yogi

Autobiography of a Yogi
When Autobiography of a Yogi first appeared in 1946, it was acclaimed as a landmark work in its field. The New York Times hailed it as "a rare account." Newsweek pronounced it "fascinating." The San Francisco Chronicle declared, "Yogananda presents a convincing case for yoga, and those who 'came to scoff' may remain 'to pray.'" Today it is still one of the most widely read and respected books ever published on the wisdom of the East.

" A book that opens the windows of the mind and spirit ."

What inscription would you like on YOUR tombstone ?

Life and Death,can't have one without the other.

My tombstome inscription would say :

" To be continued ... this is just the beginning.
Emm has gone Home to reflect about what she has done , where she has been and whom she has been with. For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? Now that the earth has claimed my limbs I can truly dance. "

( With love and thanks to Kahlil Gibran for a few of his words.)


Death ? I'm looking forward to it knowing that being born is probably the hardest thing that I've ever done.

Still, while I am here , there's a lot of living to do , so much to experience,and so much to learn.

I do hope that when my time comes to leave, I can do it painlessly and gracefully.

Making a difference

I've been thinking about this all week .................




"The spiritual life is a call to action. But it is a call to ... action without any selfish attachment to the results."

Eknath Easwaran

Many of us feel deeply that we want to make a difference -- we want our lives to mean something in the bigger scheme of life. While this is a noble motive, we might want to explore what lies at its root.

Does the drive to make a difference arise from ego’s need to feel worthy? If my ego is not convinced that I matter, I may want visible proof that I do by making some kind of impact on life.

Soul doesn’t need proof that it’s worthy. Soul thrives in being awake and connected.

Perhaps if we let go of the pressure we feel from our ego’s need to be recognized, we will be more open and able to simply live soulfully. And by doing that, we WILL make a difference!


"A person’s worth is contingent upon who he is, not upon what he does, or how much he has. The worth of a person, or a thing, or an idea, is in being, not in doing, not in having." -- Alice Mary Hilton

What does it mean to "simply live soulfully " ?

EQUINOX 21 March 2006

The EQUINOX is a powerful time for manifesting dreams and visions and to accelerate synchronicity and intuition.

From the pyramids in Egypt and Mexico, to the stone circles in England, to the solar markers in the Native northwest, Equinox is time that was honoured as a powerful and transformative time.

On any given Equinox, we have an incredible opportunity to make a profound difference in our world.

Science is beginning to back these ancient truths with facts! What the mystics have known for eons, science in now confirming; thus bringing into the fold of LIGHT even the most adamant skeptic!

For more go to:
http://www.kachina.net/~alunajoy/solarwave2006.html

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY !

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun's life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.

"The Shield" prayer attributed to St. Patrick http://www.gratefulness.org

Money issues

"What Are You Lacking?" "Money cannot fill an empty soul." -- Julia Cameron & Mark Bryan

Where in your life are you experiencing lack?
Are you experiencing a lack of self esteem?
Of humour? Of energy? Of love? Of money and abundance?

Whatever you believe you are missing, it is there to be claimed.
The first step starts with shifting your perspective.
See the glass as half full rather than half empty.
Focus on accepting what you DO have, and more will be attracted to you.
"Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend... when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present -- love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure -- the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth."

-- Sarah Ban Breathnach

It's in the stars

Mercury’s retrograde period from March 2-25 will double the length of his transit through the spiritual realms of Pisces.

Practice thinking with your soul.

Notice subtle changes of perception.

Open yourself to new awareness.

Review progress toward your goals and make adjustments if needed.

Mercury rules communication and transportation. Before and during his retrograde period, it’s wise to take care of unfinished business, have your car and computer serviced, double-check on appointments and departure/arrival times, and be patient if things break down anyway.

Supreme artists of life.

DailyOM - Yogis of Tibet: "March 2, 2006

The yogis of Tibet have been called 'supreme artists of life' for their ability to treat every situation like a spiritual endeavor. As we aspire to express the same art of patience, compassion, and peace in our lives, we too can radiate the tranquility, warmth, and joy attributed to these spiritual masters"

Insights and Animal Spirit Readings

Happy Saturday !

My Saturday has started well. I woke up early today and recorded a couple of dreams I had last night. Followed this with a couple of large glasses of hot water , slice of lemon and meditation in the " blue room ".

So many messages from beyond have been flooding in and I'm itching to share. Are they for me? Are they for us all ? I am not sure .. I suspect they are for us all - since we are ONE.

JOY is on its way in now that the Pisces season is about to start. I've made a conscious choice to choose JOY this month and allow what needs to unfold to unfold in the spirit of JOY. This makes such a difference even if , at first , you have to " Fake it until you make it ."

" VISUALISE your highest and best " is another message that my guides and angels are whispering repeatedly. In glorious technicolour .. feel it.... be it ... accept it .. allow it ....be grateful for it ! Must send you a copy of " the manifestation process " that I received earlier this week .

I could go on an on , don't want to make this too long .. but here's a link that takes you to the wisdom of Spirit Animals and more . Lots of yummy readings for daily guidance
http://www.crystal-reflections.com/animalspirits/index.php
.. blessed be ! TREASURES !

OMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM shanti .. shanti .. shanti OMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM !

Love , Light and Joy to us all !

http://www.crystal-reflections.com/animalspirits/index.php

beliefnet: 'You Have Not Because You Ask Not' by Doreen Virtue Angels and Guides Pollychondritus

beliefnet: 'You Have Not Because You Ask Not' by Doreen Virtue Angels and Guides Pollychondritus:

"'You Have Not Because You Ask Not'
A powerful reminder from an Angelic Presence to ask for help.

By Doreen Virtue
This article was originally featured in 2000.

Excerpted from 'Angel Visions,' by Doreen Virtue, published by Hay House.

Last year, I was diagnosed with a rare chronic degenerative disease called pollychondritus, which attacks the cartilage surrounding all the major organs--heart, liver, and kidneys. My doctor told me that I would 'die a slow and painful death.' She said that I should get my affairs in order, and that I would be spending a lot of time in the hospital. She informed me that as the disease progressed, I would need surgery to repair any damage that occurred.
Needless to say, I was devastated! I couldn't believe what I was hearing! I told myself, It can't really be that bad, can it? The first thing I did when I got home was to look up this disease on the Internet. I read one woman's posting on a medical message board in horror, which told how she had the same disease and had gone through seven surgeries on her throat just so she could breathe! I couldn't bear to read any more, so I turned off my computer and started talking to God. What am I going to do, God? I need your help!

The next day, I was driving, with only 15 minutes to get across town to my next appointment. If I hurried, I just might make it on time. As I approached the major intersection, though, I felt a curious change. It was as if time had slowed down. I stopped at the red light when something caught my eye. I didn't know it at the time, but I was about to meet my angel. The first thing I noticed was her big black hat with big black feathers poking out of the side. Her hair was black........................................

Baby steps

Baby steps ..... YES !!
I want to learn how to take baby steps.
Impatience and eagerness are slowing me down !
' How to eat an elephant ? '
... bit by bit :-)
Baby steps applies to eating too.
I try to eat slowly now, chewing chewing chewing
... no teeth in the stomach, ;-)
putting knife and fork down between every mouthful .


SUCCESS IS ATTAINED ONE STEP AT A TIME

There is no sudden leap to greatness.
Your success lies in doing day by day.
Your upward reach will come from working well and carefully.
Good work done little by little becomes great work.
The house of success is built brick by brick.
Adopt the pace of nature.
The secret is patience.
A bottle fills drop by drop.

YES !

Happy Sunday , everyone
from snow and ice outside
to the depths of warmth in my heart and soul .
Today IS a good day .

ENJOY

+Mara Emma Counselling ++

+Mara Emma Counselling ++

The Pleasure of Doing Nothing Useful, an excerpt from 'Seven Sins for a Life Worth Living' -- Beliefnet.com

The Pleasure of Doing Nothing Useful, an excerpt from 'Seven Sins for a Life Worth Living' -- Beliefnet.com