ARTFUL GATHERINGS

Yoga

The rythm of the body
the melody of the mind
& the harmony of the soul
create the symphony of life B.K.S. Iyengar

My first weekend is finished. My first weekend of many on my journey to become a yoga instructor. A RYT 200 hour program. An amazing weekend, so much to absorb, assimilate, and grasp. I was going to write "become proficient" but I am not sure that is possible with yoga. I believe it is an on going learning process. Always  learning about oneself as well as ones students. 

"We begin where we are 
and how we are and whatever 
happens, happens."  
 T.K.V. Desikachar 

I had been searching for a meaning or understanding of my life when I found yoga. This weekend I felt like I was being told to stop searching and just live. To become a part of the process of ever day life. No wanting,striving or guilt. Start each day with my highest intentions and then enjoy the process. Always remember...... Whatever happens, happens.

Listen

I am still pondering Elizabeth Lesser quotes.....

    " I need to stop resisting, open wide to reality and decode the message." 

Today I have been trying to............ 

"To live without listening is not to live at all it is simply to drift in my own backwater". Joan Chittister

Secrets

If we can stay awake when our lives are changing, secrets will be revealed to us--secrets about ourselves, about the nature of life, and about the eternal source of happiness and peace that is always available, always renewable, already within us. Elizabeth Lesser

Several years ago when my life was making no sense, feeling like it was unraveling. I stumbled upon the book Broken Open by Elizabeth Lesser. I will never forget it was a Saturday evening and I was roaming aimlessly around Borders feeling dreadfully sorry for myself and I saw this interesting blue book. I picked it off the shelf perched myself in a chair and started to read. I do not remember what part of the book I was reading but Elizabeth made me laugh which was and is always my best medicine. So I bought the book and the one she written prior to Broken Open. 

I dream of the day I will be able to attend a workshop at OMEGA  and meet Elizabeth Lesser.

Rainy day

 It rained all day. A lovely rain that washed all the tree pollen from the air. I decided to forgo swimming, my allergies have been terrible, and  stay home all day and I finish several art pieces.

Bunny

I do believe my bunny picture or my bunny is very popular. Well he is on face book . I was not searching for the picture or words that would receive the most comments but I  stumbled upon this very popular individual by accident........

I do believe all the attention has made him feel very important. 

New Collages

A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What one can be, one must be.

Abraham Maslow (1908 - 1970)

Working on some new collage pieces. I need to make some uninterrupted time for just me this weekend to work on these pieces. I am letting everything distract me. I would rather clean my house, work in the garden, read a book, exercise, watch television, drink wine with the neighbors, etc......anything but make the decisions of what to do next on these collages. Plus my studio is extremely cluttered and I have no free work surface. Oh my excuses are endless. 

 

Mood

Tonight I am in an apathetic mood. Well maybe lethargic would be a better word or just plain tired. I have been spending my extra time working in my yard and it is starting to show some promise. I am suppose to be getting changed to go to the neighbors and watch the final episode of american idol. I want to stay in my comfy yoga clothes, pour a glass of wine and snuggle next to my daughter on the sofa. My house is so messy it is making nuts and I am dreaming of kicking everyone out....kids, dogs, bunny, husband equals stuff everywhere. Okay maybe I should keep the bunny it is adorable........

Who knew they made special bunny leashes? Who knew I would be the sucker to buy one? ( no idea where this blue line came from or how to get rid of it.) Off to the neighbors and I am making one concession and not changing out of comfy clothes.

Life

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, your body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "Woo hoo! What a ride!" " anonymous 

I Am That

Boost

 

I feel I need a creative boost something to spark my creativity. Something to make me jump up and down with excitement.Maybe I need to work on being grounded but I have been spending time in the garden racking, cleaning and digging 

if we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down. Ray Bradbury.

 

I am thrilled I finally put an industrial coat of polyurethane on my kitchen table and moved the piece outside. I have visions of many dinner parties outside this summer....the table filled with large platters of fresh salads, huge bowls of pasta and large carafes of wine. If I cannot be in Tuscany this summer, I will create my own Italian experience.

 It took some contemplating but I did purchase a new table for dining inside. It is a beautiful piece of furniture. The top is hand-planed cherry. No more painting at the kitchen table for me. 

Maybe I should just relax outside and read. My stacks of unread books are growing again.