February - Creative Colour Challenge

February 2012 Creative Colour Challenge from Louise Gale's monthly blog challenge. The theme this month was lavender and green.

Love it!

Life, nature, freedom, fresh ideas, energy, imagination, balance.

I had a beautiful time with this challenge. I felt like I was creating a precious jewellery box of green and purple gems.  I especially love the fact that I didn't need to go through a "colour crisis".... I could just flow.

Art:- Freedom is the oxygen of the soul.

Moments of Gratitude (Health)

Health

The greatest wealth is health.   

~Virgil

This week I want express my gratitude for good health.

Being healthy is something that we so often forget to appreciate until either we or someone we love is faced with an illness that changes everything.  Suddenly we become aware of all the little things we take for granted like a simple walk along the beach, going out for a nice meal, going to work each day. I am so grateful to be able enjoy these and many more moments of my life in the presence of good health.

To my dear friend Pam.....

sending you my brightest wishes to get well soon!

xoxo

Time Poor

So much to do and so little time!!

The clock talked loud. 

I threw it away,

it scared me what it talked. 

~Tillie Olsen, Tell Me a Riddle

It is very difficult to stay mindful with too many projects on the go.
So I guess my postcard challenge posts may not be as frequent as I had first hoped. It is great fun but also quite time consuming. So Liam and Gemma may loose touch off and on but they will always find each other again - who knows where or when but I am sure they will reunite at times throughout the year!

Moments of Gratitude (Flowers)

Flowers

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature. 

~Gerard de Nerval

I am blessed to be surrounded by the beautiful colour and liveliness of fresh flowers. Particularly this week when for my birthday I received a couple of wonderful bunches of flowers which brought so much joy to our house. My hanging baskets this year have been just amazing, with vibrant oranges and pinks blooming throughout the whole summer.

I am grateful for the vibrant energy and beauty that flowers bring into my life.

Inner Peace

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without alcohol,

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

Then You Are ...

..... Undoubtedly .....

The Family Dog!

I couldn't resist sharing this.....so so true!

Be the Author of your Own Life Story

Art:- Be the Author of your Own Life Story

Quote - It was peace

To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace. 

~Milan Kundera

Moments of Gratitude (Love)

Love

"No road is long with good company"
~ Turkish Proverb

On Valentines Day I thought it appropriate that this week I express my appreciation for love!

For the beauty of  love with all it's imperfections - I am grateful.

Mandala Escape

   

Art:- Mandala Escape

Creating a Mandala is a wonderful way to experience a form of mindfulness and creativity. The process is very therapeutic and it provides a space where the mind chatter can stop. These Mandalas were created at a time where I was craving silence and calm. For me, they represent that treasured state of stillness that I could escape to whilst I created them.  

Tibetan Sand Mandala

This week we had some Tibetan Monks visit our local library so I had the opportunity over the course of the week to see a Mandala in the making and to attend a meditation as well as a Tibetan Love Concert.  This was a unique experience.

I have been fascinated with Mandalas for some time so I jumped at the chance to watch one being formed in the traditional way from sand. The Mandalas that I have attempted have been drawn or painted and I can not image being unattached enough to be able to destroy them upon completion. But this is the beauty of non attachment and this dissolution represents the transitional nature of life.

It is in the nature of cyclic existence that what has gathered will eventually disperse -- parents, children, brothers, sisters, and friends. No matter how much friends like each other, eventually they must separate. Gurus and students, parents and children, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, and friends -- no matter who they are -- must eventually separate. ~ Dalai Lama

I sat and watched the monk as they worked meticulously away on the Mandala and I wandered. What are they thinking? Are they thinking? Their backs must really hurt siting like that for so long! The sound of the Chak Phurs used to disperse the sand was entrancing in itself and there was a captivating silence along with an energy of peace and harmony.

This Mandala represents Wisdom and Compassion.

Just beautiful......

Tunnel to the Moon

Here beneath the clouded night sky,

with just my thoughts for company.

An angels voice so soft & sweet,

like music slowly comes to me.

Amongst the eiree depths of darkness

a gentle light hits the clouds,

creating a tunnel to the moon

that beckons to me now.

I want to travel through the tunnel,

through the clouds & touch the light.

To hear the voice that sings to me

So beautifully tonight.

Moments of Gratitude (Creativity)

Creativity

“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 
~ Pablo Picasso

I am grateful for all things colourful and creative! It offers an avenue for expression, exploration and an escape into a silent world of freedom and joy.

The Ocean of What If

The ocean of "what if's" is deep and vast
What if?, What if?, What if?

What if we stop, let go, just flow
Float to the surface where the sun gently touches the skin
And the breeze dances on the water that surrounds us

Softly floating on the smooth flowing ocean
The mind is calm, the heart is open
Drifting into the unknown, with unfamiliar acceptance

What if the destination would have always been the same?
Without question or struggle, fear or blame?
Perhaps the ocean would have always delivered us
This present.

                     Art:- Just Flow             

Book - Reflections in the Light

Daily Thoughts and Affirmations
This is a beautiful book by Shakti Gawain with a message and affirmation for each day of the year.

I am going to keep it on hand again this year. It is the kind of book that you can open on any given day and it will have a message filled with wisdom and inspiration. It is almost as if the author is gently challenging your view of the world and of yourself. 

A couple of examples:-

Learning from our mistakes
“We must remember that we are babies in the new world. We learn by making lots of mistakes and often we may feel ignorant, frightened or unsure of ourselves. But we would not get angry at a baby every time he fell down, so we must try not to criticize ourselves for our natural learning process” I learn from all my mistakes.

 Communion
“I often find that most powerful communion with the universe is when I am alone, especially out in nature. At such times, the places inside of me that sometimes feel empty are filled with the energy of spirit. Here I find a guiding presence that nudges me in the direction I need to go, and helps me to learn the lesson that lies in taking each step along my path”. Nature helps me connect with spirit.

Each day has a way of putting things into perspective and helps in maintaining a mindful, positive and accepting outlook on life.

*Message for today Friday 3rd February 2012
Distinguishing Intuition
"Your intuition is always on hundred percent correct, but it takes time to hear it correctly. If you are willing to risk acting on what you believe to be true and risk making mistakes, you will learn very fast by paying attention to what works and what doesn't work. The first step is to pay more attention to what you feel inside, to the dialogue that goes on within you. Through practice you will be able to distinguish your intuitive voice from other thoughts and voices." I am hearing my intuition more clearly every day.

Moments of Gratitude (My Cat)

Let some of the tranquility of a cat curl into me....

If there is a creature on this planet that inspires me to live in the moment it is for sure my cat.

She can sit or lay for hours and be right there, completely in the moment. Enjoying the breeze, the warmth of the sun, that snugly little spot. 

For these moments she is truly at peace, there is nothing else to do, nowhere else to be.....just purrfect!