Speaking Your Truth

One of the languages with which I express is photography. This is one of my photo's taken at an outdoor Asian market in Toronto.  I thought everything looked so beautiful, fresh and colorful. 



The chakra's are energy centers in our bodies. The fifth chakra is located in the throat area.  It's about communication and expression.  At a young age I remember wanting to talk to those closest to me. Yet, growing up I heard often that children should be seen and not heard.  I could never understand this expression, not even as a child. Now I realize it was simply a way for the adults around me to control an oftentimes chatty child.  I didn't have siblings, so those same adults were my only sounding board.  I didn't realize that after a while, they didn't want any longer to hear a 5 year old carry on.  They too needed a quiet place to go within and process their own lives and not only mine.

 

However, what others say often sticks to us like drops of hot melted candle wax on a table. What children hear over and over, quickly becomes their own internal dialog and reality.  And unlike hardened candle wax, which may take but a few moments to scrape off, our internal beliefs can take years of "inner work" to peel away. 

 

I think when life pushes us hard from the outside, we must, for our own survival, give our "inner voice" outer expression to create balance.   We must speak and be heard, and, no matter what the language, be it music, writing, painting or other forms of expression, we just need to keep putting it out there.  If we ever stop expressing, I think it would be like turning off the lights and sitting in the dark.    

A Poem Called "The Artist"

 

I took this photo because I loved the contrast between the light outside and the dark inside and the symmetry of the composition.  However, I could also see that by opening the door, the light is allowed to stream in. 
This is a wonderful metaphor for life.  All we have to do is open the door and the Light will come in.

I recently came across this poem written by Jack Boland, the founder of Renaissance Unity.  As the New Year approaches, I want to remember that within me is an Infinite Wisdom and a Creative Intelligence that has a perfect plan for my life.  As the poem states, this Creator is constantly expressing through each of us in glorious, wondrous, beautiful and exotic ways. My lesson in life is to remember that when I am expressing, it is really not I, but the Artist within that is doing the work.

I share Mr. Boland's work with you:

The Artist

"Are you aware...
That within you dwells an Artist...
A Creator?
Your life is its handiwork...
A living canvas spread for all to see.

The Artist in you is destined to
create a masterpiece...
But, the Craftsman's work
Is not yet finished
Nor shall it ever be.

In Truth...
The work has only just begun.
Glorious, wondrous, beautiful,
exotic forms
Are being imaged now
In the Artist's mind.

Mighty new brush strokes
Will soon bring
new shape and color
to the canvas you know as your world."
Jack Boland

Living A Creative Life

 

I like to line up my paintings to see what they look like together.  It gives me ideas for the next piece of work.  Experimenting with new colors is one of my favorite things. 

As important as anything in deciding to live a more creative life is to dedicate ample time and space to do creative work.  A "studio" can be anywhere - your kitchen table, a garage or extra bedroom, or any space that you can call your own for part of each day.  By going to that space on a regular basis, you will begin to experience what St. Francis calls, "Small beginnings, greater ends". 

By simply dedicating time each day to being creative you will eventually see progress whether its restoring a piece of old furniture, painting on canvas or writing a poem.  Something will soon begin to bubble up from deep within and you will make the world a richer and more beautiful place.



True Faith

 

"Looking at a flower takes time."  Georgia O'Keefe
Even and especially flowers have the energy of God within.  They too are filled with Buddha nature.

How do we distinguish between popular Buddhism and deep Buddhism? They don't necessarily contradict each other. When we first begin to practice, we might think that the Buddha is a person outside ourselves...one who has reached enlightenment. However, as time passes and we become more aware, we see that the Buddha is something within us. The Buddha is in essence the energy of mindfulness, understanding and compassion. We all have within us the Buddha nature. We all have the ability to wake up and "be" understanding and compassion. The Buddha eventually ceases to be a concept, idea or a notion.

In Christianity, Jesus Christ practiced cultivating the Holy Spirit - the energy of God within. This energy is that of mindfulness, understanding, love, forgiveness and compassion. We can cultivate the Holy Spirit and the energy of God within by remaining mindful in our daily lives just like we cultivate our Buddha nature. The Holy Spirit, God's energy, is always present and infused with understanding, compassion, faith and love.

No matter what our tradition or history, we can all have a direct experience with our true nature, our God nature, our Buddha nature and cease to just talk about it in terms of a notion or concept. We can all be Love, we can be Peace, we can be Understanding, we can be Faith and we can be Compassion.  





 

Forest Bathing Boosts Healing Power



A photo I took while walking about 80 miles west of Pikes Peak in Colorado.

I've been an advocate of walking in nature for a long time. I've also taught a form of meditation called mindful walking which again is especially wonderful when done in nature.  There is something about being among trees and plants that is purifying, healing, calming and restoring. Whenever I am out of sorts, I know that a trip to the nearest forest will restore my inner harmony and balance. Recently I come across an article that described this activity as "forest bathing", translated from the Japanese "shinrin-yoku".  The article said that its the phytocides from trees and plants that produce health benefits for humans. By walking slowly and breathing in with an open heart, a healing power is released within us. Unfortunately, city walking or a walk around the garden doesn't produce the same results.  The Japanese recommend we walk in a forested area at least three times a week for 1.5 miles within a two hour time span. At this slow pace, we can see that it is not about power walking or aerobic exercise, but something that truly restores our spirits and contributes to our better health.

 

Creating Art

As an artist and painter, how I create and move from inspiration to a completed painting continues to remain a mystery to me.  In searching for the right words to describe the creative process, I love what Meister Eckhart says, "when the soul wishes to experience something she throws an image of the experience out before her and enters into her own image."



One of my acrylic paintings on canvas.  It looks like things are fluttering in the wind or across a pond.  I feel free and happy when I look at this painting.  The colors make my heart sing.

Joseph Campbell writes about the artist in terms of a spiritual journey: "The real artist is the one who has learned to recognize and to render what James Joyce has called the radiance of all things, as an epiphany or showing forth of their truth...It's important to live life with the experience, and therefore the knowledge, of life's mystery and your own mystery.  This gives life a new radiance, a new harmony and a new splendor..."

To me, it is pure joy to creatively express.  There is nothing like it.  I ask people to experience this for themselves and to make art without being concerned about how it will turn out…whether it is a painting, a drawing or a piece of pottery.  Just put your brush to canvas and move your arm and the rest will happen.  When I stand in my studio before a blank canvas and do just that I begin to enter a very still and sacred space that some call God.  I remain in awe.



Mistaking Something for Something Else

Oftentimes, in our limited perception, we mistake one thing for something else.  An example is seeing a coiled rope lying on the ground at a campsite at sundown and thinking it is a snake.  We could easily become frightened by such an illusion and run for cover. 

Our daily fears and anxieties are often triggered by similar misperceptions of what is. We simply see what we "believe" to exist. 


Is it cactus or the back of a porcupine?

How often do we see things in this manner?  How often do we label something only to find out later that our perception is completely erroneous?  How often do we cling to our certainties only to end up suffering the consequences from such limited perception?

I have to remind myself often that my thoughts and perceptions might be causing me problems and when I admit that, then I can begin to loosen my grip on what I think is right.  Like Mark Twain said, “I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.”
 



Oneness

We are all one.  Everything in the Universe is as intertwined as a spider’s web. A disturbance in one area is felt throughout the whole.  It is like touching a mobile - even the slightest touch causes the  entire structure to shift and move. 

Nothing or no one is separate.  We do not live or have our being in a vacuum.  Our individual actions do not occur in isolation like we might think.  No matter how big or small, everything affects everything else.  The mystics and sages of the world have been telling us this forever. The familiar story of the butterfly flapping its wings halfway around the world causing a reaction somewhere else far away comes to mind.



Steven and Alia at play

 

The concept of oneness doesn't make sense to us logically or when we think in a linear or conventional way.  This only perpetuates the idea of separation. However, if we quiet our busy minds and listen with our hearts and our whole being, we can begin to sense our inter-connectedness.  We can sense it when watching children play, when being in nature, when listening to a beautiful piece of music or when looking at a beautiful piece of art - boundaries fall away and we are all one.  Everything affects everything else.  It is an important lesson for me to keep doing my part. 

Four Ways to Nurture Your Inner Artist

I gave myself the gift of walking along the hilly, shop lined streets of Shrewsbury, England with my camera for a much needed "Artists Day".  Shrewsbury has over 700 shops. It was delightfully fun and my inner child was in heaven.

 

Do something right now:  "Forget everything else on your "to do" list for the next hour and go outside with a pencil and sketchbook or a small container of watercolors and as quickly as you can, capture what you see." 

Give yourself the pleasure of an "Artists Day":  "Go visit a museum, an antique shop, a garden center or some other place where you can meander for hours with no agenda.  After the experience, see how inspired and renewed you feel and how it fed your creativity."

Buy something that you have been denying yourself:  "Buy that new tube of cobalt blue, magenta or lemon yellow paint.  Then go paint on either the biggest or smallest canvas you can find.  See what happens!" 

Play music:  "Music excites that right side of the brain further stimulating your creativity... and no difference if its Mozart, Pavarotti, Brightman or the Beatles."

Cultivating Curiosity

One of my photographs taken on a walk.  Had I been driving I would have missed these sweet colorful flowers reaching up towards the sun.

Philosophers, psychologists, mystics, and guru's all have sage advice on how to live a happier life.  But what really works?  I have found that one of the most effective ways to achieve greater personal fulfillment and happiness is to seek novelty in my day-to-day life.  Trying new things breaks us out of our habit thoughts and behaviors and wakes us up.  It pushes us into the moment. 

The human brain is actually energized by surprise and discovery.  So, to be happier, be curious, be in "learning mode", ask questions, develop “beginners mind” and begin to enjoy surprise; experience what its like to talk with someone you know well as if its the first time; experiment drawing with your left hand instead of your right; travel down a distant road you’ve never been on before; travel to a new city, a new state or to a foreign country; get out of your car and ride a bus, a bike or a train  - or better yet, walk.  Take a walk in the rain or walk at night with only the light of the moon and stars to guide you.

Each day, take one small step to follow a long held dream.  Instead of saying you’re going to work, say you’re going to “play”; wear a different color than you normally wear; read a Mary Oliver poem or The Wall Street Journal – it doesn’t really matter what it is as long as it’s something you've never read before and just stay curious.  Commit to curiosity. Commit to discovery. 

Repeating the same behaviors may feel comfortable but comfort is not the same as being happy. If more happiness and joy are what you want, then challenge the status quo.   If you do, you will probably begin to breath deeper and smile more, your self-consciousness might fly out the window and there might be a dance in your step!

This sign made me laugh.  It was on a wall in Shrewsbury and I almost didn't take the picture.  I walked by...then went back and captured it.  I loved discovering this part of the world.  Everything was new and different.  I vowed to stay curious.  I wondered how long this sign had been there.  It looked very old.

Mindful Communication Produces Big Rewards




Mindful communication has to do with being mentally and emotionally present when communicating with others.   It is about practicing deep listening rather than being preoccupied or distracted by the thoughts and stories in our own minds.   It is about paying attention to more than just the words that are being said, but to the feelings as well. 

To practice mindful communication and deep listening, notice if you are really present or if your mind is wandering. Are you making eye contact and listening without expectations, prejudice or judgment?  Are you aware of feeling impatient or thinking about what is "really" important or where you need to be next?  Are you distracted by other people or activities that are taking you away from being truly present? 



A late afternoon snapshot after school in England - they are listening to each other intently.

Mindful communication has great rewards. You may feel a connection that you have never felt before and you may feel understood for the very first time.  This then sets the stage for future understanding and connection.  In today’s hectic and fast paced world, I believe that most people are starving for this type of  communication.  I wonder what it would be like, if today, we could each be the change we would like to see?

Meditation Nourishes Your Brain

This looked like a wonderful spot to meditate. 

Meditation nourishes the body, the soul as well as the brain.  The more one meditates, the more the brain changes.  When we meditate, the "old brain" begins to quiet down and our sense of  separateness begins to diminish.  The walls of the ego (or the constructed self) begin to collapse and we begin to sense our oneness.  Scientifically speaking, it is found that those who practice mindfulness meditation have more gray matter in the left hippocampus, the part of the brain involved with emotional control, memory and learning.

Meditation aids in relaxation, concentration and attuning to deeper, more spiritual aspects of the self.  It helps us find our center - our temple of inner wisdom.  Through a meditation practice we can learn to live primarily from this place.  Did you know that the word "meditation" actually comes from the Sanskrit meaning "doing the wisdom".?

Mindfulness Not Exclusive to Buddhism

Many people are uncertain about mindfulness and think that it is exclusive to the practice of Buddhism.  Even though mindfulness has roots in Buddhism, it is, in essence, about living life in the moment as well as being a type of formal meditation practice.  Mindfulness meditation helps quiet mind chatter and cultivates present moment awareness.

 

A view of  my garden.  It is hard not to be fully present in a garden.

Practicing mindfulness not only helps to intentionally be in the present moment, it helps you to accept each moment without judgment no matter what the moment brings.

 

Mindfulness meditation has become part of mainstream medicine thanks to the pioneering work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the UMass Medical Center.  If you want to learn more about mindfulness, you can join a center, take a class, listen to a mindfulness meditation CD, become involved with yoga or Tai Chi as they are also beneficial practices.  You do not need to be a Buddhist to practice mindfulness or to live mindfully - its just about wanting to be in the moment "on purpose".

More on the Power of "Scents"

My summer garden.  Who doesn't love the scent of flowers on a warm lazy summer day?

My children loved to be read to when they were young.  One of their favorite books was Detective Arthur on The Scent.  It was the story of a bloodhound who had received a special gift from his grandmother on his birthday - a detective kit.  Inside was a detective hat, a magnifying glass and a detecting book.  When his birthday cake suddenly disappeared, his mother encouraged him to use his kit to find the robbers.

Rule #1 in his book said to search for any strange objects.  Rule #2 said to smell all objects.  Arthur went on to smell a banana, a bunch of cherries, a lemon, grape jelly, mint ice cream and finally his chocolate birthday cake which he found on a picnic table surrounded by all his friends.  This delightful story not only had a happy ending but was possibly our first introduction to aromatherapy!

I love learning new things.  Alan Hirsch, MD, author of Life's a Smelling Success tells us that the smell of peppermint or banana will reduce food cravings. By placing just a few drops of essential oil of peppermint on a cotton ball and placing it inside a plastic bag, we can smell it and reduce our hunger pangs.  By just smelling a banana we get the same effects and don't even have to peel it!  I'm really curious about this and want to learn more.

Use Common "Scents" to Improve Family Communication

Did you know that scents have powerful effects on our emotions - even to the point of helping to manage our minds and moods?  According to research done by Alan Hirsch, MD, author of Life's a Smelling Success, eating garlic bread at dinnertime helps to promote positive family interactions.  He  found that by eating or just smelling garlic bread, negative dinnertime remarks were reduced by 22% and pleasant remarks increased by over 7%.  I find that to be amazing!

Are you someone who needs to focus?  Then smell fresh flowers!  By smelling fresh flowers, your mental sharpness will increase along with the ability to focus.  This works for adults as well as for kids - especially when doing homework, when studying for a test or when practicing to give a speech.  For alertness and focus, place a vase of fresh flowers on your desk or table and stop often to "smell the roses".

The Privilege of Being Who You Are

American mythologist, Joseph Campbell said, “The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” Yet, how many of us really know ourselves?  How many of us take the time it takes to discover our true selves?  

First, find out what you really want and then follow that even if it means breaking old ways of thinking and behaving.  When I decided to become a full time artist, I was breaking new ground. If I had continued with the status quo of making art part time or when I had time, I might never have experienced who I believe I was meant to be.  Mr. Campbell reminds us that we must be willing to let go of the life we have planned in order to have the life that is waiting for us.

Are there things or people in your life that are no longer serving you or your best interest?  Do you believe that you are too old, too young, that there isn't enough time or money to have, be or do what you really want?  There is a wonderful lession that the Queen in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass teaches us.  She states, “Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast”.  Everyday I ask my self what I think is impossible and then I believe that it isn't.

 



This is the cover photo for an art suppy catalog - a place I sometimes buy art supplies.  It reminds me that I too can be an empowered artist.  All I have to do is believe.  When I woke up this morning I believed it.  I used to think it was impossible.

 

Jack Canfield, author of the Chicken Soup books, says that we are all born with a purpose and that by living true to that purpose and staying on course, everything will soon begin to fall into place. Invisible hands will reach out and help us every step of the way.

Resolve right now to be truly yourself…to be more of who you really are…to begin experiencing the privilege of just being you and see what happens!