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.