Way of the Monk - Week Six - Final

This week wrapped up "Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist". It's been an amazing six weeks and I've met some wonderful fellow monks and artists along the way.

Christine has other offerings of this course available, and if you are in any way thinking that this is calling to you I urge you to check it out. You won't regret it.

This week, we looked at creating some sort of Rule for ourselves. A rule being a sort of framework for our lives as monks and artists. Being the creative group that we are, the rules came in all shapes and sizes - written rules, poetic rules, mandala's, etc.

Here are my "Rules of the Inner Monastery", they are all about "Bee-ing""

From Random

Written on the wings of the bees in the corners:

Be a friend to your body
Be a listener of the wind
Be thankful
Be in nature
Be in Awe
Be creative
Be an explorer of your soul
Be Here Now
Be Mindful
Be in prayer
Be Still and Know that I Am

Now I am resting in this week, as I prepare for the beginning next week of the next class, "Eyes of the Heart".......glad it's not completely over yet! * o

Way of the Monk - Week Six - Final

Happy 2010 - Radiant!

The New Year has rung in, cold, clear and crisp!

I'm not usually all that great at making resolutions or writing up big goal plans for the year. But I have, over the last couple of days been working on and filling out this really cool, creative workbook/planner from the sparkly, bubbly and lovely Goddess Leonie!

What I love about this planner is it's so colorful and it feels more like "play" than "working on goals". Lots of prompts, lots of room to write or collage in. And it's reasonably priced too - check it out!

One of the exercises in the workbook is to come up with your "word for the year." The word that keeps coming up, the one that I would like to play with this year is "Radiant." I want 2010 to be Radiant in all sorts of areas - health, spirituality, work wise. There's a lot I'm happy to let go of from 2009, and a lot I'm looking forward to in the next year.

In the next few weeks, along with 20 or so others spread out all over the world, I'll be taking part in Christine Valters-Painter's online course "Way of the Monk - Path of the Artist." I can't think of a better way to start the new year off and am hoping it will be just the right mix of creative and contemplative that I need right now!

Here's to 2010 - may it be RADIANT!! * o

Happy 2010 - Radiant!

Butterfly Woman - The Journey Continues

(you can read Part One of this journey here)

On a cool moonlit night in the garden, Luna Moth Fairy again appeared to Butterfly Woman. "It is time for you to leave this garden and set out on a journey - a journey of healing and adventure to discover yourself and your soul's true desires. It will be difficult, it will be scary and at time you will be quite lost. You will be traveling the Shadowlands of Your Soul. But at the end of the journey will be a great reward. You will have a helper along the way. Fox has decided to accompany you. She will not interfere but she will provide advice and wisdom as needed. She is quick and cunning. Not everyone you meet along the way will help you or can be trusted. You may need to rely on Fox's ability to discern. Now my child, pack up your things, take only what you need, and in the morning leave this garden." Then Butterfly Woman was left alone. Out of the corner of her eye she thought she caught a glimpse of Fox but she wasn't quite sure. She tucked her leather book she had received from Luna into her bag, along with a journal, a change of clothes, some food and a gold, heart-shaped locket. Then she sat down to pray and settle in for some sleep. Tomorrow would be a long day.

(image - collage with beeswax - @ 2008) * o

Butterfly Woman - The Journey Continues

Trying to Slow Down

This is a collage I created that was inspired by my experience walking the labyrinth last month. I finally finished it last weekend. The labyrinth has tiny snails along the path, which is made of chunky wool. The outside of the labyrinth is made of tiny polished rocks. The woman is doing "Tree Pose" - a yoga asana.

I keep trying to remind myself of this image - to slow down, to be grounded like the tree. It seems like I just fly through my days and weeks, and lately I have had very little energy to do more than just go to work and then crash on my couch in the evenings. Maybe my body is trying to force me to "slow down"? I've certainly been giving up a lot of things, and thinking about just where and how I want to spend my time. Slowing down, in this culture, is not an easy task. * o

Trying to Slow Down

Her Dreams Are Brewing

When I was talking with my spiritual director this weekend, I was going on about how I have all these things I want to do creatively and spiritually and that I was unsure of what I was supposed to be doing and what direction I wanted to head in next.

She encouraged me to recognize that I was in an "in-between" place at the moment, a transition, and to be comfortable in this place. To rest in my creativity.

And then she said she had this image of a large pot, or cauldron. Mixing it all together and brewing up what's next.

This weekend, I will be walking the labyrinth and wondering what it is that I will bring in and what I will choose to take out.

Mixed-media acrylic - "Her Dreams Are Brewing" - Apr 2008 * o

Her Dreams Are Brewing

It is Finished

My collage for the Nouwen course.

I am the prodigal daughter and the elder daughter, journeying home to the Father's welcoming embrace. * o

It is Finished

Note Cards and Collages

Got my note cards completed this weekend for the Artella Note Card swap. This was a fun and easy project to participate in. Just have to pop my cards in the mail tomorrow and wait for my swap cards to arrive!

Also spent the better part of the weekend working on my collage for my final project for the Henri Nouwen course. I've decided to work with Nouwen's book, "The Return of the Prodigal Son" based on his reflections on Rembrandt's painting and the parable. There was so much in that book that spoke to me and had me examining how I've been the prodigal and how I've been the elder and what it means to be the "Beloved" - the child welcomed home. (Speaking of the spiritual home here, of course ).

Here's a sneak peak at the collage in progress. I'll post the final piece when it is complete.


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Note Cards and Collages

New Song

She sings a new song,

gives lift to a new dance,

notes inscribed on her heart,

give hope another chance.

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New Song

Little bits of the end of March

Take the whole kit
with the caboodle
Experience life
don't deplore it
Shake hands with time
don't kill it
Open a lookout
Dance on a brink
Run with your wildfire
You are closer to glory
leaping an abyss
than upholstering a rut

~ James Broughton ~

(Little Sermons of the Big Joy)

I got totally inspired for the above collage from Kelly Rae Roberts article in the latest Cloth Paper Scissors issue. Actually I got inspired by a lot of things and I have no idea why I never thought to check it out before!

Got Teesha Moore's latest Art & Life issue today in the mail so I'll be pouring over that the next few days. Such a visual feast and it always makes me want to grab my journal, paint and play. (....There's a little piece of Teesha in the above collage...)

April will find me busy trying to complete my integration project for my Henri Nouwen course. I've been immersed in Nouwen's writings for two months now and have enjoyed every moment of it. My final project is going to be a collage, but I won't post the details until it is complete (surprise!). There is so much flying around in my head for it right now, I hope it translates OK from head to canvass.

Currently listening to Susan Lincoln's "Mother Heart" CD - beautiful.

Waiting for spring.....

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Little bits of the end of March

Bloom

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Bloom

Blossom

Sometimes when I set out to create a SoulCollage card it turns out quite differently than what I expected. Like this one. I sat down with magazines around me, flipping through for images, intent on creating a card that reflected a phrase I had been meditating on - "I am the glory of God".

I ended up going in a slightly different direction. I'm still not sure exactly what this card is trying to reflect. I've thought of the seasons - winter turning to spring; of the cycle of life - birth, death, renewal; and finally of "blossoming". Blossoming or birthing the crone (although I am not quite near crone phase in my life).

Today I got my copy of Christine's latest reflective art journal "What is Blossoming Within You" and I read the following which ties in so well to this card I had been working on:

"There is a playfulness and spontaneity to the season of spring, that invites us to join this joyful abandon. We are called to both listen deeply to the blossoming within ourselves as well as to forget ourselves - setting aside all of our seriousness about what we are called to do and simply enter the space of being." What is Blossoming Within You? Christine Valters Paintner, PhD

What are you longing to give birth to as spring approaches? * o

Blossom

Chalice Prayer

Prayer of the Chalice

Father, to thee I raise my whole being
a vessel emptied of self. Accept
Lord, this my emptiness, and so fill
me with Thyself - Thy light, Thy
love, They life - that these Thy
precious gifts may radiate
through me and overflow the
chalice of my heart into the
hearts of all with whom I
come in contact this day
revealing unto them
the beauty of
Thy joy
and
wholeness
and
the
serenity
of Thy peace
which nothing can destroy

Source: Diocese of Florida website

image: Chalice Prayer, mixed-media collage, Jan 2008

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Chalice Prayer

Embracing Soul

"When you listen with your soul, you come into rhythm and unity with the music of the universe."
- John O'Donohue


"Embracing Soul" - art journal collage, Nov 2007

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Embracing Soul

Imagine a Woman - Journal Entry

This is the page I did in my journal for Zura's "Imagine a Woman" weekly journal prompt.

Imagine freeing yourself of the stories you carry around with you that do not belong to you, but are someone else's baggage. Imagine owning what is yours and letting go of the rest.

Knowing our stories helps us to understand ourselves. Knowing another person's story helps us to understand them. * o

Imagine a Woman - Journal Entry

Playing with Wax

I managed to get some beeswax a couple of weekends ago, and since then have done a couple of collages. Working with the wax is both easy and difficult at the same time - I think because instead of using a travel iron like most of the directions suggest, I am using my own iron covered in tinfoil and I'm not quite getting the smoothness I need.



The second collage is a bit of tribute to my kitchen - soon to be remodeled after many long years! * o

Playing with Wax

Dreaming of Beeswax

I've got the creative itch to do a collage in beeswax - a technique I haven't tried yet. I've got the idea, know what I want to put on it and am antsy to try it. So what's stopping me? Lack of beeswax. See, in my small town you can't just run to the local craft store and buy whatever. Now there are plenty of people here who will tell you to "mind your own beeswax" and several more who can't resist the urge to stick their nose in to your beeswax, but actual, authentic beeswax is not to be found. And so I will have to hold off until I can make the next trip to the Big City to stock up on supplies..(sigh). Until then, I'm dreaming of beeswax. * o

Dreaming of Beeswax