Bless those who challenge us for they remind us of doors we have closed and doors we have yet to open.
~Native American Prayer
What doors are you ready to open?
Swing by my True North Arts blog to download a gorgeous permission slip for your journal. It is designed to get you thinking about what you want to embrace, explore, and try and what you are ready to let go of.
Deb LaPointe of Griffinhill made me this charming faerie mermaid.
The mermaid is sitting in a "spa" that is heated by a flame. Look below and you'll see the glow from the flame. Now how cool is that? We mermaids do enjoy a steamy hot tub from time to time.
Looking down on the sculpture offers an interesting perspective. I love all of the curved lines and levels.
Every angle of this piece is captivating.
I can get lost in the details.
The faerie mermaid is looking for her Mr. Wonderful. She can't quite see him, even though she knows he is close by.
If you look closely, you'll catch a glimpse of her Mr. Wonderful. Hopefully he will find his way up to the steamy hot tub, I can see her mermaid tail is wagging in eager anticipation!
I adore my faerie mermaid. To give you an idea of scale, she is only about 1-1/2" tall and the overall structure is about 9-1/2" tall. I'm feeling like pretty lucky to have this treasure. I love that it was custom made just for me!
To see more of Deb's Faerie dwellings, check out my blog post HERE. Be sure to listen in on the 10 minute audio interview. Deb and I enjoyed a chat about her work and some of what she has learned over the years in making this magical masterpieces. Don't be shy about contacting Deb about her faerie dwellings. I know she would like to see them go to some really great homes. Each one is a unique one-of-a-kind treasure and reasonably priced. Visit her website at www.griffinhill.net.
Enjoy!
Kathryn, Collage Diva
I woke up to the sound of church bells ringing from a few streets away. I remembered that today Epiphany would be observed in church. When I think of the Magi following a star not knowing where they were heading, I too feel like I'm being guided to a place I've never been. Epiphany in one sense refers to recognizing the divine within.
I find myself doing research for my day job and I'm always struck when I come across the idea of witnessing Christ in others. Each time I read this I am reminded that each one of us is divine and beautiful. One of the best gifts we can give each other is recognizing this light within. This is why I often sign off with the word, Namaste, for it is recognizing and honoring this light within each of us.
I am graced with an uncanny sense of direction. Without maps or a gps I have found my way when "lost" by trusting my intuition. As I look out onto 2012, I feel called to follow my own star, to listen to my intuition, and to recognize the divine in everyone I meet along the way.
Thank you friends for sharing this journey with me. A journey is best when shared with others.
I honor the light within you, Namaste,
Kathryn, Collage Diva
Look deep within the cavern and you'll find three horses. One will take you further into the cavern where you will experience an intimacy that you've never known. Ride the second horse and it will take you out of the cavern to explore many new landscapes. Look to the third horse for a gentle and steady ride, he will be your constant companion and offers you the most beautiful ride of your life.
Which one will you ride?
It is another day on this wonderful journey called life.
Embrace it!
Kathryn, Collage Diva
Today is the Epiphany, the 12th day after Christmas. We've commonly heard of the story of the three wise men visiting the newborn Christ bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Last week a dear friend of mine who is an esthetician suggested that I try frankincense. I have two white spots, one on each eyelid. Known as xanthomas, these white spots erupted a few years ago due to hypercholesterolemia. Although my cholesterol levels are now at healthy levels (losing weight and changing my diet was the key), these spots remain. The sight of them really bothered me - they looked like two headlights glaring back at me reminding me of how I didn't take care of myself. Looking into having them removed, the insurance company treats it as a cosmetic issue. Hence the plastic surgery costs would be out of pocket. Most of my friends say they don't even notice it. I do my best to cover them up with make-up. In recent weeks, I've made peace with these spots and chalk it up as evidence of how I've lived. When my friend approached me last week about the possibility of this essential oil as a treatment, I was open to try it, but not worried about the outcome.
I did a little research on frankincense and have learned that it has so many medicinal qualities, it has been used to treat everything from dental disease to skin conditions, to respiratory complaints and digestive troubles - to name but a few. A woman we know used it to remove a cutaneous horn that she had growing from her neck. It is not only an anti-inflammatory but is calming and an anti-depressant.
It is no wonder that this essential oil was presented as a gift for the new baby Jesus. I've been applying it diluted in olive oil onto one of the spots and have added a drop or two into my facial cream. Although I see no difference in the spot on my eyelid, my skin is so hydrated and smooth which is saying something for this cold winter weather. I have also felt the calming effects.
I was chuckling with some friends earlier in the week as I was telling them my frankincense story. We often joke that I'm the "church lady" - working for the church and all, but now I'm beginning to smell like church. Who would have thought that I would have my own frankincense story the week of Epiphany?
I'm cracking up over here. What I know for certain is that I am open to epiphanies or as Oprah calls them, a-ha moments.
May your day be filled with lots of divine inspiration!
Kathryn, Collage Diva
Each year I join my family on New Years Day for dinner. We begin by clicking glasses filled with extra dry champagne and toasting to the year ahead. We always have the same dinner of roast pork and sauerkraut - I think my dad's wife would feel it bad luck to change it.
Our meal is always finished by sharing the good luck marzipan pig. I remember one year quite vividly as a child so excited about the pig. My stepmother didn't like me too much in those days. I was a quiet and shy girl and my dad's favorite. She has two daughters of her own who are close in age (one a year older and one a year younger) whose own relationship with their father was painful. I think it must have hurt her mother's heart to see her husband shower me with affection while her own daughters scarcely saw their own father. Well on this one occasion I remember her cutting the pig and when it came to me I could see her resistance. When she finally made a slice it was a sliver. My heart sank.
Times have changed. I've grown and so has my stepmother. In fact, in the last few years, I've grown to really love and appreciate her and she feels the same way about me. I think it is my understanding of forgiveness that has helped to take us to this wonderful place. In my journals I acknowledged my hurt feelings. In my writing and reflecting I realized that I'm no longer that 9 year old girl and she is no longer that mother with young children. One of my personal mottos from last year, meet people where they are at, is one that I will continue in this next year. Things that have happened in the past are to live in the past. We don't have to carry them forward with us. I've chosen to meet her where she is at today and she in turn is connecting with me in a way we would have never seen coming. I'm choosing to think back on the happy times and let those great feelings fill me up. Sure I may think back on those heart sinking moments, but I don't dwell on them.
This year the pig and knife were placed in front me of me. That's right I was given the honor of cutting the lucky pig. I quickly remembered the young girl who loves the taste of almond paste. wow...Wow...WOW! I looked down at the cute little figure and didn't know how big to cut the pieces. There were only three of us this year so I began by cutting the head and gave that choice looking piece to my dad. Next I cut a large barrel from the belly and handed it to my stepmother and I took the rump. As we held up our pieces as we did our glasses of the champagne just moments earlier I said, "You know all of the luck ran to the bottom of the pig and it's in my piece." No one has ever said that and we all had a good chuckle. I'm feeling pretty lucky and my outlook for 2012 is so very positive.
How about you? Are you feeling lucky? How is your outlook for 2012?
Cheers!
Kathryn, Collage Diva
DESIRE and DREAMS - there is a distinction. Desire is fueled by wants and emotions. Dreams on the other hand may be born out of a desire, but it transcends the emotion and is something much bigger. For example, I have some publishing dreams that grew out of my love for creating and writing. While the desire may help to move me to action, the volatile state of emotions is not to be relied upon. In fact, it has no staying power. Desire leads us to feel wanton and grasping at that which we don't have. Disappointment is lurking in the shadows when we are fueled strictly by desire.
We put HOPE into our DREAMS. This is grounded and will sustain us. WISHES, the dreamy, wistful declaration of our desires is flighty. Making wishes is helpful - helpful in releasing the hold of desire. Wishes can help define our dreams. But we must not mistaken the wish for the dream.
Are you feeling gripped by desire? Here is a visualization that I found helpful to release a recent unfulfilled desire:
Close your eyes and picture yourself holding a dandelion like the one pictured above.
Feel that desire running through your body.
Feel how it seems trapped inside with no place to go.
Now take a slow deep breath in through your nose.
Slowly and gently breath out through your mouth and picture the desire and your wishes blowing the dandelion. Watch in your mind's eye how the dandelion breaks apart.
In the same breath accelerate it and finish the breath strongly.
Listen to the ssssshhhhhh sound as you release the desire into the world.
Continue to breath slowly only this time breath in and out of your nose.
Follow the wave of breath, gently rolling in and out.
Imagine your breath soothing your insides bringing a sense of calm and deep relaxation.
When you are ready open your eyes and feel the weight of your desire lifted from your body.
Namaste,
Kathryn, Collage Diva
I had a wonderful two weeks with my son over the holidays. On his first night, I pulled out an old typewriter that I have on loan from a colleague.
This was my son's first attempt at using a typewriter.
He learned quickly that you have to press hard on the keys and you can't type too quickly.
He figured out right away that you need to type the lower case l when you want the number 1. He also liked the fraction keys.
He really thought it was so cool. It came as no surprise that one of the first things he typed was the number pi. You can see he stopped after a few digits.
I will surely miss him, but our time together will have a lasting impression.
Until next time,
Kathryn, Collage Diva
I'm having fun playing in Photoshop. I've been yearning for more time immersed in digital play. I'm so grateful for my skills in Photoshop - I don't think much about the tools that I use when I'm creating. It is a great feeling to lose myself in the layers as I uncover and connect different images.
Pictured above is the result of today's play. Be sure to click on the image to see it enlarged.
Deep within the Forest of Wishes there lies a stone wall. Not everyone who visits the forest will find the entrance to a secret cathedral. I'm so happy you found your way here. You are welcome any time you need a quiet respite to rest your weary bones and to soothe your soul.
The collage is simply a composite of three photos. The top layer is this forest.
The second layer is this stone wall.
The bottom most layer is the interior of a cathedral.
I'm looking forward to creating more digital collages and sacred spaces in 2012. Stay tuned!
Kathryn, Collage Diva
