Jamie Ridler poses a question each week for Wishcasting Wednesday. Today she asks, "What do you wish to begin?" I took this question for a walk this morning. I thought about some big changes that will be happening in my daily routine in just 1-1/2 weeks. Whether I wish for it or not, the tree house is going to get very quiet. It is such a mixed deal -- my son will be heading to Colorado for the ENTIRE summer (9-1/2 weeks to be exact) and I'll miss him. As much as I don't care for the XBox chatter that fills the background of my evenings, I do love having my sweetheart around.
I do love my solitude as well. I'm looking forward to beginning some new routines both in the morning and evening. I've missed my meditation and yoga practices and quiet times with my journal. I'm looking forward to my vacation in Maine at the end of July and wish to begin work prepping a travel journal. I also have some plans to begin some new things for True North Arts, my other blog.
While I already feel a tug on my heart as I anticipate the summer starting, I am also looking forward to beginning some new things.
How about you? What are you ready to begin?
{Namaste}
Kathryn, Collage Diva
PS - The small heart shaped rock is the first heart rock given to me by my son.
Oh that is a long list! There is so much to know and moreover to experience. I've resumed my morning pages and have filled lots of pages with things that fill my heart. Today I've distilled it down to:
I wish to know how to fly.
I wish to know the steps that will make my dreams come true.
Today is the wolf full moon. Each month Jamie Ridler hosts a blog circle where each participant creates a dreamboard on the full moon and shares it. Jamie writes about the wolf full moon, "What are you dreaming of under this Full Wolf Moon? The wolf reminds us to connect to our hunger, to notice what desires are calling for our attention."
My word for 2011 is "Love." To assist me in exploring, understanding, and embracing love, I call upon Aphrodite. {Know that you can click on the collage above to get a closer look.}
In this collage, the opening of the white lotus represents the opening up to the radiance from within. As I endeavor to get to know myself better, I seek to find the golden center. Aphrodite is one of many archetypes from the Greek goddess paradigm who is assisting me in this journey. Today I am grateful to have learned about the goddesses in a workshop that I took last spring. I continue to learn so much about myself months after my introduction.
When I learned that today was the wolf moon, this SoulCollage® card came to mind. The wolf is a teacher and seeks to speak the truth. Here the reclined woman is connected to wolf energy. She is both a lone wolf and one who runs with the pack. She is comfortable moving between both places. The full moon casts a glow on her throat chakra, the communication center. As she rests she finds her inner wisdom which she will return to the pack to share.
What do you hunger for? What desires are getting your attention?
Recently I took a step that could potentially open the door to my dream job and dream life. It was a small step, a simple little e-mail to an internationally renowned author. When I wrote the e-mail I felt my chi, my life force coursing through my body. My mind was clear and I had no doubt that I wanted to reach out and connect and ask for advice. After I hit the send button I was shaking like a leaf on a windy day.
What was I afraid of? I wasn't afraid of this author and her possible response or lack of response. What I was afraid of was the possibility that a door opens and my dreams come true. This may sound crazy to be afraid of that which I most desire.
What if? If my dream comes true then I head straight on into the unknown. I leave a comfortable, safe, easy job. I leave a cozy apartment that is also comfortable, safe, and easy (not to mention surrounded by many of my best friends). My life right now is peaceful, it is easy, it is safe.
At the moment of hitting "send" on that e-mail, I felt vulnerable. Even now I feel tender. But my excitement is cascading those fears.
Each day I put on my rings that read "love, leap, laugh." They remind me to put love in all that I do, to take those leaps, and to laugh along the way. Julia Cameron writes, "Leap and the net will follow." The more little leaps I take, the more I see that Julia is right, the net appears.
I see this fear and facing it right now to be helpful. I'm discerning how I want to live, who I want in my life, and what I want to do - my rightful work. What am I dreaming? Today is a snow day, a bonus day home and I'm going to take some time to sink into my daydreams and visualize in full detail what I want. Today is a day to clarify and refine my intentions.
A dear friend of mine wrote to me yesterday. She has been working on writing her first novel and is feeling stuck. I could see how her fears are blocking her from doing what she loves. She asked me how I stay so positive and how I can shift from negative thinking to positive.
Here are a couple of things I do.
1. I surround myself with inspiration. The little rock that I painted and shown above, the rings that I wear, and my bulletin board are all objects that remind me to embrace life. To go for it.
2. I'm taking care of my body, mind, and soul. My new regime is a combination of yoga, Zumba and treadmill, healthy eating, writing gratitude posts, reading, good sleep, and spending time with friends. When our bodies are feeling nourished with clean food and exercise then we are prepared for meeting the challenges of the day.
3. Don't just think positively, feel it! When I say a positive affirmation, I don't simply recite the words. I close my eyes or I look in the mirror and I feel the words in my body. I know what it feels like to feel good, inspired, and happy. I recall these feelings and I allow myself to go there. I'll use music to help me. For example, I drive to work singing. I belt out the tunes. This week I energize my day with the following song by Michael Buble. Take a moment to listen to it. Really listen and feel the words lift you up.
Now doesn't that feel good?
When I wake up in the morning I greet the day. I think, "What do I get to do today?" Change the have to's to get to's.
Each day is like a present, a gift that is waiting to be opened. Go ahead open it and embrace the adventures that await you!
Jamie Ridler poses a question each week in her Wishcasting Wednesday post. Last week she asked, "What do you wish to say Yes! to?" I'm saying Yes! to my dreams even in the face of fear. At the center of my bulletin board is a photo of me and two of my good friends, Deb and Pam. This was taken about four years ago. It was a great summer night. We had been dancing so hard at an outdoor Jazz festival. This was a fun summer for me. It was the first time my son was in Colorado and I was alone. I took Eastern Swing dance lessons. I met up with friends most nights of the week. I capped the summer off with a spa retreat complete with massage, facial, pedicure, and seaweed wrap. ooooh. I'm making plans for this summer and to prepare I'm getting into shape so I can keep up with all of the fun activities.
Fear is a great signal that wakes me up. The question here is how will I respond?
Today I am grateful for who I am. I am a dreamer, a leader, an artist, a mother, a friend, and so much more.
Yesterday I went looking for an old blog post to share with a friend and what I found instead was this POST. I had forgotten that I had written it. Click on the link and you'll be taken to an Easter message. I know we are just on the tail of Advent and Christmas, Easter is not for some time yet. I took some time to read this post and realized that the message in it fits me today. I posted a poem from Macrina Wiederkehr's book, "Seasons of Your Heart." The post is about moving the stones that are in our way and letting go. In recent weeks I have been working with the metaphor of a brick wall that needs to come down. Bricks are so hard and breaking down a wall sounds so violent. I'm revising my working metaphor to the river with rocks. This is a more natural analogy for me to embrace.
My brother Karl runs river trips in Colorado. Years ago he lived and worked in Honduras where he ran trips. Karl is passionate about the river and I first learned about the river from him. He has taken me on several trips including class 3+ rapids with names like the room of doom and the gravy train to a multi-day trip where I visited remote Peche Indian villages. The lessons of the river are many. One is how powerful the river is and how fatal it is to fight it. Karl taught me how people play in the river eddies, those places where there is a rock in the river and the water moves around the rocks in ways where you can surf. I've learned that while you can go to the same spot in the river it isn't the same, the water is moving and therefore that same place has changed. Like the river from one moment to the next we are the same person but we have changed. Reading Macrina's poem again, I am reminded of how we can move some of those rocks that are in our way.
I pulled out Macrina's book and randomly opened it, looking for a message. Here is the poem that wanted to be heard today:
"Blessed are the Pure of Heart, You Shall See the Face of God."
With deep reverence I turned to the pure of heart, How does it feel to be pure of heart? I asked.
With simplicity One with a pure heart replied:
It feels like a child exploring a new day It feels like all your false idols have tumbled as you stand amid ruin and creation with brand-new eyes. It feels like having eyes that do nothing but see and all things are possible for those who can see.
To be pure of heart is to be transparent It is to have a heart that doesn't hide, an undivided, single heart a heart that feasts on one thing necessary: life in and of God.
To be pure of heart is to have a heart with direction expectation and purpose.
It is to seek first the reign of God believing all else will be given it besides. (Matthew 6:33)
To be pure of heart is to be free.
Each week Jamie Ridler poses a question for Wishcasting Wednesday. Last Wednesday she asks, "What do you wish for 2011?" My wish is to recognize the stones that are blocking my way to being the very best me. My wish is to be pure of heart, a heart with direction, expectation, and purpose; a heart that sees the world with wonder like a child. My wish is to live whole-heartedly.
Today I am grateful for my brother who shares his love for the river. I am grateful for Macrina Wiederkehr who shares her gift of words. I am grateful that I can learn from them and recognize how important it is the I take extremely good care of myself and nurture my gifts for this world needs our gifts.
I ask you my gentle readers, "What stones do you need to move to be the best expression of you?"
Each Wednesday Jamie Ridler poses a question on her blog. Rather than answering the question on the same day, I carry the question with me and give it some consideration. Last week she asked, "What is your winter wish?"
I'm working through Marianne Williamson's new book, "A Course in Weight Loss." The very first lesson involves looking at the brick wall that I have created. Each brick has a word on it, a pretty heavy word I might add. We are to write about the experiences associated with these words. To work on this exercise, I designed these "notecard bricks" and they are tucked into a pocket in my new journal.
My big winter wish is to break down this wall.
I have a confession. I've been a compulsive eater for many years. Let me make a distinction here, I'm not an addict. The behavior of an addict is very different. What is interesting is how I've experienced in the past is an insatiable appetite. I would measure out my food and know that the amount that was on my plate was enough to nourish my body but for some reason, I couldn't stop eating. There was an actual physical sensation of emptiness. In the last couple of weeks I have experienced a shift in consciousness. The compulsion has been lifted. I may experience a little bit of hunger but nothing like I did before.
I am also drawn to healthy foods. Everything tastes so amazing. Like this little raspberry in the collage, it is ripe and full of flavor. The exercise with the bricks has shown me what my triggers are: stress, fear, overwhelm, vulnerability, excessive responsibility, etc. Now that I have shed a light on these triggers, I can make a different choice, a healthy choice. I don't believe that I'm out of the woods, but I'm definitely on the trail heading home.
I have my eyes set on the horizon and I'm looking past the winter for this next wish. This summer my son will be in Colorado for two months. In this time, I'm looking forward to pulling out my camera, journal, and paints. A couple of years ago, I started photographing the different light houses in Maine. I'm looking forward to scouting out some new ones to add to my collection.
My second winter wish is to savor this time with my son while also preparing for my summertime adventures.
What is your winter wish? I have found when I spend some time considering my wishes and then declaring them, that miracles happen.
Jamie Ridler asks, "How do you wish to soar?" in her weekly Wishcasting Wednesday post. Over the course of this last week I thought about soaring and how it must feel catching air. The following video with its beautiful music and imagery captures the feeling of soaring.
The word grace comes to mind when I think of soaring. I'm interested in gracefully rising up and riding the waves of opportunities throughout 2011.
Speaking of grace, I just ordered the book, "In Search of Grace: A Journey Across America's Landscape of Faith" by Kristin Hahn. The introduction pulled me right in and I look forward to following this author's search for the meaning and experience of spirituality. Each chapter focuses on a different religion including, Sikhs, Mormons, Amish, and the Scientologists of which I know very little. While this book is by no means an authority on the subject, I do enjoy reading the personal accounts of those seeking meaning in their lives.
Here is a view from my place taken this morning. I've moved my treadmill out of storage! This is a huge step for me. I've been feeling a strong desire to get my body moving. It is so cold here these days and I'm grateful to have this piece of exercise equipment so I don't have fit "going to a gym" into my schedule.
Each Wednesday Jamie Ridler poses a question in her Wishcasting Wednesday blog post. I haven't posted in a couple of weeks but I do carry the questions around and reflect on them. Two weeks ago she asked, "What do you wish to slow into?" And last week's question was, "What do you wish to transform?"
In November I participated in Art Every Day Month and a daily blog challenge. It was really time consuming given that I work full time, take classes, and I'm a single mom. Having lists, a schedule, and perseverance got me through. Now I'm ready to slow into my normal routine. I've slowed into my day with some reading and journal writing and I slow out of my day in the same way. I'm not blogging daily and I do miss it but it feels great to relax.
In 2011, I wish to transform my relationship with food. I admit that I'm a compulsive eater. I've been reading Marianne Williamson's new book, "A Course in Weight Loss." She doesn't go into any diet regime or exercise routines. The focus really is on our relationship with food. What has been amazing is that within the first week, I pulled out the treadmill and I'm walking regularly. I'm even reading the lessons in the book while I walk. At the core of it all the message is reduced down to "love." This will be my word in 2011. There is so much to explore with this word and it begins with loving ourselves.
Today's question is how do you wish to soar? I look forward to carrying this question around this week. Swing by Jamie's blog to participate in Wishcasting Wednesday and to visit the other wishcasters.
When I read Jamie Ridler's Wishcasting Wednesday question last week, I had no idea that it would be the creative spark that led to a new project for True North Arts. Jamie asks, "What do you wish to invite in?" I selected 12 photos that I took a year ago at Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth, NH and designed an Advent Calendar. Behind each door is something I wish to invite in during Advent and into the new year.
Each Wednesday Jamie Ridler hosts, Wishcasting Wednesday. Jamie posts a question and bloggers from around the world blog a response. We all convene HERE to share links to our posts and to make the rounds.
I haven't participated in a while as I've been super busy. I've missed the practice of focusing in on a simple question. All week I've been thinking about the question that Jamie posed last week: What do you wish to celebrate? I'm going to approach my Wishcasting Wednesday responses a little differently. I love ruminating over a topic. I carry a theme with me as I go through my day. The great thing about Wishcasting Wednesday is that I'm responding to what my heart has to say. I'm so relaxed about it that I feel no blocks or resistance. In these explorations other creative ideas emerge that help me to respond to the riskier prompts, as in a call for art for publication or exhibition. I'm thinking that each Wednesday when I have time to participate, I'll respond to the previous week's question. Then I'll collect my new question and carry it with me for days until the next Wednesday appears where the cycle begins again.
What do I wish to celebrate?
I started by making a list of all that I have accomplished this year. I've launched my first products this year (see the beautiful pins on the right side of this blog? I made those and I sell them.) I've been published in books, calendars, and magazines -- all for the first time this year. I've dared to enter my artwork into many exhibits. I'm grateful for the Women's Caucus for Arts, NH Chapter as they have provided so many opportunities to exhibit. I'm currently waiting to hear back on two exhibits that are connected to the national organization. If I'm in, my artwork will appear in NYC. That's right the big apple. Both shows are in February. Even if my work doesn't make it into these shows, I feel like celebrating. I celebrate how I've dared to create and put my work out there. I've been pretty fearless since July when it comes to responding to calls for art. I'm focused on the prompts, themes, and specifications for each opportunity. I'm focused even more on creating from my heart in response to these calls. I find that the more I say YES! the more opportunities that come up and there is simply no time for fear. There is only time to do. (I recognize some Yoda wisdom in all of this.) There is so much GREAT work to be done. I'm no longer hung up on whether or not I'm an "artist." To even question this seems silly now.
Today I celebrate the creative spirit in me that keeps daring to say "Bring it on! I'm ready."
Next up: What do you wish to invite in?
{soul hugs}
Kathryn, Collage Diva
PS - Curious about my journal page? I pulled out an old book that I started to alter and haven't touched in over a year! I've decided to return to it and experiment with different color combinations and painting techniques. I'm thinking that I'll fill the book with these painting experiments and then scan these pages to use in my projects. On this particular page I like the effect of layering paint and scraping some of hte top pink layer to let the yellow underpainting to show through. This journal page was finished digitally by adding a scan of my doodling and some additional text.
It's day twenty-four in these challenges for November:
PS - Please know that I love to receive comments and I read each and every one. Since I will be super busy this month creating art and posting daily, I may not have a chance to respond to each comment. In December I'm planning on making it a month of visiting the bloggers who left comments on my site and each day I'll blog and highlight where my blog travels take me. If you would like to be a part of my blog tour in December, leave a comment on any of my posts throughout November. Of course the thoughtful comments will be the ones that will get my attention first when I head out on my blog tour.
"Collage Diva", "True North Arts", "Paper Ninja Arts" and the photos, text and artwork that appear on this site are property of Kathryn Antyr. All rights reserved. Content on this site may not be reproduced in any manner without written permission. Contact me via e-mail with any requests for permissions. Thank you.
