While sitting

alone

in a world of people

I

realized

peace
love
joy

are within

one’s

self

or they are not there

at

all

These words flowed onto the page as a teen ~ still guiding me  today

I invite you to reflect, to consider what treasures within may call to you

Linda

‘It is when I seem to be doing the least that I am doing the most.    

  Leonardo de Vinci   

As you may have noticed, my writer self has not been visible on this  page lately. Since the beginning of 2010, I have been in a place of deep introspection, contemplative listening: more being than doing, the nourishing nurturing space so vital to the  core of my ‘ I AM~ness’. Scanning my favourite art book, I was encouraged recently as I reread Jeanne Carbonetti’s insightful description of her process that so closely mirrors mine.  

“…the world goes into soft focus…when I am in the waiting cycle…paying attention to the slightest stirrings that guide me to the next step….the being in the world, but not of the world…. Had I been busily engaged in something productive, I may have missed those stirrings.”

And so it is and was for me, when the art above began to call forth, beckon,  flow on to the page guiding me from within to paint it into life.  I stared fascinated, bemused by the pattern splay; the moving into intention phase, bringing  essence into clear focus.

The following dialogue began running through my awareness ~ I burst out laughing,  tears running down my cheeks and I had to stop the paint flow and capture the wordage flow on paper. 

“I am Brigid. Brigid the goddess of Inspiration”, she began.  Ummmmm… Okay, I thought: I had placed that card on my desk top recently for several months. Good, inspiration was stirring within.

AND THEN THE YAMMERING BEGAN

~I soon began to think of her as ‘Sassy Assy’ rather than Goddess Brigid, as you may immanently understand~ 

(~~ at sentence beginning will indicate Brigid’s words )

Hey come on You, it’s time to stop this now!
~~Huh~ I ain’t’ stopping

I mean you gotta quit spreading your fire wings…its getting ridiculous…you’re almost off the page
~~So what’s the problem…who’s to say…

Well, I am. You’re going into an art show, and so you will be viewed as a work of art and you should be …
~~Should be what!  I’m a work for anyone to judge!!!  No way!
Who are you?  What’s up….you’ve waited all these years to come to  this moment and you are telling me not to spread my wings, not to take up all the space that surrounds me…

Well no, I guess…
~~Whadda you mean…you guess…. I don’t believe you!  What happened to you!!

Well we kinda created this YOU… together right?
~~Right… soooooooo

Well I only knew I was birthing something, ‘cause I felt so crappy for so long~ and then I sensed how close I was to this change within and … and I  already knew what I was submitting to the International Women’s Day Art show!   It was a done deal and…
~~And what !!!!  I hadn’t appeared yet! ….so NO deal~!!

Well ummmmm…in my cauldron of mulling and fogginess of becoming ness ummm…ahhhh I just thought I’d play with paint…that creativity always feels good in the midst of my inner turmoil and then…
~~YAH and then….I SURPRISED YOU DIDN’T I~!!!!

Yah you did~ painted~ let it dry~came down the next day~and there you are staring at me~ Up heaving all my plans…

~~Hey you…Linda! …it’s like this…

~~if you are open to divine will, you are on the path of conscious living, willing to transform within and without…haha ~ what a word….within and out wardly….And then I am willing to allow you to paint me onto the page to show you what you are birthing i.e.  Your INNER PHOENIX!!!!!  What’s your problem with what I LOOK LIKE…~~!!!!!!

You’re gonna go through all this and then Give a Damn about what other people think about how I look!!!!!   Seeding, gestating labouring and emerging IS MESSY work alright~~! There ain’t any other way…

~~And now that I am here, Lady….you bet I’m gonna spread my wings any which way I CHOOSE.

LOOK OUT WORLD HERE WE COME~!

 Oh my jumping heavenly hosts, I silently mumbled, remembering the truth of the saying:

 Be Careful What You Pray For~~

 Your Choice~

 ”One ship drives east, another west with the self-same winds that blow.            

       ‘Tis the set of the sails and not the gales which tells us the way to go.           

                   Like the waves of the sea are the waves of fate.

As we voyage along through life.             

   ‘Tis the set of the soul which decides the goal; and not the calm or the strife.”

~ELLA WHEELER WILCOX :  Creating A New Paradigm

American Poet & Journalist & Free Thinker
(November 5, 1850 ~ October 30, 1919)

“The art of being kind” was her religion, and she lived it every day of her  life.”

He never taught a lesson in a classroom…
He had no tools to work with,
 such as blackboards, maps or charts…
He used no subject outlines, kept no records,
gave no grades, and His only text was
ancient and well-worn…
His students were
the poor, the lame, the deaf,
the blind, the outcast—
His method was the same
with all who came to hear and learn…
He opened eyes with faith…
He opened ears with simple truth…
opened hearts with love,
a love born of forgiveness…
A gentle man, a humble man,
He asked and won no honours,
no gold awards of tribute to His expertise or wisdom…
in yet  this quiet teacher from the hills of Galilee
has fed the needs, fulfilled the hopes,
and changed the lives of many millions…
For what He taught
Brought Heaven to earth
and revealed God’s heart to mankind.

Verse  found years ago on a plaque….

I have long held the essence of this wisdom close to my heart. The simple beauty of a life, this way lived, would be of ineffable worth in our world today.

And Hold It In Our Hearts

THANKS FOR THIS INEFFABLE GIFT OF BEAUTY

This morning I awoke, hearing the words of  ‘THE PRAYER’.

I knew I was to share it with others, along with this wonderous gift of my sister’s photography.

Just as I believe, know, that what and how I think negatively affects my day and my life, I also know the awesome power of the positive in my world.

I invite you to hold in your awareness today the beauty of our world, the  gift of creativity ~ of  music, photography, writing, art.  May these timeless art forms enrich our collective lives by offering breathing space~ahhhaaaa~ appreciation and deepen our understanding of each other.

Know, also that the power of collective prayer, intention, holding light and kindness within, amplifies greatly when we gather together.

Amid all the chaos, this world still holds the light and love of truth, simplicity, inclusiveness and peace.
THE PRAYER

I pray You’ll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don’t know
Let this be our prayer
When we lose our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with Your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe

I pray we’ll find Your light
And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night
Remind us where You are
Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Oh Lord, lead us to a place,
Guide us with Your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe

A world where pain and sorrow will be ended
And every heart that’s broken will be mended
And we’ll remember we are all God’s children
Reaching out to touch you, reaching to the sky

We ask that life be kind
And watch us from above
We hope each soul will find
Another soul to love

Let this be our prayer
Just like every child

Twice:
Needs to find a place
Guide us with Your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe

As sung by Yolanda Adams

And if it speaks to your heart, I offer from my heart, one of my favorite Soul Sayings for times of unrest.

Into this space I now come, affirming:

PEACE, PEACE BE STILL.

Thanks for joining the energy of this prayer for our world.  Blessings to all.

Love and blessings Karen, for the many gifts you bring to my life and to our world.    Lynn