Prana Light

Stopping for Blessings

Sometimes I need
only to stand
wherever I am
to be blessed.
— Mary Oliver (from-- Evidence: Poems)

Just standing still and feeling the blessings flow... Wishing you all a week of time to just stop, enjoy, and bask in the glow of this beautiful life!

Life Practice

"Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven't time, and to see takes time - like to have a friend takes time." --Georgia O'Keeffe

** The definition of PRACTICE:  To do or perform (something) repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill **

• Real life, real practice, is when I drop trying to do 100 things, or juggle 100 ideas in the course of a day... Instead, there is something big in surrendering to the fact that what will be done, or gets done, is all I need. One thing at a time.  Allow each day to unfold and bloom.
• Real life, real practice, is when I hear the cries of the World, and when the daily news breaks my heart a little more... Instant metta, lovingkindness meditation to all beings to send more loving energy out there.
• Real life, real practice, is the tears shed on my yoga mat... Because I stretched so far, and so did my heart. I feel the heart beat of the Universe dwell inside my own heart beat.
• Real life, real practice, is giving in to my own suffering, my own fragile human hang ups... And a vow to care more, to offer more, offer more to those around me--family, friends, strangers, even myself.
• Real life, real practice, is when I drop the negative news bar that rolls around inside my head, poisoning my heart... Instead, an opportunity to replace it with my own inherent kindness & goodness. It is in there, and meant to be used more often.
• Real life, real practice is when I open my heart door, walk right through me, and right into you. :o)

What is going on in your real life, or your real practice today?

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend ahead... Next week I will be online a bit less in order to drink more richly from my real life & practice, working on that polishing of life.  And I'll be taking a bit more time for some creative projects & other things that need my attention. I do have a posts ready to go out next week, and one especially for the first celebrations of the Earth calendar year, Imbolc.  So do stop by...

Valentine Giveaway--A Winner!

Today I am happy to announce that the winner of this embellished journal  I made for the Valentine Giveaway is the inspirational Becca of Patin Moon!  Congrats, Becca!  Please email me your address details and I will send the journal off to you! 

The response to the Valentine Swap was warm, and I thank everyone taking part in this.  All of you should have received details on your swap partners. If not, please let me know and I will get back to you quick as I can.  I hope everyone enjoys this swap.  I would like to host another creative challenge/swap later on this year, so stay tuned for that.

And I must also say thank you for the sweet response to the sharing from my art journal earlier this week, especially the face sketch. The sketch was meant to be of me, or a self-portrait really, but somehow it does look a bit like me.  It was a drawing done while channeling some specific energy, and I guess a lot me ended up in it! ;o)

Just an update today... I'll be back with more later this week.

Scenes from an Art Journal

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home." --Twyla Tharp

For fun to start the week, some new pages from my art journal... Playing in my art journal is like sweet escape and homecoming at the same time, it always serves more than one creative purpose.  Above is a drawing of a fairy.  Making this page was an exercise for this creative course I'm currently doing.  It was also a great challenge for me as I'm not very good at drawing faces.  Nothing fancy here, just paper and my Derwent Artist Colored Pencils. (Of course my fairy, has earrings... silver acorn earrings. ;o)

Playing with different qualities of paper, newspaper, and paint...

More play with papers, newspaper, paint and also ink...

This is a rough idea taking shape for a painting, just using Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Brush Pen.

A page with some journalling and art, using Derwent Artist Color Pencils, chalk pastels, ink and creating a doily effect.

What's on your page right now? 

Being Here Now: ordinary extraordinary

"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love." --Carl Sagan

• Taste--cleansing herbal teas, and going less sugar...mini detoxing after December indulgences
• Scent--the sharp, clean, crisp winter air
• Sound--blues-indie rock golden boys The Black Keys latest, El Camino; Gillian Welch's The Harrow & The Harvest (not into bluegrass, rootsy music?, Welch's emotional lyrics and style might change your mind); Morning Jacket's very satisying new one, Circuital
• Touch--fleece...fleece hoodie, fleece jacket, fleece socks, fleece pajamas--it is sooo cold just now, trying to keep warm!
• Sight--Woody Allen's brilliant, beautiful little love letter to Paris, Midnight in Paris and the BBC's Symphony, a critical look at the formation of the symphony orchestra, its place in modern times and how it's helped shape our identity through music.
• Intuition--January makes me want to snuggle down, semi-hibernate...taking time to go slow, savor moments
• Delight--Crescendoh, an art community that inspires and gives (thanks for the tip, Becca!)
• Comfort--the dome of sky overhead, ever changing and beautiful, it's like a blanket, securely fitted around us--a wonder, and inspiration
• Making--mixed medic painting and mixed media ATCs
• Doing--working on some new jewelry desigs for my shop
• Dreaming--hoping to travel in the spring...Vienna, maybe?! 2012 is a celebration year for painter Gustav Klimt, so a trip planned around art viewing I am liking very much right now!
• Inspired--inspired by the art of Gustav Klimt, Robert Kushner, Odilon Redon, Frida Kahlo
• Challenge--trying out a new daily schedule, and finding ways to come up with more time to cultivate creativity, as well as how to be online less but make time online effective, quality and doing all I need to/want to
• Reading--The Energy of Prayer by Thich Nhat Hanh and Shamanic Journeying By Sandra Ingerman
• Gratitude--the support & balance of my yoga practice as I try to gracefully enter this new year
• Happiness--a new phalaenopsis orchid in the dining room, a dreamy presence of pink and pale lemon yellow
• Love--LOVE to my Dear Husband, my family, and each and everyone of you good friends!

What's happening with you right now?  Tell me about the ordinary... and the extraordinary!



* Being Here Now *  is a montly celebration of the senses and the nuances of now...Take a moment to celebrate your now!  Would you like to join in?  Create a celebration list of your own and let me know--send an email or share your post URL.

P.S. Today's photo is from our USA trip last month, nearing the airport to leave, we spied this amazing feather-like plume in the sky...jet exhaust... And just a reminder, today is the last day for sign up for my Valentine Swap & Giveaway.