JANUARY AWAKENINGS

"Serious work demands serious play. "INSPIRATIONS-Meditations from the Artist's Way-Julia
Cameron.


When I first started The Artist's Way, in the early 90's,I was astounded by the authors request of me to take an artist's date every week, but soon, I must say, I really got into it.  It has been some time since I even heard these words much less gone on such an adventure.


I intend to do this for myself and my creativity again very soon!  I will walk alone in the rain or peruse a new art gallery or maybe even investigate a bead shop. (Dangerous territory there!) I will again take a solitary wandering to receive inspiration from who knows where.  Maybe today!


(By the way my photo-download has disappeared again.  I do so like to add photos to my writing.)


Namaste-

JANUARY AWAKENINGS

Last year we were gifted a most remarkable book.  I have tried to refrain from using quotes from it but this is too beautiful not to share.


"....that slowness remembers and hurry forgets;  that softness remembers and hardness forgets;  that surrender remembers and fear forgets."
Mark Nepo from The Book of Awakening


This past year I discovered that both my husband and my pets are helping me to slow down.  He decidedly walks slowly and thoughtfully.  When I am behind him trying to get somewhere in a hurry, I do go  more slowly. And both our cat and our dog always seem to be in the path I have chosen to walk.


I now recall that my resolution for 2013 was to learn to slow down.  And I did pretty well.  Consequently, I have not sprained an ankle or bumped a shinbone.  I have also given up my beloved 25 year old Birkenstocks with the shiny, slippery soles!


I am now trying to make a new resolution and it's a bit scary, because I am pretty sure I will get what I ask for!


Namaste-

JANUARY AWAKENINGS

"And now let us welcome the New Year
Full of things that have never been.
-Rainer Maris Rilke

JANUARY JOY

"I am present, here and now, and put aside past pain and fear.  I let in the beauty that surrounds me, from moment to moment." DAILY AFFIRMATIONA-For Adult Children of Alcoholics.

JANUARY AWAKENINGS

"Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to all alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs." Step 12 form the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous-


I began my 12 step journey in 1991 in Estes Park Colorado. A woman I worked with at a downtown pottery shop ask me if I would like to go with her to a meeting of compulsive over eaters.  I went and I was amazed.  The people in the meeting shared about experiences with food, and until then I thought I was the only one who had such thought and feelings.


Since that time I have begun to study the twelve steps in a variety of meetings:
-I began to realize that I ate to comfort myself when nothing else could numb that hurt.
-I behaved controlling and was an over achiever because in my childhood alcoholic  home there was no organization, no cleanliness, no perfection!!
-I realized  I was trying to fix everyone around me, but not myself!


It was not until yesterday's meeting, a meeting of all addictions for women only, that I finally "received" the twelfth step.  It's like I had read and studied all the other steps but never really got to the last one.  Duh!


I read that I should not waste time trying to persuade an alcoholic, over-eater, or whatever to stop.  I heard that if he wants to quit for good he will go to any extreme to do so.  I read that the family should not hysterically plead with him to do so. Double duh!


The best words I heard, yesterday, were from another member with whom I have much in common.  She said,"Let God be in charge and I will show up differently!" Amen and namaste'.

JOY

Back atcha Lukas!
Gram sure loves you!
Namaste'-

JANUARY JOY

"Affirmations are a way to wake us up-to make us fully conscious and aware of the daily choices we make." Rokelle Lerner/DAILY AFFIRMATIONS-For Adult Children of Alcoholics.

For me, one of the best things about January is beginning my little daily books, again, starting from day one.  It's not so much a New Year's resolution as much as it is a New Year's gift.

We began the new year cleaning deer skins and attaching them to old chairs that needed a seat.  The large one belonged to Ern's great-grandfather.  It was his fiddling chair.  Now isn't that appropriate.

We also worked on a small one for the little ones of the family.

 

While Mo worked a puzzle.

 

 

Bon jour & LOVE

Namaste'-

JANUARY JOY-back to solitude

"The minutes ticked past.  As they did, the work drew her into it's comforting womb.  The place where the world beyond her and her art ceased to exist."
Jane Westbrook/SEE JANE DIE/Erica Spindler-

I am happy to say, I gave myself to Christmas joy and played and played.  And played.  And since Christmas I have painted each day.

 

I am reworking a piece I had done years ago and had left most of the wood showing, thinking I was desecrating its precious surface.  No more!  It looks like a birdhouse from this view but do not be fooled.  It is not.

 

 

I am trying to decide if the colors work.  I think I  will add more white and less green and we'll see.

It is fun giving you a peek of my work in progress.  I'd appreciate your opinion.

Namaste'-

JOY-We are one.

I am so grateful for the people in my life.  We are so different and yet we are really all the same.
Bonne Annee and bonne sante'-