Critical Alchemy

Life is like the weather ....

2012-01-27T16:00:00.000-08:00

Most of the United States is experiencing wild temperature swings and irregular weather. It is not unusual for there to be days on end of freezing temps, snow and then rain, followed by unseasonably warm days. Where I live, 40 degree temperature swings are becoming customary during this winter season.

For several reasons, I am a sensitive sort, tending towards melancholy, which can be quite debilitating.

There was a string of gray, overcast, pouring-down-rain days a little while ago and I was literally forcing myself to get out of the cocoon of my bed. Sleeping is my escape of choice when the world appears to be harsh. While not an optimum 'choice' of 'lifestyle', I can think of worse escapes.

Lightning Sequence

Eventually the weather changed to bright, sunny, mild days upon days. I spent many fortunate afternoons walking about in this beauty - the birds were singing (a little early for the Cardinals' mating songs, but they were singing their hearts out and it was splendid), a few trees were budding out, there was abundant greenery and blue skies galore.

The thought occurred to me that the ups and downs of life are like the weather. Now, this is not the most profound thought, but for some reason it struck a deep and resounding chord inside my spirit.

When the glorious days of sun and beauty appear, I need to enjoy them to the fullest! No time like the present, as my beloved Dad used to remind me.

When life seems overwhelming or problems appear to close in, I should simply wait .... either circumstances or my attitude will change.

I still maintain that most of the time, things 'go right', but most humans only seem to notice when things 'go wrong'.

Here is to change and being grateful for the good times! I need to be grateful for the bad times as well. Strife tests my strength, teaches me courage and provides a dramatic contrast for the abundance of good in my life.

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

The Winter Solstice

2011-12-20T19:14:00.000-08:00

I want to take this opportunity to send each and every one of you best wishes for the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and therefore the longest night in the Western world.

Perennially, winter is the time of year that our homes are strewn with strands of glittering lights, candles, tinsel and evergreen branches or trees.
This cheery tradition originates in a time lost through the ages.
Light and darkness ultimately represent the cycle of life and death. All things in nature have a rest period, a dormancy, sleep, rest, a 'death', so that the circle of life remains unbroken.

On the night of the Winter Solstice, December 21st, we light our candles as a reminder of the presence of light even in darkness.

Yule Candles

May you have a festive Yule, a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas, joyous Holidays and a winter season filled with the warmth of love, the wisdom of truth and life-affirming beauty.

Happy Birthday, Keith Richards!

2011-12-18T10:14:00.000-08:00

....and Happy Anniversary!

Patti Hansen and Keith Richards

Thank you, Keith, for making the most of a thoroughly misspent youth (except the boy scouts).

Congratulations on pulling off many seemingly impossible feats.
We love you.

Tell Patti that we love her too!

In Honor of my Dad and Pearl Harbor

2011-12-07T12:34:00.000-08:00

Or, how I came to be born in southern Indiana .....

The P-47

Attitude Adjustment

2011-12-06T10:07:00.000-08:00

When my alarm sounded yesterday, I was greeted by a drizzly, bleak Monday.

My very first thought of the day was "ugh", which was immediately followed by a mental 'to do' list that made me not want to get out of bed.

As cranky, wrong-minded thinking took over my mind, I was reminded that at the precise moment of my alarm's sounding, a woman I know was making her way to chemotherapy.

Inspiration

I closed my eyes and imagined that I was facing Stage IV cancer, radiation, chemotherapy and all of the attendant suffering.

My small, unnecessary grumblings became miniscule trifles in an instant.

May I continue to be mindful of others.

May I know compassion.

May I always hold gratitude in my heart.

May I never take for granted the embarrassment of riches and blessings that have literally fallen into my lap.

May I always be of service to others.

Thank YOU for reading.

Is Twitch and Grind the New Twist and Shout?

2011-11-30T15:10:00.000-08:00

I had a true Epiphany the other day! Well, make that one partial Epiphany ... after days of waking up with a miserable pounding in my head, sore jaws and teeth, I reached for the phone. I was about to place a call to my wonderful, incredible dentist for a prescription of muscle relaxers, when - light bulb moment - I realized that I make this very same call, at the very same time, every single year.

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

The nocturnal teeth clenching and grinding occur every year at the start of the holiday season. Which, I might add, begins earlier and earlier....ggggrrrrrrrr

Retailers trot out the Christmas stock displays the day after Halloween.

I am so over "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday" and all of the commercialism that has ruined my true enjoyment of a pleasant annual wrap-up.

Most of us have so much "stuff" that we do not even know how to begin to feel true gratitude.

Take Thanksgiving: the mainstream American stuffs their body more than the gigantic turkey that weighs the dining table down to a groaning board. Then, "the day after" - or now, the "night of" Thanksgiving, people rush around like lunatics buying junk they simply do not need.

No wonder I clench my teeth!

This year, my classic bruxism was accompanied by the great eye twitch which went on and on for over 4 weeks. Folks, that is darned near a record for me - and I am no stranger to "the twitch".

I do not know why the holiday season brings out so much anxiety in me. Perhaps it is an internal command to be Happy! Be in love! Have lots of Stuff!

I do not know.

I do know that I do not like to be forced into doing anything.

The beautiful holidays of my childhood have collapsed into heaps of stuff and debt ... gifts seem to be bought not out of love, but necessity or duty or force or guilt.

Hmm .... now I may be getting somewhere. Guilt, eh?

Well, after all, I was raised Catholic!

Twitch. Clench. Grind.

Fall Back! Time is Money

2011-11-14T11:26:00.000-08:00

When I was in high school, the proprietor of the bookstore, Brother Eugene, prominently displayed a clock inscribed with these words: "TIME IS MONEY".

Brother Eugene taught me many things, not least of which was the lesson of "TIME IS MONEY". He also taught me the extremely important life skills of how to organize and prioritize my time.

Gentle Reader, this life is s-h-o-r-t. I have been acutely aware of this fact as long as my memory.

I entered a profession where my value was billed by the MINUTE. This billing practice simply added to my respect of time.

It prompted me to wonder why many artists do not price their time when it comes to selling their work.

I have learned that TIME IS MONEY should really be written:

TIME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MONEY.

Any person who has suffered loss can attest to this truth, be it loss of a loved one, loss of youth, loss of health, loss of money, loss of practically anything. Physical loss may be felt more acutely later in life when one realizes that death is closer than birth.

Given that our time in this life is limited, why is it then, that no person is immune to the luxury of wasting time with anger, regret, fear, depression, envy ______________ fill in the blank?

I console myself with the fact that at least I have become aware my own wasteful foolishness. I took time for granted and it taught me an unforgettable lesson.

I have a lifelong friend who is suffering from ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a disabling condition that no amount of money can remedy, cure, fix, resolve or ease. Bedridden for about two years now, my dear friend is positive and optimistic, despite his non-ambulatory condition and attendant suffering.
What is time like for him?

A clue can be had by the parting words that he spoke to me at the end of our last visit:

"There is never enough time".

Truer words were never spoken.


TIME IS WORTH MORE THAN MONEY

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Farewell, R.E.M.

2011-09-24T20:03:00.000-07:00

August 21, 2011, R.E.M. announced that after 31 years of working as a band, they were calling it a day.
For me personally, I read this news with mixed emotions. After 31 years, these guys deserve to move on, so to speak.
You see, R.E.M. was the very best of the 1980s for me. From seeing them at Six Flags (yes!) to the Fox Theater to a huge Arena, I have followed their work with much interest.
I have LPs, cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs, - you name it. I have everything R.E.M.
Intelligent, thoughtful, artistic, well-versed on social commentary and not afraid to comment through their music, I have nothing but the utmost respect for each member of this band.
R.E.M. took on George W. Bush, women's rights, environmental issues, or in their words, "abject horror".
They put into music and words what I felt but could not express. Bless them.
Perhaps, R.E.M. stands for "the dream". The dream that four 19 year old kids can change the world with music. I just realized that R.E.M.'s choice of name was perhaps more complex than I initially thought - until now.
I hope that dream never dies for every person who is touched by music.
I leave you with one of my personal favorites, a song called "Bittersweet Me", it perfectly sums up the way I feel most of these days.

R.E.M. - thank you making a difference in my world!

Video Courtesy of REMhq

Song for my Father

2011-09-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

Today would be my Father's birthday.

I miss him.

My Father passed from, as my Irish family calls it, "this veil of tears", in April of 1992.

One rainy night in NYC, I was riding in the passenger seat of my cousin Larry's taxi and I heard what I thought was the opening of a Steely Dan (my pop culture mind) tune, "Ricky, Don't Lose That Number". My favorite cousin, parking the cab (NY style) in front of a Chinatown restaurant, informed me that it was a jazz standard.

I loved it then.

I love it now.

I have worn out many, many copies of this fabulous piece.

So, in honor of my paternal ancestral lineage and as a small tribute to my Beloved Dad, here is Horace Silver's "Song for my Father".

Dad, the world is the better for you being in it, but not the same for your youngest since you left it.

I love you always.

Video Courtesy of YouTube

Education, Leadership & The Intelligence of Existence.

2011-09-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

Faith

2011-09-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

There can be no doubt that we live in challenging times.
Personally, there seems to be challenge in every area of my life.

I only have to watch the nightly news to sink into a black hole.

For me, I confess that I have been apathetic since George W. Bush assumed the Office of The President of the United States. Then came 9/11.....

I have lost my faith in most, if not all institutions, my Friends.

Every authority is now suspect to my mind.

I only have faith in myself and the *spark* in the Universe that answers my numerous prayers.........and, alas, even then, I remain a 'doubting Thomas'.

I am currently praying for a restoration of FAITH.

Video Courtesy of YouTube

The POWER Lunch NOON US CST with The Divine Prince 08/12 by The Divine Prince | Blog Talk Radio

2011-08-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

The POWER Lunch NOON US CST with The Divine Prince 08/12 by The Divine Prince | Blog Talk Radio

Eulogy for a Classmate.........

2011-08-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

Rest in peace, sweet Julia.

I regret your suffering during this lifetime.

I am especially saddened by your pain.

You were always as delicate, graceful and fleeting as a frail, yet lovely, lily of the valley.

You will be forever remembered in my mind as that young girl that I called "friend" so many years ago.

Lily of the Valley

This post is dedicated to Julia Kessler, 1954-2011

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Stranger in a Strange Land, For What It's Worth

2011-08-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

Increasingly, I feel like a "Stranger in a Strange Land".

The War(s)

Tea Parties

Bi-Partisan Politics

Global Warming

Greed

The Seven Deadly Sins

You Name It

... the list seems to go on forever, ad infinitum.

A world full of people who seem to be growing exponentially self-centered, greedy and downright mean.

What has happened to the collective heart of humanity?

I am sickened by the broken heart of the population.

In the current climate, if one is kind, that person is generally perceived as 'stupid'. And believe me, there are plenty of people lining up to take advantage of the poor soul who demonstrates kindness.

What happened to Love, Peace and Understanding?

I, for one, am disgusted - and I am getting very, very angry.

On a personal front, I am angry about being spoon fed lies and dishonesty by people whose authority I constantly question.

I am angry about a few individuals stepping on a majority of people for the ultimate profit of a few.

I currently live in the state of Texas. Dallas, Texas to be exact.

I will confirm that I do not like Dallas, Texas.

I am not heat tolerant. I am not a Southern Baptist. I am not a Republican. I do not believe that bigger is better. I am not pretentious. I do not drive an automobile that is worth more than a house.

I am indeed a "Stranger in a Strange Land".

No worries, dear Reader - I am planning my escape to a more hospitable environment.

I simply hope to live long enough to locate and inhabit that environment.

In the meantime, I sit back and watch the Governor put a law into place that mandates a physician perform and force a patient to view a sonogram of her fetus before opting for an abortion.

I have to conform (and I do mean conform) to "rules and regulations" of two different Home Owner's Associations that have way too much power over real property. The organizations that I deal with have the ability to tell you to do anything that they please - or they have the right to put a lien on your home.

The demands of the "rules and regulations" constantly change, so the poor home owner is left with a moving target.

Conveniently, these organizations put 'straw (wo)men' and sheeple in place to confound any questions.

I have never been able to get a straight answer.

I live in a climate of fear in my own damned house!

I am indeed very angry.

It seems that not many United States citizens understand the Constitutional Right to Privacy.

I was browsing through some old books last night and found Abbie Hoffman's Revolution for the Hell of It. No matter what those of us who are old enough to remember thought of Abbie Hoffman, I could not help but wonder what he would think of the state of the world today?

Perhaps he knew what was to come. He took his life on April 12, 1989.

At Abbie's eulogy, Rabbi Norman Mendell reportedly said that his history of protest was 'in the Jewish prophetic tradition, which is to
comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable'.

If everything seems like a huge, money-driven Babylon, what can one person do?

I am open to suggestions - seriously. I want to do something - anything!

I stand ready to protest.

Bring the Revolution.

Does anyone care to join their voice with mine?

I want to stand against injustice and corruption.

I want to stand up for unity, love and honesty.

What is the worst thing that can happen if I stand up to the nonsense and evil that I see?

"They" will kill me?

To be silent is to die a million deaths.

I heard an old song today that seemed fitting: Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth", written by Steve Stills in 1967.

He had the right idea.

"For What It's Worth"

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind

It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and they carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side

It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away

We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
You better Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
You better Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
You better Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Video courtesy of YouTube

Summer Can be a Cruel Season

2011-07-31T20:34:00.000-07:00

I have not always been like this.

In my youth, the word that was most used to describe me was "vivacious".

I could not wait get out of my Mother's womb. I arrived in this world four weeks early.

I wanted to experience everything, anything, all things, everywhere!

I loathed sleeping, preferring to stay awake all night. So much to do and so little time.

Not any more. As Bob Dylan wrote, "Things Have Changed".

When life's party turned into a type of wake after experiencing multiple deaths and setbacks, I started feeling a touch of melancholy in the winter months. February being the worst of it.

To my eyes, the snow's beauty has long been snuffed out. The streets are dingy. Nature appears drab and the body is worn from the cold and ice.

In a twist, a quite different and dramatic melancholy overtook me a few weeks ago.

Where I currently live, this past May, the temperature soared to the upper 90s. As I write this post, we are now experiencing our 30th straight day of temps over 100+ degrees.

The weather forecast for the upcoming week predicts 110+ actual degrees.

Truthfully, all I want to do is sleep.

Sleep. Sleep. Sleep.

I long for a day that I can stay outside past 9:45 a.m. without feeling heat exhaustion or roasted skin.

I do not understand this depression, irritability, frustration and helplessness. If it is Seasonal Affective Disorder, this is the wrong season. There is plenty of sun. Too much, in fact.

Perhaps this is where the idea of hell originates?

It seemed to start around the time my beloved dog died from complications of heart disease and a slight heat stroke.

The same week that I found out a favorite cousin had died.

The same week that I learned of an old friend's death of cirrhosis.

Alcohol can be a source of comfort, even joy, but alcoholism is a special evil that I do not understand fully. And cirrhosis is not a "pretty" way to die (is there such a thing?).
When I discovered another loved one's death from cirrhosis, I was horrified to learn of the terrifying decline that cirrhosis delivers so cruelly. I had no idea of the end results of the affliction.

So, I sit alone with my monkey mind.

Still trying to figure out the meaning of life.

Still trying to figure out the meaning of death.

I have spent more time thinking than living!

Aha!

No wonder I am depressed.....and it is too damned hot to drink!

Live and love today, as there is no guarantee of tomorrow.

In Love, Truth and Beauty....

This post is dedicated to Lea, Justin, Guy and Frank.

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

A Prayer for Our Companion Animals

2011-07-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

"For Every beast of the forest is Mine and the cattle upon a thousand hills."

"I know and am acquainted with all the birds of the mountains and the wild animals of the field are Mine and are with Me and in my Mind."

"Then the Lord showed me that Man is the custodian and caretaker of His animals while they are on the earth.........

........then they return unto Him."

Psalms 50:10-11

In Loving Memory of

Lea Lai Dai 1995-2011

The foregoing psalms were sent to me by Dr. Gloria Dodd, DVM, a kind and beautiful soul.

The First Time I Saw an Angel

2011-07-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

My family was fortunate to have an acre of land to roam around, so my siblings and pets had plenty of room. It seemed the best of both worlds - a beautiful house, built from field stone that originated at the Abbey of St. Meinrad, plunked on this pastoral acreage amidst a city of about 160,000.

When I was in the 3rd grade, I had a German Shepherd pup named Wolf. One night, in the middle of a deep sleep (I was 8 - no insomnia at that age, instead I had somnambulism), I woke up to see a filmy white figure standing at the foot of my bed! The figure appeared to be male and it had 'arms' crossed in front of its chest with palm fronds instead of hands.

It communicated this message: "Some one is going to die".

I was so frightened that I dove under the covers and peeked to see if my ghostly friend was still apparent. He had vanished as quickly as he appeared.

The next morning, I told my Mom, who reasoned that it was a dream.

I insisted that it was not a dream! I saw it! It 'spoke' to me!

I dressed in my parochial uniform and went outside to be driven to school. As was my custom, I went to pet Wolfie goodbye, but he ran from me.

Something was wrong! Wolf was foaming at the mouth and frantically running around that acreage.

I was distraught. For a Catholic kid, this warranted a visit to the parish Priest.

The Priest also pooed-pooed my vision and message.

When I returned home from school that day, my dog had died at the back of our house. Poor animal suffered a horrific death from strychnine poisoning.

For many years, I did not tell anyone about my visitation. I was so scared that the visitations ceased. Later in life, they returned in various forms....and they are always a warning of impending death.

Why me?


Azrael, the Angel of Death

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

Dandelion

2011-04-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

I am the kind of person who has stacks of books stashed all around the house, particularly the bed. I like to read many different books at one time and I jump from one to the other depending on my mood. *wink*

I have only two rules: 1). I only read non-fiction and, 2). I donate each book upon completion unless it is a must-have, reference manual.

Currently, I have about 14 books in rotation (shameful!), but there is one that I simply could not put down until I read it cover to cover: Dandelion by Catherine James.

Dandelion is a memoir of the 1960s and 70s. That pioneering time that Ms. James certainly lived and experienced to the fullest, mainly due to amazing serendipity!

From Catherine James official Website: www.cate11.com/

From Hollywood to Greenwich Village to England to Connecticut and back to California, this story is packed with first hand accounts of a person who knew (and was romanced by) many of the legends: Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jackson Browne, Mick Jagger, Jimi Hendrix, Roger Daltrey, Denny Laine .... the list goes on and on.

I loved the juicy tidbits, but Ms. James (not unlike Patti Boyd), to her considerable credit, never stoops to the dark underbelly of "kiss and tell" in a sordid, blaming way. That is an art that few authors manage when writing a memoir. This lady (again, like Patti Boyd), tells her story and always adheres to the high road, while managing to transport the reader back to a time when the world seemed, well, sweeter.

I was saddened and a bit horrified by the author's abusive childhood (shudder). What that child endured!

The book shines with the aftermath of this woman's pioneering courage and, yes, FREE SPIRIT.

Catherine James absolutely inspired me with her practical sense, her unwavering faith in the goodness of the Universe and her unfaltering courage.

My final impression upon completion of Dandelion was that our perceived limitations are
blessings in disguise.

Ponderings on Jimi Hendrix and a Theory of Relativity

2011-03-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

A friend reminded me today that tomorrow is April 1! April 1, 2011!

Are you kidding me? How did THAT happen?

The Theory of Relativity was always easy for me to grasp, but the perception of time itself eludes me. Lately, time has been whizzing by - or so it seems. What a strange phenomenon. In this life: one day you are a youth, full of hope, anxious to turn another year older. Very shortly it seems that you have grown old, and with your years have come a relative diminution.

"Regrets? I've had a few"....

Speaking of relativity, as a person gains experience and wisdom with those years, it would make sense that society would respect age and all the things that come with it.

Instead, like all the electronic gadgets we rely on now, it appears that "planned obsolescence" is the lay of the land.

Obsolescence = SO LESS SENSE.

It seems that I was happier in my youth. Ignorance can most assuredly be an odd bliss, Folks.

I was self-absorbed and extremely focused on what I wanted to achieve in life.

As long as I thought only of myself, it seems that I was happy!

What does this tell me?

I do not have a clue.

Should I be a hermit?

Live in isolation?

Pet my cats and take a vow of silence?

In youth, I was living in my own personal "Room Full of Mirrors". Thank you, Jimi Hendrix.

"All I could see was me."

I now look at a world that I no longer recognize.

How self-centered and immature can adults be? Most of the people I observe do indeed live in that "Room Full of Mirrors". Humanity needs to remember that WE ARE ONE. Derision and division is the enemy.

How long must these wars continue?

How long must people and, indeed, all creatures, suffer?

And, perhaps most importantly, WHY?

Apologies for the maudlin sound of this post, Gentle Reader, but I still seek and absorb much information.

The problem is that I no longer see the point to most of it.

As The Divine Prince instructs, God does not disappoint, Man does.

What happened to "All You Need Is Love"?

In Love, Truth and Beauty...

A Rose Bloomed in Winter

2011-03-06T11:31:00.000-08:00

I had every intention to write this post a few months ago, but life had other things calling for my attention. I now see a few signs that Spring is certainly going to arrive, but in the midst of the bleak gray that is Winter, my mood was as gloomy as the partly cloudy sky.

Precisely, it was New Year's Day, January 1, 2011. While contemplating the mid-winter depression that I was dancing with, I decided to clean up some of the yard's debris. Anyone who has experienced the dinge of Winter's leavings, can call to mind what it looks and feels like. Nearly all of the plants, tress and shrubs are dormant, leaves and fir needles piled in the unkempt beds that at one time burst with color. The patina is sooty, after the novelty of the first snow has worn away, leaving visible decay.

In short, not an uplifting experience or sight.

I almost missed it.

I had been sweeping the brick patio towards the oft-neglected back of the house when I saw it. I took three steps away, turned around and looked carefully. I swear to you, that I as soon as I acknowledged it, the sun burst through that overcast sky!

There was one, perfect, beautiful red rose standing straight and tall, gleaming in the winter's waning light. Such an exquisite tender rose, showing the glow of blues, pinks, oranges and fiery red all at the same time!

Mimi's Red Rose in Winter

The Universe acts in mysterious ways, Dear Reader.

I was so taken aback by this gorgeous, stately, regal rose! The rose somehow managed to bloom and thrive during one of the worst winters in history. While everything around it lay dormant and encased in ice, this beauty elegantly reached for the sky.

I had long before given up on this particular rose. It showed a miserly bloom in late spring of 2010, only to wither and appear to be dead.

I wrote a status update on Facebook as to what I found in my garden that New Year's Day. I received a response that made my heart sing!

It seems that my childhood friends, the McDonald girls, sadly, had lost their precious Mother, Margaret, just around the time my lone red rose decided to demand my attention on that dreary day in solid winter.

Apparently, Mrs. McDonald (which is how I always referred to her) had confided shortly before her passing that if there was an 'afterlife', that she would return as a red rose.

Mimi's Red Rose in Winter

My innocent post about finding that solitary rose uplifted people!

Margaret McDonald, whom I met while I was attending the second grade, was an extraordinary woman. She was a positive, encouraging force of nature. Words fail me as I attempt to describe her in the confined context of this writing.

I admired her.

Mrs. McDonald was a lot like that strong red rose - thriving under adverse circumstances, beautiful, quiet, yet commanding by example, diminutive, but elegant in her reach. A positive and contemporary thinker, Mrs. McDonald possessed solid knowledge and life experience, but seemed never dissuaded when the world appeared to be in chaos.

To the contrary, Mrs. McDonald was always optimistic. Her optimism was infectious and had a profound effect this on the young girl that I once was.

Margaret McDonald was a beacon for all of us who had the privilege of knowing her. We were better in her presence. We were better people for knowing her. The world was a brighter place because of her radiance.

Like the beautiful rose, Mrs. McDonald reflected upon us her glow, strength and beauty. She lifted us up.

Mimi's Red Rose in Winter

We must share the ordinary beauty that we find along our life paths. That ordinary beauty may just be an extraordinary miracle that changes everything.

Afternote: Margaret "Mimi" McDonald's rose is still blooming, commanding the very attention of the sun in my back yard.

This Post is Dedicated to Margaret McDonald

06/27/17-12/19/10

Written with the kind permission of the McDonald Family.

With so much Love, Truth and Beauty........

Everlast-What its like

2011-02-25T08:58:00.000-08:00

Beware the Spiritual Path

2011-02-23T12:22:00.000-08:00

I have been compelled to write this post for a very long time. After a long period of hesitation, contemplation and finally, victimization, I am acting.

Here is a warning: this post may evoke strong feelings and may be considered controversial by certain individuals.

A little background music, please.

I grew up with extended family members that were not of the same faith. My immediate family was ridiculed for our chosen religion. We were a minority. My first exposure to organized religion was one of bitter righteousness. Clarification: the profession of righteousness while acting in a manner that was, to my mind, directly opposed to any of their righteous religious tenets.

If, at this point, you do not understand what I am writing about, let me throw this out there

"Judge not, lest thee be judged"

Now, I hear judgments ALL THE TIME from the religious types. And if you don't hear them, you are not listening, which may be a positive thing. The above is a loose quotation from THE BIBLE that the righteous religious ones thump on. Seems that it only applies to other people, not them.

What is the answer or the antidote to the negative aspects of organized religion?

It is the now famous answer, "I am on a Spiritual Path".

I do not know about you, but I have suffered more at the hands of these "spiritual" people than the right-wing religious radicals.

There. I said it. It is out there.

How about His Holiness, The Dalai Lama's brilliant quote, "My religion is kindness"? True for him. Not so true for many of the people that I have encountered in the past year who like to mouth it. Problem is just that - they talk it, they do not walk it.

True Story: I made a silly, meant-to-be humorous jab at a life-long 'friend' of mine on the Devil's workshop, Facebook, after a woman who I do not know interjected a comment in a conversation that three old friends were having. Well.....apparently, my absolutely stupid comment led to a prosecution, a conviction and a lifelong sentence of penitence.

The 'mystery woman' started private messaging me with all kinds of judgments, hateful insults, psychoanalysis of me and bile. She was so domineering that I deferred to her. Sensing a potential problem and volatile situation, I did not want to hurt 'my friend', so I just "took" it and offered no defense or rebuttal.

The uninvited messages continued, fueled with arrogance and anger, delightedly humiliating me.

This particular woman proclaims to be a Buddhist. Okay. ACT LIKE ONE. And guess what? Her "religion is kindness".

She certainly was not kind to me!

Am I not a sentient being?

My cherished, life-long friend, with whom I was in nearly daily contact, eventually dropped me as a 'friend'. My friend is also on a 'spiritual path'. I wonder where that path starts? Where does it go? Where does it end?

How about being kind, conscious and spiritual in PRESENT (REAL) TIME? Wow. There is a concept!

How about interacting with other human beings? Therein lies the true test in life. Can you truly evolve as a spiritual being in a cloistered environment or running off to an ashram in India?

Word! Life is hard because human beings disappoint and hurt each other. Being a hermit will not hasten your spiritual evolution.

I called 'my friend' last week to inquire about his well-being and to ask him what was wrong between us.

He did not answer the phone, but immediately replied by email in such a hateful, hurtful, rage that I literally vomited in my sink.

And I am clue-LESS as to what is wrong. My stupid comment on Facebook was not bad, nor ill-intentioned, or even contrived. It was silly. I mean, seriously, what in the heck is going on?

I am no saint, but I am imperfect (gasp!) and it greatly disturbs me to think that I have hurt anyone or anything.

I wish that I knew of my transgression(s) so that I could learn, evolve and get through my own life as best as I can.

What has transpired causes me much pain. I love my lost friend. Perhaps it was an illusion. I believed him to be the kind, gentle soul that I knew so very long ago. Perhaps he was under the illusion that I am the same, self-absorbed, thoughtless kid that I used to be.

I live in one of the most Bible-thumping, self-righteous, right wing places in the United States. Frankly, I now believe that I would rather deal with the religious types than the spiritual path types.

...and I cannot believe that I actually FEEL this way!

Do you think that I am pronouncing judgment? Aaarrrgggghhhh!! I am so very weary of self-examination!

At least the radical religious extremists are honest in the portrayal of their standards. No pretense. Period.

If you want respect, TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE.

If your religion is KINDNESS, BE KIND.

If you want LOVE, ACT IN A LOVING WAY.

In Love, Truth and Beauty.........

This post is dedicated to Anonymous

Two New Soaps Listed

2011-02-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

Dragon's Blood Resin

Spicy Lime Ginger

Both of these recipes are well-rounded with olive, soy, coconut, castor oils, a large helping of raw, organic cocoa butter (fair trade from Ghana) and a splash of coconut milk.

Dragon's Blood Resin has Red Reef Aussie clay and red glitter on top. The scent is derived from a blend of sandalwood, amber, vanilla, myrrh and incense. To my nose, it is a powdery smell.

The Spicy Lime Ginger is more ginger than lime and is more spicy than sweet. This beauty is colored with mica and sprinkled with raw, organic sugar.

May you always walk in Love and Beauty.....

http://www.etsy.com/shop/angelicsoap

Crystal Clear

2011-02-20T11:40:00.000-08:00

Just a short post here to show off my new, double-terminated, self-healed quartz "tabby" crystal. The "tabby" is short for "tablet" or "notebook" and people who work with these crystals often say that they hold memories of past lives and the Akashic Records.

Supposedly, the Tabby Quartz is also excellent for divining intelligence about the future.

Self Healed Double Terminated Tabby Crystal

It is hard to miss the $10 bill that I have posed the beautiful crystal on! It helps to give you an idea of the size.

When I was studying metalsmithing, I took some gemology courses. These courses were not geared to divination! In fact, I had no idea of what abilities and work that our gems and crystals are capable of until recently!

I knew the basics - rose quartz for love and the heart chakra. Amethyst for loyalty and sobriety. The gift shop kind of knowledge.

So, I am a novice about all of the magnificence in the above beauty - but I like what I see!

There are so many breathtaking gems and crystals! Staggering! For some reason, I have always been naturally drawn to the clear quartz.

What is your favorite stone, gem or crystal? Why?

In Love, Truth and Beauty....

Black Swan, St. Valentine's Day and Perfection

2011-02-14T20:33:00.000-08:00

I simply had to write a post about "Black Swan", the latest love-it-or-hate-it film that has several Oscar nominations.

In short, I did not love it.

Black Swan Promo

"Black Swan" is billed as a 'psycho-sexual thriller' or some such nonsense. I found it to be quite the opposite.

However, "Black Swan" has disturbed me, albeit not for the reasons it should have bothered me.

It could have been a phenomenal movie. There are many underlying issues that are buried deep under the surface of "Black Swan". Not one of them was explored in depth.

Maddening!

Instead, "Black Swan" careens from one tense scene to the next, glossing over potentially deep and truly dark themes in favor of popular sensationalism.

"Black Swan" revolves around Nina, our heroine ballerina, who is a technical perfectionist and quite skillful. Nina's Ballet Master, believes that Nina does not 'lose control'. Ever. Nina's inability to lose control forms the film's surface focus.

I say "surface" because we never get to see what drives Nina to be so obsessively controlled.

That exploration could have elevated "Black Swan" to heights of greatness.

Ballet's rigorous training, discipline, ego, drive, stamina, the quest for youth and the continuous pursuit of the demon that is perfection must be hellish.
As with so many demanding fields, the final product appears effortless and exquisitely beautiful to the audience. There is no trace of the grueling, all-consuming effort that gives birth to the creation.

The ugly side of ballet might be compared to the gritty side of modeling - the obsession with physical perfection and youth. In modeling, the human being is reduced to a coat hanger or body parts. However, a dancer is an artistic athlete. Just a little pressure, eh?

I have always felt a certain empathy and sympathy for anyone whose vocation is ballet.

For many years, I believed that my particular calling to be a metalsmith was tortuous. That is, until the reality of the world and lifestyle of ballet was revealed to me.

For those readers unfamiliar with ballet, I would recommend researching George Balanchine, the Russian choreographer, co-founder and Ballet Master of The New York City Ballet. There are a few biographies on Balanchine, including two excellent ones by Robert Gottlieb and Bernard Taber.

Indeed, George Balanchine is credited with creating modern ballet, basing it on classical forms and techniques that endure to this day.

Mission: Perfection Impossible.

Swan Lake London 2007

Therein lies the pervasive story line of "Black Swan": the attainment of perfection, a subject very near and dear to my heart. Hence, the byline of this blog.

As I write this post on St. Valentine's Day - which, by the way, I still believe is a real holiday that Hallmark merely exploited - I am thinking of perfection. I am thinking about love, specifically self-love.
The desire for improvement in this life can be noble.
My Father used to say that one should never occupy a place (a building, a workplace, a relationship, a neighborhood, a planet, a life, a space in time) without leaving it better for being there.
It is this standard to which I aspire.
Long ago, I was struck by the knowledge that I would never be able to make a perfect piece (metalsmithing). Now, this was a profound realization for a young artist in a demanding and competitive field. From that point forward, I decided to embrace and even emphasize imperfection in all of my work.
Several decades later, I know that unique beauty is found in imperfection.
Looking back, perhaps I have not given "Black Swan" enough credit.
Perhaps the Ballet Master was encouraging the heroine to 'let loose' in order to find that unique beauty which only shines through in imperfection.
Like most artists, I am my harshest critic.
I must love my personal and quite human imperfections for they make me unique.
That is a huge step....one that can certainly leave any space I occupy better.
Today, I begin my journey.

Black Swan

In Love, Truth and Beauty..........

Images Courtesy of Wikipedia

Feeling Just Like This ....

2011-01-20T18:57:00.000-08:00

300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues
The White Stripes

I'm bringing back ghosts
That are no longer there
I'm gettin' hard on myself
Sittin' in my easy chair
Well, there's three people in the mirror
And I'm wonderin' which one of them I should choose
Well, I can't keep from laughin'
Spittin' out these 300 mile per hour outpour blues

I'm breakin' my teeth off
Tryin' to bite my lip
There's all kinds of red-headed women
That I ain't supposed to kiss
And it's that color that never fails
To turn me blue
So I just swallow it and hold on to it
And use it to scare the hell out of you

I have a woman
'Says come and watch me bleed
And I'm wonderin' just how I can do that
And still give her everything that she needs
Well, there's three people in my head that have the answer
And one of them's got to be you
But you're holding tight to it -- the answer
Singin' these three hundred mile per hour outpour blues

Put on gloves, a tied scarf and wrap up warm
On this winter night
Every time you get defensive
You're just looking for a fight
It's safe to sing somebody out there's got a problem
With almost anything you'll do
Well, next time they stab you don't fight back just play the victim
Instead of playin' the fool
And the roads are covered with a million
Little molecules
Of cigarette ashes and the school floors are covered
With pieces of pencil eraser too
Well sooner or later the ground's gonna be holdin' all
Of my ashes too
But I can't help but wonder if after I'm gone will I still have these three hundred mile per
hour, finger breaking, no answers makin', battered dirty hands, bee stung and busted up, empty
cup torrential outpour blues

One thing's for sure: in that graveyard
I'm gonna have the shiniest pair of shoes

Any one else ever feel like this?

In Love, Truth and Beauty ....

Reflecting on Then and Now

2011-01-17T13:53:00.000-08:00


MLK and Malcolm X ca 1964

Pondering what each of these brilliant visionaries would have to say on current times.
Both of these inspiring leaders knew how to move FORWARD.
Have we kept up?
Hmmm....

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

In Love, Truth and Beauty......

A Change Is Gonna Come

2011-01-17T11:08:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King, Jr. on Love and Hate

2011-01-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Photo by Howard Sochurek for LIFE Magazine

In Love, Truth and Beauty.....

Winged Creatures, Past and Present Lives

2011-01-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

I love all creatures, but retain a special and specific fondness for beings with wings.

I suppose that my affection for those beings with wings is as telling of my own nature as anything else in my life.

Several times, I have been amused (and a bit taken aback) when others have revealed my totem or soul representative as "Raven".

Here is an excerpt of one such revelation that I found to be quite true:

"This is a very interesting path for a being. The most important thing to remember about a person's life when they are under the Raven's wing is that you have been here before, you know all about this stuff and what you do not know you are about to find out. There is really nothing too surprising or amazing to a Raven person. New things? Sure, but as they have been witness to so many massive shifts over the myriad of lifetimes required to lead a Raven life, there are no real surprises. The danger for a Raven soul is landing in an area where there are no other Ravens and no real competition. A Raven needs powerful reflection and only another Raven can do that for them. Only another Raven is capable of understanding a Raven. An old soul does not protect a person from falling into a too comfortable trap and growing lazy. Laziness is deadly for a Raven. A Raven needs the power of their wings to carry their great bodies high above the world to gain perspective needed to fulfill their ultimate earth destiny. Each Raven has a particular mission to complete their earth cycle. Find out what it is, Raven. You may be comfortable and unshaken, but are you alert and fulfilling your vision?"

I am wondering about the Biblical comfort that the creator knows the exact moment each sparrow falls.

I find the recent news of birds falling from the sky and dead fish washing ashore particularly distressing. Am I the only Raven paying attention?

We must learn that we are the caretakers of this planet. I fear our time may soon be up. When birds fall from the sky and fish die in massive amounts, should we not pay attention to how we are treating the elements and creatures that support our own lives?
Where are my Ravens?

In Love, Truth and Beauty......

Dedicated to Birkan Tore

December 31, 2010, Shakespeare and Talking Heads

2010-12-31T17:22:00.000-08:00

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

William Shakespeare

Macbeth, Act V, scene v

I have thought of the foregoing quote many, many times in my life. Aptly, this gem rolled through my mind earlier today, as I was recycling the 2010 calendars.
In my youth, the 'New Year' was exciting!
In early adult life, I fell upon many years of darkness. I came to dislike the advent of a new year. The new year was a time to recount all of my mistakes, instead of looking ahead with optimism.
I still struggle a bit during this auspicious time, but I am coming around to a feeling of gratitude, not depression, loss or failure.
On that note, I cannot help but wonder if this life is to be taken seriously - or not?
It seems that our friend, Macbeth wondered the same thing.
Positively, I have been gifted and blessed with an embarrassment of riches. I am presently filled with conscious gratitude for every ambulatory, breathing second.
But, still .... I do ponder the entire script of life....and I always have.
I do not know my role or purpose or even if there is one! I wish that I could be one of those people who knows exactly what their life's purpose is!
I relate to Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime"!! "How did I get here?"

Is life a comedy, a tragedy, a drama, a soap opera, a whim, a plan, a thought, a dream?
What, exactly, is "a life"?
This is what I do know....
I have packed up many belongings of loved ones after they leave this life behind.
I absolutely know that those material (matter-real) goods mean NOTHING (NO-Thing). Those belongings cannot possibly tell the story of the beloved's life.
What remains and never ends are the emotional bonds formed in this life. Those feelings are as real, as fresh, as tangible and as present as the sound of my fingers tapping the keyboard at this moment.
These days, I bond in LOVE.
Love really is all that MATTERS (material).
May each and every one of you forge bonds of love in the upcoming 'new year'.
In Love, Truth and Beauty....

Holiday "Spirit" or Critical Alcohol

2010-12-27T10:02:00.000-08:00

For the most part, I am a vegan. Becoming vegan was a slowly-evolved process.....and I personally believe that it is correct for me.

I still own the odd leather good, and I do use honey, beeswax and some goat milk in a few of my handcrafted soaps. This is why I state "For the most part"....

I have never been able to eat dairy, so no elimination required in that department.

I still enjoy the occasional cocktail, cordial, aperitif, beer or vino, but I do not imbibe as in younger years. I am incredibly picky!

In honor of the holidays, I am going to share a recipe for vegan Irish cream that tastes very much like the bad-for-you (and pricey!) sweet libation.

I cook and create by taste - not measurement - so bear with me!

Vegan Irish Cream

Coconut Milk (I buy this by the 1/2 gallon - NOT the canned coconut cream/milk) - about 2 cups

Raw Turbinado Sugar- app 2-3 tblsp

Agave Nectar - app 1 tblsp

Vanilla Extract

Almond Extract (optional)

3/4 cup brewed coffee

dark cocoa powder (optional)

dash sea salt

preferred whiskey or bourbon (3/4 cup - ?)

Throw all ingredients in a high speed blender (I used a Vita Mix). 30 seconds. Taste. Adjust. Bottle or store in airtight containers in the frig. Must be shaken before serving. May be served straight up, on the rocks, in coffee or tea....a little goes a long way, as this is wonderfully decadent.

Enjoy responsibly!

Cheers!

And do not forget to SMILE!!!!

Easiest way to shift energy in any situation, place or space!!

In Love, Truth and Beauty....

Yule, Winter Solstice, Full Moon and an Eclipse

2010-12-20T10:52:00.000-08:00

All happening around 12:30 a.m. .....

The best time to view the Lunar Eclipse is suggested around 2:17 a.m. December 21, 2010 (Tuesday).

NASA reports state that it has been 372 years since the Solstice occurred simultaneously with a Lunar Eclipse.
A good reason to stay up, or set your alarm!

With so much Love, Truth and Beauty....

Fire, Yule and Love

2010-12-18T11:10:00.000-08:00

"Why are you so enchanted by this world when a mine of gold lies within you?"

Rumi

In keeping with the spirit of the season, I felt moved to write a brief post today - again, about love.

The increasing commercialism that has driven the winter holidays in my lifetime depresses my spirit and my heart.
I no longer send holiday cards and I have never put up a tree.

As a child, one of my visual memories was seeing sad and stripped Christmas trees dumped in the street for trash pick up.

It was equally painful to get used to the veritable fantasy of the glittering lights and decorations taken down and stored away at the very time when we humans NEED such uplifting light!

Winter and the waning light is difficult on body and spirit!

Let us keep the love and light in our hearts to shine outwardly on those who may need it most (ourselves?).

This is not to say "bah! humbug!", but rather a personal and heartfelt statement that I believe we should show love, compassion, joy, kindness, glad tidings and good will EVERY day of our lives.

Sadly, many people believe that a wrapped present (or a few) one day a year demonstrates good will toward man (woman) kind.

I am making an urgent plea to each and every one (including myself) to show good will, kindness, love and compassion to ourselves and all beings on a daily basis.

"Better to light a single candle than curse the darkness."

In Light, Love, Beauty.....

7 Doves

2010-12-15T10:55:00.000-08:00

Early this morning, 7 Doves greeted me! Perched on my outdoor table and chairs, it was quite a beautiful sight.

Feathers fluffed up, seated in varying levels, these beautiful birds appeared to be a Council of Elders.

I am still pondering the message, but I am convinced that it was a positive sign.

I love and am constantly delighted by my wild birds!

Birds inspire me and send me messages. It has been this way all of my life.

Do you have a special relationship with any creatures?

I would love to hear about them!

In Love, Truth, Beauty and Wisdom....

TUT Love

2010-12-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

This arrived in my in box this morning just in time!

Be at peace, dear Teresa, rest easy, relax, coast and luxuriate to any degree that you can allow yourself, for the day will inevitably arrive when you'll understand all the "reasons" that now elude you, bless the darkness that now seems to separate you, and celebrate the ancient choices that once made you.

Just as we do.

Trust me,
The Universe

Courtesy TUT Adventurer's Club

Image Courtesy of the Author

With so much Love, Truth and Beauty.......

Red Hot!

2010-12-13T18:23:00.000-08:00

In keeping with the spirit of the winter holidays, I want to continue to explore the theme of love.

Sometimes, love seems a far away feeling or ideal. Or, in the words of Bono, "an idea that almost makes sense".

Actually, love is the only idea that makes sense.

Love is typically used as a verb; an action word.

Love of self is a phrase that is tossed around these days, but I see very little realized self love. Instead, I see self concern, self gratification, self involvement, self absorption, selfishness, self-centric-everything-except love.

Houston, we have a big problem.

If we have not done so, let us learn self love and teach our children, family and friends the same by example.

Instead of seeking instant gratification via blatant commercialism and consumption to fill the void this season, what if we loved ourselves abundantly? Then, we would share that love...

Like the airlines instruct, people traveling with dependents must put their oxygen masks on first. You cannot help, save or love others without taking care of yourself first!

So many of us are slowly dying from the absence of life-sustenance - put love first on your to-do list.

Give your love no matter what.....

My friends are so depressed
I feel the question
Of your loneliness
Confide... 'cause I'll be on your side
You know I will, you know I will

X Girlfriend called me up
Alone and desperate
On the prison phone
They want... to give her 7 years
For being sad
I love all of you
Hurt by the cold
So hard and lonely too
When you don't know yourself

My friends are so distressed
And standing on
The brink of emptiness
No words... I know of to express
This emptiness

Imagine me taught by tragedy
Release is peace
I heard a little girl
And what she said
Was something beautiful
To give... your love
No matter what

Red Hot Chili Peppers

This post is dedicated to T. Callahan

With so much Love, Truth and Beauty....

Revolution

2010-12-11T18:37:00.000-08:00

I have had a week that was so filled with vile spewed by so many angry, hateful people, that I literally spent two full days physically ill from mere contact.

Let me just say that I now fully, deeply and profoundly understand the meaning of that silly television show, "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?". Believe me, the people that I encountered this week are certainly not smarter than a 5th grader.

Pitiful.

I could feel sorry for these people if they were not totally extracting vengeance from innocents and causing permanent damage.

I want to ask all the angry, manipulative, dishonest, hate-full people that I see in the world - what has happened to you?
Love and money - or, rather the lack of it - seems to be at the bottom of this particular debris heap.

"...when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait"

However, it is never too late to change.

In the spirit of change, the word, 'revolution' inspires me.

Revolution, evolution, devolution, reveal, revolve...the world keeps spinning, moving.....and so must the collection of life that populates it.

Come on, People!

Let's evolve...enough of the distortions, deceit, lies, hate, anger!

If we continue to be divided, we will certainly perish as ONE.

It is time for a revolution and it starts with one voice, one person, one step, one action.....replace anger with acceptance, hatred with love, selfishness with compassion, greed with generosity.

This revolution starts with me. I hope that you join.

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know

We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right

You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right

(Lennon-McCartney)

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

In Love, Truth and Beauty...

This post is dedicated to J. Geiler

Paint It Red

2010-12-01T20:39:00.000-08:00

Day Without Art = December 1st = World Aids Day - honored by artists since 1989.

Please make a difference today.

Volunteer.

Spread awareness.

Pray.

Remember those who have died.

Remember those who are living.

Remember that the suffering continues.

Love. Truth. Beauty.

Magical Paintings in Prehistoric Caves and All Saints Day

2010-11-01T18:34:00.000-07:00

I have studied art history since my late teens, but never found a true appreciation for the magnificent cave paintings until mid-life.

Most cave paintings that have been discovered to date, depict extremely sophisticated, timeless renderings of animal figures. Very few cave paintings feature any human elements, although there are some drawings of human hands. Subject matter includes bison, bulls, horses, aurochs and other animals. A painting in Spain, dating back to the Last Ice Age, depicts reindeer.

The varied media utilized include ochre, oxides, hematite and charcoal. At times, the rock has been chiseled to enhance the painted image, bringing a 3 dimensional element.

It is believed that the caves did not provide human habitation. Most art historians and anthropologists theorize that the paintings were created as part of a shamanic trance during a magical or religious ceremony. It is also believed that the cave paintings served as a form of communication.

Although there have been discoveries of over 350 cave paintings, my personal favorite remains the classic at Lascaux, France. This is the painting that is studied by all beginning art historians and art students.

The earliest known cave painting dates back about 32,000 years ago, although this date is in controversy. The particular site is known as Chauvet, and was discovered in Southern France. Chauvet is of particular interest because of the numerous cave bear paw prints and relics found there.

Chauvet's paintings were incised into the cave rock, and then painted.

Both of the above represent images found at Chauvet.

Somehow, it seems appropriate that I write this post on November 1 - All Saints Day.

I have crafted my own life upon a foundation in art history. As many images and pieces that I have seen, studied, researched and written about, I always find my way back to the cave paintings. They are all incredibly beautiful and as contemporary as the most sophisticated abstract visuals that I see today.

They are magical and spiritual....no need for improvement.

In Love, Truth, Beauty....

Images courtesy of Wikipedia

CASHBACK and Venus Retrograde

2010-10-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

When I was a girl, I was undecided if I should go to art school, or study music, as I had played the piano since the age of 4.

I was ambitious, and my sole dream was to be a fashion designer. I had been writing to Schools of Design, Fashion Design, colleges and universities from the 7th grade!

I have never had any other life goal other than to be an artist. I never wanted marriage, kids, real estate, 'stuff'. I wanted to make art.

My beloved Mother, always the practical person, urged me to go to nursing school. She reasoned that I could always find employment in the health care field.

Horrified and balking, I sought the counsel of my equally-beloved, engineer, opera-devotee Father.

Here was my Father's reply: "Study and create art, as this world needs more beauty".

As I progressed in school, going on to graduate school, eventually teaching at the University level, making my way on the exhibition circuit, showing and selling my work, I was very happy and focused.

Circumstances in my life drastically changed, and I eventually became employed in a more "practical" field.

It is not easy to be self-supporting as an artist!

So, I went off to work in a completely different direction than I had ever envisioned.

I few weeks ago, just as Venus went retrograde, I watched an indie film entitled "Cashback". I did not know what to expect, but the film delighted me with its subtle message that is communicated in a very unpretentious, but excellent manner.

The film focuses on a young artist named Ben, who is suffering insomnia from a recent break up with his girlfriend.

Ben, who learned to appreciate beauty at a tender age, develops a technique to 'freeze time' in a way as to 'capture beauty'.

I want to illuminate that the young artist's appreciation of the beauty in this world lifted my spirits.

There is so much in this material world that feels painful to me, especially these days.

I regularly restrict the news that I watch or hear, avoid unpleasant entanglements, any ensuing drama, and generally force myself to avoid many human beings for periods of time.

I cope with the suffering and pain in life by sleeping, making art and soap, enjoying my animals, watching the birds at my feeder and tending my gardens.

I find these pastimes to be peaceful, and as close to the natural world as I can get in my urban setting.

The most enjoyable times of my life (and work) have been spent in solitude and silence.

Therefore, "Cashback" held a special lesson for me: There is considerable beauty in the world.

Is it possible to reconcile an "overly sensitive" nature with the pain of this world by focusing on prolonging the beauty that is in everything natural?

Wish me luck.

I will probably do just fine until I have to drive the car.....and someone crosses my path.
In Love, Truth and So Much Beauty.....

7 Signs You're An Empath

2010-10-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

7 Signs You're An Empath

So... is there a "Plan"?

2010-10-06T19:53:00.000-07:00

Most of my adult life has been weighted in anxiety. I am a worrier....need I say more?

In retrospect, my childhood was gloriously filled with wonder, magic, make believe, the ability to see angels, spirits and a profound understanding of the reality of fairy tales. I had an unshakable sense of security which resulted in loads of self confidence and an odd reservation around other humans.

These days, I hear and read the phrase "All is as it should be", which gives me pause.

Many times, it is only in looking back that I understand the aforementioned phrase.

Tonight, as is my custom, I routinely went outside to look after the dogs.

The weather was cool and pleasant.

The air was still.

I looked up and saw a crystal-clear sky with a few bright stars.

For a brief moment, I was transported back to the days of my childhood. I wondered why the stars were not falling from their celestial spots, or why I was able to stand upright on this constantly spinning rock called earth.

Why?

In that instant, I fully understood that all is indeed in Divine Order.

....and it was comforting!

It was as comforting as I felt when my much-beloved parents were alive.

That flash was transformational.....and I have no idea why it happened or what triggered it.

But for a split second, I truly and deeply knew that "All is as it should be".

In Love, Truth and Beauty......

From Whence Doth the Creative Spark Ignite?

2010-09-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

How do you like the title to this post? A bit of mirth to start my pondering words about an extremely complicated question: What ignites the creative spark?

Over my lifetime, I have puzzled over this question. Oh, and 'what is the meaning of life' and 'what is my purpose' and 'what is death'? You know, the small stuff.

I have heard many answers to "what ignites the creative spark" from 'the creative drive being likened to giving birth' to 'creative people must create', or, rather, it is an inherent trait that cannot be nurtured, presented, gifted, or taken away - it simply is.

Let us not forget that "necessity if the mother of invention".

Another popular answer to the query - and one that cannot be denied categorically - is that creative people are often at their most prolific when moving through one of life's inevitable dark events.

Do misery and suffering spark creativity?

So many well-known artists have had dreadful, hideous lives strewn with hardship.

Perhaps enduring hardship promotes artistic expression of the soul's anguish that cannot be expressed in other ways?

I will probably never know the answer to my question, although I am certain that whatever gives rise to creativity is of infinite complexity, varying from individual to individual.

It is here in my musing that I am reminded of Eva Hesse, one of my personal favorites artists of-all-time and a woman that I admire beyond the words on this page.

After emigrating from Nazi Germany to the Netherlands and then New York, Eva Hesse studied at Cooper Union and Pratt Institute, eventually earning a BFA in painting from Yale School of Art and Architecture under Josef Albers. The year was 1959.

Soon thereafter, Eva Hesse started a small revolution by recycling materials and evolving the two dimensional painting canvas into a three dimensional sculpture.

Eva Hesse ca 1959 (Stehen Korbet)

My well-worn book, Eva Hesse by Lucy Lippard, is inscribed with the date of July, 1978. I purchased it at a Soho bookstore during a summer spent in NY. It is one of the few books that I still keep on my shelf.

Many art historians like to refer to Eva Hesse in terms of her hardships. I like to refer to Eva Hesse in terms of her strength, perseverance and accomplishments.

Born in 1936, Eva escaped Nazi Germany, watched her parents divorce, struggled with depression and a failed marriage, the suicide of her mother, the death of her father and her subsequent loss of life in 1970 due to a brain tumor.

Is it in spite of Eva's pain that she thrived in the male-dominated art world, becoming one of the torchbearers of Post Minimalism? Or, did her star rise because of her personal hardships?

Having been fortunate enough to see several of her works and posthumous exhibits, I can verify that Eva's work is spectacular. There is a light in her fiberglass pieces that positively emanates from within and without, dancing through the sculpture, becoming part of the whole.

Right After (1969)

Eva Hesse is famous for her use of materials that are intrinsically worthless - recycled electrical wire and masonite. Alchemy at its finest!

One of my favorite pieces is entitled Hang Up (1966). Witty and charming, the piece is primarily composed of acrylic on cord, cloth, wood, steel.

Hang Up (1966)

Later, Eva's trademark media became latex, plastic, fiberglass. These materials disintegrate over time ... and there is poetry and metaphor in that process.

Repetition Nineteen III (1968)

I remember a comment about Lippard's Eva Hesse made by a painter friend many years ago - "Every woman in the grad program at art school had that book".

One of the dirty little secrets of the art world, in my opinion, is that it is one of the last bastions of male dominance.

In the real world, racial discrimination is at least talked about. This gives hope that the world is taking a step towards resolution.

Alas, in the art world, gender bias seems to still be the modus operandi....which simply leaves me more in awe of Eva Hesse and her numerous accomplishments.

What constellations came together that allowed the world to behold (even for a short time) such talent, beauty and grace?

In Love, Truth and Beauty .....

for more information on Eva Hesse, please visit evahesse.com and thejewishmuseumofart.org.
a search of "Eva Hesse" will yield additional images of work
Images herein are reproduced from the Estate of Eva Hesse
Thank you

Still Life, Moving Pictures and Hannah Wilke

2010-08-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

I have not posted on this blog for an extended period of time.

Several persons near and dear to me have passed and my creative process has a peculiar ebb and flow. I write my words in earnest and after much consideration.

These words have become my primary "high" art form these days. I take the written word very seriously.

I have been having vivid and quite lucid dreams. I dreamed (re-lived, actually) some years of my youth when I was brave, courageous, optimistic - and anything and everything was possible.

I was happy, intoxicated with all that "could be" in this life time.
I so yearn for the attitude of my youth, that I unashamedly lived with a certain reckless, fearless and carefree abandon.

Alas, many of the key players of my youth are deceased now...and my life took turns that I never could imagine in my glory days.

I do not not know if I can achieve that fearless mindset again in this life. Absurd in a way, as rationally, the longer you live, the more fearless you should become. In my case (and, I suspect in many others), it is the opposite.

The more I know, the longer I live, the more fearful I grow.

I endeavor to change this...and live in the moment - but time seems to move faster now....

What to do?

Wait for the "next life"?

Most people concentrate their energies on their family. This is right and just.

But, is this a distraction from one's own life and death? Or a continuation of life after death in a sense? A way to trick the mind into delusions of such immortality?

Being childless (by choice), I live a "still life". The moving pictures belong to other people. I am the constant observer, a voyeur of sorts....parts of me have been 'stilled' due to the pain of loss, grief, (perceived) abandonment, being alone. Emotional scars that go unseen to others, but are personally felt, nonetheless.

I have been thinking about Hannah Wilke, an artist that I so admired, and her absolutely astonishing work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Wilke

I still remember the first time I saw Hannah Wilke's "Scars"... a photo of her nude torso covered with wads of chewing gum. An ode to the very real fact that we all experience pain and suffering in this life. We bear it internally. Hannah reminds us that internal (emotional) scars are every bit as real as the external (physical ) scar we show to the world from surgery, a bloody brush with a thorny rose bush, a cut, grief, a broken heart, loss, pain, hurt.

Hannah Wilke objectived her own body in her work. Her "Scars" evolved into a series entitled "Scarification". This was early conceptual work at its best!
After she was diagnosed with cancer, Hannah exposed all of the physical effects of her chemotherapy before her premature death.

Hannah Wilke was a beautiful, courageous, brave, strong woman. When facing her eventual mortality, she exposed herself to a world-wide audience - scars and all.

In Love, Truth, Beauty....

Images courtesy of Artnet and Wikipedia

Tribute to Jane Blaffer Owen

2010-07-15T18:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader,

I am greatly saddened to report that Jane Blaffer Owen died a few weeks ago.

So many influential people in my life have died recently that I simply have not felt moved to write a decent or worthy post.

I hope you understand that I cannot describe many personal details about Mrs. Owen at this time. I hope that in time, I will be able to put into words how I knew her, and recount a little of what she accomplished in her very BIG, wondrous life.

She was the real deal. The stuff legends are made of ... a visionary who actually realized those visions.

I am posting one of her many obituaries herein. The following article originated in The Houston Chronicle. They have hit some of the highlights of her extraordinary life.

I will always remember the vision of Mrs. Owen driving a horse drawn carriage around New Harmony when I was living in that area. Her long blond hair, untamed by her sun hat, flowing.

She was a visionary, a treasure, and her absence will be conspicuous.....and felt by many of the people she so freely inspired.

The Houston Chronicle

June 26, 2010

Jane Blaffer Owen's memorial service will be in Houston next month, where she grew up in eccentric splendor as an heiress to both the Humble and Texaco oil fortunes. Surely there will be talk of the good things that she supported in this city, many of them at the University of Houston.

But her greatest effect, everyone will agree, wasn't on Houston at all, but on a place that could be considered the anti-Houston: New Harmony, Ind. — a tiny, historic, spiritual town.

Owen met New Harmony in 1941, during her honeymoon. The hometown of her husband, K.D. Owen, it was the site of two - two! - long-gone utopias.

Harmonie was founded in 1814 by the Harmonists, a celibate religious group that emphasized hard work and sound building. Ten years later, convinced the world was ending, they sold their town to a pair of secular idealists who hoped to found a new "Community of Equality." Rechristened New Harmony, the town was to be a progressive gathering of scientists and intellectuals, and so idealistic that it banned the use of money. It lasted three years.

By 1941, New Harmony was a bedraggled little town, but its history resonated with the idealistic, spiritual Owen. She poured her considerable fortune and energy into the place, shoring up its lovely old Victorian buildings and adding works by cutting-edge architects Richard Meier and Philip Johnson. The town took on a Marfa-like vibe, based on spirituality instead of art. It became a place for seekers.

And it came back to life. The American Planning Association praised New Harmony as a "cultural town," resisting the homogenization of America. The National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded Owen its highest honor.

Late in her life, in an interview with the Houston Oral History Project, she described New Harmony in relation to hectic, fast-changing Houston. She invoked Joseph Campbell's "Hero with a Thousand Faces": In myths across the world, Campbell argued, heroes go on quests and return with gifts - "boons" - for their fellow man. "I felt that if I had any boons for Houston," Owen said, "I would have to bring them from that little town."

The most obvious of those boons is still being installed. In 1963 Owen commissioned visionary architect Frederick Kiesler to design a meditation grotto for New Harmony. Its centerpiece was to look like a giant shell - a no-right-angles design so far ahead of its time that it was deemed unbuildable. But in 2008, with Owen's support, a class of UH architecture students used 3-D design software and digital fabrication to do what once could not be done. Their interpretation of Kiesler's design now sits next to UH's architecture building, awaiting benches and a garden.

"It is going to be an oasis for the busy students at UH," Owen said with satisfaction. A meditative, spiritual place, a piece of New Harmony in Houston, it will be her last boon to our city. And we are grateful.

This post is dedicated to Jane Owen, Patron Saint on Earth to so many mortals.

Mrs. Owen, as I called her, was a force that helped shape my life in more ways than I can list here.

I have no idea what would have become of me without Mrs. Owen's hand in my life.

In Love, Truth, Beauty and Loss....

Amazing Vedic Astrology

2010-06-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

Here is a very interesting blog to follow

http://myindian-vedicastrology.blogspot.com/

And this is the website...

http://indian-vedicastrology.com/wordpress/

In Truth, Love and Beauty....

A Personal Memoir: Heikki Seppa

2010-05-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

I have worked with metal nearly all of my life. The love of metal is in my family (both maternal and paternal), my blood and my spirit. I studied metalsmithing courses in college, but could not quite understand how to achieve my desired final product: a hollow, fabricated piece that made a bold statement in metal with the seeming lightness of a feather.
One day, I came across The Penland School of Crafts Book of Jewelrymaking (1975) - and there it was - the exact technique that I needed! A shell structure technique developed by one Heikki Seppa.
Heikki Seppa was pioneering a brand new vocabulary of form - literally redefining the art of metalsmithing. Heikki was from Helsinki, taught briefly in Louisville (close to my neck of the woods), and was currently heading up the metalsmithing department at Washington University in St. Louis.
Perfect!
The fates smiled upon me, and Heikki accepted me into the graduate metals program - although after I arrived at Washington University, there were so many talented metalsmiths! I was a small town girl (jokingly referred to as "Kentucky Woman" by Heikki) with a B.A. in Fine Arts, Art History and a minor in Political Science. Most of my peers had achieved their BFA degrees in metalsmithing.
But, I was not a fish out of water ... many of the metal students, as well as Heikki and John Baltrushunas, the undergraduate professor were Pisces.
We even had annual Pisces parties. Oh...the stories I could tell...the photographs that I treasure...
I was HOME.

Being innately shy (many will dispute this statement, but I assure you it is completely true), I recall hiding my works-in-progress ... no small feat. Critiques were nerve-wracking. This was a serious program!!! (ahh - those were the days) Heikki was in the midst of publishing Form Emphasis for Metalsmiths - a giddy time in which we all enjoyed way more than 15 minutes of fame. Everything was golden.
Heikki worked us hard! We played hard too - but that is another story.....

Below is a pin that I have watching over my workbench. The photo was taken during a two week forging session on the St. Louis campus. The image is one of my favorites of Heikki.

This period was fruitful, graced, creative, blessed. I am so grateful to have had those highly educational and challenging years! Very, very fortunate...
I received word that Heikki died last week. This was not unexpected, but I am heartbroken. Of all of his many achievements (and believe me - I cannot think of a single artist rising from the "craft" world who has achieved more honors and accolades, awards and recognition) I like to think that Heikki's best achievement was being true to himself.

What an inspiration.
I was not the perfect 'shell-structure' metalsmith. I was an odd hybrid.
Here is a complimentary note about my critical writing he sent to me not too long ago. Heikki started my writing career in 1976 when I impressed him (no small feat!) with my wordsmith ability and knowledge of metal - a rare combination.

In my letter of reference, Heikki graciously wrote that I was a master of many arts, facets and nuances - including playing the piano! His kindness, remembrance and sentiment touched me profoundly.
He was a complex, often misunderstood, fun, hard-working, hard-playing, masterful and enlightened being.
Here is an example of the type of encouragement that he freely gave me.

Heikki and I remained in touch for 35 years. I am proud to say that he was my friend.
I miss him.
Deeply.
Have you heard that 'thing' about when a mighty oak falls somewhere in the woods, do you hear it?
I may not have heard the felling of the master, but I certainly feel his absence.
Heikki was unique and unforgettable. Demanding, outspoken, opinionated ... and a real sweetheart!
This old weary soul and world will miss you, Heikki. But, somehow, I know there is a joyous and rowdy reunion in a sauna, replete with eucalyptus, vodka, snow outside and a waiting forge, hammer and anvil inside.
With Love, Beauty and Respect...

In Loving Memory of Heikki Seppa March 8, 1927 - May 18, 2010

Images Courtesy of the Author

Soaps for Utopia

2010-05-07T15:24:00.000-07:00

I just packed up a big box of custom soaps to be sold at Richard Meier's Atheneum in New Harmony, Indiana. I am so happy with these soaps that I wanted to share two of them with you.

"Red Geranium"

A light geranium soap that is swirled and topped with Aussie Red Clay and French Green Clay mixed with Chlorophyll. This soap was inspired by the "Red Geranium Inn and Restaurant" in New Harmony.

"Wabash River Valley"

This lovely landscape is dedicated to the Wabash River Valley, over which The Atheneum presides....I cannot stop looking at this soap! I scented it with mints and citronella (among other essential oils) to help shoo away all the Wabash mosquitoes!

In addition to the above, there are four other types of handcrafted soap soon to be on sale at The Atheneum in New Harmony.
Summer is a good time to visit Utopia....

Love and Beauty....

Beltane: a (VERY) brief synopsis

2010-05-01T13:34:00.000-07:00

May is the month of full-flowered spring in every sense.

May is symbolized by Mother Nature, or Female Power at her most potent...or is it the other way around?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bealtaine

No coincidence that the earthy, sensual, sensitive, fixed, feminine astrological sign of Taurus falls here. Take a cue from Taurus - after working hard (read: all winter), have a fabulous meal, a massage, appreciate Venusian beauty, pamper yourself.

Your body is of the earth. Take special care of it today.

Ground yourself.

Say a prayer for planet earth, especially The Gulf of Mexico, the earth's elements and all creatures.

Perform a personal kindness for the earth.

According to the old ways, Beltane (or Bealtaine) was typically celebrated on April 30, or May Eve.

In the time of my childhood, May 1st was the only day dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Hmmm....many wrong things with that practice and statement) in the Roman Catholic Church.

Even as a young girl, I rebelled against the politics of patriarchy. I always made a shrine to Mary, almost like a beautiful bird house, presented in a corner of my room. One small step for woman kind.

In my earlier post on the Merry Month of May, I wrote about the May Queen. Often considered promiscuous, she is a young, juicy maiden, bursting with vitality......like spring itself.

Curious that 'May Day, May Day' is the phrase we associate with destruction. From the view of the Wise Ones, May Day is the actual opposite of destruction.

May Day (or Beltane or Bealtaine) is the peak of life itself.

In place of the ancient, glorious May Day, we invented Mother's Day (that Puritan ethic again, methinks).

Celebrate and revel in Life! Get down and dirty in the garden or plant some herbs. Take a long bath (ever mindful of the HUGE gift of water). Listen to beautiful music. Acknowledge every single one of your senses.

Dance around a May Pole!! (THAT would be a statement)

Beltane represents what we have waited a long, hard winter to experience.

Express love for yourself and gratitude for Mother Nature....have some fun and frolic!

With so much Love, Truth, Beauty and Pleasure.......

Beltane

2010-05-01T08:19:00.000-07:00

I have been away on a small vacation, so I have not been posting lately.
Bad news? The vacation is over and I am back from the Island. Landlocked.
Good news? It is Beltane!

Happy Beltane, Everyone!
May frivolity reign over the merry month of May, not unlike the above riot of lovely Texas wildflowers.
In Love, Truth and Beauty....

And then God Created Jimmy Page...

2010-04-22T19:52:00.000-07:00

"Passion, honesty, competence is musical heaven"

Jimmy Page

"It Might Get Loud"

These are ideal components for any profession or even daily living.

Jimmy Page exemplifies all three qualities. He is a master at many, many things.

Even Jimmy's horoscope is strong and regal. Capricorn Sun, Scorpio Rising and Cancer Moon...a bit conflicted due to opposing Sun and Moon, but wow! The stars were certainly in good alignment when he was born! Hard working, masterful, ladder-climbing Cap Sun, sexy Scorpio rising and that beautiful, nurturing Cancer Moon.

Power, sex and money is written all over that combo - and that is just the bare bones!

Long live Jimmy!

In Love, Truth and Beauty...

Joan of Arc

2010-04-20T18:02:00.000-07:00

I have recently been posting about perception and self-love. Coincidentally (or not), I just came across this incredible and timely message from St. Joan of Arc, as channeled by Alysia Markoe Johnson....

"I am not a great woman because everyone says I am. I am a great woman because I believed in myself and saw myself in that light!"

Jeanne d'Arc

There is a tremendously powerful lesson in that statement. I needed to let it settle in my mind. In fact, I believe it is still settling.
Once again, the issue addressed is how one's perception becomes one's reality.

It is difficult to imagine Joan of Arc not being self-confident. It would have changed the destiny of many, many people and the course of at least one country.Thank you, Alysia and St. Joan

Below is an alleged copy of Joan's signature (courtesy of Wikipedia) from one of the few remaining documents the she supposedly dictated during her brief life on earth. If this signatory is authentic, Joan certainly had a distinctive, unique and strong penmanship. There is a bold quality to the line quality, suggesting a grounded sense of self worth - a creative flair is evidenced in the first letter "J". Simultaneously dynamic and static, this signature has captivated me!

To read more about Alysia's practice just click on the link below.

peaceful-heart.net

In Love, Truth and Beauty....

With Special Thanks to Alysia Markoe Johnson and St. Joan of Arc

Perception Shapes Reality

2010-04-19T19:34:00.000-07:00

Or, perhaps more accurately, your perception is your reality.

On a daily basis, I remind myself many, many times to be careful what I hold in my mind. I have learned that 'perception is reality' many times, but good old monkey mind is constantly scheming to endlessly play old tapes.

I have a tender spot for the above picture - torn from a very old copy of O magazine years ago. This particular image pulls at my heart for many, many reasons.

One morning, as I was getting dressed for work, I decided to count how many negative thoughts ran through my mind as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror.

I am ashamed to admit, that I did not have one - not one - positive thought about my image.

How many times are we told to "love" ourselves? Answer: Over and over.

Who will teach us how to love ourselves? Answer: We must teach ourselves.

If we cannot love ourselves, can we love another? Answer: No.

Now, I think that whole darned concept is a little crazy...that is, the part about no practical teaching on how to love self. Is it the doing of the Pilgrims? (I like to blame lots of things on those Pilgrims)

So - let's start here: notice how many times you have a negative thought about yourself.

Easy, right?

Here's the hard part - for every negative thought about your self, think of a positive.

Try to extend this "new way of thinking" toward people that you come in contact with daily.

This is a life's work.

Trust me.

Creative people are often plagued with a fluctuating and defeating sense of self esteem. This may be good for the creative process, but I wonder if the pursuit of excellence, usually coupled with acute sensitivity, may be responsible for the widespread depression, substance abuse and suicide that I have witnessed in the arts?

A strong show of ego (which is necessary for the creative act) typically hides the delicacy of a sensitive, artistic spirit.

Imagine if the creative person, already accustomed to an extraordinary imagination, utilized creativity in thoughts about self? Hmmm...there is a concept. Why is this class not a mandatory part of iart school curriculum?

Thoughts are powerful.

Thoughts manifest into reality.

As Tut's "Notes from The Universe" motto goes - "Thoughts Become Things... Choose the Right Ones". Check out www.tut.com for some wonderful, positive ways to learn how to adjust that creative, clever mind of yours.

Let us banish self hatred and embrace the love of self.

What a better place the world will be on that day.

In Love, Truth and Beauty....

Another Thought for the (Sun) Day

2010-04-18T15:26:00.000-07:00

I came across this gem in one of my stacks.
This was tucked inside a fortune cookie (seriously) years ago. I fully believe that it was no coincidence that it was my fortune.
After the post about the "Six Mistakes", I felt that this could offer something positive and pro-active.

There is no wisdom greater than kindness.

Be wise and kind this week.
With Love, Truth and Beauty....

Thoughts for the Day

2010-04-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

It is a rainy, dreary Sunday here at the Ranch. This combination makes for an all around good time for contemplation, reflection, meditation. Over the years, I have amassed quite a collection of bits and pieces of writings and artwork that I consider to be of personal inspiration.
I decided to go through some of the stacks and piles of papers that are strewn about the house, so I could actually find and read some these treasures.
I came across a dog-eared paper bearing the following "Thought for the Day"....

The Six Mistakes of Man

1. The delusion that personal gain is made

by crushing others.

2. The tendency to worry about things that

cannot be changed or corrected.

3. Insisting that a thing is impossible

because we cannot accomplish it.

4. Refusing to set aside trivial preferences.

5. Neglecting development and refinement of the mind,

and not acquiring the habit

of reading and studying.

6. Attempting to compel others to believe

and live as we do.

Anonymous/Unknown

I certainly see some of my 'mistakes' in this essay. I have quipped that if I do not make a mistake daily, that I am not working hard enough!

Quite frankly, I have made many more mistakes than six.

If I had written this indictment, it would have been endless.

This piece was published in a company newsletter that was circulated in hard copy. I have held onto this piece for nearly 14 years because it held something meaningful for me.

I am grateful that I found it this day, for it is a good start to the week ahead.

In Truth and Beauty....

Camelot and May

2010-04-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

Where has the time gone since we marked our calendars January 1, 2010?

The concept of time is so odd and puzzling to me.

Even stranger is how time seems to "fly by" or "drag".

May, a rather infamous month, noted for frolic, frivolity and more than a few "spring flings" is fast approaching.

Did you know that it is considered 'bad luck' to wed in the month of May? This is primarily attributed to all the merriment accompanying the 'spring fever' of lusty May. This is one of the reasons there is a predominance of June weddings.

This is all true, Innocent Ones.

I vividly recall a catchy tune from Lerner's Broadway musical, "Camelot". An ode devoted to Guenevere's extramarital attraction to Lancelot, the song is so aptly titled "The Lusty Month of May".

I played my parent's album hundreds of times! I really enjoyed Julie Andrews as Queen Guenevere. Robert Goulet was a swashbuckling Lancelot. Richard Burton was the regal King Arthur. Roddy McDowall played an impish Merlyn. My absolute favorite character was Morgan Le Fey, played by M'el Dowd.

And then, there are these unforgettable lines....

Don't let it be forgot

That once there was a spot,
For one brief, shining moment
That was known as Camelot.

Those were magickal days!
Is it a coincidence that President John Kennedy ("Camelot" days of The White House) was a classmate of Lerner's at Harvard?
Do you remember Camelot?

In Love, Truth and Beauty....

1960 Album Cover Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

The Five Reiki Principles

2010-04-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

I keep this taped to a wall where I can read it daily ....

For Today Only:

Do not anger

Do not worry and be filled with gratitude

Be humble

Be devoted in your work

Be compassionate to yourself and others

Join your hands in prayer every morning and eveing

Keep in your mind and recite these words

(taken from Usuei-Sensei's gravestone)

...and I attempt to accept that I am a work in progress.

In Love, Truth and Beauty..

Sound, Stress, Healing, Listening and Love

2010-04-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

Music and sound are powerful.

I have always admired the musician who plays the music able to penetrate my core. And all non-verbal. That is powerful indeed.

I am not sure that I have had the same experience provided by the many fine pieces of art that I have experienced, literature, or a production, a meal or a smell. (I think that the olfactory sense may be just after sound)

Music comes close to love, in my book.

Music may be the pinnacle of pure expression and, in turn, evokes an equally pure reaction.

What else but music can annoy, energize, relax, act as a soporific or adrenaline? It is a drug!

Science has finally caught up with the rest of us who already know that sound is a potent force for good or bad. Research shows that deep relaxation is able to heal the body and mind. Many people have found music and sound to be the vehicle that provides such deep states of relaxation. There are some serious quantum physics in those notes.

To read more about sounds and healing, check out this wesite:

www.stevenhalpern.com

Lately, I have become frustrated at dining establishments where the canned music is pumped up so loud that it is impossible to converse with a companion. I think that kind of unwelcome sound (or noise) is the height of bad manners.
Another thought that comes to mind is the very sad truth that most people need to be heard. This requires someone to listen. Is this an art or a courtesy that has gone the way of the dinosaur? It costs nothing to listen. It means everything to the person who seemingly speaks and no one hears. There are far too many talkers and not enough listeners.
So, let us be careful what we put in our ears while cultivating the art of listening.
That is love.
In Truth and Beauty....

Clutter, Vision and Monkey Mind

2010-04-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

Every so often, I actually open my eyes and see all the material goods that accumulate in my living quarters.
I should not see such frightening sights unless I am prepared to act. The old 'fight or flight' adrenaline surge is purposeful, and not to be abused or misused.
How many of us are blessed with vision, but do not see? (similar to listening, but not hearing - that is a profound topic for another day...akin to memory, which I explored in an early post)
My inability to clearly see was emphasized in an early drawing class. I was given the task to complete several "Pure Contour" drawings.

Here is the exercise:

Put your pencil or drawing instrument on a very large piece of paper. Focus your vision on your subject matter. Draw the outer contour of your subject while keeping your vision solely on it - no looking down at your paper! Do not allow your drawing instrument to entertain a broken line....keep it fluid and moving, no lifting the instrument from the paper.

Do try this at home.
You will be astonished at the details of a common object that may be looked at each and every day but never really seen!
The mind is very clever. Oh, yes..very, very clever.

My "monkey mind" is forever editing, deleting and emphasizing information. My mind makes things up for entertainment. My mind allows me to see some things and not others....very clever, indeed!

My mind is smarter than me.

I am quite certain that there has been a study of this phenomenon and the results are due to something like 'the reptilian brain has not evolved ... due to survival...blah blah blah...'

I need to remember to have clear vision and tame my mind's inclination to enjoy marginalized fiction...unless, of course, I am in a creative or escapist mode! Oh - and I need courage. Lots of it.

In Truth and Beauty....

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia:
Monkeys In a Plum Tree by Mori Sosen

Creative Thinking

2010-04-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

After two trips to the tax preparer, the deed is done.

The tax preparer and I agree that it is now time for a serious libation.

At times, this blog should be titled "Critical Alcoholism". Just kidding. A little self-deprecating humor.

Do you remember "Barfly" with Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway? The 1987 film was loosely based on the life of Charles Bukowski. I think the line 'It takes a lot of stamina to be a drunk' or an alcoholic, as the case may be) is spoken by Mickey Rourke.

I do not have that kind of stamina.

Back to the creative thinking....

Here is a tip that was passed on to me many years ago by my meditation teacher: when you open the mail box, and there are bills to pay, instead of cursing the payments, bless them.

Now - I need to constantly remind myself of this! As I pay my bills, I think 'I am so grateful to have this bill (which means I have living quarters), money to pay it and the ability to write the check'.

This is a good reminder of right mindedness and gratitude.

And about that "Room Full of Mirrors"....the only time that is appropriate is in a yoga class.

Namaste.

In Love, Truth, Beauty and Gratitude....

Images Courtesy of Wikipedia and The Chopra Center

Room Full of Mirrors

2010-04-08T15:30:00.000-07:00

My mood is as changeable as the intermittent, yet unceasing winds that blow today.

I have to file my taxes.

This is an annual event that I manage to put off until the last minute. Oh, wait - I am early this year.

I cannot help but think about my parents on this day. It strikes me as so completely wrong that they had to file taxes up to, and even after their deaths.

Like many people, my parents worked hard all of their lives - yet - even without "earned income" in the declining years - they had to file tax returns.

I think that if a person lives long enough, they should be able to live and not file a single tax return.

Is death truly the only way out of some of these annoying obligations?

On a completely different topic (or is it?), the pollen that accompanies the unrelenting wind is making me so irritable.

Some people believe that allergies are the byproduct of stress or toxins.

Hmmm - let's see - taxes (stress), time change (stress), social unrest (stress), wars (stress), economy (stress), health care ... I will stop now....the list seems to wind on into endless and utter infinity.

Is it hay fever or is it stress?

Renowned Surrealist, Andre Breton, wrote that 'the only place where man is free is in his mind'. Yes, yes, I did notice that Breton did not write "woman".... see how irritable I am?

Most days, I see the utter, profound truth in this statement. Today - it is just a tad out of focus....and, all at once, it is crystal clear.

The title of that Jimi Hendrix song, "Room Full of Mirrors" keeps repeating itself over and over like a mantra in my own mind.

I used to live in a room full of mirrors
All I could see was me
Then I take my spirit and I smash my mirrors
And now the whole world is here for me to see

These days, it seems that far too many people live in a "room full of mirrors".
I live there.
I move out of that room many times, only to take up residence again.
During the all-too-brief reign of Hendrix, people enjoyed recreational drug use and "tune in, turn on, drop out" lifestyles for freedom.
Wars are waged (as I write this) in the name of freedom.
And here - all along - the ability to be free is in my own mind.
So - I am sitting here - thinking about movement, change, life, death, taxes, freedom and the mind.
Once again, I will move out into the world.
Once again, I will attempt to clear my mind of wrong attitudes and judgments.
Once again, I will push the restart button.....and be grateful....
In Love, Truth and Beauty...

Random Thoughts about Easter, Spring and Rebirth

2010-04-03T23:15:00.000-07:00

I never had any particular affinity for Easter until I endured multiple deaths and hardship in a very short time as a young adult.

Growing up, Easter meant cute clothes for the mandatory Easter Mass, baskets filled with teeth-rotting candy, chocolate bunnies and my favorite sugar eggs. The elaborately decorated sugar eggs had a peep hole that, when peered into, revealed a fantasy landscape worthy of Alice falling down the rabbit hole.

During my aforementioned period of overwhelming suffering, tragedy and struggle, the local parish priest, Fr. Jerome Keaty, a Jesuit, befriended me at the request of two dear friends of mine (thank you, Jo and Lynn). Fr. Keaty started to drop by my house for an occasional chat and a check-in.

I had not attended a mass since Vatican II.

Not only had I "lost my religion"... I was in serious peril of losing my mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=if-UzXIQ5vw&a=GSroZZTEwyQ&playnext_from=ML

While still battling the foggy depression of grief, Fr. Keaty encouraged me to attend Easter mass. He gave me a kind, gentle explanation as to how one cannot talk about death without the context of resurrection.

I immediately felt that this was another old, tired religious ruse. I dismissed Father's words as mere propoganda.

One afternoon, as I dragged home from my job, put my key into the front door, I noticed that all around me, little signs of spring were suddenly in evidence.

The tender green hosta shoots were peeking through dead leaves; the boxwood hedge had its familiar white floral buds; the azaleas were flaunting fuschia tips! Suddenly, after that long, grueling winter of death, decay and heartbreak, green was sprouting everywhere!

And then the bell of truth sounded in my mind. If spring can follow the dormant dead winter, there must be hope for rebirth in all of life.

As much as I resisted, Fr. Keaty changed the way I see the world.

I started to view life in terms of light and dark, birth, life, death and rebirth, shade and shadow, night and day. These elements simply, and quite logically, cannot exist exclusive of the other in the balance and homeostasis that is existence.

If I imagine a world where the sun burns brightly all of the time with no shade or shadow...how appalling I find the thought!

As Jimmy Page so aptly describes the dynamics of Led Zeppelin's compositions - "the whisper to the thunder"....well, that sums up what satisfies me most - aesthetically and philosophically.

I have always appreciated dramatic contrast. Gray has never appealed to me. And I do not wear gray well.

I am still a doubting Thomasina...and I have my cynical moments, but I now celebrate the renewal of life that Easter symbolizes through the miraculous rebirth and renewal in Mother Nature.

I find immense comfort there.

In Love, Peace and Beauty...

This post is dedicated to Fr. Jerome Keaty

Images courtesy of MP Chandra, YouTube, The Ft. Worth Museum of Modern Art

"Silence is so accurate"

2010-03-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

My unfailing, overwhelmingly emotional reaction to the Abstract Expressionist work of the 1940s has been a constant in my life for many decades.

To my mind, Mark Rothko may be the best and brightest artist that has ever lived....and that is quite a statement. Quick brain scan ... yes, I can commit to that statement.

Mark Rothko (1903-1970) emigrated from Russia as a child and spent his youth in Oregon. Rothko was educated at Yale. He found art in later years, enrolling in the seminal Art Students' League in New York around 1926.

Rothko resolutely resisted the tag of abstraction, even as his work evolved into pure abstraction. In my opinion, he transcended abstraction by conveying pure feeling through shape and color.

It is through feeling that Rothko's sublime painting becomes "Abstract Expressionism".

I have seen Rothko's work classified as "Color Field Painting".... a logical progression, but I respectfully disagree. There is too much emotion in Rothko's work to be strictly color field, which is academic.

To contemplate a Rothko painting in real time is to experience a progression of sensations and changes: physical, emotional and spiritual. There is extreme movement in a deceptively simple, apparently static canvas. If a person spends enough time with a Rothko, I believe there may be the opportunity to glimpse eternity.

If memory serves, Rothko himself described his work as an expression of 'the universal one', a universal spirituality, or GOD.

At some point, Mark Rothko ceased to title his paintings, believing that titles limited his goal of transcendence.
When queried as to his motivation for non-description, Mark Rothko's succinct response was "Silence is so accurate".

In Truth and Beauty....

Images from National Gallery of Art Website

Some thoughts on Irish Ancestry

2010-03-17T15:47:00.000-07:00

I have but two handwritten accounts of a portion of my family's paternal history. These dog-eared and yellowing, brittle treasures have recorded only the paternal side of my family. It is a one-sided history at that, for there is no mention of my paternal grandmother, who died in the influenza epidemic.

I believe that the maternal side of my immediate family may have been researched and reconstructed by my dear brother, who claims that there were ties to Scotland (gasp!).

Mass graves, the destruction of public records, and the mists of time have swallowed most of the Irish ancestral history.

Growing up, I recall my Dad always wore a green tie on St. Patrick's Day.
Our immediate family never spoke of "The Troubles", or the "Irish Question" as the English referred to it, but my Dad grew up with dinner table banter about the topic. This is a fact that I did not discover until the late 1980s.

Above is a photograph that I took of O'Callaghan's Mill in County Clare. I went driving about Ireland in search of any clues to my Grandmother Fitzpatrick's family. I stumbled upon O'Callaghan's Mill, a beautiful and tiny village in Clare which was settled by many Callahans after Cromwell 's bloody campaign.

Callahan means "The Contender".
Most people are content to believe that the Callahan stronghold was in Cork. I found out that the Callahans in my direct lineage came to America before the famine - a bit unusual - but perhaps not, considering the adventurous streak that I have observed in many members of the family.

One of my great Grandfathers, a cobbler, resided in Clonmel, a rather urban place that is situated in County Tipperary close to County Waterford.

It is believed this ancestor made the big move to America.

The above photo is taken at Fitzpatrick's The Square Bar in County Waterford...the closest clue that I found to my Grandmother's origins.

Above is a snapshot of the place in Ireland where I felt the most tugging on my heart strings, Connemara in County Mayo. Connemara is a rather wild, rocky, isolated place. I loved the entire Emerald Isle, but it is rugged Connemara that occupies my soul.

I sometimes wonder if I have any of the fortitude of my ancestors.
Ireland was stripped by England of religious freedom in the sixteenth century and was primarily a population of peasants - never far from the brink of economic and physical disaster.

In less than two years, two million Irish - one quarter of their entire population died in the 1846 famine. The land and the livestock were considered more valuable to the English than the inhabitants.

Visiting the picturesque and lovely Ireland today, one may not know the terrible history, except for the sightings of many mass graves and Celtic crosses.

The only things lovelier than Ireland are the people and the beasts. It is a magickal, ancient place that is in my blood, my heart, my spirit, my head.

Perhaps beauty is strength?

Thank you for indulging me in my rambling....after all, God made me kiss the Blarney Stone before I was placed in my Mother's womb.

But then again, perhaps we were singing in the shabeen, consumed too much poteen and this is all a dream...

This post dedicated to the Irish

who persevered in the face of English greed,

were greeted by signs of "NINA" in America

and survived - no, - thrived - in spite of it all

A short guide:
Tipperary is pronounced "Tipp RARE REE"

Smithwicks is pronounced "SMITH ICKS"

NINA = "No Irish Need Apply"

shabeen = a covert, social drinking establishment, designed to avoid legal regs; 'poof! it has the ability to disappear when necessary

poteen = PUT CHEEN = home brewed liquor - white or dark

"The Luck o' the Irish" is sarcasm

"Paddy" or "St. Patty's" is considered to be terminology of insult

Alice in Wonderland

2010-03-12T21:38:00.000-08:00

Celebrated the birthday with a viewing of "Alice in Wonderland", the IMAX 3d version.

I am so digitally challenged! I purchased the tickets on-line and boy, was I confused! There are three (3) versions of this film. There is the regular film, a digital 3d and the IMAX 3d version. Huh?

So, being old school, I bought the most expensive tickets. I have since been informed that the digital 3d is the better viewing choice.

This is not an epic film that will go down in history as a great movie - no matter - I loved this film! Pure fun...fantasy...suspended reality, entertainment and gorgeous costume ensembles for Alice and The Hatter.

The young actress in the title role is particularly brilliant. Helena Bonham Carter is amazingly amusing. Johnny Depp, as is his custom, lights up the screen.

Speaking of screens, this is a movie to see on the BIG screen.

It was fun to wear the weird 3d glasses. That was a blast from the past - but this is the digital age, so the visuals are super-sharp, advanced and great big fun!

"I could tell you my adventures -

beginning from this morning -"

"At least I knew who I was

when I got up this morning,

but I think I must have been changed

several times since then."

Lewis Carroll

....and that, my friends, is the truth....

promotional image courtesy of Wikipedia

A Fine Kettle of Fish...

2010-03-05T12:46:00.000-08:00

When I decided to pursue my MFA in metalsmithing, I was greeted by a department full of many fish.

Fish of the Pisces ilk, that is...even the professors, Heikki and John B. were Pisces.

Odd to think of a dreamy Pisces firing up torches and beating on metal. It would seem that a more delicate pastime would be better suited to the sensitive fish.

We had an annual Pisces birthday party ... lots of fun and many celebrations.

And much hard work and long, seemingly endless hours toiling in the metal shop.

Those years, as well as the subsequent years, were the happiest times of my life (so far).

For the first time, I felt part of something ... not an isolated oddball. I was part of a "school of fish" (pun intended).

On a serious note, those days were filled with a spirit of unity. Family. Like-minded peers.

I recall individual competitive drives, but never cause for a division of our peers. If one person did well, we all did well. We helped each other. We were genuinely celebratory of our classmate's success. Or, so it seemed to me.

I miss those days.

Times have changed.

I believe that the current world is not kind, let alone 'like-minded'. When (and why) did people become so alienated from each other? One only has to observe the international political arena to know that divisiveness weakens countries. Have we lost sight of the fact that such division ultimately destroys our humanity?

People seem to exist in a vacuum.

What happens in Haiti or Chile or Taiwan or Montana or the Arctic has an effect on ALL of us.

WE ARE ALL ONE.

My New Year's wish has been the same for many years now - peace, love and understanding.

When one of us daringly demonstrates these much maligned attributes, the current world mistakes wisdom and strength for weakness.

Much like the world devalues - actually hates - the best characteristics of the Pisces native....sensitivity, emotion and kindness.

Pity.

Today, March 5, is my former grad school roommate's birthday.

Below is an example of two of her newer pieces.

Fabulous!

And, here is another..wow!

This woman is amazing!

Daughter, sister, friend, artist, cook, wife, mother, teacher, student, world class traveler....and she juggles all these hats with a finesse that belies her many, many skills.

Oh - did I tell you that she is also exceedingly modest, humble, kind, generous, decidedly unpretentious and an all around good person (they are in short supply these days)?

Lynn - you have my eternal admiration, appreciation and respect (and that is saying something...I am a perfectionist). I have no idea how you do it all, but I am so very glad that you are in the world.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

In Truth, Love and Beauty...

Lynn A. Duggan's Photos Reprinted with Kind Permission

I'll take (a) Manhattan....

2010-03-03T16:33:00.000-08:00

This is what turned up on my doorstep today!

...and this!

Hmmm...which to sample first?

In Truth, Peace, Beauty...Health and Taste!

The Art of Bitter(s)

2010-03-01T13:37:00.000-08:00

I have always loved any kind of bitters, particularly in the winter season.
The legend is that the recipe for Angostura Bitters is so closely guarded that the handwritten original resides in a safe!
There is a history behind every bottle of bitters.
Not only are the recipes artful and chock full of history, check out the bottles and labels! Beautiful!
So...what are "bitters"?

Bitters are infused or distilled aromatic herbs, roots and barks. Occasionally, there are fruits added to the brew, usually citrus. Bitters typically contain 45% alcohol, but recently, I have seen new brands without alcohol on the market. A bitters with Blood Orange caught my eye.

Below is a photo of bitters made in Germany (with alcohol, natch).

Bitters were originally employed and marketed for medicinal purposes. Today, bitters are touted as a digestif, an apperitif or used to flavor food and drinks, particularly cocktails such as a Manhattan, the Old Fashioned (my personal favorite) and Champagne Cocktails (served at my wedding). Bitters add a dimension to recipes that elevate them to memorable.

Growing up in southern Indiana, Angostura Bitters (Great Britain) were a cupboard staple. My Mother added them to Welsh Rarebits (also known as "Rabbit") - a fabulous, simple concoction of melted cheddar cheese, paprika, bitters, worcestershire, dry mustard and pepper over toast.

Rarebit turns up in 18th century recipes of Great Britain - there are also English, Irish and Scotch Rabbits -
that is another story for another time.

With the kind of winter we are experiencing, this meal is the best. Simple. Quick. Comforting. Bonus - most people have the ingredients on hand - except the bitters!

I read that Angostura Bitters were in short supply at the beginning of this year. The Angostura Orange Bitters are quite lovely - and a tad hard to find. Apparently, they took years to perfect and release for public consumption. The orange type is different than the original aromatic. Try them in a Cosmopolitan, or any martini for a delightful depth.

Being a person of fragile "nerves", I discovered a new-to-me bitters used in Africa and Jamaica for digestion, insomnia and 'nerves'. This stuff is pricey, but has a spicy kick! I do not know if it helps with my insomnia, but I like to think so.

Last, but not least, I must mention Peychaud's Bitters, originally created by the Haiti-based creole pharmacy, Peychaud's. Unlike Angostura, Peychaud's Bitters still use gentian and are an integral part of the New Orleans specialty cocktail, the Sazerac.

Today is March 1, 2010. It is a rainy, dreary, chilly day. Hmmm....a Welsh Rarebit and a good, old fashioned cocktail with bitters might just brighten and cozy things up.

With Love, Light and Beauty...

A Teeny Rant and A Belated Valentine Post

2010-02-18T08:42:00.000-08:00

Just to set the record straight, Valentine's Day is NOT a Hallmark creation!!!!!! This said, we all know that Hallmark has capitalized on this special day, but stop, People!

Valentine's Day was named after several martyr saints named Valentine and properly established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496!

The day became associated with romantic love and matters of the heart during The High Middle Ages and was typically associated with Chaucer. Romantic and courtly love was a new concept during "The

Enlightenment".

Handmade cards, notes and expression of fond feelings were typically demonstrated with handmade greetings. These handmade goodies evolved into produced cards around the Industrial Revolution.

Victorian Valentine

I just received this lovely piece below from Bill Stewart, violinist extraordinaire! It is sad, heartbreaking, sweet and exquisitely lovely - all at the same time. Give it a listen!

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_3379850

I heard the cutting edge valentine socks below were quite "haute couture" on the streets of NYC this season.

Bravo!! Thank you to Bill Stewart and Jerry Wade for these terrific contributions.

Of course, we should express our love to self and intimates as frequently as possible without the prompting of a dedicated day. But, Valentine's Day is, historically, the day to make things right with our current loved ones, entice a new love, make our feelings known.

Naysayers - quit blaming Hallmark for being artificial and start getting real yourselves! There is no time like this day to tell those near, far and dear to you that you love them. Practice ENLIGHTENMENT....and "Remain In Light".

In Love, Peace and Beauty...

Golden Rain Trees and The Wabash River

2010-02-17T21:09:00.000-08:00

New Harmony has an abundance of lovely Golden Rain Trees and, in fact, is quite celebrated for the plantings. The tree is a deciduous type, with clusters of golden "weeping" flower bunches. When the flowers are yellow, they drape and fall in such a downward way as to appear rain-like. Or, at least I think so.

You can find more information about the tree here -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_rain_tree

Over the years, I have attempted, in my own fashion, to downsize my belongings. In my opinion, material goods accumulate over time and have a way of owning me, rather than the other way around.

This point was painfully apparent about two years ago when I sold my house of 25 years and moved to the 'United State of Texas'.

Wow! I had way too much stuff! So - donation, recycling or destruction became a daily occupation for a period of time.

One possession that I have never parted with is a beautiful and quite precious, handcrafted box. This gorgeous piece was given to me by my long time friends, Jerry and Jonathan, oh so many years ago that I cannot recall the occasion.

The box is very special and close to my heart.

It was handmade by New Harmony Gentleman Postmaster during my years there - of the wood of a New Harmony Golden Rain Tree.

When you open the box....

...inside, there is a tiny Wabash River pearl...

This treasure is never far from me, just like my friends who so thoughtfully chose it, the special man who made it, or the Utopia of its origin.

In Love, Peace and Beauty.........

A Love Letter for New Harmony, Thomas Merton, Dennis Hopper and more

2010-02-15T17:43:00.000-08:00

Intro contributed by Jerry Wade ...

New Harmony

by Matthew Graham

"The shadows of history are long here, and dark."

---John Hawkes

A distant sadness:

A smudge of light against the Golden Rain trees

And then shadows spreading through the streets,

To the fields and the river.

The golden hair

On an arm trembles in a breeze

Like a breath. Utopia lost,

Twice here in this town mapped in a dream.

Clouds build above distant church bells.

The sun dials darken.

Someone turns to leave

And all that was ever meant to be

And could not happen, flickers

As the first sweep of rain across the screened porch

Disturbs the shadows, neither new nor old,

Of this fragile harmony.

New Harmony has been in my thoughts more than usual during this long, cold winter. I was born and raised in that area of southern Indiana, so New Harmony is never far from my mind. Utopia, as it is sometimes referred to, makes up a large part of me.

New Harmony has an utterly fascinating history. I suppose that it is largely recognized as being the site of two communal "utopian" projects. Find the abbreviated information here -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Harmony,_Indiana

New Harmony has a rich and well-established history of education, religion, philosophy, art and architecture. Consider that Thomas Merton, the phenomenal Trappist monk, author, poet, social activist and comparative religion supernova spent time in New Harmony - when he was not entertaining Dylan and Joan Baez at his hermitage in Kentucky...and Paul Tillich, the Protestant scholar...just to name two fascinating beings.

Check out the architecture in New Harmony..."The Atheneum" by Richard Meier - that seemingly rises up from the Wabash River bank like a shiny contemporary stainless steel beacon. The glaring and somewhat startling contrast of the architecture against the sleepy farm land and river bank cannot be ignored.

Placed neatly against the backdrop of preserved Harmonist homes and Golden Rain Trees, you will also find my personal favorite, Philip Johnson's "The Roofless Church" ... all one underneath the open sky...

It was at "The Roofless Church" where a von Furstenberg wedding took place. Diane was still married to Prince Egon (I think!). Some of the famous wedding attendees included Dennis Hopper and Michelle Phillips.

The bride and her attendants wore cowboy boots.

It was the talk of most of the 950 inhabitants of New Harmony. The boots gave them something to talk about besides the wacky artists at "The New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art".

I was 'called' to New Harmony, like so many people. Like a religious vocation, or the impossible occupation of art, New Harmony sings a siren song to whom she chooses.

I happened to be called to New Harmony by John Begley to work at "The Gallery". Almost like a dream, my life changed forever. Oh..to dream that dream again!

What a glorious place, time and people...it seemed that anything was possible - and we were, all one, for a time - underneath that big, open, yet sheltering, sky.

In Love, Peace and Beauty...

In anticipation ....

2010-02-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

... of what spring looks like in Texas
In Love, Peace and Beauty...

In loving memory of Meera.

Candlemas ... 'I found a picture of you'

2010-02-02T13:29:00.000-08:00

For those of us who know, honor or otherwise acknowledge the "Old Ways", February 2 is considered a major Sabbat for the initiation of neophytes. Candlemas celebrates the waxing light. This Sabbat marks the high point between Winter Solstice and Vernal Equinox. The wonderful parallel here is that the waxing light represents the corresponding waxing light of the soul.

"Taste the sweetness of Isis; may her blessings guide you always"

Keep the knowledge of the old ways kindled, for they make more sense than the new. Here is something old that many of us seem to forget these days: There is no wisdom greater than kindness.

May you and the Groundhog have a happy and blessed Candlemas!

Today can be a new beginning. We begin again by fearlessly and honestly reviewing our past. Ask any art historian...

As I write, I am listening to The Pretenders "Learning To Crawl".

I find that the tracks "Back on the Chain Gang" and "Middle of the Road" have significant power for me. The opening line of "Back on the Chain Gang" is "I found a picture of you". Got me, Chrissie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK3uf5V0pDA

I am so sentimental that I keep every card, note, photograph and personal message. This surprises many people who know me. I treasure my memories. Once in awhile, I drag them out (a considerable feat) and spend some time with them. This ritual can bring laughter and tears, but always serves to keep my connection with the old ways, as it were.

This Candlemas, I found a picture of you....

In Love, Light and Peace.....

This post is dedicated in loving memory to James G. Robinson, 1953-1992

Love and Surrealism

2010-02-01T15:17:00.000-08:00

It is February 1, 2010. In honor of Saint Valentine, I am posting a poem that I have carried with me for many decades. It is a poem written by the Surrealist writer, Robert Desnos.

For the record, I am a bit touchy about the term "surreal" being tossed about rather carelessly these days. Surrealism began as a literary movement and is complex, fascinating and VERY specific.

To be considered actual Surrealism is to conform to Breton's Manifesto. More on that topic in a later post, as yet to be determined.

In the meantime, this is the real thing - the genuine article...

I hope you enjoy it.

As Lenny Kravitz says, "Let Love Rule"

POEM TO THE MYSTERIOUS ONE

I have dreamed of you so much that you are losing

your reality. Is it still time to reach this

living body and to kiss on the mouth the birth

of the voice that is so dear to me? I have dreamed

of you so much that my arms, accustomed while

embracing your shadow to fold over my breast,

would not bend to the shape of your body perhaps.

And that, before the real appearance of what has

been haunting me and governing me for days and

years, I should doubtless become a shadow, O sentimental

scales. I have dreamed of you so much that

it is perhaps no longer possible for me to awaken.

I sleep standing up, my body exposed to all the

appearances of life and love, and you, the only one

who counts today for me, I could touch your brow and

your lips less than the lips and the brow of the first

newcomer. I have dreamed of you so much, walked,

spoken, slept with your phantom so much, that all that

I can do now perhaps and in spite of everything is

to be a phantom among phantoms and one hundred times

more of a shadow than the shadow that walks and will

walk joyfully on the sundial of your life.

by Robert Desnos, date unknown

In Peace, Love and Beauty...

MacArthur Park

2010-01-27T20:22:00.000-08:00

I am sure that some of you will recognize the song title, "MacArthur Park", originally written by Jimmy Webb and infamously recorded by Richard Harris in 1968.

I have heard some people remark that this composition is "genius".

Frankly, I did not get it then - I do not get it now - and I seriously doubt that I will get it in the future.

To me, the music and the lyrics are overwrought and annoying.

"Someone left the cake out in the rain..." Any one familiar with this piece will have instantaneous recall upon hearing a mere snippet of the lyrics.

I am of the opinion (and I realize that I am the minority voice here) that popular ("pop") music should not be overblown, fraught with angst and/or operatic. I believe that pop music should be entertaining, uplifting, inspiring, whimsical. After all, music has a direct impact on one's feelings and outlook.

There is enough tragic drama in life, thank you very much.

Consider the words of Tom Petty: "Let Me Up - I've Had Enough".... my sentiments, exactly. More accurately, my version would be "Lift Me Up - I've Had Enough".

Above is an acrylic and graphite painting of mine that depicts a vision of the way I wish the world to be .....blue skies, drifting clouds and a floating window through which anything is possible.

In Peace, Love and Understanding......

Paint It Black

2010-01-11T18:02:00.000-08:00

I listened to Counting Crows "August and Everything Else" late this afternoon.
Big mistake!
Has anyone else noticed that Adam D. is clinically depressed? Sheesh! Pass the Zoloft! Oops....forgot - cannot drink with zoloft.
Darnit!
I have long held an impossible and politically incorrect theory that depression is a contagious condition....now - wait a minute - think about it........
Thank you.
What do you think?
Why are so many "anti" depressants being prescribed and consumed? Clinical depression is one thing......wanting "a little oblivion, Baby" is quite another.
Just to mix it up, I like oblivion - I also like feeling every little thing.
If I would confide those thoughts to a medical professional........they would label me bi-polar or something equally CRAZY.

Above is an image of a VERY LARGE and VERY OLD painting of mine....hell, I did not even know the meaning of the word, "depressed" at the time of this creation. I was so cool that "electrical tape" was mentioned as a legitimate media for this painting!

I do remember a college friend remarking that he was amazed at my "continual happiness".

How the years have changed this.....in fact, I now value very simple things as "happiness" - the sun shining, a bill that I can pay, a day without pain.

I now do indeed know the meaning of the word "depressed"...hope you are happy, Greg U!!!! Or was it Gregg?

Enough about me!

Please - someone arrange an intervention for Adam D!!!! I thought he lived in California and dated hot starlets.

For chrissakes......he is a Leo! If we cannot count on a Leo to have a sunny disposition, I suppose that we all need the chemicals.

Where did his sunshine go?

In Love, Light and Beauty...........

"Open up my head and let me out........."

2010-01-07T20:11:00.000-08:00

More Dave Matthews............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYt_3ZKEIKI

Brilliant ........... and honest...

In Truth, Love and Beauty........

Musing.........Dave Matthews and Life's Longings......for Maureen, Creighton and Dagmar and all my Capricorns..

2010-01-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

I have been listening to The Dave Matthews Band lately - I listen to them off and on - I wonder why they tour so much? Dave is a Capricorn (Happy Birthday, Dave!)..workaholic. Must be it. Caps are Goats that must CLIMB!!! Goats eat anything to survive! And they do survive - quite well....if depression does not get them.
I admire Capricorns.
These lyrics make me cry......I have slept an inordinate amount of time since my late husband died. He had Moon in Capricorn and a Capricorn Mother. That is heavy.
A Poet once told me that the most horrific loss in life is the loss of love. Hmmm.........I wonder........what do you think?

Sleep To Dream Her lyrics

I know I'll miss her later
Wish I could bend my love to hate her
Wish I could be her creator
To twist her arms now

She stares up at the stars when
The stars fell from her hair then
I bent down to collect them
And then she was gone

Oh, I sleep just to dream her
I beg the night just to see her
That my only love should be her
Just to lie in her arms

Oh, I came there to find out
Find out she'd made up her mind, oh
My arms are all tied up
To me she was blind

This space between us
Where wingless dreams fall earless
Will you not bear me witness
With your back to me now

It seemed so unnerving
Still somehow deserving
That she could hold my heart so tightly
And still not see me here, oh

Oh, I sleep just to dream her
Beg the night just to see her
That my only love should be her
Just to lie in her arms

I know I'll miss her later
Wish I could bend my love to hate her
Wish I could be her creator
To be the light in her eyes

In Love, Light, and always - Beauty

Oops - I forgot (must be that darned Eclipse!)...

2009-12-31T13:14:00.000-08:00

This was in my box this morning from Tut -

Have you ever noticed how folks instinctively know that creating wealth is much more fun than spending it, yet they dream more about spending it than they do about creating it?

Could it be, Teresa, they've momentarily forgotten that they're supernatural, that they can have whatever they want, and that life is but a dream?

2010 is all yours, baby -
The Universe

Don't you love it?!
Now, I am off to fix a "special" celebratory drink:

"Spiced Cow"

Heat a cup of milk (I prefer almond milk or coconut milk), throw in sugar to taste, remove from heat, sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg after you toss in your rum (I am using whisky. My Mother always told me that rum makes a person crazy. I still obey that rule.) and a few shakes of bitters (they are good for you) and a splash of vanilla. I suspect that Captain Morgans Rum may be very good in this concoction. A dark rum may also be splendid (and have a higher alcohol content than the Captain).

I might get crazy and top with whipped cream. Yee Haw!!

Cheers!

In Love, Peace and Beauty ....

A Blue Moon, an Eclipse and Brian Eno...

2009-12-31T12:47:00.000-08:00

It is December 31, 2009.

Tonight is the Eve of the New Year, 2010. It is an auspicious evening for cosmic types - it brings us a blue moon (the 2nd full moon in one month - will not be another until 2028 - is that right?), as well as an eclipse. YIKES!!! I will NOT be driving and drinking on this night!!

The Eve of the New Year usually means drunken debauchery, staying up until midnight, kissing strangers and celebrating 'out with old and in with the new'.

For many years, I lived in the city of St. Louis. I would hear handguns being randomly fired (usually announcing a crime, not the New Year) or pots banged with kitchen utensils at the stroke of midnight.

Firing weapons is the announcement of choice in my new locale. Friendly Fire. I hope.

I used to look forward to a New Year....but for many years now, I have felt fear. As a friend of mine used to say - "Wonder what train God is going to roll down my track?".....

I can tell you this, if it is a pleasure car, I want to knock all the women and children aside and jump aboard!

I am growing weary of all work and no play. And time grows short, my friends....

2010 means another birthday rolling around. Just don't know what to make of that....the older I get, the less I know. There was a time in my audacious youth that I thought that I knew many things. Oh - to have that self-confidence, or just plain youthful folly back! Ignorance may truly be bliss.

I will probably be fast asleep before midnight thanks to chemical assistance.
I am going to take a cue from my style guru, Jerry and adopt this haute couture look (below). I have already donned a similar ensemble in honor of the evening's festivities. I don't care if Jerry does have better legs than me! Dammit! I am wearing it!

Lastly, I have been thinking about Brian Eno (who knows why?). He was one of my avant-garde, intellectual heroes when I was in art school (happiest days of my life....the years ahead appeared to loom with infinite possibility. Clearly, I was delusional).

I recall his attractive cross-dressing in Roxy Music.

I owned "Music for Airports".

I read one of his scholarly contributions to an art anthology - something about the fusion of all art forms. It made sense at the time.

Here is a recent quote:

“I'm struck by the insidious, computer–driven tendency to take things out of the domain of muscular activity and put them into the domain of mental activity. The transfer is not paying off. Sure, muscles are unreliable, but they represent several million years of accumulated finesse.”

- Brian Eno

Hmmm....I do not know what to think about this - was it not Eno who was light years ahead of everyone in the music industry? Did he not get there via "technical wizardry"- not by physically playing an instrument? He pioneered ambient sound and computer-generated visual and sonic art.

See? Just goes to show you - the older I get, the less I know. Told you so!

I want to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a safe and happy new year- actually, a new decade!!
I would also like to ask for the one thing that seems elusive - PEACE.

Let us each be the change we want to see in the world.....this is a widely quoted, but rarely practiced statement from Gandhi.

Yours in Peace, Love, Truth and Beauty ....

End of the year

2009-12-27T14:37:00.000-08:00

It is a cold, lazy, yet sunny Sunday afternoon.

Perhaps my lethargy is due to the fact that I ate and drank too much over the Christmas holiday. Or, more sinister and truthful is the real reason for my blatant laziness - snow is in the weather forecast again.

I know, I know - many people have been hit with more difficult weather than my recently adopted homestead. I should be silent like the night.

There was a time that I loved winter - snow, warts and all. My favorable attitude has significantly waned this year.
I have held an obviously misguided notion that when most of the summer is spent near or in triple digit temperatures that the subsequent winter should be mild.
My belief has been proven wrong!
Why did the Bush Administration categorically deny global warming?
I suppose that I could take some tiny amount of satisfaction in the fact that "W" resides not too far from my household and now he knows that global warming is real.
No satisfaction to be had in that presumption.
Meanwhile, I will have to warm myself by the fireplace (pictured below).
Thank Goddess for heat!

May you all be warmed by the fire within........

Peace and Goodwill on Earth

2009-12-25T18:55:00.000-08:00

Today is Christmas Day.
Here in Dallas, Texas, we were blessed with the first widespread "White Christmas" since 1926.
I am watching the 2008 video "Coco Chanel" with Shirley MacLaine. Gabrielle a/k/a Coco Chanel changed the world! The guy from Clockwork Orange is in this video too. Hmmm - let's see...
There is a fire roaring in the fireplace (it is 20 some odd degrees) and I have drunk too much red wine. Ahhh....the holidays.... (sigh) fraught with emotions, expectations and the Ghosts of Christmas Pasts...
I would like to see the new film with Audrey Tatou also... "Coco Before Chanel"...another time.
If you have not guessed, Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel is one of my heroines. Sigh. To be that kind of person in the world - what if?
I am an unabashed Francophile ... Napoleon is one of my idols.
Happy Holidays - and let us all do what we can to make the world a better place.
Apologies for no images...tech problems this day,
May you be blessed with Peace, Love & Understanding....and the knowledge that each of us can make the world a better place!
In Truth & Beauty...

Yule: Winter Solstice December 21st

2009-12-21T17:20:00.000-08:00

I particularly love the winter solstice...really gives me a feeling of being grounded. I have my own traditions surrounding this day and I celebrate with joy and hope.

I set aside some time to do something creative. I light many candles. I drink some mulled wine. I lay in my bed and gaze at the sun as it sets in the west. I give thanks for its light and warmth.

That sunlight is some powerful stuff!
Consider the title of an old Sting album, "Nothing Like the Sun". Truer words may not ever have been written.

My solo celebrations actually keep me connected to the flow of life, my ancestral chain and the earth. They are a reason for me to consciously mark time and set intentions.

So, on this, the longest night of the year, I want to wish each and every one of you peace, contentment and the hope that comes with knowing that there is light after the dark.

While winter seems to have been anxious to descend on us this year (all that snow!), winter will surely give way to spring. Until that glorious burst, I find it is a good practice to welcome stillness in winter. Meditation. Slowing down. Savoring. Hibernating. Taking care of myself and all the creatures that depend on me.

All living things need a period of rest!

Though I no longer live in an area blanketed by snowfall, I love the luxury of being able to cocoon. Winter and snow days are perfect for that....and it comes at a befitting time of the Roman calendar year. Reflection on the past year as we look forward to the next year.

I am so grateful and privileged to be able to write this to you this day.
I read an article on the marriage of scent and memory today. I was thinking about the smells of winter. Some cheering, some desolate, some nostalgic.
What smells do you associate with winter?
Memory is a trickster. Be careful! Be wary of the truth of memory....now that is a topic for another day.

Until that day, I will leave you with an image of the famous painting by Salvador Dali, "The Persistence of Memory" (1931). I was never a huge Dali fan, but his iconography and imagery are endlessly fascinating to dissect.

This winter, be aware of your bright place in the universe. Take time to care for yourself and others. Pull inwards. Conserve your energies.

Spring is just around the corner.

Kandinsky in NY Times today

2009-12-08T08:16:00.000-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/science/08angier.html?emc=eta1

Very interesting article on Kandisnsky's concept of the circle and the sphere.

Another great Kandinsky piece from NY Times here

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/arts/design/18kandinsky.html?emc=eta1

I love that the author makes mention of the fact that Kandinsky dressed like the college professor he was and sounded like a mystic when he was not thinking like a scientist. To my thinking, that is an apt description. Well done!

In truth, light and beauty....

Remain in Light

2009-12-06T19:34:00.000-08:00

I have not posted on this blog in a few weeks. I have been busy with my soapmaking - and blogging up a storm 'over there' - http://angelsoap.blogspot.com. I find soapmaking to be very creative, energizing, fun, surprising and, yes, I am addicted. I have been making soap for over 5 years now. It never fails to engage me. One idea led to another and very soon my house, my studio and my garage looked like Mr. Wizard's Warehouse of Crazy Chaos.

I cannot recall exactly how I made my first batch of soap. I think that is odd! I believe I started with melt and pour (generally looked down upon by 'real' soapmakers) with luxe additives to achieve some Ayurvedic custom blends. I graduated to the cold process method (which is my favorite). I am currently utilizing the hot process 'cooking' of soap which is straight out of the Middle Ages, Folks! I discovered rebatching and milling.

Sometimes I wonder if my love of soapmaking is greater than my love of metalsmithing. This new lover has created a personal dilemma for me. For 40 years, I have been a metalsmith.
I started making and selling jewelry at a very young age. I literally grew up playing with tools and listening to opera in my father's workshop. My grandfather was a blacksmith.
Metal defined me for most of my life.

Recently, my creative impulse simply prefers soaping to smithing. I have grown impatient with age - and I want to 'lighten up'.
Metal can be a tad - pardon me - "heavy".
Soap is lighthearted.

I cannot quite get away from the fire and drama of the forge and torch - or the gleam and glimmer of metallics. The hot process soap is quite medieval - and I love to swirl a bit of gold or copper minerals in my soap batches. My wrapping is 'gold leaf' paper!
I have even produced a line of Gem Crystal Soaps. Below is my Topaz/Citrine soap:

So, soaping is consuming me now. It does lighten my spirit. I love the way it morphs and changes as it cures. It always surprises me - not unlike the metal of my younger days. The soap materials are not as pricey as gold and silver. Soap allows me to play. If a batch fails, or displeases me - well - I can recycle it or simply toss it. Metal is not so forgiving. Metal can be a harsh taskmaster. Metal does not allow me to play. I have to wear my serious hat.

Soap might just be the ultimate alchemy. It basically requires water, sodium hydroxide and fat to produce something that I think can be magical.

I was actually thinking about my current enlightenment when I came across this post in Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remain_in_Light. This is a piece about Talking Heads and their recording of "Remain in Light". I am flabbergasted that it was recorded in 1980! How could it have been so long ago? I still have the album, fer crissake!

Talking Heads were art students from Rhode Island School of Design who became celebrated musicians. I wonder if any of them still make visual art? I wonder if they felt conflicted?

I could almost conclude that life really is about 'going with the flow'. After all, that which does not change, dies - and then it changes in spite of itself.

Above is a mixed media composition of fine silver wire, steel, surgical gauze and feathers. It is entitled "Walking With the Angels". I was fond of this wall installation. It was the first in a series of similarly themed pieces. This piece literally felt as though it created itself....it was pure channeling. As I look at the piece now, I see the taut, tense pulling apart of the anthropomorphic form. It appears to be spinal - or birdlike - and it is being pulled in many directions and pinned down.

Hmm....it captures exactly what I was experiencing in my life at the time.

This piece also has an ethereal and airy quality to it - as though it was infused with a light from within.

As the days of winter grow darker, let us all seek to remain in light. Especially the light within.

In peace, light and beauty....

The Velvet Underground, Jeanne-Claude, Dylan and astrological musings

2009-11-19T17:36:00.000-08:00

I was reading about artist, Jeanne-Claude's death today in Lemonwade. Jeanne-Claude was married to the famed artist, Christo. The blurb about Jeanne-Claude's death was brief, but the issue of Lemonwade was packed with interesting topics.
Here is the link - http://www.lemonwade.com/2009/11/19/artist-jeanne-claude-is-dead/
There is an article about a Velvet Underground reunion, accompanied by a photograph of the band in much earlier days. Lou Reed, to my eyes, has never appeared visually young - quite odd when I think about it. In this particular photo, Lou does have a certain youthful freshness, but I would not say that he looks young.

Upon further contemplation, I realize that I do not think that a camera has ever caught Lou's smile. Perhaps this is the reason that he has never appeared to be youthful?

According to Pisces Lou, many parts of his life have been horrific and sad. I hope that Lori Anderson (a Gemini) can cheer that old soul up.
Another article points to Bob Dylan (another Gemini) releasing a Christmas album. Some people have stated that it is frightening. Ha! I would like to hear it. I need to hear it!
That Dylan boy (for every Gemini is in a constant state of youth - observe Sir Paul) certainly is a brilliant wordsmith. I read a rare Dylan interview some years ago wherein he disclosed that he could not write songs like "My Back Pages" anymore. Apparently, Dylan's muse - who worked 24/7, seemingly suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder back in the d-d-day - is worn out. A relationship with a Gemini can be exhausting...
I believe the exact stanza that Dylan referred to during his 'Man, I could not do this now if I wanted to' interview was this:

Crimson flames tied through my ears
Rollin' high and mighty traps
Pounced with fire on flaming roads
Using ideas as my maps
"My Back Pages", Bob Dylan

Genius! All of the old Dylan songs are stellar gems.
Makes me wonder if Dylan and Jackson Pollock have more in common than we know...
While I am on the Dylan theme, I will relay that I finally watched the film, "I'm Not There". I wish that I had not known that Cate Blanchett was playing the "post-acoustic" Dylan. I simply could not suspend my knowledge of Cate's role-playing...what did I miss?
I know a bit about Bob Dylan's history and discography so I could follow the film - sorta, kinda - well - it was almost as though I was not there.....
Maybe that was the point.

So

2009-11-12T10:03:00.000-08:00

Here is one of my favorite songs, courtesy of Peter Gabriel, an amazing artist who flies a bit under the popular radar. Written in 1986, I believe, it never fails to elicit a sensual, yet spiritual and uplifting response from me.

If you click on the link, you can listen to the song at Peter's website. The lyrics are reproduced below, and you can find them on the website also as the song plays.
I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.petergabriel.com/discography/track/In_Your_Eyes/1483

love I get so lost, sometimes
days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
when I want to run away
I drive off in my car
but whichever way I go
I come back to the place you are
all my instincts, they return
and the grand facade, so soon will burn
without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside
in your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
in your eyes
the resolution of all the fruitless searches
in your eyes
I see the light and the heat
in your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
the heat I see in your eyes
love, I don't like to see so much pain
so much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away
I get so tired of working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive
and all my instincts, they return
and the grand facade, so soon will burn
without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside
in your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
in your eyes
the resolution of all the fruitless searches
in your eyes
I see the light and the heat
in your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light,
the heat I see in your eyes
in your eyes in your eyes
in your eyes in your eyes
in your eyes in your eyes

Excerpted content above is from PeterGabriel.com.

Love, Light, Peace

Is a recession a stop on the way....

2009-11-10T18:31:00.000-08:00

to depression town? If so, is there medication for a 'recession'? Or is an 'intervention' or 'talk therapy' in order? As goes this great country, so go I ... or, so it seems.

Yesterday, I had some work sent back from a gallery owner (whose identity shall remain anonymous for the purposes of this discourse. Hereinafter, this person shall be referred to as "Nameless").
I will be the first to admit my personal flaws and character defects. Trust me, I know myself better than anyone currently living on the planet. Here is a mere start of some of my shameful admissions: I can be proud, vain and I do not like rejection. Oh - I also have committed every one of the seven deadly sins.
All in one day.
Thank you very much.
What is astonishing to me is that the work that was 'rejected' is the best of the bunch. Nameless mailed back work that contains genuine, semi-precious stones (and lots of them, Baby!) that are intrinsically worth more than the retail prices I imposed for a quick sale!!! Nameless retained pieces that were - shall I say - not "my best".
This is sufficient reason for me to complain that gallery owners and other types of merchants know their inventory. Nameless claims to know the clientele, but she does not give them much credit in the knowledge department.

Now, I can get a complex - or I can increase the prices of that work to its real value .... and I wager all will then sell.

Moral of this story: ONE MUST KNOW AND VALUE THEIR OWN SELF-WORTH.
I still do not understand the mindset of work that is simply overpriced deemed by many to be 'better'. That may have been true a few decades ago (especially for quality electronics), but in these times? Please. I cannot compete with trinkets made in other parts of the world and sold inexpensively here.

What is a misunderstood, self-respecting metalsmith to do? The answer is obvious - increase prices and quit being Ms. Nice Person to give others a break at this holiday season at my own expense. I need to give myself a break!

Now - about this "recession"....

Above is one of my favorite pieces. Not one of the most complex, or labor-intensive, but still a perennial favorite. It is a fabricated construction of sterling, patinaed brass (you know I love 'dirty metal'), married mixed metals and a cabochon garnet, bezel-set atop a dome of hollow, oxidized sterling silver. The fibula construction is a pin that was favored by the Celts and the Romans. I love to make fibulas....interesting visual geometry and the all-in-one pin is quite functional.

"This Is It"

2009-11-03T19:04:00.000-08:00

The image above is a silver purse that I made many years ago. I wove the fine silver strands on a table loom, then fabricated the clutch and footing portions in sterling silver. The purse is approximately 12" wide x 9" length. Perfect for nights at the disco, don't you know? Ah...sigh...those were the days of fantasy and happiness. Life appeared to be a wonderful adventure - full of endless possibilities and time.

This purse has been in many fine, national exhibitions. It was awarded several prizes.

This one piece took four months of daily labor to make.

These days, I have discovered that I no longer have the patience to make work like that purse. I feel a constant, ever-so-subtle pulse driving me to make pieces of artistic expression that do not consume my entire life and do not compromise aesthetics. Hmmm....may be some conflicts therein...

In my other life, so many years ago, I also had a small business. Several small endeavors, actually: a custom business, a wholesale business and a retail business. The custom and the wholesale factions financed the retail occupation, as well as a nice gallery, "Artifice". Additionally, I published art criticism and worked as a metal technician for an art conservation operation. Whew! No wonder I am soooo tired now.

At one point, I had 11 sales representatives stationed around the country. to sell my wholesale line. I had two hands back in those days and today, (thank Goddess) I still have two hands. Back then, I found myself churning out pieces in "limited editions". Problem was that my idea of a limited edition is not the same as many of the merchants who bought my work at wholesale prices.

Simply put - I burned out.

The creative process morphed into a 24/7 job....and did I mention that there were no 'benefits'?

Today, I am in a position to be able to work on what I wish to work on and when I want to work on it. Sounds enviable, doesn't it? It is - and it is not. You see - I still have that voice in my head telling me that I need money and I need to be able to justify my studio time. Creativity gets stifled a tad for the sake of lucrative commerce.

Andre Breton, the great father of Surrealism, once wrote that 'the only time man is ever truly free is in his own mind'. I cannot find the exact quote at this moment, so I must paraphrase.here. I can assure you that statement shook me to the very core of my being. I am still shaken by the deafening truth of it.

I recently saw the film, "This Is It", the documentary of Michael Jackson's last tour preparations.

A few things struck me - Michael Jackson appeared thin, tired and weary. I wondered if he ever became bored by performing the 'same old songs'.

Michael Jackson made a statement during the film about the fact that the fans were expecting to hear the songs as "the way they wanted to hear them". Translation: not too much improvisation, thank you very much.

That statement proved to me that this man's knowledge of 'the industry' and himself as 'product' was extraordinary and clearsighted. Michael Jackson was able to sustain an exceptional and quite brilliant artistic career with many ups, downs, and headstands, for so many decades. That is remarkable, a true testament to the man's life force, creativity and sheer vitality.

Personally, I think his music and dance became more mature, sophisticated and elegant in the 1990s and early 2000s. Sadly, many people dismissed his artistic genius at the very height of his powers due to his alleged involvement in certain scandals.

I saw a Twitter post by an obviously young child-fan that she was "disappointed" in the film, "This Is It" because there was not even a decent, full-on Moonwalk. Come on, Child! The MAN had been doing the backslide ('Moonwalk') since before you, Twitter child, were born! Does she really believe that Michael Jackson needed to rehearse a moonwalk?!

I wonder if the only time Michael Jackson may have been able to feel truly alive and creative during his elaborate and precision productions was in the improvisation of his own dance in the moment and heat of live performance.

Then I started thinking about 'time', 'product', 'limited edition' ...... and freedom.

By the way - I lost the purse during a move many years ago. I do not miss it, but I wonder where it now calls home. Everything in this life passes - no matter how hard we struggle to hang on to it. Perhaps we miss the bright, glittering things (and people) the most. The world may grow dimmer without the flash of that brilliance.

Michael Jackson, May you finally Rest in Peace, my Brother.

Happy Hallowmas!

2009-10-31T14:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Hallowmas, or Halloween, or Witch's New Year or Feast of the Dead! Whatever you call it, October 31st is a very interesting day to me. Today is the day we honor our dead, express gratitude for our heritage, recall our ancestors and our many gifts bestowed upon us by those in our blood lineage who have proceeded us in life and death. Blood, like metal, is magnetic, by the way....those who share our blood line magnetize us even as we may resist the attraction and pull. Interesting thought to ponder.

Today is a festive and a creative day! How much fun is it to be anyone or anything that you desire on this day? How creative to dream up a costume and put it together!
For these reasons, and many more, Halloween is my favorite day of the year.
I believe in magic, fairies, ghosts, spirits and goblins. I have an understanding of "the old ways". I know the power of good - and of evil.
I am of Celtic heritage.
Perhaps this is why fire and the forge excite me?
It is documented that the Celts were so war-like (I have a bit of a warrior inside me too!), that our bonfires come from the Celts....except their fires were "bone fires". Use your imagination here, People.
The above image is a classic Celtic design (triad) that I designed, made and interpreted as a stering silver pendant for my friend, Tami.

It always shocks me how modern the Celtic designs and symbols appear. They are ancient, but forever young. Perhaps there is something in the symbology that most of us relate to? The designs appear the 'freshest' when there is a bit of imperfection to them after execution. Overworking a Celtic symbol is, I believe, a sin.

A few years ago, I was most fortunate to see the ancient collections of the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. Phenomenal. Such sophisticated metalsmithing (mainly goldsmithing) - unparalled! Brilliant designs and knock-your-socks-off craftsmanship. Timeless, indeed. Hollow fabrication, fibulas, jewelry and vessels that had me wondering how the ancient ones created such remarkable works! To this day, with all of the new technology, I do not think that I have seen any collection of smithing as outstanding as this!

So, with humility, honor and gratitude, I leave you with this thought:

The noblest share of earth is the far western world

Whose name is written Scotia in the ancient books:

Rich in goods, in silver, jewels, cloth, and gold,

Benign to the body in air and mellow soil.

With honey and with milk flow Ireland's lovely plains,

With silk and arms, abundant fruit, with art and men.

Worthy are the Irish to dwell in this their land,

A race of men renowned in war, in peace, in faith.

-Donatus, Bishop of Fiesole, mid-ninth century.

Translated by Liam de Paor

I took the handmade pledge....

2009-10-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

I took the handmade pledge today.

Om malas and such...

2009-10-25T17:13:00.000-07:00

I finished a few of my "Om Malas". I really enjoy making these bibelots. They are versatile, beautiful and can be personalized for each user/wearer/bearer. A mala is a bracelet-like, or rosary (necklace-like) collection of prayer beads. I have a few in my personal collection - wooden beads, carnelian stone beads and others. They are used as a tool in meditation or prayer.

My handmade malas are personalized, but bare bones, so that the recipient can add his or her own meaningful materials. I start with a drawing of the charm, seal, symbol, sigil, or amulet that I think most befits the recipient, or the dedicated purpose of the mala (Archangel, Om, Zodiac sign). The main amulet is typically made of brass, but I have used sterling silver and copper. I pierce the design into the brass using a jeweler's saw. The disc is hammered into a convex form. The piece is then stamped with my mark, and perhaps the title of the symbol.

I like a patinaed or oxidized finish, so I experiment with the coloration. I then choose a tassel, beads, crystals and various adornments that compliment the mala's dedication. For instance, in the above malas I chose rose quartz for a pink hue to enhance the love vibration of the Om symbol. The main disc was flame-colored, then hardened to get rosy tones. The other mala (Tamil Om) features a brass endless spiral and some gorgeous peach-toned agates and crystals, as well as the patinaed brass.

Above is another Om mala, resplendent with gold and deep red. This mala has a silky, generous tassel, a large wooden bead and genuine red garnet crystals. Again, the Om symbol is colored with a lovely, turquoise green patina. I think this mala is rich-looking. I was inspired by the Tulku/Tibetan monk robes of saffron and dark red. On afterthought, I should have created the Tibetan Om symbol (which is different than the above). Oh well, that is an idea for another day.

I love these pieces - and that is saying a lot. I do not like everything that I make! These malas, to my eyes, glow with a life of their own.

After these creations are turned over to their new owners, all kinds of delightful things happen. One client wears her mala around the neck with a handwoven cord. Another friend promptly clipped hers on her handbag. Another draped her mala around a Quan Yin statue in her entry hall.

Me? I display my own collection on the walls of my home.

Lemonwade....

2009-10-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

I am so happy that I had to put my pliers down for a few minutes to share this info! A Blog Roll, please!

I am excited to announce that Critical Alchemy has been mentioned in the blogroll of Lemonwade.com, an opinionated view of arts and entertainment!! Lemonwade.com is published in that great mecca of all things artistic, stylish and cultural, New York City. Check out Lemonwade.com and see for yourself!
As always, thank you for following Critical Alchemy. Your interest, readership, commentary and views are invaluable.