Artful and Ameliorated Medicine

Short story shorter, today I painted away pain. It's amazing what standing at an easel with a large sheet of watercolor paper and paints can do for aches and pains. I may be sitting with a heat pad to my back as I type, but my body feels appreciably better than before this artful Medicine. 

That's what I made today.

And as serendipity would have it, it fit nicely with this month's Mix it Monthly theme.

Peace.

Charming Efforts of Worth

This past week I made time to go through my studio shelves … shelves of works-in-process as well as my shelves of materials and supplies. Things were organized and tidied. Over the weekend I was compelled to use some of my new materials, yet chose to do so while leveraging some of the works-in-process, as well as some older works to breathe new life into them. Know what I mean? I settled on creating note cards because I needed some and I figured it would keep me working small while trying my hand at products I've never used before. You know, a way to control potential waste.

It was fun. I made some hot messes that no one will ever see as well as some cards that actually delighted me. I even made use of some of my spouse's little works that had been hanging around. As a result of this effort I have some new note cards that I'm listing in my ArtFire shop as well as some two-dimensional experience with new materials that I'll be expanding on in the weeks to come … to add some three-dimensional delight to my work. That's the plan, anyway. And plans change in my world.

I invested time in developing and fine-tuning some healing art workshops, including the creation of some personal Spirit Cards. I'm looking forward to sharing this process with folks in my community! I also revamped a three-day heART workshop into a one-day workshop and am working on another one-day heART workshop penciled in for May.

Today I'm making time for bills and paperwork, tax-ish half-efforts, and listing some new items. I have three new non-fiction books to read and new things to learn to nurture this charmed life of mine. Charm takes effort and dedication. And collaboration. And lots of LoVe. And it's worth it.

That's what I made. Peace.

Compliant Collaboration

These past two weeks have been a bit of an experiment. Or a series of experiments. But whatever the label, my trials are guiding me to new realms of realization and utility.

For so many years I've allowed so much of my life to be "scheduled" by external forces. I like to think that I made those choices from a place of compassion, but that's another story all together. As I've mentioned before, too many times perhaps, "I have my life back," and I bounded into it, like a sprinter across the starting line … like the "girl" I once was … only to realize that  … "it" doesn't work like it used to.

But what is "it?"

And there's The Rub.

The Rub I've been getting to know these past couple of weeks. We're not intimate yet, but here's where The Rub has led me:

Yesterday, after consulting with The Rub (an intuitive conversation, for those wondering), I took my ToDo list and prioritized it, as is my habit. But rather than scheduling every item (as I typically do), she invited me to work the list and document my actions in the schedule portion of my planner as I accomplished them.

I didn't understand this guidance, it made no sense, and was ~ in fact ~ counter-intuitive to me. At one point I muttered out loud to my guidance, "you're rubbin' me up the wrong way," which (at the risk of sounding flakey) resulted in shared laughter. All the same, I went to bed setting the intention that some clarity by morning would be my incentive to continue this seemingly silly exercise.

I woke this morning to a whisper … "know your Crone's pace." And I understood. This experiment will allow me to discover, acknowledge, honor and adapt to a pace that is suited to me in my current state of evolution. Damn. That Rub, she's a brilliant wench. And today I join her in compliant collaboration.

That's what I'm making today.

Space for Center

Yesterday, the first day of February, Imbolc ~ as beautiful and gentle as the start may have been ~ transformed into a day that challenged me. 

Deeply.

In a way that surprised me.

And in a way that awakened me.

And challenged again.

After several months of not feeling a need to be vigilant in the daily management of negative energies, it would seem that I'd become … vulnerable to toxic verve.

I found myself feeling irritated over things that simply didn't matter to me.

I found myself taking external behaviors and expressions personally.

I found myself distracted, unfocused and out of balance as the day evolved.

In recognizing these things I found mySelf pressing the pause button.

The button is still engaged as I explore what I own in this scenario. I know it's easier and socially acceptable (and, dare I say, encouraged) in such situations, to blame the external catalyst, and carry that heavy condition with us to our graves. Yet, I'm choosing to own my response to the situation, the challenge. After all, I chose to feel irritation, to take things personal, and to allow myself to be derailed. For surely by owning my responses and feelings, by holding them close, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, I'll become so intimate with these bits of me that I'll be able to honor them and accept the gifts that they offer me. With gratitude. And I will be lighter for it. Plus, there's journaling involved.

It's a rather ominous experience, exploring this realm. All the same, it is a realm very familiar to me and it will be even more familiar before the day is out. Of this I am certain. 

I realize this expression may not mean anything to anyone but me, but … there it is. And I feel more centered for it. 

All the same, I invite you to push the pause button the next time you're knocked off your center. 

Peace.

Small Ginkgo Works

Today I created several small works using some of the (many) ginkgo leaves that a dear friend gifted to me this past autumn. These are works in process. I'm not sure what they'll become, whether they'll evolve into larger pieces, singularly or in combination. Those inspirations will come to me, I'm sure, in whispers from Mama Gaia and Mama Muse, when I return to the studio to continue this particular journey.

In any event, that's what I made today and that's what I'm posting for "What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday." 

Incidentally, I'm very pleased with how these are coming out.

Peace.

ChookHead

Today I captured a good-enough photo of a journal entry I created ten days ago for January's Mix it Monthly Challenge. You might want to click over to the challenge to check out the other entries. It's great fun! In any event, I've dubbed this image "ChookHead."

So, yeah. That's what I made today.

Peace.

Gelli Creations

Last month I broke down and purchased a Gelli plate and I have to admit that playing with the seemingly infinite possibilities has been quite addictive. I mean, what you see here is just a wee sampling of what I've made manifest using the Gelli plate.

Today I'll be making my way to the studio to play with some other pages I've made that will be stitched together to become little journals. Yeah. That's what I'm making today. 

And hey! ~ If you're interested in seeing more Gelli creations, click over to Carolyn Dube's "A Colorful Journey to see more inspirations!

Peace.

Time to Art Journal

Next week I'll be teaching two journal-making workshops at my sweet little studio at Whiting Mills in Winsted, Connecticut, and I'm excited about them! We'll be learning a super-simple method of bookbinding to create our very own handmade journals. I have Effy Wild to thank for teaching me this method, and I'm so grateful to her for it. I've been rather addicted to the process since I learned it and use only my own handmade journals for my art journaling. I'm creating some others for writing and for sketching too. It's such a joy!

On my shelves you'll discover handmade journals created by others, as well as my old moleskins that I started with many years ago. I almost always have a journal with me, no matter where I am or where I go. Journals are just another bit of holistic Goodness in my Medicine bag. Know what I mean?

But it's art journaling that is my dedicated daily practice. I fill journal after journal with color, texture, symbols, forms, words, feeling, heart, and play! Again, Good Medicine.

As the pages fill, the journals line up on the shelves like loving sentries, colorful faeries, divine guides. And they are those things, and more.

So if you're anywhere near the northwest hills of Connecticut I'll hope you'll join us to learn this wonderful skill on either Thursday evening, January 9 or Sunday afternoon, January 12! 

As for now, I have a fire to tend, heArt journaling to do, and who knows what else? 

Peace.