THE MANY FORMS OF MEDITATION

TRADITIONAL

 Where is spring?!  Right now it is not outside....there are no signs that it will be here in a day or two.  My saving grace is my daily meditation practice.  My practice has taken different forms over the thirty years.  I was trained in what is considered the traditional sitting method.  Eyes closed, observing my breath as it flows in and out, gently, softly.  Calm, quiet mind.  It is a form that I still practice.

Over the years I have studied other types of meditation such as walking meditations, yoga, and drawing.  I have found them all to be wonderful ways to quiet the mind, soothe the soul, and relax the body.  My fiber art is a form of meditation for me for when I am creating I am in that special place.  In my studio there are no boundaries, no limitations, including what materials I may or may not have at hand.  It is my bliss, my meditation.  Whatever stress I am feeling melts away.

It is so important to find a way to reduce our stress in these times. Being in the moment is the only way to be;  no matter what you are doing be there as you are doing it.  In the meantime, help me bring spring into being, even if it is only in your minds' eye.

WHEN THE SPIRIT MOVES ME

FACES

When Mother Earth begins to stir like she has in the past couple of days, it is hard to contain my excitement.  Soon there will be flowers. and leaves on trees.  I get so excited like I used to when my grandparents were coming for a visit.  There I would sit, by the kitchen window, looking out over the field in front of our house, anticipating their arrival.  What a rush it would be when I saw their car turning the corner and drive up Ambach Lane.  I get the same way when I know spring is arriving.  I can't stand the wait!!!!!

Despite the cold weather we had here in the Catskill Mountains, I tried hard not to let the winter get the better of me.  Sitting by the fire every night was a comfort and it is where I spent a good deal of time drawing and knitting.  But the comfort did not come without cost.  Jay lugged in wood all winter long.  It was a hard job especially in such brutal weather and wind chill factors below 25.  However, without the cold, the warmth would not feel so so good.  The fire never so appreciated. I spent the winter being grateful for the fire and its flames and for the flicker of lights it gave; so bright in the darkest of winter.  I would turn off the lights and dance by the fire.  Sometimes Jay would join me.  It is moments like this when the spirit moves me. How wonderful!

IF ONLY

in between 

I do not want to live in regret.  No sir I don't.  Yet, I am still the biggest procrastinator in the world so it seems.  Where does that come from?  I am not sure.  There is so much fun to be had, art to be made, snow angles to make (yes, I still make them) and ...... oh yes, good wine to drink.  But I feel like I am in between.....things, life, the universe and everything.

It has been so cold for so long but daylight gets longer.  I keep promising myself that I will get up early and greet the day wide awake and ready to create something wonderful.  Alas, I have fallen into a chain of morning events that keeps my course the same.  I need change but I know I am the only one that can do it.  So I sit in between.......young and old, brave yet afraid, uncertain yet knowing.  In between.

It isn't good enough to be in my minds eye sitting quietly knowing what needs to be done but wanting to hibernate instead.  One thing is certain though.  When it is my time IF ONLY will be the last thing on my mind.

BTW....this is a picture that I took and have decided to make a quilt out of it.  I am thinking of a one woman art show called IN BETWEEN.  I think that is a good idea.  Don't you?

A LITTLE MOUSE TOLD ME SO

Here it is, the middle of January, and I am already two weeks behind.  My inspiration continues to be zentangle when I am feeling stuck and this time a little mouse showed up in my drawing meditation.  He is sweet isn't he?  There has been a great deal of activity around here as I prepare for my next set of workshops that I am giving.  It is terrific to be able to share this new form of meditation.  The people that I have met in the workshops are really delightful and the support is growing.

Currently, I am anticipating doing a class at Columbia Greene Community College, in Hudson, NY (time will be sometime in the spring).  I am also giving a talk on February 25th ( Wednesday) from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Pamper Thyme Country Store in Leeds, NY.   The topic will be stress, meditation, and zentangle.  This will be a hands on presentation with a small fee ($5.00) to cover material cost.

I am still working on my web page and hopefully soon, will be able to post the link so people can visit the site.  My little mouse tells me to get moving even though it is dark and dreary out there.  My little mouse helps me keep the sun shining in here in the studio.  The new year holds promise.  A little mouse told me so!

TANGLED UP IN THE TREE OF LIFE

Tangled up in the tree of life

I subscribe to the magazine WHERE WOMEN CREATE Business.  I love to read the articles that are submitted.  The most recent post is about what goal would we like to achieve by the end of the year.  Wow.  Like so many others, I have a list.

It would be wonderful if I could get my webpage finished by January first.  I look at the webpages of others and wonder how in the world did they find the time (and money) to create a web presence.   Then there is the question of what to put on it. I guess I have my work cut out for me if I am ever to get it done by January 1.  In the meantime, I am going to go to my studio and play.  I will touch base again.  BTW, what goals would you like to accomplish by the end of the year?

WE ARE ALL CONNECTED

There is a wonderful fiber artist that I admire.  She does beautiful felt creations and has a line of wonderfully whimsical coats and sweaters out of recycled wool.  Her shop is on etsy where you will find her under katwise.  She is also on facebook.

The interesting thing about about her, and probably why I like her so much is that she is very colorful; her life, her work, her house, everything. But the most fascinating experience I had happened when I went to Providence to become certified as a Zentangle Teacher.  It was day two of the four day certification class and we had taken a break for lunch.  As I entered the dining area I spied this wonderful black and white sweater coat creation and I immediately spun around.  There was no doubt at all in my mind.  It was a Katwise creation.  I always wanted to see one up close and I couldn't believe that I was getting my chance.  The owner was also there to become a CZT and she confirmed that it was indeed a Katwise!  It might sound silly (except for those of us who have a love affair with fiber) but I felt (no pun intended) that becoming a CZT was what I was supposed to be doing and that I was with people of like minds. This is where I belonged.

Zentangle has helped bring me back into the studio in a way that I not been before.  I have overcome my creative block and I am playing again.  Creating art and creative people make me grin from ear to ear.  It is such a beautiful side of human nature don't you think?  I am just in love with it all.

A TIME FOR HEALING

PANACEA GODDESS OF HEALING

Lately, my drawing meditations have been about women and healing.  It seems to me that there is so much illness going on.  Serious illness.  Not just in the body but also in the mind.

I, for example, suffer from acute anxiety disorder.  I am not sure why or when it began exactly.  I know so many people that suffer from the same thing with panic attacks being the worst. It just seems that we are either angry, anxious, or fearful.

There is also the matter of the body.  Right now Cancer is on my mind.  I can't imagine its purpose or why God would even allow it.  Now, walking along on a sunny day, crossing the street and getting hit by a car......that I can understand.  It is easy to get the lesson here.....watch where the hell you are going when you cross the street or BAM....you are going to get run over.  I just don't get the lesson Cancer has to offer.
In any case, I am grateful that I have my studio. This is where I can create my reactions to life by drawing, sewing, quilting, meditation, and any other way that helps me stay focused and in the moment.  Oh, by the way, the Zentangle above is my rendition of Panacea.  I thought it was interesting that in my meditation I saw her as older, wiser, and with a smile.  She comforts me.  I hope you feel the same.

Tell me, how do you interpret your life?  In what ways do you find yourself being in the moment?