BE MINDFUL

What does it mean to be mindful?  Over the years I have read different explanations of mindfulness.  Does it mean paying attention?  Being in the moment?  Experiencing each breath from inhale to exhale?  Does it mean all of the above?  For me it does mean all of the above and it is what I have experience in my 30+ years of mindful meditation.  Mindfulness to me is like a celebration of the present.  It is a revelation of sorts of the nature of existence.  It is here in this moment, here in this moment, here in this moment as time progresses.  Can you imagine living each moment so completely?  Is it possible?  I think it is, which may be why I believe that I have lived a wonderful life so far.  I have observed many amazing things and I have experienced pain that I thought would not end.  It did and I survived.  I am mindful.  I am here, and here, and here yet again.

A TREE IS NOT A BUSINESS PLAN

A Business Plan the artists way!

I have been working on my business plan for quite awhile.  In fact, it has been months in the works and I still have to give it another edit.  But in order to  move the process along, I decided to create a picture of my business plan to help boost my energy because, as anyone will tell you, writing a business plan is quite daunting at best.

"Creating" a business plan has been quite a wonderful process.  It helped me focus and  put on paper my vision for Creative Meditations.  Money does not grow on trees (LOL), I know but identifying clear goals and intentions by writing them on leaves just seems so natural. Perhaps I am ready to launch my to-do list. Oh.......wait, I think I will add more leaves!

FEBRUARY 1ST AND THE SNOW IS FALLING

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE 

It has been three months since I posted here and it has been quite a time in the studio.  I am looking out the window watching it gently snow and it looks so very pretty.  It is a wonderful respit from the termoil, anxiety and fear that have been expressed to me as I teach meditation.  It is a time unlike any other which promted me to revisit favorite philosophers and ideologies: mostly as an attempt at a reality check. 

What is a liberal? Where did the term come from? 

We can trace it back to a 17th English philosopher and political theorist, John Locke.  Anyone who has taken a course in philosophy and or political science is very familiar with his "Two Treasties of Government".In it, Locke argues that legitimate political authority can only come through the consent of the governed.  In that light then, the purpose of the government is to protect our lives, liberty, and property.  Liberlism is also dedicated to free markets and capitalism.  Adam Smith, an 18th century philosopher outlined this notion in his famous work "The Wealth of Nations" (a must read).  Smith argues that the best way for a society to generate wealth and prosperity is through division of labor providing a structure that would inhibit decision makers acting in their own interest.  Competitive free market creates properity for all.

So what is conservitism?

First it is interesting to note that this is a much newer concept and not at all in keeping with the our forefathers.  It actually became most prevelant during the industrial revolution. It appears that those who have made it their life study have come to note that in fact, conservativism is not a genuine ideology as is liberalism, but rather an emotional state of mind not proven by sustainable theoretical works.  There is also a very deep religious (Christian) belief that human beings are not inately good but rather are born of original sin.  It is also believed that society is incapable of governing itself where families,churches, and schools must teach traditional values.  Those who fail to do so must have discipline imposed on them by the government and law.  The law is designed to dictate moral factors rather then the valued measure of the law for laws sake. For them there is no room for anything but traditional family values.  In short, Conservativism is based on "known facts" as opposed to rational, intelligent, deep philosophical thought.  And as for prosperity, it is the basic belief that only the larger institutions should have the economical power.

The snow is still falling, It is beautifully quiet as each flake rests on the ground.  Be careful because underneath all of that wonderful white lies treacherous ice. It is a pause for thought.

AT THE GALLERY

THE GREAT GERMAN SHEPERD

I have a german shepherd.  He is my baby and he is the silliest dog I have ever owned. We got him as a pup and right from the start we knew we would be in for a ride!  Exept we didn't anticipate that the only issue was going to be that he hates riding in the car!

Like many large breeds, he has no clue about his size.  Only that he thinks he can sit in your lap.  There he is sitting with his auntie (or should I say (sitting on his auntie!) watching daddy making something in the kitchen.  He helps me with the laundry and takes off my socks in the evening.  Actually, once the sun goes down he will try to take off anyone's socks should they be dumb enough to take off their shoes while in the house.  Doesn't matter who it is, guest and family alike.  A firm no puts a stop to it of course but you have to give him an A for trying.  I also taught him to say banana....well, he doesn't really say banana but he will try to say it al long as there is a treat involved.  And can he talk?!  If and when he is in the car all he does is bark.  You can hear him coming in the next town.

I am a german shepherd owner and it takes a rare breed to own a rare breed.

Yippy Yuppo

Ink and yuppo

I am having so much fun with alcohol inks and yuppo.  Even though these are pretty, I am still not getting the effect that I want.  Practice, practice, practice.  It is an experiment where the potential is limitless.  Once I get an effect I am happy enough to reproduce I will be putting them in the shop.

Thursday and Friday I spent an overnight at the camp.  It was nice to be off the grid (again).  So quiet, no phones, no cell service gave me time to reflect on the different directions my company can take.  And even though it is very exciting I sometimes feel overwhelmed with all the possiblilites.  If anyone in the Catskill region reads my blog and would like to have a very part-time job, or internship, let me know.  I would love to talk to you.  The business is small but there are several areas I need help with.  Organization, marketing, packaging...... And I am always looking for another artist to play with!!!!!  If you are interested send me an email.  Reply to andrea@creativezenart.com.

TANGLES AND QUILTS!!! OH MY!

A little fun with scrap quilting

Happy Super Saturday everyone!  Today is a beautiful sunny day and the air is so crisp and wonderful.  I love this time of year!

I am still unpacking boxes for the studio.  It seems like a never ending project.  I keep asking myself "how in the world did I fit all of this stuf in about a third of the space.  Well, I think I had more shelf space but that can be easily remedied.

In any case, one of the boxes I unpacked this week was all of my practice quilt pieces.  When I begin to quilt, I practice on a scrap quilt sandwhich to make sure the thread, tension, and machine are all working in harmony.  Most quilters do this.  What happens is that you end up with lots of practice quilt sandwhiches.  I was collecting quite a pile of them.

Then Zentangle came into my life and I began to tangle one of the sandwhiches.  It was so much fun that I have decided to do a series of them and hang them all over my studio.  The practice quilting pieces already have the "strings".  All I have  to do is tangle.  This is going to be so much fun that I think I will design a class for other quilters who may want to explore this technique.

HAVE A SUPER SATURDAY

NAMASTE