Rose Love

Roses ask me to be good and kind
to myself.

Is this really so hard that I've forgotten
momentarily
what good and kind mean?
That good is the sun breaking through the darkness of twilight.
That kind is the heart of my husband, his hand in mine.

Roses ask me to forgive what was lost.
To think of myself as the
Creatress that I am.
And will be again and again.

Such soft plant whispers,
like kisses for my crinkled soul.

Forward, Upward

Sense of purpose stands tall amidst the wavering trees,
wild green
cloudy murkiness
once desperate stones.

"Forward," she whispers, "Upward."
That king of Redstone--
He heard it clearly, strongly, obscenely so.

And this now,
my own revival of spirit
gathers flowers, places light,
makes amends for this unfortunate gift.




































 

Much LOVE to Spring!

Each season brings it's treasures.

Right now,

I'm in awe of this blossoming wonderland:

The promise of roses:

The laboring of lilacs:

The bravery of dandelions who have kissed my feet--

Then whispered my dreams into the universe:

Mother Earth calls me to her garden of nourishment:

This medicine is her gift:

I am so gratefully honored!

Transformed!

Here it is...Jodi's creation for me! I love, love, love it.

She is so talented and open to try new art techniques--which always turn out so lovely.

There really are no words to describe the special and sparkly qualities she brings to her creative work--not to mention that she brings all these same qualities to our friendship and the world!

Here is a poem I wrote inspired by our collaborative effort and this beautiful, happy heart, art piece:

A Happy Heart

Expressed and felt in waves of color,

images washed, buried, blurred

layer upon layer of hazy intentions,

but, in fact

is burning and

bold.

There is always the journey,

and thank heavens, a road map

leading me due east to my home, my forest, my ocean,

my people, my soul.

An offering of hope I see clearly now.

When the  mind doesn't over-think,

when you softly allow your heart to expand

and your hands to speak

there is nothing left but freedom

and sweet transformation.

How ever did she know?

Sneak Peek

So excited to have finally tapped into my inner artist to complete a mixed media art swap project with my lovely friend Jodi. (Thanks for your patience, Jodi!)

Here's the details: we each started a project. Then handed over the goods to each other. The sky was the limit!

This is what I got to work on:

Here's the finished product:

Can't wait to see what Jodi made! So fun!

Be As You Are

My heart unearthed is extraordinary.
It is ripe as the full moon hanging heavily in the night sky.

Years ago, on such a night, I'm reminded of
the sturdy oar dipping softly into the lake.

Soft, sparkly illuminations cresting and falling under the projection of that moon.
Canoe following it's path in the water
and
the crickets singing us surely toward shore.

I was not alone.
And now I carry with me always the moon, the lake, the crickets.

The breath is a powerful tool.

Breathe in--

be filled with beauty and peace.

Breathe out--

soften and allow.

March 1st

Yesterday, March 1st, nearly 6pm,
as my car journeyed north toward home
I gazed at the soft blue of the sky,
the peaks of the foothills, towering mountains behind
and realized
it's not dark out!

Then, a thought--
is this the first day the light of day is longer
or
am I just noticing for the first time today?

Winter Solitude

 

Just outside my backdoor

is an all-encompassing quiet

that wraps it's arms around me.

Softly, gently,

reminding me of the gifts of each moment--

the unexpected scent of balsam when no pines are in sight,

slumbering trees wearing a coat of white,

a sparkling snowflake all star-shaped and happy.

Winter's abyss can be lonely,

I'm grateful for the reminder,

of such peaceful bliss that waits for me

each day if I just pay attention.

The river does what it's supposed to do. It follows the path predetermined for it. There is no resistance. No complaints.

It winds it's way around bends.Swishes and sways to it's own special rhythm. Jumps cliffs if it needs to just to be embraced by the earth once again.

It does all of this with faith, listening to it's true nature. No fear, no second guessing, no worries.  Then true acceptance as it encounters the sea.

How wonderful to live as a river.

Be Colorful

Something I hope to do today...and everyday!

  I made this with magazine scraps (as I love to collage with magazines!) on a piece of printed card stock. So easy and I love how colorful it is.

"Be Here Now"

An unbelievably amazing view from the 'burbs on New Year's morning. I'm gazing west at the Front Range and thinking, "What an amazing way to start a new year!" Reflectively, now that I'm not actually in that moment, but merely looking at a photo of what once was, I'm pondering the frontier of possibilities that lay before me.

It's fairly often, I'm not able to be right where I am with feet firmly planted to the earth below me. I'm always thinking ahead. Always imagining my future in the place where I originally came from. Both places are so different from each other. I haven't given this new place (which really isn't that new anymore) a chance.

I long for what was and neglect where I am right now. It's time for me to be present--really present, here and now. It doesn't mean that I don't love where I came from. And, eventually, I'm sure I'll go back to that beloved land. But I want to be open to all the moments of now. I want to feel the soil on my fingers; experience the open land and the caress of this forest; the generosity and acceptance of the beings who surround me; and be a part of the spirit of this inspiring, intellectual community.

I won't be an island anymore. It no longer serves a purpose. As for the past--it will always be inside me, creating who I evolve to be, never too far away and tenderly awaiting my return.

10 Things

10 things I hope (with all my heart and faith) to accomplish and experience in the coming year:

*  create, sustain, and nurture life with my wonderfully amazing husband (aka...I really want to be a Mom!)
*  pay off credit card debt
*  be a fearless knitter--I will knit fair isle and cables
*  really learn to relax (hence my newest blog www.meltingintooblivion.blogspot.com)
*  find a career I'm passionate about (or at least figure out what that career might be)
*  maximize the space in my tiny townhouse
*  plant a happy garden
*  reconnect with old (and new) friends more often
*  drink more herbal tea
*  write, write, write (good stuff, bad stuff, poetry, whatever...my writer hasn't been out to play in so long, it's time to reemerge!)