slowly cracking the door open – let the light out
It seems like a lot of us struggle with showing up and sharing who we are. There isn’t a shortage of books, coaches, workshops, personality tests and strategies of how to be in the world. But the challenge is squarely on our shoulders to face ourselves and choose the guidance we need.
I continue to learn how to open the door and share the light
unearthing the treasure within
The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. Fear of the unknown is our greatest fear. Many of us would enter a tiger’s lair before we would enter a dark cave. While caution is a useful instinct, we lose many opportunities and much of the adventure of life if we fail to support the curious explorer within us.
Joseph Campbell
Holding opposing feelings and ideas at the same time
Life can be beautiful. Life can be ugly. Both are true, but I’m not sure all people know how to live with these facets of life, or even how to live with two or more conflicting beliefs, ideas or emotions at the same time.
As I hold my brush, my intention is always to come to balance. As my brush moves, I allow it to create a rhythm and flow, almost like the rhythm of breathing during meditation. At first it’s distracted, irregular; even chaotic. The goal is to allow it to become even and intentional, yet effortless.
Using art in the broad sense of the word is a way for emotions not to get stuck in our bodies. Check out how others expressed on my Ideas +
My question to all is how do we live in the fine balance between complete devastation to joy? How do we handle simultaneously the difficult and joyous?
My answer is to use the tools of art and movement to — as I call it — practice pausing.
#artheals #practicepausing #artjournal
Does choosing a color make a difference in what I paint?
When I come to the plain white piece of paper, I start out similar to how I begin a meditation. First I follow my breath. Then I may choose a color depending on what’s on mind or in my heart at that moment.
When I hold my brush I try to make the brush an extension of my inhale and exhale as I paint. My hope is to always come to balance and calm, even if I am maintaining the tension of opposing feelings.
Today my thought was, “What does the color of calm and balance look like?” Maybe “balance” looks like the color of an inhale and exhale. For me the color of balance and calm is a shade of blue.
We’ve all heard the phrase, come to your breath. I think it means focusing on your breath to achieve balance and calm.
Today balance and calm look like this:
#artheals #practicepausing
uncovering the light
Children are beginners at life. I view them as little balls of light and energy, and wonder.
As we get older and life wears us down, things change in our approach to life. We all walk around covering up our childlike wonder with metaphorical clothing so heavy the only way to get through it, is if it gets torn or rips. We have all gotten so good at covering up the light of our childlike wonder with all the pain that comes from life.
Maybe we should try and let the light shine. When the light gets uncovered, instead of trying to hide the light, let it remain uncovered. (see last post)
uncovering the light
