Creative Explorations

2010-10-29T08:57:00.000-04:00

My blog is moving! Now my blog and my business are all together. So come on over and enjoy my postings at http://www.explorationsincreativity.com/blog/

Oaks Zen Rocks

2010-10-23T10:28:00.002-04:00

Last Sunday I sat in the warmth of the sun and looked out at this image. I felt such peace and serenity. I felt so good that I spent the day sitting with my friend doing art. What a wonderful day to enjoy before the cold of fall and winter are upon us. I felt as if all was balanced in my life. I felt blessed to be able to be here and enjoy this moment. Much of the rest of my week was very different- filled with a lot of stress and pressure. Pressure to do do do for work and school. Stress and pressure from other people outside of myself who unfortunately can impact your life. I became sick from all of the stress. Sick and angry that other people are not doing the right thing. Angry that other people and their dysfunctional behaviors can effect me and my life. What don't other people stand up for themselves or their family members? Why can't other people be responsible and do the right thing? I am so tired of drama and excuses. I am so tired of living a life that is all about doing things that I do not want to do. What can be controlled and what is out of our control? Is it about trusting that everything is going to be ok. Is it trusting in other people to do the right thing when they typically stick their head in the sand to avoid life and situations? Is it about acceptance? I lost my balance. I lost what I know to be the balance in my life... Am I codependent and sensitive? Here is what I read in my daily spiritual guide for today October 23:
If you find yourself in a situation which is hard to accept and love, there is always something you can do about it if you want to: for as you go into the silence and seek Me, I will shed the light of truth on the situation. I will reveal to you why you are where you are, and why you are doing what you are doing. You may be sure that there is a very good reason for it and that there are vitally important lessons to be learnt. Until you change your attitude and learn to love where you are, who you are with and what you are doing, you will have to remain in that situation. As soon as those lessons have been learnt and you truly love what you are doing and do it wholeheartedly for Me and My sake, then you will move on to something else. Watch love open all doors for you.

outside

2010-10-23T10:09:00.002-04:00

This is an image from the bark of an old tree at the Oaks. It reminds me of all of the things we have experienced. The outside image of ourselves is the same way. What is the image you show other people? What is it about our outside appearances that are so important. I think who you are on the inside is what matters most but much of society is so focused on the outside. What does is matter how beautiful or handsome someone is if they are a jerk. Why does society put so much emphasis on this? Are we all worried what everyone else thinks of us? What about who we really are? What do we see and feel when we look in the mirror each night. What is of value to you? At this point in my life your looks and body are nice to look at but I need so much more. I need to talk, relate and connect to other people. If I cannot do that then I do not care what you look like. I need depth, honesty and real people in my life. Why do people pretend to be someone different then who they really are? Are they ashamed about who they are? Why can't you be real? This bark has seen and lived through so much and it's beauty and character are created by all of these experiences. Can you be who you are? Can you be real? Who can you be real with? Men? Women? Family? Spouse? It is great to find out who you are and to be comfortable with yourself. I have no time for phony people. Can you show the world your real outside bark of who you are based on all of your experiences? Do you have to make yourself up to be loved by others. I am not against makeup or trying to look good and make the best of yourself. I am tired of having to do or be something or someone I am not. I do not have time. I think part of my own beauty is being authentic and I value this in others. I know who I am and have done a lot of work to figure out who I am and what makes me happy. I do not have time for living someone else's life. It is time to embrace who I am and what I love and let the other things go.

My first letter to Politicians

2010-10-16T08:56:00.002-04:00

October 16, 2010

Dear Suzi Oppenheimer,

I am writing to bring to your attention the reality of the concerned New Yorkers and the issues within the community. I am a fifty year old woman who has lived here most of her life and has paid bills, taxes, mortgage, rent, food, entertainment etc. I have grown up in a people business and providing goods and services to customers and clients in one form or another to earn a living.
My standard of living continues to decrease because there are less and less customers in the Westchester and Long Island region. My career in electronic hardware sales for the last twenty years has become increasingly difficult because most of the manufacturing has left New York. In the early 1990’s there were many OEM companies here who were able to employ many people. Each of these OEM’s provided the workforce with manufacturing, office staff and management jobs. Due to high taxes and the cost of living here these companies had to leave and find cheaper labor and manufacturing costs. Most of these companies are now in China and we have seen this trend throughout the country.
Since the downturn in the economy about two years ago, I have had to spend less and less money. We used to socialize over dinner and wine and now most of the time we have cut a lot of that out. We used to shop and buy clothes but with less money we spend less on clothes and home goods. We continue to live with less and less to get by. The dream of owning your own home has become more and more of a burden to afford the high prices and taxes. We stopped spending money on holiday gifts because we just do not have it. People are forced to leave their homes because they can no longer afford them. People are spending less money and just trying to survive and it does not appear as though government is doing anything to attract new businesses in New York. I love NY and NYC museums but now the cost of the train and food makes it more difficult to spend a day in the city.
This letter is not a sob story; it is a wake up call for the working people and what is going to come of this. Many people are in the same boat and there is less consumer spending on goods and entertainment. For many years, I have worked on my own to continue my education and find new ways to support myself. I went back to school at night and earned my BS in SUNY schools. I am attending a Masters program in NY to change careers and find new ways to employ myself. I have started my own business to promote my own services so I do not have to rely on anyone else to provide employment. The problem is that other people also do not have any business either and then I cannot sell them anything. If other people to not have expendable income then they cannot pay for my programs for their children. If there is less and less funding to programs, there is less and less jobs and the cycle continues. What do we need to do to change this downward spiral? We are looking to you as our leaders to make decisions for all of us and our futures. It appears as through the rich are getting richer and the middle class is slipping away and nothing is being done about it. It appears as though the rising cost of living in NY is just getting worse not better. I hope that you can make changes for the people and our future instead of just improving your own financial situation.

Thank you, Ann Marie DeLuca

CEREMONIAL PLATE DEPICTING CYBELE

2010-10-13T21:20:00.003-04:00

THIS WAS AT AN EXHIBIT AT THE MET LAST YEAR AND I WAS REALLY TAKEN BY THIS PLATE AND THE IMAGERY WHICH INSPIRIED MY OWN ART WORK. THIS WAS IN THE TREASURES FROM AFGANISTAN EXHIBIT.

proverb

2010-10-02T13:32:00.001-04:00

Just when the caterpiller thought the world was over, it became a butterfly....

The questions

2010-10-02T07:44:00.002-04:00

We can easily practice peace during the wonderful moments in life but yoga asks us to equally embrace the difficult moments.
Santosa asks us to be still with faith...an open mind and an open heart.
Where does your mind go when things are going well? Where does your mind go when things are hard? Can the moment be enough?

change

2010-10-02T07:41:00.003-04:00

When you feel reluctant to change think of Autumn.

Inspiration

2010-09-06T19:59:00.002-04:00

Recently I was in Woodstock and a friend invited me to stay in this wonderful cottage called the Blue Pearl. I was so inspired by the woman who owns it. I was inspired to create. There were so many things in this cottage that she bought or found and made it into something wonderful. This reminds me of my friend Paco. He always had this talent of finding things at a garage sale and turning it into a wonderful creation. I think I used to be more like that.... I think I want to be like that again. I am so excited to redecorate. I am so excited since this trip I have been moving things around and putting things away. I am not buying anything but I am transforming my home. I have so many ideas to be creative. I used to use the term "fun finds" for the items I found at tag sales. What a joy to find somethings that I can transform into something wonderful. Thank you I am so happy to be inspired again....

It is all about me....

2010-09-06T19:41:00.002-04:00

What is it about? Everywhere I go I feel like people act as if it is all about them....I find this totally annoying... Must I listen to your conversations on your cell phone everywhere? Must I deal with annoying people who think the world revolves around them? Do I need to remind people that there is someone else here? Do people think they are so important or are they afraid they are not important at all? Locally in NY I find myself wondering about people often... Are they really so self absorbed? Why do people get like this? Do they really think they are so good looking or great? Why are you starring at yourself in the mirror so often? This concerns me... Why am I even trying to get your attention because it is always about you and that is such a lonely place for me.....I had to stop and take this picture when I saw it. Can it ever be about me? Or is there no place for me in your relationship with yourself? If it is not about me on my birthday or a special occasion... will it ever be about me? I think I know the answer....Self importance, self esteem, self absorption.... what is this all about? It is so boring to listen to you talk about yourself all the time.....Must I try to pretend I care about all of these minute details of your life and interests. Do you think everyone cares? Or maybe you think no one cares so you have to act like I child jumping up and down screaming notice me, pay attention to me, I am great see. If you have to prove it all the time it feels like something is out of balance.

Montauk sunset

2010-09-06T19:38:00.003-04:00

I spent a lot of time in Montauk this summer. This photo was taken from my Blackberry so it it not great but may be able to give you a glimpse of a wonderful sunset while just driving by.....

endings and beginnings

2010-09-06T19:01:00.005-04:00

This weekend my uncle died and I got to see my cousins who have been very significant in my life. It is a strange time of sadness and endings. Most of all the uncles and aunts have now passed. We are now the aunts and uncles, parents and for some grandparents. What happened? How did this happen so quickly? Life passes much to quickly and I am guilty of getting caught up in the small stuff. I get upset, hurt, sad, angry and disappointed. I also feel happy, grateful, joy, love, appreciation, fear. I have hopes and dreams. I am afraid to put too much emphasis on any hopes and dreams because I do not want to be disappointed again. I am learning to allow things to happen and unfold. This does not come easy, I love to plan. I am learning to let go of expectations.....I want to enjoy more, have more fun, relax and be. I want to be that artist who lives inside of me. I walked by an old barn on the way to a music festival and thought I would like a barn like that to paint in. What are the paths to follow? All choices lead you in a direction.... What direction do I feel confident following? I am familiar with the way I have been ... I yearn to be free and explore new horizons but I am afraid to let go of what I know. For many years I have stories of letting go of one branch and the next appears. I have always been afraid to let go of the branch I know..... I am tired of this holding on to the familiar that no longer works... I am afraid of the path I do not know but I get the distinct feeling it is time. I have been trying to live the questions. I have been trying to figure out what I really value... Is it what my parents told me I value or do I have different values and now it is time to walk forward and trust myself. Time to trust and have faith.... faith in myself.... trust myself... honor myself and stop waiting for others to give me what I have inside of me already. What do I look outside for approval and recognition? I have lived my life alone until now and it has been an interesting journey... keep stepping forward and the next step shows up.......

freedom and exploring

2010-09-06T18:53:00.002-04:00

What does freedom mean? What are the boundaries in your life? What feels good? What things feed your spirit and what things make you want to shut down? Who are the people that honor you? Who are the people who go out of their way to be your friend? Who really listens to you? Who believes in you? Who encourages you to grow? What types of environments help to make you feel good?

each child is a unique gift and should be honored

2010-09-06T18:49:00.001-04:00

new beginnings

2010-09-06T18:20:00.002-04:00

Fall, back to school and my birthday always bring up reminders for me about how I want to live my life. What do I want to let go of? What do I want to create? What inspires me? This year I found that my birthday held much more significance. I recently read a story of a man who figured out how many Saturdays he had left in his life and he bought 1000 marbles for 1000 Saturdays he had left. Each week he removed a marble and was reminded of the significance of each week. Saturdays in the past may have meant cleaning out the garage or mowing the lawn but with this new perspective each Saturday was much more important. How he spent it and who he spent it with was now vitally important especially as the marbles were decreasing in the jar. This may seem intense as I often seem to some people but I am now reminding myself to live my life according to my values. Spend time with the people I love and care about. Spend my time doing things I love not standing on the sidelines waiting and watching other people live. On my Birthday weekend I visited Jackson Pollocks house/studio in East Hampton and heard stories of his life with his wife Lee Krasner who was also an artist. It was great to see the remaining dried paint drips on the floor of the studio. I also met a woman who teaches painting to children on the property and photographed the art of the students. Each child and each person have a unique contribution to make in their life time. I love to see how each child expresses themselves with these drip paintings. I never met the children because just the art was left behind with wet paint when I arrived. Each child's perspective is unique and should be honored for their own spirit. This is my path in life to share from my experience and allow each child to shine and share their vision and perspective through art. I want to help them explore who they are. I want to allow them to be themselves and flourish. I want to explore more of who I am through art and creativity. I want to leave my mark in this universe through my art and sharing. I love children and teens and recently I have had a personal experience of getting to know 2 young woman and sharing stories and inspirations has had really deep meaning for me. This is my mission and my journey and I hope to share more and have deeper more meaningful relationships with the people in my life. When you can be open and honest and share who you are, a deeper relationship is established and these types of deeper meaningful relationships touch my heart and inspire me to continue on my journey and know my truth. This also allows me to trust and have faith in the journey.

reminder

2010-07-25T08:30:00.001-04:00

An Excerpt from The Dash
by Linda Ellis

While it still amazes me, a simple poem I wrote one afternoon forever changed my life. It all began when I faxed a copy of this poem to a syndicated radio show in Atlanta. Soon after receiving it, the host of this popular show read it on the air. Little did I know how much my life would change from that day forward. Titled The Dash, these 36 lines have touched millions of lives and have literally taken on a life of their own by traveling all over the world. I call it uncomplicated poetry in a complicated world.

People are always asking me what, in particular, inspired me to write this poem. I believe it was a combination of things in my life at the time. It was during a period when I was working for the top executives of a very large and successful corporation. It was a strict company with a tense working environment.

I began to watch how the priorities in many lives there had become misaligned. It seemed to me that the bosses were worrying far too much about that which was inconsequential in the scope of life.

Also, resonating in the back of my mind were the words from a letter which had been previously routed around the office. It had been written by the wife of an employee who was aware that she was dying. I was so moved by that letter that I saved a copy of it and continue to live by her words:

Regrets? I have a few. Too much worrying. I worried about finding the right husband and having children, being on time, being late and so on. It didn't matter. It all works out and it would have worked out without the worries and the tears.

If I would have only known then what I know now. But, I did and so do you. We're all going to die. Stop worrying and start loving and living.

Her words stuck with me. Her letter made me stop and think. This is it. This is all we get.

I remember where I was when I first truly realized the significance of the piece that I had written. I was on a business trip in Minnesota, alone in a hotel room. I received an emotional email thanking me for sharing the message of the Dash from a student who had recently heard it as part of a memorial gathering for the Columbine High School students. I sat on the bed and cried.

Several years later, I found myself engulfed in the thoughts and feelings created by my own words as I listened to them read aloud, for what seemed like the very first time, at the funeral of my father...my best friend.

From being performed in an elementary school play somewhere in the heartland of America to being part of a State Supreme Court Justice's speech, from being printed in best-selling novels to high school yearbooks, The Dash has truly affected millions. I may not be able to change the world with these words, but I have certainly been able to influence a portion of it! The poem's words have convinced mothers to spend more time with their children, fathers to spend more time at home, and reunited long-lost loved ones.

The words have changed attitudes, and changed the direction of lives. They have, in their own way, made a difference. I know writing The Dash has changed my life. I hope reading it, in some way, may change yours.

translucent vase of flowers

2010-07-13T20:41:00.000-04:00

vase of flowers

2010-07-13T20:40:00.001-04:00

flowers

2010-07-13T20:38:00.002-04:00

inspired by Emil Nolde

2010-07-13T20:38:00.001-04:00

inspired by water

2010-07-13T20:34:00.001-04:00

playing with colors

2010-07-13T20:33:00.000-04:00

painting at the beach in Rye

2010-07-13T20:31:00.000-04:00

inspired by flowers

2010-07-13T20:30:00.000-04:00

flowers inspired by Georgia OKeefe

2010-07-13T20:28:00.000-04:00

exploring with colors

2010-07-13T20:27:00.000-04:00

summer flowers

2010-07-05T19:52:00.000-04:00

north shore rocks

2010-07-05T19:48:00.002-04:00

I just discovered a new wonderful place that I had never been before- Springs! This is a community where the abstract expressionists began. I was immediately moved by the quiet isolated beach where rocks and shells are piled up on the shore. Beauty and simplicity in nature. Places that make you say AHHHH and stay a while until the next time this will be a vacation in my mind of quiet time alone at a beach where I could be in touch and at peace.

swan

2010-07-05T19:37:00.002-04:00

Sometimes what we want and need may be difficult to reach. Sometimes you really have to stick your neck out to get what you want. It is not always easy but here is where you figure out what you really want and need and see how willing you are to work for it! This beautiful swan is in this murky pond and finding any food seems like a challenge. I think this is like life, you have to work hard at the things that really matter to you. Some things fall into place and you may feel lucky or in the flow. At times I like to let things evolve, trust and allow things to work out for the best. Sometimes it is hard to trust and have faith especially when you are trusting others. Seek and you shall find. Put you intentions out there and trust that they are already working out. At times I get all caught up and uptight about trusting others and trusting life to work out for the best. At other times I feel more balanced and know that they are already working out for the best and remind myself that everything is going to be OK.

berries

2010-07-05T19:35:00.001-04:00

memories

2010-07-01T07:21:00.001-04:00

relaxing at Espo's

2010-07-01T07:19:00.000-04:00

flower at the castle

2010-06-10T12:45:00.000-04:00

symbol at the castle entrance

2010-06-10T12:44:00.000-04:00

windows

2010-06-10T12:42:00.000-04:00

central park close up

2010-06-10T12:40:00.001-04:00

path to the beach

2010-06-10T12:38:00.000-04:00

star

2010-06-04T11:53:00.002-04:00

Stars symbolize many different things depending on your cultural and religious background. Generally stars light the way in the dark. Often children are given stars for excellent behavior and achievement. Stars stand out to shine and be recognized. Stars guide the way through the dark of night or the desert. When you have stars in your eyes are you seeing clearly? Perhaps I want to feel or be treated like I am a star? What does a star mean to you?

emotional rollar coaster

2010-06-04T11:52:00.000-04:00

going in a different direction

2010-06-04T11:51:00.000-04:00

leaf

2010-06-04T11:50:00.000-04:00

awareness

2010-06-04T11:49:00.000-04:00

Ditch splash

2010-06-04T11:09:00.000-04:00

morning mist

2010-06-04T11:08:00.000-04:00

sunset

2010-06-04T11:07:00.000-04:00

Goddess of Healing

2010-05-27T17:27:00.003-04:00

This image was created in my medical art therapy class for a final project. The center figure was a statue that I edited in photo shop and the blue reminded me of healing. I was inspired by a plate that was in the MET on loan from Afghanistan for this exhibition last year. Cybele on a plate riding in her chariot inspired this creation. I used torn pieces of beautiful papers I found with metallic threads running through some of the papers. I am inspired by these woman in history and art. I am inspired to live my life sharing these gifts with others.

Goddess of Nature

2010-05-27T17:23:00.002-04:00

I love nature and have always enjoyed just being in nature for walks or taking photographs. I can be and I can listen in nature. I am at peace in nature. This image came from a calendar and I just felt it was important to add texture and metalics to enhance this image.

yoga collage

2010-05-27T17:08:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I feel that I can express what I feel better with images than I can with words. Sometimes it is difficult to find the words to share how much someone or something has touched you. This mandala is about yoga and my experience doing yoga for many years and also why I feel so passionate about sharing this with other people.

courage

2010-05-27T16:53:00.001-04:00

This image is from Glenn Island Park and I walk by it all the time and look up. I am reminded of the courage I have and I need each day to face challenges and obstacles. Courage to believe I will be ok no matter what happens. Courage to face difficult situations and know that I can handle it, face it and move through it with success. I think I have courage when it comes to business or walking up to people but in many other ways I need to embody courage and faith in myself.

Not my art 2 @ GAGA

2010-05-23T13:27:00.002-04:00

I think we are drawn to images and these images perhaps reflect our feelings. I was in awe of this massive stone in the creek at GAGA because after carving my small 30lb stone I saw this as an amazing undertaking. The image of this stone face perhaps expressing something I felt but could not articulate.

water fall

2010-05-23T13:25:00.000-04:00

drops

2010-05-23T13:21:00.002-04:00

During a recent class in imagery and transformation we sat quietly and listened to music and as symbols came into our awareness we created with these images. I began with drops of water and the theme of drops became an image for me to work with for a while in order to see and learn what this image had to teach me. The drops became tears and even perhaps drops of blood. I used this imagery to create this water color painting.

color

2010-05-23T13:17:00.002-04:00

Color often can describe a feeling that you may not be able to express in words. I intuitively choose colors in my art and simply just pick what color seems to speak to me as I sit in front of the paper.

the shadow

2010-05-22T08:09:00.002-04:00

There is a lot of talk about our shadow or darker side. I think as an artist I am able to explore these feelings and express them in a healthy way. At times I want to run and at times I want to blame others or run away but by facing and embracing the shadow you learn a lot about yourself and I also think it helps you to face a lot of things. My teacher always said when you are afraid of something go towards it, face it and you gain your power back.

rocks at the botanical gardens

2010-05-22T08:03:00.001-04:00

wedding flowers at botanical garden

2010-05-22T07:56:00.002-04:00

As I walked down the isle at the botanical gardens alone I was reminded of all the dreams, fantasies, fairy tales and illusions told to young girls about weddings and living happily ever after. As I sat there in silence I saw other young women come and do the same walk down the isle as if we were all programed for this special event. For some it happens for others it may have been an illusion. I think the message for me was you are ok just the way you are.....

Botanical Garden

2010-05-22T07:53:00.000-04:00

peace in nature

2010-05-22T07:50:00.000-04:00

Botanical Garden

2010-05-22T07:45:00.000-04:00

stone images

2010-05-22T07:43:00.000-04:00

daily self expressions

2010-05-22T07:42:00.000-04:00

daily art images

2010-05-22T07:38:00.000-04:00

sun down

2010-05-21T13:30:00.000-04:00

Sun setting at Glenn Island

2010-05-21T13:29:00.000-04:00

sometimes there is a path

2010-05-21T13:27:00.000-04:00

stone at Glenn Island

2010-05-21T13:26:00.000-04:00

NOT my art @GAGA

2010-05-21T13:24:00.001-04:00

Industrial view at GAGA

2010-05-21T13:21:00.000-04:00

Imagery and Transformation

2010-05-21T13:20:00.000-04:00

the unexpected in nature

2010-05-21T13:18:00.000-04:00

Marshlands

2010-05-21T13:17:00.000-04:00

lake minnwaska

2010-05-21T13:15:00.000-04:00

Ganesha

2010-05-21T13:13:00.001-04:00

Ditch

2010-05-21T13:11:00.000-04:00

things are getting brighter

2010-05-21T13:10:00.000-04:00

collage with Sophie

2010-05-21T13:09:00.000-04:00

self expression

2010-05-21T13:06:00.000-04:00

quote

2009-08-08T18:31:00.002-04:00

I think most of the spiritual life is really a matter of relaxing- letting go, ceasing to cling, ceasing to insist on our own way, ceasing to tense ourselves up for this or against that.
Beatrice Bruteau in Radical Optimism

Tree meeting and merging with other trees

2009-08-08T18:23:00.001-04:00

Healing Goddess

2009-08-08T18:20:00.001-04:00

Glen Island Landscape

2009-08-08T18:18:00.000-04:00

botanical gardens- flowering tree

2009-08-08T18:15:00.000-04:00

family and friends tree of life

2009-08-08T18:12:00.001-04:00

tree series

2009-08-08T18:08:00.001-04:00

twisted branch

2009-08-08T11:37:00.001-04:00

hole in tree

2009-08-08T11:31:00.001-04:00

This tree was created in phototherapy

Pepsico sculptures and the Goddess of Nature

2009-08-08T11:25:00.002-04:00

I love to walk at Pepsico and each year there seem to be new sculptures that speak to me. For many years it was the people and the women goddeses made from car parts. Now I seem to walk in the opposite direction and found new images that speak to me. Eve is she embracing herself or hiding? The metal mandala. I love walking at Pepsico and being reminded about my love or art and nature.

mandala flower

2009-03-08T20:42:00.001-04:00

cat eye in heart

2009-03-08T20:35:00.003-04:00

I am not sure of the meaning of this. I did look at the symbols and their meaning for eye and heart which said:
heart- source of illumination and happiness
eye- understanding, clairvoyance, light hidden within darkness

2009-02-21T10:17:00.002-05:00

'Nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit than a secure future. There is no greater joy then to have an endlessly changing horizon.' -Alex McCandless

definition of how I see myself and my work

2009-02-09T09:22:00.002-05:00

Cathy A. Malchiodi wrote "to be appreciated for what we know best- that the creative process of art making is healing and life enhancing and that all people can benefit from the therapeutic potential of the visual arts".

passion and confusion

2009-01-04T17:40:00.003-05:00

I was reminded about all the tools I have and know already, I do not have to seek out side of myself except for reminders at times....
From Meditiations from the Mat book, day 1:
A spiritual practice is one that brings us full circle- not to a new self but, rather, back to the essence of our true selves. Yoga is a practice of celebrating what is. At the end of a hero's journey he finds that he did not need to go anywhere, that all he sought was inside him all along. Dorothy, having traveled across both time and space to the land of OZ, and struggled desperatly to find her way back to Kansas, discovers that she could have gone home at anytime. In the end, she learns that her adventures have simply brought her to the point where she believes this. It is the aim of all spiritual seeking to bring us home, home to the understanding that we already have everything we need.............

hiding my feelings

2008-12-19T17:10:00.000-05:00

Francesca my doll

2008-12-19T17:08:00.000-05:00

heart song students

2008-12-19T17:07:00.000-05:00

Breast cancer workshop in class

2008-12-19T17:06:00.002-05:00

2008-12-19T17:04:00.000-05:00

2008-11-27T10:00:00.001-05:00

Looking at life with soft pink eyes

2008-11-27T09:53:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving.... Being grateful for the friends, family and life that I already have.

2008-11-13T16:47:00.002-05:00

CNR, I have begun my journey into art therapy/counseling. I hope to photograph and post some of my art work shortly. It has been a wonderful and difficult process of discovery and finding balance. School, work, yoga, friends, family it has been hard to do it all and things have suffered because of this. I think my social life has suffered the most. The art projects are wonderful, the papers are challening. Then there is my field work at Heartsong; I do art therapy with children with special needs. I was afraid and resistant at the beginning but I really like these kids and the program. I am hoping to work there through the spring. Next year I hope to get an internship with teens. All and all it has been good and I think I am growing but cannot really be sure it could be stress and anxiety and learning to balance them all.