creativity

Collective consciousness.

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Do you ever notice how certain things you can’t stop thinking about reveal themselves everywhere you put your attention? In the news, the blog posts you read … those special one-line advertisements at the top of your gmail box?

Social media page advertisements. While you meditate, pray? In casual conversation, email subject lines, forums, random job opportunities … during the exercise that wipes away your stress?

Some say Big Brother is watching us. Others cite the Law of Attraction, the Power of Positive Thinking. Certainly true for someone. Collective consciousness is, well, collective after all. Ask any group of souls repressed for years and years.

I like  Louise Hay‘s advice: “Just notice, and be aware.”

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Out of Africa.

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Over the past weekend, I prepare a meal of beef, adapted from one of Hassan M’Souli’s fabulous  recipes he serves at his restaurant, Out of Africa. Yummy. “Hassan’s decision to leave family and friends behind him brought him to the shores of Sydney – he wanted to be as far away from familiarity as possible – to start an exciting journey in life, in a new and challenging environment…”

… It is Christmas Day, and I am watching the movie, Out of Africa, for the first time. My mom is sitting next to me. Hearing the first note of the late, great John Barry‘s moving soundtrack, my tears flow unchecked. Random experiences like these can touch a person, and it is like this for me now. With silence all around, I hear a loud whisper in my heart and mind, an unexpected connection, an aha moment, a lasting revelation.

Fast forward … “Give me work,” I hear Karen say, joining field workers harvesting coffee beans on her farm …

And I start today.

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Bloom and blush.

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Be my valentine?

Here’s a lovely bloom of desert chicory in the Anza Borrego Desert … for you.

Time for wildflowers in the desert! Experience Nature’s fragile, fragrant blush. Plan your visit with DesertUSA’s Wildflower Reports.

Photo Credit: Flickr, Alan Vernon.

Do you like reading my posts? Why not sign up for an email subscription? You receive a little somthin’-somthin’ to ponder every Tuesday and Thursday.

 

Journey … man to master.

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At what point does an artist move from journeyman to master? Is it the confidence of experience, or position, recognition or satisfaction … ability, skill, knowledge, talent, practice, aptitude – excellence – what makes the difference?

Some live their whole lives as a master in journeyman’s clothing. Is it a question of, value?

I don’t know.

Do you like reading my posts? Why not sign up for an email subscription? You receive a little somthin’-somthin’ to ponder every Tuesday and Thursday.

Artwork by Isaac Salazar

 

Harsh mistress.

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I’m thinking of everyone in the world today. Keeping us in my prayers, as we dig out from impressive snowstorms, witness emotional, life-changing global events … and simply move on through our days. Mother Nature may seem like a harsh mistress at times. Or perhaps a wake-up call.

What can I say that isn’t already said so eloquently by Sting? How fragile we are…


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Bacon and eggs.

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Did your mom ever tell you to start your day right by eating a good breakfast? Mine did … and I spent my college years (and more time than I care to remember) NOT starting my day off right at all.

Mom was probably referring to fueling up for physical energy, but I’ve come to understand the phrase as meaning much more. Now, I start my day right with rituals that fuel my mind, body and soul:

Meditation. I take a little time every morning to simply be. Whatever time I can spare, it’s usually about 15 minutes.

Morning Pages. I practice Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, so I write three pages of “brain drain” in longhand each morning. This takes me about half an hour and it’s amazing what this does for my thinking  process.

Breakfast. I break the evening fast with something to eat every morning. I may be doing other things, too – but Mom is right. It sure helps not feeling hungry on deadline.

Exercise. Because I work freelance, I shift my daily schedule to suit my needs (something anyone can do, really). So I don’t have to get in a daily walk at the crack of dawn. I usually take a break from working with a walk outdoors. If it’s raining (and it is many days here) I walk the 14 stairs in my house.

Accomplishing any one of these rituals could start my day “right,” yet when done all together, they are the bacon and eggs of my day.

And I’m very grateful!

Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons, jeffreyw

 

Do you like reading my posts? Why not sign up for an email subscription? You receive a little somthin’-somthin’ to ponder every Tuesday and Thursday.

 

Uber-Fun.

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There’s a lot of hoopla surrounding the zodiac and horoscopes lately, but it doesn’t change the experience I get from reading Free Will Astrology. Or the inspiration. It’s my little dose of pronoia (the antidote for paranoia), every time I read from Rob Brezsny‘s newsletter or weekly horoscope reading.

This week, Rob tells Sagittarians (among other things), “In the Beauty and Truth Lab parlance, ‘Uber-Fun’ (always capitalized) refers to righteous delight that inspires you to shed limiting beliefs, thereby making you trickier, smarter, kinder, and wilder. Go out and have some Uber-Fun.” It’s his “sacred advertisement” for us archers.

I have to say, Rob only has to tell me this once. And it has nothing to do with what the stars say.

My dad got me interested in the zodiac when I was a little girl. And I’ve been reading my horoscope ever since. I wonder sometimes what he’d think of Free Will Astrology. I know what I think: it’s my constant source of joy and delight. Not to mention Uber-Fun.

Do you like reading my posts? Why not sign up for an email subscription? You receive a little somthin’-somthin’ to ponder every Tuesday and Thursday.

 

Instead of burying the lead.

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When following your dreams, try and stay out of your own way.

So instead of following them … Lead with them.

This requires skill, determination and vision, then scratch the first two and focus on your vision.

And release your attachment to the outcome.

It’s amazing how easy it is to stay out of your own way, then.

 

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Here, let me say that for you.

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Writing the story of a person, business or service is a very personal experience – especially for the writer. To express someone else’s thoughts and ideas accurately, this writer attempts to define the true essence of the subject matter. “What do you really mean?” is the question I answer for myself –and for my clients, pretty much. Then, I get it down on paper using appropriate words, bringing it to life.

The right words, yes … but also, I use format to help tell stories, too. What’s the best way to describe stand-out attributes? Headline? Poem? Long sentence? Music? Picture? Spanish? What kind of feeling lives behind the words? All CAPS? Italic? Bold? How long do I want to hold another’s attention? All these things communicate a thing’s true essence. Especially together, with words. Thoughts and ideas don’t live in a vacuum … can I create an environment in which it can live? Thrive? A moment?

For a writer, this train of thought is second nature. For this writer, at least.

Photo Credit: Flickr, GRwitters

 

What if?

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In our culture, it seems like we’re always looking for “the answer” to life’s big questions.

Who am I? What is my earthly purpose? How can I make ends meet? What makes me happy? …

How stressful is that?

“Live the questions and life will move you into the answers.”

–Deepak Chopra

Sage advice. Even though I don’t know where it can lead, I’m starting to live my questions instead of searching for answers. Like this one: What if?