When we come into rhythm with ourselves the false burdens fall away – John O’Donohue

One of the great gifts I received from the Artist’s Way came unexpectedly from the artist date. A block of time we pencil into our diary for our self. We date our inner artist in stimulating and playful ways and it is a solitary exercise. This means no one goes on the date but you!

An artist date could be a walk through a field, a trip to the movies, a puppet show, or hunting through a bargain store to buy your inner child a piece of senseless treasure.

Many blessings have come from dates with my camera. I have always adored photography but have no formal training, just a gift for observation and an eye for detail.

I find that photography is holistic in nature. It is a creative form of meditation and expression that forces me to slow down and pay attention to the details. From this artful date I realised that I have an inherent gift for capturing the rhythm of nature. Read the rest of this entry »

We restore dignity by making choices that are healthy and sustaining for our self. In making healthy choices, we honour what is right for us.

One of the most empowering things I can do for myself is admit that I am not perfect, I am human and I make mistakes.

Success arrives when action meets with opportunity. When we set small achievable goals, we set up the energy of action, we affirm to the universe that we are receptive to opportunity.

We restore dignity when we set our self small achievable goals and follow through on them eg. clean out the wardrobe; do morning pages every day this week.

I restore my dignity when I stop living my life according to what other people expect from me and start honouring what is best for my self.

This begins when I allow myself to say no; when I allow myself to feel; when I listen to the guidance of a higher power.

Starting from today I allow myself to heal. I allow myself to move on from old behaviour and problems. This opens up the space for success in my life. Success cannot arrive if there is no room for it to manifest.

Today I feel deserving of the very best life has to offer. I breath this affirmation into the very core of my being.

I believe my higher power wants the very best for me and trust that I will be lead into it. I do not have to struggle or fight for it. Read the rest of this entry »

 
May you recognize in your life the presence, power and light of your soul.

May you realize that you are never alone that your soul in its brightness and belonging connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.

May you have respect for your own individuality and difference.

May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique, that you have a special destiny here that behind the facade of your life there is something beautiful, good and eternal happening.

May you learn to see your self with the same delight, pride and expectation with which God sees you in every moment.

John O’donohue

Retreating in silence, I can listen with my heart. Connected to my own rhythm, my own schedule, I sense the power and essence of my spirit – Kazi

I am always in awe of the clarity and perspective to be gained simply by withdrawing.

The process of withdrawing is alchemical, it fosters nurturing and is feminine and intuitive in nature.

Retreating into silence ignites the spark of creativity and is one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves.

I do Vipassana on a regular basis – a retreat into ten days of meditation and silence. It is a time for deep communion with self and spirit. By the end of the 10 days my spiritual senses are incredibly heightened, I hear and feel the resonance of God in all things and I find myself overflowing with the passion to create.

Withdrawing into silence however, does not require 10 days of meditation, we don’t always have the luxury of time on our hands. A spiritual retreat can be a walk on the beach or sitting quietly under a tree.

Every person needs a retreat, a “dynamo” of silence, where he may go for the exclusive purpose of being newly recharged by the Infinite – Paramahansa Yogananda

It is my belief that we become receptive vehicles for creative energy when we are still. It is important to learn how to be idle, it is a psychological necessity. Idleness provides us with the space to contemplate and discover who we are, how we think and how we participate in the world.

In order to retrieve your creativity, you need to find it. The morning pages are the primary tool of creative recovery. -
Julia Camerson

I sometimes find it difficult to sit and do morning pages when there is so much creative ’stuff’ that I want to launch into. And yet I know I must discipline myself to sit quietly and write my three pages. It is essential that I write the crap out of my head before I start my day.

In doing so I gain clarity and focus. My thoughts are no longer pursuing or striving, they sit still, they have had their say on the page and now in their absence I become mindful of a deeper silence. I am free to receive inspiration, free to receive direction from the great creator and producer of life.

In this state I have witnessed remarkable work flow through me. It is not of my doing. I have simply learn’t how to become receptive. Read the rest of this entry »