Looking forward to the pilot Joy of Expression group in two days: Tuesday, Feb. 24th at 7. See DANG website. I hope to go public soon after than on a regular schedule. I need to find a place to hold the meeting, but I trust that will come.
Watching the movie August Rush tonight, I felt the sense of what it's like to follow the "voice" of the heart. In that movie, of course, it was music. Though we may not experience music the way the characters in the movie do, it is my experience that the sound of truth and joy that comes from doing something that pleases us, serves the same purpose--the purpose is to communicate in both sending and reception modes.
My dream through the discussion and mutual sharing in the Joy of Expression groups is to tune our ears to what we love within ourselves about our work, be it drawing, painting, design, modern, oils or whatever style, medium, experience level or technique. We can listen for the trueness of our work and, with that in mind, release any thought or feeling that gets in the way.
About this, I am excited.
Lynn
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
A Coyote Day of Learning
Personal Sharings
Journaling this morning, I pulled a Coyote Medicine Card from Jamie Sam's book (Medicine Cards). Having followed this routine for years, I know that Coyote will bring me it's erratic and, at times, disturbing energy, yet will also give me a good laugh and cause me to look more deeply at all that I do.
Guess what I learned today: I learned about the Foolishness of Fear. What a rare gift. "What fears?" you say. Well let's start with the "Fear of Loneliness." But on second thought, I realized I'm never alone. To be truthful, there aren't always people around, but then, that can be good, too, depending upon who "the people" are. Today brought a dog, the Idea Angels, a U-Haul Storage provider and my apartment's wonderful office helper. I was blessed today.
Then there is the Fear of Scarcity. Egad, and in this time of depression era-remindings of layoffs, low interest rates, high prices and "out of business" signs, the energy of our environment is polluted with Scarcity Fear. Yet, here I am surrounded by abundance for the grass is growing and smiles still show on the lips of the people I do business with. Seems like more folks I come in contact with these days are helpful. And there was feedback about a proposal I wrote that reflected the very message I wanted to communicate. What wonderful, abundant gifts.
Let's not leave out the Fear of Not Being Good Enough . . . to be chosen, to win the prize, or get recognition, when actually I learned to like myself for who I am--perfect for Me. I don't have interest any more in being judged, critiqued, or awarded from outside myself. I have learned to like what I do or redo it until I do like it--whether it's the dishes, writing a story, or sharing a hug. I realized today that I am good enough for me.
What a statement by one who spent most of my life fearing judgments and criticism. It took the discovery that, if I stop criticizing others or judging anyone or anything else, my own fears of these things vaporize. Free of contrasting winners to losers, I focus on what I like and let the rest go to be shared with those who can like it. For are we not all different in what we like? It's not the picture that is good, but whether we like it. Personally I do not care for Mozart, but that doesn't make Mozart's music bad. It means that his music and my ability to hear it are not synchronized for enjoyment. No more nor no less than that.
And so, Coyote was behind all these insights turning lemons into lemonade and fears into learning opportunities. What a guy, huh?
But there is one thing I know for sure today. I like writing my blog as I sense you in my mind, whoever you are. And I'd enjoy hearing back from.
Have a great good day!
Lynn
Journaling this morning, I pulled a Coyote Medicine Card from Jamie Sam's book (Medicine Cards). Having followed this routine for years, I know that Coyote will bring me it's erratic and, at times, disturbing energy, yet will also give me a good laugh and cause me to look more deeply at all that I do.
Guess what I learned today: I learned about the Foolishness of Fear. What a rare gift. "What fears?" you say. Well let's start with the "Fear of Loneliness." But on second thought, I realized I'm never alone. To be truthful, there aren't always people around, but then, that can be good, too, depending upon who "the people" are. Today brought a dog, the Idea Angels, a U-Haul Storage provider and my apartment's wonderful office helper. I was blessed today.
Then there is the Fear of Scarcity. Egad, and in this time of depression era-remindings of layoffs, low interest rates, high prices and "out of business" signs, the energy of our environment is polluted with Scarcity Fear. Yet, here I am surrounded by abundance for the grass is growing and smiles still show on the lips of the people I do business with. Seems like more folks I come in contact with these days are helpful. And there was feedback about a proposal I wrote that reflected the very message I wanted to communicate. What wonderful, abundant gifts.
Let's not leave out the Fear of Not Being Good Enough . . . to be chosen, to win the prize, or get recognition, when actually I learned to like myself for who I am--perfect for Me. I don't have interest any more in being judged, critiqued, or awarded from outside myself. I have learned to like what I do or redo it until I do like it--whether it's the dishes, writing a story, or sharing a hug. I realized today that I am good enough for me.
What a statement by one who spent most of my life fearing judgments and criticism. It took the discovery that, if I stop criticizing others or judging anyone or anything else, my own fears of these things vaporize. Free of contrasting winners to losers, I focus on what I like and let the rest go to be shared with those who can like it. For are we not all different in what we like? It's not the picture that is good, but whether we like it. Personally I do not care for Mozart, but that doesn't make Mozart's music bad. It means that his music and my ability to hear it are not synchronized for enjoyment. No more nor no less than that.
And so, Coyote was behind all these insights turning lemons into lemonade and fears into learning opportunities. What a guy, huh?
But there is one thing I know for sure today. I like writing my blog as I sense you in my mind, whoever you are. And I'd enjoy hearing back from.
Have a great good day!
Lynn
Memories
To my Elder Club
Going down the Coast Highway, I got a feeling that is probably similar to what other elders feel when you “remember” something wonderful from your past, such as the gem-stones of Cambria (California) in the early1960s.
Trying to re-invent the feeling years later, I find the feeling is not the same and things have changed. It is then that I know I can only retrieve the feeling in my memory.
Perhaps that is enough.
Going down the Coast Highway, I got a feeling that is probably similar to what other elders feel when you “remember” something wonderful from your past, such as the gem-stones of Cambria (California) in the early1960s.
Trying to re-invent the feeling years later, I find the feeling is not the same and things have changed. It is then that I know I can only retrieve the feeling in my memory.
Perhaps that is enough.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Release of Creative Work--A Redtail Hawk Release
The first meeting of the Joy of Expression Discussion Group is set for a little over a week from now, scheduled for Tuesday, 2/24/09.
Preparing for this first meeting, I discover that I am eager, anxious, nervous, and hopeful, all at the same time. Providing an atmostphere that will let others open to sharing with "like kind" about hopes and dreams as well as worries and concerns means a lot to me. On the one hand I want to get the opportunity right. On the other hand, I know that to truly honor the people who come, I must take my hands off the control stick and let happen what will happen with only a slight nudge here or there to keep us on track.
It's always been a struggle to release the more sensitive, creative work that I love into the world. And it would seem that I have not yet gotten used to the idea. I'm no better at releasing outcomes now than I was in my early years. But, since I really want to open this opportunity to others as well as myself, I'll do it, fear and trepidation aside.
I'm reminded of a time when I was a volunteer at the Heard Museum Raptor Rehabilitation Center in McKinney Texas. The last day I was there, I was given an opportunity to release a redtail hawk back into the wild after months of rehabilitation. I'd fist fed the bird and come to appreciate its vulnerability as well as its true wild nature.
The hawk's talons securely curled over my leather gloved forearm, I leaned out over the edge of a cliff, gently swung my arm upward and away from my body and mentally released the bird in my mind. For a moment he did not fly--not until I said in my heart and mind, "Fly, you beautiful creature, fly."
Off he soared, drifting gently side to side as if he'd never been wounded, vulnerable, or dependent on us humans. I hope in the creative group that, like the hawk, each person, with care, support, and belief, will release the works from the depth of their nature to soar to their rightful place in the world.
So be it,
Lynn
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