A moonlit path on the water resonates with the artwork I just finished. May this blessing be so for you this week:
Beannacht
On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.
And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.
~ John O'Donohue
Van Gogh's boat
Van Gogh's Boattextured acrylic on board
original artwork by Kel, © 2009
Continuing my experiments with textured acrylic painting, elements of this one remind me of the swirls and colours used by Van Gogh. So of course it had to be Van Gogh's boat!
It's actually quite hard to capture the texture in a photo. If you click on the image and open the larger pic, it's a bit more visible.
It's actually quite hard to capture the texture in a photo. If you click on the image and open the larger pic, it's a bit more visible.
Not sure where the boat is going. Actually, perhaps it's heading into a dark and stormy night . . .
She works hard for the money . . .
Australia has become the first country in the world to raise interest rates since the start of the global financial crisis. With more rate rises on the horizon promising increased mortgage repayments, alternative income sources are a good thing.
Having passed my probation employment period at the gallery with flying colours, I was given a pay rise. While that's very nice, when the job is only allocated 18 hours, it still doesn't amount to much more in the pocket. An increase in hours is on the cards, but yet to be finalised with the committee of management. The ideal would be 3x8hr days, which would involve not much more effort than the 3x6hr days I'm already doing.
As far as my studio work, the next few months are notoriously slow for creative workshops. People tend to go a little berserk over a 24hr period called Christmas, which renders them incapable of spending money or time on anything else until February. Pondering the idea of creating some pieces to sell for Christmas . . .
There's been some wins with my freelance writing of late. Based on my blog of the same name, I wrote a feature article which is being published in three magazines – one in USA, one in the UK, and Australia. So those payments will drop into the account in time for Christmas. Nice!
I've just had an article published which you have read here. And after a few attempts, I finally cracked Readers Digest! They are publishing a humorous article of mine about camping; and another mag is publishing a story of my close encounter with bats.
For as long as I can remember, I've always had more than one source of income. There's usually the main source, then a reasonable 2nd, then a hobby 3rd.
How about you? Do you have "something on the side" as an extra income? Perhaps you're like me and have something on the left side and the right!
Having passed my probation employment period at the gallery with flying colours, I was given a pay rise. While that's very nice, when the job is only allocated 18 hours, it still doesn't amount to much more in the pocket. An increase in hours is on the cards, but yet to be finalised with the committee of management. The ideal would be 3x8hr days, which would involve not much more effort than the 3x6hr days I'm already doing.
As far as my studio work, the next few months are notoriously slow for creative workshops. People tend to go a little berserk over a 24hr period called Christmas, which renders them incapable of spending money or time on anything else until February. Pondering the idea of creating some pieces to sell for Christmas . . .
There's been some wins with my freelance writing of late. Based on my blog of the same name, I wrote a feature article which is being published in three magazines – one in USA, one in the UK, and Australia. So those payments will drop into the account in time for Christmas. Nice!
I've just had an article published which you have read here. And after a few attempts, I finally cracked Readers Digest! They are publishing a humorous article of mine about camping; and another mag is publishing a story of my close encounter with bats.
For as long as I can remember, I've always had more than one source of income. There's usually the main source, then a reasonable 2nd, then a hobby 3rd.
How about you? Do you have "something on the side" as an extra income? Perhaps you're like me and have something on the left side and the right!
Blessing 10.4
Here is the second instalment in Xfacta's new weekly blessing. I know of 3 bloggers who recently travelled to vistas such as this. Being "green" with envy, I chose to channel it into inspiration for this week's blessing.
Oh Silvia
I have a decaffeinated coffee table.
You'd never know it to look at it.
~ Steven Wright
Mr X has a new woman in his life.
Her name is Silvia.
She's hot and steamy.
He's learned to
press her buttons
and dial her knobs
just so
And is producing some
very fine coffee
;-)
This new machine is a step up from the basic home unit we had before. We were struggling to get a good result, so I sent him off to coffee school for his birthday. The owner offered us a deal, and I got to go also, for not much more than his fee.
Warning - the fine print
new coffee machine needs new accessories
new grinder that grinds beans finer
new timer to get extraction right
cleaning brushes
new tamper
and then we discover that when you have a better quality machine
you can't get away with your average bean from the supermarket
oh no
you have to get them fresh as possible
lucky I found just the place
and from my first ordering experience
and the resulting coffee
we highly recommend
Padre Coffee
yes, we know padre is spanish for priest or clergyman
but we reckon it fits
drinking coffee this good
is a religious experience
:-)
Where's Wally?
Looking at these photosyou might think
Wally is in church
Wally is in church
If Wally was in the second photo he would be. In a heritage listed church in an eastern suburb of Melbourne. I was there this morning, about to take a bunch of photos, when my camera batteries died . . . [sigh]But if Wally was in the first photo, he'd be having coffee or lunch at the Bookplate Cafe in the National Library of Australia, Canberra.
Which proves the old saying, "you can't judge a book by its cover", is also true about photos!
update: If Wally was in the second photo this week, he would be listening to a music installation . . . which you can listen to here
Blessing 10.3
Safe Harbour, original photo by Kel © 2005As the gifted writer John O'Donohue said: "It would be infinitely lonely to live in a world without blessing. The word blessing evokes a sense of warmth and protection, it suggests that no life is alone or unreachable. Each life is clothed in a raiment of spirit . . . A blessing evokes a privileged intimacy . . . where the human heart cries out to the Divine . . ."1
As something new @ theXfacta, I will offer a weekly blessing here. Some will be harvested from other writings, some will be my own original work. I hope they offer a place of safe harbour, a moment of still reflection, a compass point for navigating the waters of life for the week ahead.
The title code will be month.week (eg; today's is the third weekend in October). Allow me a little self-indulgence in choosing the first blessing; it called to me as I deal with some health issues. Perhaps it may also hold something for you:
Blessing for the Senses
May your body be blessed
May you realise that your body is a faithful and beautiful friend of your soul
And may you be peaceful and joyful and
recognise that your senses are sacred
thresholds
May you realise that holiness is mindful gazing
feeling, hearing and touching
May your senses gather you and bring you home
May your senses always enable you to celebrate
the universe and the mystery and possibilities
in your presence here
May the eros of the earth bless you.
~ John O'Donohue 2
1.
Benedictus: A Book of Blessings [UK title]
To Bless the Space Between Us [USA title]
2.
Anam Cara, John O'Donohue
painted prayer : God help me
charcoal on paper, original by Kel © 2009a visual prayer
~
the pure essence
of a plea
clearing space
time for a change of look
i feel it's a bit simple
but for now it is enough
clearing space for . . .
something
i feel it's a bit simple
but for now it is enough
clearing space for . . .
something
Top Secret!
Percival knew he must hurryor he would miss the meeting
of the peli clan
although nobody listened
to his ideas or opinions
he still felt important
just by being there
as if his presence in the clan
bestowed upon him
some secret handshake
of acceptance
original photography and prose by Kel © 2009
just by being there
as if his presence in the clan
bestowed upon him
some secret handshake
of acceptance
original photography and prose by Kel © 2009
red & yellow & PURPLE
original photography by Kel © 2009I think it pisses God off if you walk past the color purple in a field and don't notice it.
~Shug Avery character in Alice Walker's book "The Color Purple"
X marks the spot
"No one longs for what he or she already has, and yet the accumulated insight of the wise about the spiritual life suggests the reason so many of us cannot see the red X that marks the spot is because we are standing on it. The treasure we seek requires no lengthy expedition, no expensive equipment, no superior aptitude or special company. All we lack is the willingness to imagine that we already have everything we need. The only thing missing is our consent to be where we are."
~ Barbara Brown Taylor (An Altar in the World: a geography of faith)
My prayer in response:
May we be where we are
mindfully
gratefully
Rooted to that red X
with every fibre
of our being
Knowing the treasure
[that something special]
can be found
right here
where
we are
~ Barbara Brown Taylor (An Altar in the World: a geography of faith)
My prayer in response:
May we be where we are
mindfully
gratefully
Rooted to that red X
with every fibre
of our being
Knowing the treasure
[that something special]
can be found
right here
where
we are
Art Attack : word cloud
Combining my love of words, art and the creative process, I just created a word cloud using this blog's URL. The creation page at Wordle allows you to enter a bunch of text (perhaps an article, blog post, mission statement . . .) or a URL. There's edit options so you can adjust colour, layout, font etc.Join in the fun. Create a word cloud of your blog, or anything else you choose.
Post the results and your observations.
Then comment here to say you've just had an art attack.
~ ~ ~
Norm wordled here
Eddie wordled here
Lucy wordled here
Robin wordled here
portable soulspace
Last weekend Mr X and I travelled north to facilitate a portable program of SoulSpace for an interstate group. This is the third time we've done a portable program. It consumes an enormous amount of time in preparation and travel, so it's not something we do often.
We invited people to consider themes of unity, healing and connection through the use of art and imagination. Starting with a collaborative multi-sensory worship session in the morning, and finishing with an art focused 3-hour afternoon session.
Sorry, there are no photos for this. I would love to have some to share. But it's a tad tricky to get photos when one is leading from up front. And in the more intimate afternoon session, pointing a camera at people creatively exploring their spiritual journey, seems like an invasion of sacred space.
Let's see if I can paint a word picture.
There wasn't a spare seat left when 180 people packed into the collaborative multi-sensory worship session. As the aroma of freshly baking bread wafted through the room, children were involved in bread sculpting, adults involved in reading, everyone eating warm bread from baskets passed hand-to-hand, all rounded out with some retro-vibe community singing and drumming.
In the afternoon we facilitated opportunities for creative expression, reflection, alternative forms of prayer, and a space for shared storytelling. From stick picture drawings, to word art and collage, people had opportunity to consider spiritual issues from a right-brain perspective. Reflection stations involving candles behind curtains, and more art, provided a personal sacred space for seeing themselves through Divine eyes.
Working with conservative groups can be a challenge; treading that fine line between expanding horizons and freaking people out. It can be exhausting work; maintaining the integrity of who we are and what our message is, while respecting the tradition of those we share with. Sometimes we're left wondering if we got the balance right. In this instance, I think we did.
An older guy came up to us at the end of one session and gave us this blessing:
"May your tribe increase!"
We invited people to consider themes of unity, healing and connection through the use of art and imagination. Starting with a collaborative multi-sensory worship session in the morning, and finishing with an art focused 3-hour afternoon session.
Sorry, there are no photos for this. I would love to have some to share. But it's a tad tricky to get photos when one is leading from up front. And in the more intimate afternoon session, pointing a camera at people creatively exploring their spiritual journey, seems like an invasion of sacred space.
Let's see if I can paint a word picture.
There wasn't a spare seat left when 180 people packed into the collaborative multi-sensory worship session. As the aroma of freshly baking bread wafted through the room, children were involved in bread sculpting, adults involved in reading, everyone eating warm bread from baskets passed hand-to-hand, all rounded out with some retro-vibe community singing and drumming.
In the afternoon we facilitated opportunities for creative expression, reflection, alternative forms of prayer, and a space for shared storytelling. From stick picture drawings, to word art and collage, people had opportunity to consider spiritual issues from a right-brain perspective. Reflection stations involving candles behind curtains, and more art, provided a personal sacred space for seeing themselves through Divine eyes.
Working with conservative groups can be a challenge; treading that fine line between expanding horizons and freaking people out. It can be exhausting work; maintaining the integrity of who we are and what our message is, while respecting the tradition of those we share with. Sometimes we're left wondering if we got the balance right. In this instance, I think we did.
An older guy came up to us at the end of one session and gave us this blessing:
"May your tribe increase!"
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