the X facta: November 2010

on dreams and dragons

As you step out on this new adventure
with hopes and plans held in front
like a brand new map
all shiny, bright and uncrumpled

may you find the keys
which allow you to unlock
your own castle code

for castles are where
dreams and dragons meet.

May others you meet on the journey
hold candles that shine light
into dark passageways
that threaten your dreams.

Let your eyes then see
shadows are always bigger
than the real thing

Let your heart hold hope
that you can slay the dragons.

May you discover the symbols
that weave in and out
of your own fairytale
like golden threads.

Let those threads lead you
to the secret chamber
that holds your prize

Let your symbols be keys
to unlock the treasure therein.

May spiralling steps lead upward
to turret-top views of new horizons
and fields of green possibilities
just waiting to be explored.

Let yourself believe for once
in shining armour and the knight
that wears it astride a noble steed

Let your mind believe it
the castle crown will be yours.

Spring baby

how much cuteness can a koala bear?

photographed today by Kel in her backyard

blog birthday

A dozen delights - things I'm thankful for

Australia doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving - after all, many of our forefathers were convicts, not pilgrims; so there was not a lot to to be thankful for on landing in this upside down land back then.

A couple of years ago I acknowledged Thanksgiving with a mini-poster I created as a therapeutic exercise!

Last Year I participated in Laura's inaugural Gratitude Quilt.

This year, lovely Laura invited me to guest post at Shine the Divine with a prescribed theme of Thanksgiving. There's a sneak preview below, but do head to Laura's place and say g'day over there. You'll find a bunch of people sharing their thanksgiving thoughts.And she's posted two of my blessings that she chose as favourites.

Hope this inspires you to get creative and make your own smilebox. I'd love to see what you're thankful for, so feel free to share a link below if you post yours.

on my front lawn

Breathing beads

We're roaring into the silly season now. I wonder if it's worse in Australia because we have summer holidays over Christmas (from what I understand northern hemisphere take holidays in August, and Christmas mid-winter is only a couple of days off). Many workplaces here close for a couple of weeks, or more. The list of things that must be done before the workplace closes, on top of the personal to-do list for Christmas is a recipe for stress. Playing in the studio is a great stress reliever.

In the studio I go through phases. Textured acrylic paintings, altered book collage brown bag journals, and bead creations are just some of the creative adventures that have captured my attention.

Lately I've been drawn back to beads again. This time I've been creating some breathing beads. These strings or circles of beads offer a tangible way to literally 'take a breather' during a busy day.

The simplest way to use them is as follows:

hold them lightly in your palm
as your fingers move across each bead, take a full deep breath
in and out
as you hold the charm at the end, visualise a place from memory, that reminds you of being relaxed and at ease

Do you use self-care or stress-management tools to help you maintain balance in life?

Setting the sails

“We cannot direct the wind,

but we can adjust the sails.”

~ Dolly Parton

“It's the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind

that determines which way we go.”

~ Jim Rohn