Pocket of Hope

Another piece in quarantine.  I grabbed a few sticks I found in the art room, some paper Kathi had made and some felt, beads, feathers and put them on a canvas background.
Felting is warm and the colors earthy. Took some of the wool and wrapped the sticks like a cocoon.
After all, we are all cocooning at home.
The Earth is in it's renewal.  Flowers blooming. I hear birds earlier in the morning again.
I'm grateful.
Grateful I have an abundance of supplies, enough to choose from. Enough to do.
I think the worst thing we can do is fall down the rabbit hole of despair.  It is a slippery slope and when the slightest indication of it comes by, I turn on music, pick up a brush or a pen, read, do some yoga, listen to astrology or call a friend. Weather permitting, I go for a walk with my camera.
I'm picking up old canvas too and reworking them, giving them new life.
New life seems to be key.  We get so comfortable in our old ways and I find as I get older, it's not so easy to find comfort in trying new things, new ways of doing things.
The truth is, for me, I know the Universe provides.  There is abundance if we tap into it and don't fall into scarcity thinking.  Here is the part where we turn off the TV, get off FB or whatever else you're into and go do something creative.  Go within and find your own truth, your own answers. Stop looking outside yourself, especially to the powers who are so confused, they cannot give anyone a clear answer.  You and I know in our heart what to do.  Listen to your heart. Have Hope.
Namaste'

Guardian of the Home

This is what I had on the easel at home. Edges need to be finished.  She is put together from pieces I found cleaning my art room and recycling an old canvas.  Home is key right now and I want it to be as comfortable as I can make it.
There certainly is enough to do here and enough materials to keep me busy.
I'm an introvert and I don't mind staying home for the most part. I do need to go out into nature.
Yesterday I gathered some more branches at Read Sanctuary for my planned sculpture.  It was a new area I hadn't been in.  I have an idea for the gallery window, so if you're in the area, keep a lookout for it in the near future.
I'm sewing masks. By hand! I think my machine needs to be oiled or something, but the good thing that came from that is that it feels like another form of meditation. Sewing while listening to music or astrology lectures.  I am grateful for both right now.
One thing I have noticed more is the awareness I have of how my emotions are affecting my body. Paying attention to this brings the awareness more quickly now that it did in the past where it was more accumulative. It became maybe a physical pain that made me take a look.. forced to look.
Pay attention to what your body is saying to you.
Watching news or any media produces feelings of anxiety and it sits in the body.  I want to be informed but not overwhelmed by it. Limiting this intake..
Instead, creating something calms me. It quiets my mind.
CREATIVITY IS THE ANTIDOTE TO FEAR.

Nesting

Sad day today.
I did my laundry. Was a bit anxious because I went on the later side and there were more people than I expected.  Grateful to have the gallery across the street to wait, but I also went to the post office.  Thanks to Ada, I had a mask and felt a bit better, but noticed my emotions were a bit raw today.
John Prine passed away.  Kathi loved him and sang his songs and that's how I got to know him.  Every time I heard him, I would think of her.  I wonder if she greeted him.
After laundry I needed to go to the bank.. which is drive-thru now.  Coming out of the bank and passing the shopping center, I noticed a sign: FOR RENT.
I lost it.
So much loss lately. Tommy, then Alyssa and Maria, now John Prine.  I'm not going to be surprised to see more businesses closing.  It breaks my heart. Full moon. Aspects to Chiron. Not surprised at all about this build up and release.
I needed to go home.
I needed to walk.
I needed home again.  I turned the TV on. I turned the TV off.
Art!  That will help.  And some music.  And some tea.
Tomorrow I will nest. The emotional intensity I was feeling out there in the world was too much.
Trying not to touch shit, forgetting.. washing until our hands are raw.. yeah, better to be home. Nesting.  Be like that osprey and create a beautiful nest.
Create some jewelry. Make some art. Play.

ReBirth

As the world begins to blossom with it's magnificent beauty, we are given an opportunity to do the same.  We are given this time to rebirth ourselves if we take advantage of it. There is uncertainty, fear, and just so much confusion with various conflicting messages.  We need to have one foot in this world to be aware, but place the other foot into your retreat from this craziness.
Allow yourself to just be. Breathe through the turmoil and stress. Refocus your breath on the beauty that surrounds you. Focus on what you can do, what you do have control over.
You can take time for yourself. Cook a great meal if you are blessed to have food. We may need to find some creativity here.  Do some deep breathing exercises, some yoga, some movement.. lots to find on you tube... or hey, make it up.
What I'm doing is a bit of rearranging, reorganizing, putting a bit of order in my surroundings.  I journal a lot. I read books that I've never finished or hadn't gotten around to. I paint, I color, collage, photograph my surroundings.  I walk in nature to help ground me.
I sit in silence.
When is the last time you really got to do this?
When the anxiety surfaces, and it does come up, I focus on my breath.  I watch an astrology talk. It helps me to find some sense in all this.
A lot of this time is spent is wondering.  What can I do to help?  Where will we all be on the other side?  I look at a bigger picture (astrology), and know that we will come through this, just not the same.  Some will be filled with grief. Some may find a new purpose or renew an old dream.
Here's where trust and faith come in.  Trust that you will know if your purpose has changed or maybe intensified.
We have all been running ourselves a bit ragged.  Use this time. Look at it as your spiritual retreat and nurture yourself.  The quiet is the time we can hear spirit directing us. Listen deeply.
Namaste' my friends.

What day is it?!

Here at home during this quarantine, I am revamping my environment.  No easy feat.
The art room is a great challenge but I'm weeding through it little by little.
I'm hoping I come out on the other end a lot more organized and knowing what it is I actually have.
It's like an excavation at times, rummaging through, discovering lost treasure.
There is external treasure to be found, but along with that comes an internal one as well.
What self-realizations will be discovered during this retreat, time will tell.
Giving myself this sacred time to do all the things I've been putting off, catching up with myself.
Time for self-nurturing, healing, and creativity.
It's all a bit surreal at times, but I pray we all come out of this as best we can, renewed, refocused on what is truly of value and a better appreciation for what freedoms we had...
I miss my art and yoga classes.

New Possibilites

What to do with all that time on your hand?
Oh, I do have a list.
Time creating: painting, collaging, assembling, sewing, beading, journaling, reading, writing a book, John's and mine, photographing, printing, walking, yoga, learning more astrology, cooking, meditating...listening.
The challenge is how to receive an income.  Setting up a website, learning to communicate through zoom and Youtube and whatever else is out there.
A new world with new possibilities.
What comes out on the other end is anyone's guess.
Namaste'