Fresh Air Anger

angry art Medicine

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I remember a time, not all that long ago, when I could open a window or step outside and smell fresh air, as in - you know - air.

Call me crazy (many people do), but our fossil fuel addictions have moved beyond ludicrous.

Do y'all think that fragrance shit actually smells good? Are you aware of the endocrine disrupting, immune disrupting (etc.) actions of these fragrant poisons? Do you imagine their creation, from people displacement, to extraction, to manufacturing, to packaging, shipping, use that expels its essence into the air, water, earth... your skin, et al... to the waste disposal of it all?

I don't hug most people anymore. Sure, I'm still COVID (and otherwise) cautious, but that's not the main reason. These days, if I hug folx, their Petrochemical stink gets on me and lingers... and lingers... and fucking lingers (making me - and all of us sick) until I can air out ‘n’ wash the contact ick off my clothing.

And supermarkets spray that ick on food. Not just packaged food, on exposed food. WTAF?

I fucking hate it on a personal level, on a earth level (I apologize every GDMF day to our once-beloved Gaia), and on a future level. And then some.

In short: Don't you miss fresh air?

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🕊️justice

The Work, Pleasure, and Play

There's Moonshine watercolor shadow work in progress. It seems to be activating some of the murky sludge that's apparently in deep retreat at the bottom of my current cauldron. It's feeling very turbid, and... ominous even. So I'm taking and making time with all the facets of this fascinating and - dare I say - daunting exercise.

On the lighter side of creative expression is a focus on Pleasure (after all, it is the lusty month of May). So I'm amusing (and, quite frankly, distracting) myself with inks, paints, pencils, pens, etc., with zero expectations of outcomes, in a way that is pure play. And I dig it.

This is a season that reminds me that "workdesk" takes on meaning that includes the shelves of seedlings 'n' plants still down in the basement under the grow-lights, and the plants in the greenhouse, and the plants hardening of on the table outside the greenhouse... workdesks, one and all. 

I sporadically join the weekly creative fun of What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday, and this is one of those days. Join the fun, or simply visit the creations of this week's sharings at WOYWW. 

Peace. 🕊

"Hey Corvid!"

Some magick ya just gotta share...

I stepped outside to do one of my recently renewed rituals. A ritual I've dedicated to Fetch. As I stepped onto the deck, one of our neighborhood crows (allies to our hens) swooped into a nearby tree. I greeted them as I routinely do with a, "Hey Corvid!" Before I could begin my honor to the directions, Corvid offered three calls. I responded in kind. Then two more calls of three, creating three threes of call and response. This was then followed by two threes of call and response. Magick.

I continued my ritual of honoring the directions as Corvid perched in quiet. I stepped up to my door, turned and called out love and gratitude to this feathered friend. I stepped inside. They flew off. Magick.

Magick and validation. From Fetch.

 
  
  
 

Sun's day blessings to y'all. Make some magick, by any name.

Peace. 🕊

Sam the Cat

It's been forever since I've participated in a creative challenge. It's been forever since I've participated in any online art community. But I want to get back to it, because it's such a good Medicine, and so I shall. I need to be patient with myself, as this is a very busy time of year for us on our little acre, what with growing, harvesting, and preserving a lion's share of our own vegetable food. That said, I do journal in some way most every day, be it words, scribbles 'n' doodles, some thing… because creative expression is good Medicine.

I used to be a regular participant of Art Journal Journey, and it's been years - literal years - since I've engaged. Yet this month's theme inspired me to catch a sketch of Sam the Cat, sitting on a book, gazing out the window, while I sipped a cup of tea. After all, this month's theme is Books, Cats and Tea. 

So there it is: A baby step to return to the fab community of art journalers out there. It feels good. ::nods::

🕊

This. Work.

 

Peace. 🕊

Autumn Fey

The sketch was made last week, and embellished with watercolor this morning.

My practice of heART journaling is always good Medicine.

Peace. 🕊

Another heART journal flip

Here's another heART journal, this one from 2013, a year of big Medicine for me. Peace. 🕊 rose

heART journal memories 2012

I'll be going through some of my old heART journals in an effort to catalogue them for ease in exploring their contents for the various reasons we go through our old journals. Sometimes it's to seek a specific memory, or experience... or style, design, or technique, or simply to seek patterns, and explore past Medicine for present applications.

My practice of heART journaling is Medicine to me. Ever since I was a little girl, making art has been integral to my wellness, to my personal evolution. And I recognize this Medicine in all creative expression, be it poetry, prose, dance, music, theater, whatever! Yet for me, the visual arts have always been my go-to Medicine.

As I video my journals for this purpose I'll be sharing them with you, and I hope this adds some value beyond my own.

Peace. 🕊

A Colorful Hello Spring!

It's been a long time since I've engaged an art journal (or any art) challenge with my online community of creatives. Yet yesterday offered a gift of shared herART journaling in the studio with some creative folk, and I managed to complete this colorful spread to welcome spring with a wee bit of my own bad poetry, as I lovingly call it.

And in doing that, I combined two challenges. One from Art Journal Journey, where the challenge is "Welcome Springtime," and Moo Mania, where the challenge is Colorful!

My hope is to reengage this practice, if not every month, then whenever I am able. I've been away from it too long. It's a fun 'n freeing experience, even with the structure of theme, to ponder a collective topic, tap into the collective creativity, create in the collective verve, and share the love with the collective community. Maybe you'd like to join the fun!

Peace. 🕊

Of Being Human

Some days an aspect of our world can turn upside down and throw us off our center. For me, this was one of those days. Granted, it was of my own making; the result of good intentions fueled by deeply rooted business protocol focused on the customer. All the same, my choices were in error. The only details that matter are these:

A little meditation and heART journaling was my Medicine for clarity.

I made a mistake.

And I shall do my best to learn from it, and not repeat it.

This is the best part of being human.

I hope your day is rich in lessons rooted in humanity.

Peace.

Studio Play

Today is a studio day, which means both apothecary play and paint play. But first, I'll have to finish tidying up from Thursday evening's Renal System class. Once the ol' workbench is cleared I can tend to some measuring and packaging for clients, and continue some tweaks and taste testing for a couple beverage blends with which I've been toying.

I have several finished Nature inspired collage pieces to make ready to hang, and available to potential buyers. And I'm looking forward to adding another layer or two to add to this canvas. 

I'm sure to be adding to this large canvas as well, continuing to work with peace amid chaos... in a tangible, colorful, meditative way. As we all should be. Right?

Peace.

Spirals, Spirals, Spirals.

Winter feels like it never quite arrived here on my little acre, yet here we are, mere weeks to the vernal rebirth. So saved seeds are inventoried, several are started, some planted, and still more ordered to honor the spiraling return of annual activities of nurturance, sustenance, legacy and honor.

I finished this, one of several recent Creative journeys. A return to portals and a sweet reminder of the spiral and value of journey over destination, on so many levels.

 I made this recipe:

Banana Cacao Finger Cakes
4.5 cups unbleached flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
.5 teaspoon salt
1.75 cups sugar
1 cup butter
4 bananas, mashed
4 eggs
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 cup cacao nibs

Measure and blend the first three dry ingredients. Set aside.
Cream the sugar and butter, blend in the mashed bananas, blend in the eggs and vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet in two waves, mixing well at each, mixing in the cacao nibs before the second wave. Know what I mean?
Spoon onto a cookie sheet (I lay down unbleached parchment), bake at 400F for about 11 minutes. Cool on a rack and enJOY! That's how I did it, anyway. And they came out quite good.
And baking - anything Food - invokes more spiraling.

And my winter finger spun fiber project has yielded 6 balls of upcycled cotton "yarn." I'm not sure of the linear measure that was produced, but I do know that, once the fabric was ripped and tidied, it took an hour to create 3 linear yards of "yarn." This Creative journey also yielded a nice, rough callus on my right thumb and forefinger, the fingers that work the spiraling fibers.

So that's what I've been up to: Spiraling. Spiraling. Spiraling. Back to the vernal verve of spring.

Peace.

A New Year Blessing

Root yourSelf in the infinite possibilities... sprout, grow and blossom boldly as you dance and sway to the rhythms of this fresh measure of linear time.

And then... then... cascade your seeds with Wyld abandon!

Peace.

Plans for Shifting with the Season

Yesterday was a pretty typical Sunday at the studio. I puttered in my art journal, worked on some new mini journals and managed my modest inventory of items-for-sale. I enjoyed a few visits and visitors too. But what was less than typical was visiting this space you see here. I wandered quietly around the room, hearing the echoes bounce around the naked room, I held the space to feel the vacant vibration... and to feel the verve that I will soon be making manifest there.

Yes, I'm moving. I'll still be at the fab, historic building that is Whiting Mills in my little town of sunny Winsted, Connecticut, but I'll be moving from one studio space to another this month.

This new space affords me, my students, clients and visitors some added wiggle room for classes, workshops, consultations, healing work, creating, as well as comfy spaces for sitting, sipping, strategizing and assorted heart-to-hearts. It offers wiggle room that inspires consideration to enhancing my retail offerings as well, which is certainly a motivating consideration!

Plus, I'll be easier (much easier) to find in this beautiful puzzle of a building. And I'm sure my fellow tenants who have had to explain countless times to visitors over the past two years how to find me will appreciate this shift as well.

So my plan is to get all moved out of 336 and and settled into 310 after our 3rd Sunday event in October, during the early part of the week of the 19th. But, ya know, plans are fluid things and if it can happen faster, it will.

But for today I continue my garden, kitchen and preserving tasks. And that is where my focus is rooted this week.

Peace.

Brisk Mystery that Sustains

August. It's almost over. Its pace was brisk. It served to keep me focused... on the mystery... and on the ordinary. Every day I've been harvesting and preserving ~ from the gardens and from Life experiences ~ and with still much to come in the gardens I already have countless jars in my pantry selves to sustain me through the literal and figurative months ahead. And now, if history can be trusted, the pace will continue to quicken over the next two months. The season of Urgency approaches. And I welcome it. For rest follows it. Year after year.

And even as the days grow shorter, I find myself moving deeper into the warming rays of Life's light. And, as one who has a long history of embracing the loving shadows of Life, I find the experience both perplexing and welcomed. In my world, the flow of time isn't linear. Like sunrises and sunsets, moon waxings and wanings, it's an intriguing spiral of familiar mystery that comforts me. This journal spread is a silly expression of these things and I share it with you and my creative communities at Mix It Monthly, Paint Party Friday and Art Journal Journey.

So on these final days of August I'll do my best to keep up with the quickening pace of Life and Living, and make time to quietly enJOY the sunny blooms of the season.

Peace.

rose

Playful Gratitude for those Clowns we call Drama

It has been a strange and wonderful week in my little realm. A week filled to overflow with drama of the welcomed and less-than-welcomed variety. The skies have offered dramatic views; with passing storms, sunrises and sunsets that inspire gasps and sighs. And then some. These are moments of drama that I welcome, savor... and invite. Yet other silly and less welcomed moments offered me distinct reminders of life lessons and Wisdom born of experience. I embrace them all. The extremes and the subtle moments, too. And offer gratitude. For all of them.

So today I place a few finishing touches on this week's heART journal spread and I share it with you and my creative friends at Paint Party Friday (who I've missed, by the way).

With that I offer you this: Get out there. Do something. Anything. Go. Now. Do.

Peace.

Ready for Whiting Mills' Open Studios and Block Party Event

Today I'm making myself busy at the studio. Tomorrow too. Because this weekend is the June Open Studios & Block Party at Whiting Mills in Sunny Winsted, Connecticut.

I'll have fresh herbs available, limited edition elixirs and soaps, tinctures, balm samples, smudge sticks, artful creations and more. I'll be serving herbal tea, herbed water and kombucha. I'm hosting a Plant Swap, a studio Door Prize, and two nature-inspired visiting artists: Art Barker Photography and Garden Art by Claudia.

If you're anywhere around the lovely June hills of northwest Connecticut this weekend, please stop by for a visit ~ and to partake of the talents, inspirations and festivities going on at Whiting Mills this weekend!

Gotta giddy-up!

Peace.

May Art Journal Spread

May is bursting with sprouts and blossoms and seeds and growth of every kind. I'm sometimes hard on myself for not being able to keep up with the flurry of activities ~ activities that nourish and sustain me holistically. So I forgive myself and follow the lead of the plants in this vibrant season of spring, this lusty, vibrant month of May.

With that, gotta run. I have a scheduled list to ToDos that already falling behind the marks in my planner. And that's ... OK.

Besides, I have a journal spread I can share with my creative friends at Paint Party Friday and I can feel Good about that ~ go take a peek!

Peace.

Howling Heart in Progress

The Art of Instinct has evolved into the Howling Heart. It's still a work in progress. I'd like for the values between foreground and to be more distinct, so I may push back the background by darkening it, but my sense is that this visual expression wants to keep the values closer than I feel they "should" be. And, well, that speaks to me too. And likely inspired the shift in title.

I'll have some studio time this weekend and will see if I can't get to the place of signing off on this piece. In the meantime, I share this with my creative friends at this week's Paint Party Friday and invite you to click over to visit some other painterly expressions from around this globe we share!

Peace.

Sunday Sketch - Waiting for Harvest

Merry May and International Permaculture Day! I'm celebrating with a Plant Swap happening at the studio and thought I'd pause to share a quick drawing of a cabinet that's waiting to be filled. With harvests. ::nods::

And I'm sharing this with Sunday Sketches, so click over to feast your eyes on other sketchy inspirations!

Peace.