affirmation for today - I INVITE THE PURE LIGHT OF THE SUN INTO MY HEART...MAY IT SHINE FROM MY HEART TO THE WORLD
today's lesson was about being present and saying yes to life.
ah yes, this truly resonates with me being that i'm a huge devotee of eckhart tolle and his books. my kids would verify this as i've talked incessantly to them about the concept of The Power of Now and A New Earth. :)
so many people go through their lives either living in the past or living in the future but, rarely, touching base with the present moment. the reality is that the present moment is ALL we truly have. our past doesn't exist anymore but for the memories of it that we retain in our mind. our future hasn't even happened yet but we seem to focus on future outcomes or worry about what could happen. there is nothing wrong with laying down future plans/goals etc., but they are not the primary focus in your life. all the worry in the world is not going to change outcomes except to maybe add more stress along the way which is obviously not a good thing for your wellbeing. the present moment is so important yet it so often goes ignored or taken for granted. a good way to focus yourself in the present moment is to continually ask yourself throughout the day, "how am i feeling NOW?". this will bring your attention to the present moment. the more you do this, the more you will come to understand how it can have a life-changing effect on your life.
my day was very busy and i spent quite some time on phone calls which weren't planned, however, i took each moment as it came and gave it my full attention. in doing this, i was able to remain calm and feel at peace within and the day went very smoothly. i didn't even panic that i hadn't done any art all day....the moment for art came around 5PM and i did manage to create a mandala in pen for today.
being present in the NOW is key to living an authentic life.
love, light and peace ~
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How do you do this so precisely??? Beautiful!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour artwork always brings me to the moment. I gaze at it in wonder. I really enjoy seeing what you have created every day. It's gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteIt's so true. Being in the moment has been a challenge for me because it's hard to turn off my thinking. I'm constantly one step ahead of myself.
I'm getting better with dwelling on the past though. It sneaks up on me, and I have learned to honor it and let it go. No use drowning in things passed.
Thank you for the enlightenment of your art, your words and the inspirational comments you leave for me. :)
Oh...WOW! This mandala is spectacular!!!
ReplyDelete"around 5 pm I did manage to create a mandala for today" - wow. That's amazing - it looks like it has to take longer than at "5pm I did manage to create." Do you find it meditative to make mandalas?
ReplyDeleteI try hard to live in the now, but I'm always reflecting on the past & getting more nostalgic as I get older :D I do however, think about how I'm feeling in the present quite often during the day.
ReplyDeleteLove the mandala!
Yesterday had more comings and goings than usual as I needed some extra chores done and somehow I ended up being the mom in charge of four young huns at bible class. I surprised myself by this not being something to complain about! I love the girlies so it was fun to stay at the class and I like my house/dog enough to go out and fetch things for them.
ReplyDeleteLearning to take each moment as it comes too. Not fully there but on my way.
Wow! Your mandala drawing is absolutely beautiful... and to think you just whipped it up after a long day. I'm in awe.
ReplyDeletePS - you've been randomly tagged. Visit my blog for details.
http://caliopeseye.blogspot.com/2008/11/ive-been-tagged.html
I have come to realise that this is true for me too.
ReplyDeleteThe Now is a place of calm, isn't it. I love that! Even in the midst of a crisis or chaos, if you remain in the moment and take action instead of reacting, it is amazing how smooth things will go. (I tout Eckhart, too)
ReplyDeletePeace~
Dawn
What a gorgeous mandala!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour mandala captures the essence of a beautiful flower that is just waiting for you to come closer to breath of it's captivating scent.
ReplyDeleteI love that you didn't panic, just made art! (I know that voice "it's 5pm, do the dishes, you missed the boat blah blah blah." Next time she blabbers on I'm gonna remind her about how you created a gorgeous mandala late in the afternoon.
ReplyDeleteSo true! Living an authentic life does come from being present, it's a very good place to start and OMG, your art is unbelievable! Art is a great way for being in the moment, I like that.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words and good vibes. This angry and hurting pitbull sometimes needs to bark her pain! I'm glad that it was entertaining, it was fun to right and very, very cathartic.
Yesterday and Today topic was very inspiring for me.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on.
Beautiful, Serena - the regularity is very calming, and those small narrow shapes radiating from the very center seem to me to impart just a little movement - like a blossom turning very gently in a light breeze. That's a very "now" notion - watching a flower move. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love that thought of being in the present being the key to authenticity.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a simple and effective question to bring you to the now. Awesome.
I do try to live in the present moment.. have been since I read Louise Hay.. however, for some reason I do go back in time.. not this life but previous.. I have bought two very strong past lives with me. Sounds very odd, I know but they influence me quite abit and I am in the process of trying to bring them together. Thank heavens I discovered Soul Art and have put one to rest! The other is not too bad, a herbalist, so at least I can use that in this life.
ReplyDeletegee, looking over this comment, I sound like a nutter..
as usual Serena, I love your art.. have you ever thought of putting a line of greeting cards out????
Perfect mandala Serena!
ReplyDeleteSometimes when things get overwhelming, I focused on the moment only. It helps minimize the panic within. That mandala is absolutely breathtaking, Serena :)
ReplyDeleteNice art work! it must have took a lot of concentration
ReplyDeleteI think you already know how much I love these zentangles...thi one is simply delightful...it pulsates with life Serena!
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy creating mandalas...it feels like I zone out, it's so relaxing. I don't have a pre-conceived idea of a finished piece...I just outline the circle...do little marks around the outside edge evenly spaced apart, I mark the centre and then, I freehand from there, not knowing what the next step will be til I get there.