Chocolate Season

While I don't have the tendancy to do anything art related to commemorate any specific occasion, today I just happened to pull together a few items for the sheer fun of it, and put them together in my latest sketchbook.

It all began with a chocolate wrapper that I got off the chocolates I got for Tony a while ago, and the little label my friend Paul had tied on to the little Easter egg he gave us with teeny tiny bunny gingerbread cookies and tiny chocolate eggs inside. 


GREETINGS from the EASTER RIBBIT

 

The strip off the top of my iced tea bottle came next, and the ribbon that tied the label onto the little egg was then added. Three jigsaw pieces had been loitering on my desk since I found them in the bottom of a box of art supplies a friend gave me recently. In peeling off most of the cardboard which backed the pieces, I discovered a whole new collage potential.

A few weeks ago I experimented with "found" poems, this time using newspaper articles. The poem reads as such:

Chocolate Season

iconic

sensuous luxury

true believers

exquisitely expressed

spiritual reasoning

'food of the Gods.'

As is often the case, what began as something simple became a social commentary on the confusion that is often created when a festival designated for a specific purpose is overtaken by materialism and consumerism.

Whatever the significance of this holiday weekend holds for you, may it have been a good one ~

Building a business or a life

"It doesn't take any longer to build a business [or a life] that fits just-right

than to cobble together one that pinches and pulls at you.

Both take a tremendous amount of time and energy.

That's the way it is.

The only question is whether you'll spend that energy trying

to turn yourself into something you aren't or

figuring out how to use your strengths

to do what needs to be done."

Molly Gordon

Over the last few weeks I have been doing a lot of reconsidering in both my business and my life in general, and within the last few days have made some distinct moves to make some changes. Today I received this quote in my email box and once again, it was as if someone, somewhere was taking notice and sending some encouragement my way. Maybe this will touch you in turn ~

Enchanting "Micmacs"

Sometimes you come across a movie that is, quite simply, superb. "Micmacs" is a wonderfully rich piece of work that will delight and enchant you. The attention to detail is second to none and the subtleties too many to absorb in one sitting.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2588476441/

I am lucky enough to speak French fluently and so was able to follow the movie in its original version and thoroughly enjoy the play on words and the poetic use of what is already a beautifully poetic language. I did notice that the English sub-titles were really good.

The director's interview recounts how at the age of 8 he would create puppet shows, and charge his parents to watch! He would also take the View Master spirals, cut out all the pictures and repaste them in completely different order, writing a script to accompany them.

Find a quiet evening, turn off the phone and settle down to linger for a while watching a true work of art. And let yourself be inspired all over again.

AND THE WINNER IS...

I'm delighted to announce the winner of the set of four "SoulSpeak" greeting cards in my blog giveaway for the One World One Heart 2011 is:

Sandra and Dave of

Thistle Cove Farm

CONGRATULATIONS!

Thank you everyone who participated ~ it was a thoroughly lovely time all round.

One World One Heart 2011

Welcome to my blog ~ I am delighted to participate for the first time in One World One Heart - what a wonderful, inspiring and generous concept on behalf of the organiser!

My name is Shena Meadowcroft and I am an Intuitive, Writer, Artist and Teacher. I live on the wonderful island of Gabriola, off Vancouver Island, on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada.

My days are spent counseling, consulting or creating; either through my writing or my art, which takes on many forms as the ideas unfold. That’s when I’m not meandering along the shore line or in the forest where I find my inspiration and restore my soul ~

My whole focus is to work with people to provide them with a safe place to remember and discover more of who they are. So much of that can be done through journaling, writing, art and sharing our own truth. I love what I do and feel truly blessed to be able to inspire others to do the same.

My prize for the giveaway is a set of four “Soulspeak” greeting cards, and the winning name will be drawn on February 17th. Please leave a comment if you would like to be entered into the draw, and your email address so I can contact you should you win. GOOD LUCK!

Thank you so much for spending some time with me in my world ~
May you have a beautiful day ~

Sowing the "seeds" for a New Year

I started reading, again, the other day, a wonderful book on writing, art… and life called “Soul between the Lines” by Dorothy Randall Gray ~ full of magical ideas and suggestions that you can play with or explore in an organized manner or on a haphazard basis. One of my favorite ideas that she talks about is the concept of collecting “seeds.”

One of Dorothy Randall Gray’s main uses for “seeds” is to read back your work to others, or yourself and collect the “seeds” in your writing ~ those words or phrases that capture your heart and speak to your soul. Another way is to gather “seeds” from random conversations, visual images or personal experience. Then take the "seeds" and let them be the start of a whole new crop of ideas. From these “seeds” a poem, an essay, a painting, a fibre piece, a sculpture can grow forth.

Tonight in a simple, sweet movie that was not necessarily meaningful in any other way I discovered such a “seed” which captured my imagination, and knew that if I choose, a whole new way of thinking could grow  from this. The “seed” was a one liner, a birthday wish to a 21 year old: “Let life come to you.”

That is my wish for myself this year, and I share this wish with those of you who pause, upon hearing these simple words, see their potential, and decide to embrace it too. I'm going to gather "seeds," sow them as far and as wide as I can, and let myself grow...

HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ AND LET LIFE COME TO YOU.

UnOILed ~ UnspOILed! The UnOILed Coast Quilt Project

It has been several months since my last post entitled: "What is the yearning behind the work that you do?" It comes as no surprise that having actually done the exercises (What me? No, I just teach that stuff...) my life has unfolded in yet another wonderful, magical way.

In June of this year I began working exclusively with what I wanted to do, manifesting what I wrote about in my last post. As life will do I was offered (through a series of twists and turns) an opportunity to get involved as the spokesperson for the Positive Energy Quilters UnspOILed Coast Quilt Project.

Today I found myself featured in a national newspaper article on a group determined to fund-raise to fight for the "No Tankers" campaign here in British Columbia. The article link appears below:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Protest+quilts+contribute+spill+discussion/3405930/story.html

Be careful what you wish for ~ the magic is that it happens!

What is the yearning behind the work that you do?

Books come into our lives for a reason. Often they stay on the shelf patiently for weeks, months or even years, and then call to us urgently, just about the time we are ready to embrace the information within. One such book hailed me recently: Marry your Muse – Making a Lasting Commitment to your Creativity by Jan Phillips.

I couldn't put it down, devouring the insights and suggestions within like the starving artist I aspire not to be. One particular piece of advice wouldn't go away:

IDENTIFY THE YEARNING BEHIND YOUR WORK

AND SEE THAT IT TOUCHES EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO

With this firmly embedded in my heart, I took a look at my work from a different another angle:

What is it that I never, ever tire of ?

Three things emerged instantaneously:
# 1 Writing in my Journal
I love journaling, its powers of self-discover, truth seeking and healing. I promote it, teach it, use it in my counseling practice, and an writing a book about it. I'd like to design them.

# 2 Working as an Intuitive
This is essentially who I am. I do intuitive sessions, write about intuition, teach how to develop it. My greeting cards and mixed media art strongly reflect that part of me.

# 3 Researching and Writing
I thrive on research. It's what drives me, and the writing is a by product of the research. Even as a youngster I had binders full of information I had gleaned from books or magazines gaining the reputation of "if you wanted to find out about something, ask Shena!"

Lately, I've become more involved in social activism. How would this fit with all of the above? I am persistent in the pursuit of facts, undistorted by the opinions or manipulations of others. It has become increasingly important for me to find out the truth, encouraging others to do the same, and then acting upon it.

So what's the common denominator?

The essence of Journalling is about finding oneself. My whole message as an Intuitive is to support people in remembering who they are and finding themselves again. Research is basically about finding out about things and with that comes knowledge that I bring to my Writing. Finding out the truth and standing up for what I believe in? That would be Social Activism.

So what is the yearning behind what I do? Finding oneself, finding one's truth, remembering who we are, being solid in that knowledge, and acting from that place of knowing. No surprise I start every journaling workshop off with the statement: "Know thyself."

What is the yearning behind your work? What is it that you never tire of? Ask yourself these questions. See what comes up for you… you'll be glad that you did!

Feast for the Soul

Last Sunday Tony roused me out of bed and into the van for a trip up Vancouver Island to a beautiful spot where we spent three hours meandering though what can only be described as a sheer delight to the senses. I'd been feeling a bit uninspired recently, okay... a LOT uninspired and, as always seems the case, he unfailingly picked the best medicine for me. Known to the locals as "Wacky Woods" the name belittles the true essence of the place. The owner of the property, several years ago, began creating his own outdoor sancuary, expressing himself in utterly unique ways both visually and verbally. A sign greets you at the beginning of the path:In the spirit of friendship let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures

The magic unfolds as you walk deeper into the woods and discover untold delights and sculptures that are thought provoking, evoke deep emotion, or simply make you smile.

Old cedars hold books with messages for the mind and the soul...


Faces from another time watch how we allow things to unfold this time around...
And on that cold Sunday afternoon the warm rays of bright sunshine floodlit certain pieces to absolute perfection.
This man and nature had worked together to create a symbiotic relationship with each other. Some of the book openings had grown over and been reclaimed by the cedar. Some of the trees had fallen or blown over and the roots became part of the landscape. Exactly as it was always meant to be.

The most amazing thing was there was no sign to show it was there, no entrance fee, no gate that closed at a certain time, nowhere to leave a comment. Just the beauty of man and nature together... at their best. We didn't want to leave this place, and I think a part of both of us remains there, safe in the knowing that man can get it right, sometimes.

What a difference a day makes

A nasty chest infection kept me home for several few weeks this winter. One of the side benefits of having to stay in bed was that I got to watch the sunset over the bay each evening out of my window.

Here are photographs taken three nights in a row at the same time each night. It reminded me of the importance as an artist and a writer to notice the subtle changes that nature and life are showing us every single moment of every single day. To take note of the differences, and to remember that although it may be the same view, same day... the overall picture is always changing.