Painting with a Twist 30 Day Creative Challenge (Day 6)

I am trying to be committed to experiencing new things.  This certainly takes me out of my comfort zone, maybe more than anyone can imagine.  I still deal with a lot of fear on a daily basis.  One of the fears is leaving the house alone, especially if it means going into unfamiliar territory. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to attend a private “Painting with a Twist” party.  This is a place to go to socialize and receive instructions to paint a picture.  It took me a while to respond to the invitation.  However, I am reading a book which talks about learning from all situations in your life; that there are reasons certain people have entered your life.  You have to be open to this adventure of exploration. 

I feel very insecure and ‘less’ when I am around the people that were going attend  this party.  But, I reached inside to find my adventurous, artistic spirit so I can have the opportunity to learn from these people that make me feel ‘less’.  What is inside of me that causes me to feel this way?  What is it that I need to focus my energy on to overcome these feelings?  What lessons do I need to learn from these people?  They are in my life for a reason and while they are here, I need to learn about my insecurities and how to overcome them.

So, I went.  I have a lot of inside work to do with this part of me.  But, I accept that it is my OWN attitude causing my fear.  It has nothing to do with them.  I do not have the answer yet.  I will have to do some soul-searching to come up with a good solution to my problem.  But, I think the acknowledgement is the first step—the ‘opening of the door’ that has been shut for many years. 

Here is what I created while I was there!  It is my first attempt at painting with acrylics.  It was so enjoyable and while I was painting my fear and insecurities of the other people totally disappeared.  We were all new and inexperienced in this adventure.  It was certainly a learning experience in many different ways!

The perfectionist in me sees all the flaws and the ways I could change things about this picture.  I respond to those criticisms with, "You were painting from your soul, this is your creation.  Why do you see it as 'less' than perfect?  There is beauty to be found even in the imperfect.  In fact, it is the ‘imperfect’ that makes it beautiful.  It is called unique.

Peace. 

Nico

The Surrender Box 30 Day Creative Challenge (Day 5)

The Surrender Box

About six weeks ago, my teacher suggested that I create a box in which to put some of my most painful writings/memories.  My procrastinator has been refusing to finish this box until yesterday, when at last I put the final decoration on it!  This challenge was driving me to complete it!

I had been feeling so insecure about what she (my teacher) would think about the way the box looked.  It was a ‘group’ effort in decorating it.  So, as you will see in the picture below, it is a hodgepodge of ‘collectibles’.  All of the items used to decorate the box have just been ‘hanging around’ the house in various places not being utilized.  Different ‘parts’ have purchased these things over the years or they were given to us by various people or they were souvenirs.  So what was thought of initially as ‘junk’ or ‘clutter’ has become a part of our “Surrender Box”.   Everything on this box has a symbolic meaning or a memory attached to it.  Some might find it silly, some might find it meaningful; for me it is SACRED.  It is a way to help me release the painful and negative energy that my past has kept me ‘boxed’ within.  So, it is coming out of my 'inner box’ and going into the ‘surrender box’ to be released.  When the time comes, when I am ready, everything inside it will be burned or buried as my final release.

I just have to add that creating this box was cathartic in itself.

Okay, don’t laugh or ..... laugh, WHATEVER!!! 

Front

Left Side

Right Side

Top

Inside

Top Inside

Top Inside

My Surrender Box

I found an article online that will explain the purpose of this box, in case you have never heard of the idea before now.  You can find it here at My Daily Om The Surrender Box

Peace.

Nico



JUST AN INNOCENT PICTURE? 30 Day Creative Challenge (Day 4)

This is a picture that I have hanging in my room.  It is very old; possibly 60 years or more.  It belonged to my maternal grand-parents.  So, in some ways I cherish that it ended up in my care until it is passed on to someone else.

But, I have to admit that this picture evokes tremendous pain in my soul.  It brings forth my wounded child.  Sadly, this child still longs to be taken care of by a loving mother; longs for the attachment that was never made; longs to be loved by her siblings.

Maybe today I am sitting in vulnerability and my emotions are surfacing more than I would like.  While it is painful, it is not necessarily a negative experience.  It is a sign that I need to work on a part of my soul that has been neglected; a part of me that I keep trying to deny and put aside until I am ready to ‘deal’ with it.  But, this is not how life works.  This is not how the path to wholeness works.  Change refuses to be minimized and neglected, the way the wounded child was minimized and neglected.  Change must be embraced with a loving hug that the wounded child never experienced.  Change must be allowed to grow the soul that was stifled in the wounded child.

One must be open to change whenever it appears on your path.  We are constantly changing whether we realize it or not.  The way to wholeness is to embrace all change and learn the lessons it is trying to teach us.  When we embrace all of our Self, we will move closer to our Creator.  This is what our Self, our Soul longs for…the connectedness to our Creator.  We must overcome the obstacles in our life that have disconnected us from our Creator.  This, my dear readers is what I believe will lead us to wholeness.  This is what will lead us to inner peace.

Peace.

Nico

WORRY BEADS~~30 Day Creativity Challenge (day 3)

Photography

Yesterday in group, our teacher surprised each of us with a wonderful souvenir from Greece.  Worry beads!  I found the following explanation on Google and thought I would share it. Here are some pictures of them.  Unfortunately the close-up shots are a little blurred because my hands sometime shake!

The beads have silver sparkles in them!

She is such an awesome person.  My life has been blessed and I am grateful for her presence in it.

Greek Worry Beads

"Greek worry beads, sometimes called Komboloi have been part and parcel of the Greek way of life for many centuries.

 Greek tradition holds that the Greek worry beads in particular are derived from the knotted “prayer strands” used by Greek Orthodox Monks.

Formed in many shapes and sizes today, the usual material for Greek worry beads is Amber. Formed in short strands of between sixteen and twenty beads, Greek worry beads are worked in the fingers to reduce stress and help people to meditate and to think.

Moving the Greek worry beads back and forth or running them between fingers is an addictive and very calming activity.  Some people simply roll the beads around in their palm whilst other set up a repetitive and complex rhythm which when performed at a high speed can make the beads appear to move so fast that they become a blur.

The tradition of Greek worry beads has passed across oceans and today many people all over the world make use of the attractive beads either using them in their intended way or as a beautiful ornament.

Some Greek worry beads, in particular those designed for sale to tourists, include a small St Christopher or a charm and these can often be seen hanging in cars on rear view mirrors.

Whether you intend to buy some Greek worry beads for use or ornament, you could not have a wider choice than that which is available today.

Smooth semi-precious beads strung on leather or cord, glass or bone on fine silver or gold chains, carved or moulded plastic and as many colours as the rainbow, Greek worry beads are becoming more and more popular as people seek some soothing activities which might help them to deal with everyday stress.

Those people who become a fan of Greek worry beads maintain that they become more than a simple set of beads to them; indeed they can feel as though they contain an actual positive force, an energising power which becomes a faithful support for the owner.

Not only used in the relieving of stress but also as a diet aid or even to keep fingers busy when a person is giving up smoking, Greek worry beads seem to be genuinely useful to many people.

 

Greek worry beads are available today in many shops both online and in the high street. The many styles available ensure that there will be a set out there for you. When choosing a set it is advisable to touch and feel the beads before buying them. Some will undoubtedly feel more pleasant to the touch than others. Like buying shoes you need to find the right fit!

From - http://worrybeads.org/greek-worry-beads/”

30 Day Creativity Challenge Day 2

For a couple of months I have been trying to create my own 'space' in one of our extra rooms.  It is still a work in progress, but this is a picture of some of the things that give me inspiration and help me start my day feeling calm and centered.

I have one of my Samuel Bak posters "Elegy III" 1997.  Samuel Bak is a Holocaust survivor.  His paintings are full of symbolic meaning.  For several years now, I have been a follower of his work.  There is something that draws me into his paintings.  While I have never met him personally, I feel a spiritual connection to him.  It is hard to explain.  Here is a close-up of the picture.

Elegy III, 1997 Samuel Bak

Of course, I have my ANKH reminding me to listen to my intuition; a Celtic Cross in memory of my Irish heritage; a Cross that my cousin made for me; peacock feathers; a picture of the Virgin Mary; an Angel light; Isis; White Tara; Buddha; sea shells; my Scentsy burner; candles; my sleeping child Angel; my stuffed animals for the 'children' within; and to the left of the table is a statue of 'The Lamb of God'.  This statue used to be in the Catholic school I attended which has since closed many years ago.  It was donated in honor of a cousin I never met...as she died when she was three from diphtheria many years ago.  The table itself belonged to my paternal grandmother.  Here is a close-up of the table.

So, here is day two of my Creativity Challenge.  This challenge will help motivate me to finish my room!!

Peace!
Nico

30 Day Creativity Challenge (Day 1)

Okay...from the inspiration of some fellow bloggers and facebook friends, I am going to try to take a picture, make a craft, draw or make something and post it to facebook and my blog!

Wish me luck!

My first photo is cheating just a little!  I made this for my 'teacher' and gave it to her Friday after she returned from Greece!!

'Hania' is a Hebrew name for 'a resting place; to be happy'.  In'Lakesh (from Michi Lantz means, 'I am another you and you are another me.'

There is a lot of symbolism in this picture. 

Peace, Nico