Affirmations, Gratitude, and Soul Quests

Have you ever heard of things coming in threes?  I received three resounding "yes" votes from the universe in the last three days and I am euphoric. I'm feeling grateful for these amazing affirmations tonight, and excited about this summer's soul quest.   I have also been thinking a lot lately about resurrecting my old blog, so I thought I would dust it off tonight and share some of my musings....with a little bit of trepidation and vulnerability...  but also trusting that this is a good time to share.


I've been doing a lot of reading, re-reading and research lately.  Doreen Virtue,  Brian Weiss,  James Redfield,  Eckhart Tolle,  Rumi,  Cheryl Strayed,  Elizabeth Gilbert. Have you read Big Magic?  Just in case you haven't, here are some of my favorite Liz quotes. (When I say Liz I picture Ketut from "Eat, Pray, Love" saying "Leez. Leez, Leez, you came back!")

“The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them.” 

“Because the truth is, I believe that creativity is a force of enchantment—not entirely human in its origins.” 
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

(More magical quotes from Big Magic?  Of course- coming right up!  Click here!)

I am drawn over and over again to the idea of synchronicity, symbiosis, connections, cyclical-ness (did I just make that up?!) moving forward,  and using art in healing ways. Healing to make whole.  By whole I mean mind, body, spirit.  All three. And three is a very powerful number.  It can represent many concepts- and these concepts can be best expressed in a triskel.  

I got my tattoo (yep, that's it above on my wrist) after a very scary time in my life. I'd had a large parotid (salivary gland) tumor removed in a 5 hour surgery, and of course I was one of those 1% or so that had some horrible complications.  My cheek swelled up with fluid and my poor daughter had to drive me back and forth to Chapel Hill to have it drained every week with a big honking needle.  That summer I was very afraid. Some of the readings I embarked upon truly fed my soul and I eagerly read more, becoming more and more comforted by what I read.  I got my triskel tattooed later that fall.   My triskel symbolizes:

           1.  the idea of always moving in forward motion (in terms of progress, spiritual                  growth, etc) while remaining bound to the cyclical nature of the ways of nature                and spirit.  Being at one with the spirit.  

           2.  oneness with the many other symbolic meanings within the power of three such            as: the unity of Mind, Body, Spirit..... Power, Intellect, Love ......Mother, Father,              Child.....Past, Present, Future......Creation, Preservation, Destruction.   3 months            + 3 months + 3 months = 9 months = 1 child. Three ages of the female path-                      young girl, woman, crone.  Birth, Death, Rebirth. 

             

           Many of you also know of my fascination with spirals.  

"The spiral is the natural form of growth, and has become, in every culture and in every age, man’s symbol of the progress of the soul towards eternal life.

As the inward-winding labyrinth, it constitutes the hero’s journey to the still center where the secret of life is found. As the spherical vortex, spiraling through its own center, it combines the inward and outward directions of movement." 

From "The Mystic Spiral" Jill Purce  (Click here)

The symbols and meanings above are just a few of the attributes of the triskel and spirals that fascinate me.

We see all of these themes repeat themselves in the history of art, which is basically the history of humanity. We seek to understand many of these themes and stories and artistic visions; many are stories and myths that have been handed down to us over the centuries.  Much of the unexplained art that mankind has left behind, however, is wide open to interpretation- such as the spirals carved into the ancient, older-than-the-pyramids stones at Newgrange in Ireland which I visited last summer.  I will write about that trip another time! 

So.  All of that was basically to say I believe in signs and symbols and prayer and synchronicity.  You know; our living, breathing, magical universe. I felt called to open Artworks a few years ago.  It has been a struggle- financially, physically, mentally.  I have come close to closing several times- sometimes because I was exhausted and needed a break, other times because of other reasons.  It has also been a huge joy and source of amazing art-making times, laughter, creativity and growth.  The studio has been blessed to have some amazing people come through and spend time working there or donating of their time and services.   The current creative forces of Anna, Raquel and Kaylee are making some fantabulous things happen!   Still, though, I can't help but worry about money, and things not happening as fast as I would like, and energy.......and I have prayed a lot for guidance as to what path I should take.  

I have been studying art therapy and am currently taking an online course.  I am playing with the idea of getting another Master's degree or applying to become a "REACE" which stands for "Registered Expressive Arts Consultant/Educator."  I love watching people's faces as they realize how therapeutic and cathartic art can be- in particular while becoming very absorbed and "in the zone" while working in a visual art journal.  

Last week we were SO very honored to be asked by the Onslow Women's Center to provide a class for some of the women and children in their care.  Kaylee and I worked with a woman and her three children to provide a safe, healing art experience for them, sharing some ideas of things to do in the journals we gave them.  Kaylee so ably worked with the three lovely children (one on her lap!) to keep them busy and interested in their artwork.  I won't go into details but let me just say that the children's mother has a heartbreaking story.   I didn't ask questions or pry, but she voluntarily opened up to me and told me some of her story as we sat and created with the soft music playing in the background.  At one point she wearily exclaimed that she just wanted to gain back her voice.  I gently offered that she may have just come up with the 'title' of her journal.  She loved that idea.  She not only titled her journal but she proudly placed a proclamation on the back cover of her book: "Only the brave rise up and experience new beginnings."

Here's the thing.  We really didn't do much- the angels at the Onslow Women's Center do such important work each and every single day.  Whatever this poor lady got out of our art time is nothing compared to how Kaylee and I felt after Friday morning.  We both felt so honored and touched to have been able to provide that art experience for this family.  It was validation to me that  "YES!- this is a great direction to be going in, Sara!"  

There was more to come.  Saturday three lovely women came into the studio, and we had a really lovely chat.  Today I received this message from one of them:  "I just wanted to thank you for spending time with my mom, friend and I yesterday. We are looking forward to spending time in your shop. Thank you also for inspiring me to step out of my box and expand my creative juices."

AND THEN....... Today Raquel texted me that she found a beautiful note on the back patio. It read in part:

"It is truly a blessing to know someone who has answered the call to better the world. What y'all are doing for the community and its' people is truly profound and an act of selflessness. It does not go unnoticed.... we will do whatever it takes to help make the dream come true." (Thank you to the special people who left it there. Super big hugs coming soon. That was SO needed.)

So there you have it. Three very special, rewarding affirmations/messages to let me/us know that even though this is one of the hardest things I have ever done this studio needs to keep growing and needs to keep helping, and creating, and providing solace, spirit, and sanctuary along with art classes and downtown artsy community and creative flow. Figuring out exactly how to do this is the soul quest.

Life is Good.

I am looking forward to my art journaling workshop on Saturday.  It's exciting to share something I am passionate about.  I also have all these ideas swirling around in my head of things that I want to do.  I have ideas for 2 books that I want to write; a cool mosaic sidewalk; I want to finish the pallet coffee table that is half done;  finish decorating a place in my front garden that my friend Heather started for me; I need to finish the bookshelf I have been redecorating, and SO MUCH MORE.  (Oh yeah, I also want to rip up the carpet in the LR and put wood or fake wood flooring down!)

School is about to start though, and I won't get half of those done.  Pinterest and my busy ADD brain will keep feeding me ideas, and I may do some of those projects but I probably won't get to all of them.   I'll also think of new things to add to the list.  But it's ok- I love my job teaching art at Northside and I love my online job teaching AP Art History.  I'll have a million ideas of things I want to do at school too!!  I am grateful that I am around dedicated teaching professionals and eager, bright, lovely students every day.  

My point is- I am grateful that I have my health, friends, great jobs that I am passionate about, my husband is home for the weekend, my lovely children are in good health.   More than anything, I am glad life is busy, rewarding, and rich.  I am so thankful I never ever EVER say "I'm bored."  Life is good.  It was a good day.

Back to School= A Blank Piece of Paper!

Welcome back to a new school year everyone!

 I love the time of year when brand new sketchbooks are available and new pens, pencils and supplies (and sales) are everywhere! I even love the SMELL of said supplies. When I was younger and my parents would go into a bank in England I would grab lots of the colored blank deposit slips with built in carbon pages. My Dad would bring home old stamps from the office. My sister and I would use these supplies to play "office" for ages- stamping the forms and writing and playing.....such fun! Nowadays I go in to Staples or Office Max, Target or Wal-mart and practically salivate at the over-abundance of supplies.

White paper and new books has always signaled new beginnings to me. I start my new visual journals in January only because I can then write the year on the side. (I know..a bit OCD...don't ask.) Everything else in my life starts over when school starts again. In Belgium, growing up, it was called the "Rentree des classes" (back to school!). One of my FAVORITE things to do was to choose my "Journal de Classe" which was basically a homework agenda. It was cool to fold each page over when you were done with it so you could easily find the next page. I guess my love affair with paper started a long time ago!

New beginnings this year include a daughter who has moved into her first apartment, a son who is entering high school and a son entering 2nd grade. As for me- I am starting my 21st year of teaching art! It only counts on the books as the 19th though so I still have about 12 to go before retirement! I do still love doing this though- from my Coastal students to my high school students (on and off line!) I enjoy sharing my love of art with them.

I am also working hard on my blog to fill it with my favorite links and pages, so when someone asks about the trip to Greece next summer, I can say "look on my blog!" Links- look on my blog! Current events in the art world- hopefully,... on my blog!

I have also set a goal to walk/run a 5k with my best friend in September. Hopefully the health benefits of this training will give me more energy to keep up with the new soccer seasons that both boys are about to embark on!

Life is good. I hope we all have a wonderfully exciting year, full of discovery, learning, creativity and imagination!

NHS FALL SEMESTER students please click here: Click for information form.

CCCC students please click on the form in the Icebreaker information in the Getting Started folder. Thanks!