The Secret to Living a Grand Life Revealed!

The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it’s all that matters. ~Audrey Hepburn

Forest 1

You want to know the secret, right? You clicked on this article because you’re itching to know what this underground, hush-hush truth to living a brilliant and fulfilling life is, don’t you?

You may initially be disappointed to know that it is not money, good looks, fame and fortune or bending over backwards in philanthropic or selfless pursuit.

Now, although there is no judgment in having any of these features in your life, there is but one simple attribute you can muster up in this very moment that will bring you into alignment. The many masters that walked the earth, did so with peace and content in their hearts because they knew this secret.

Something that is so ridiculously obvious to some but not so apparent to others.  ‘Oh what is it!’ I hear you cry. You’re just going to have to bear with me a little longer.  Something as fruitfully juicy as what I am about to reveal, deserves a big build up!

The Here and Now

Here we are incarnated on a planet called Earth. Humanity in its apparent prime — a species so trumped up with itself that in our pursuit to strive for greatness we miss a fundamental principle to life and existence. A principle so far out for some that it is overlooked and brushed off as bohemian nonsense — the right to life and a reverence for existence.

The what to who and the who to what?

Imagine a world where everyone had the exact same amount of love and respect for EVERY life form as they do for their own self (assuming that you have mastered the ability of self-love, that is).  But, ah, here bares the rub!

Self-Love or Bust!

Respect yourself and other will respect you. ~Confucius

When you attain that love for self that I’m speaking of, you usually automatically begin to love and respect others as well as every other form of life you encounter.  I am even including what is deemed inanimate objects here.  Everything on this planet has a presence, from the rocks, plants and animals to the soil, worms and the very core of the earth itself.

If you cannot see or feel this to be true, this article will not resonate with you.  If you feel just one iota of truth in this, please read on.

The Secret Revealed

Love is what binds us, respect is what unites us.  To have love and respect for all life forms guarantees you an excellent quality of life because you will be walking around in sheer reverence to all you come across.  There will never be a dull or uninspired moment.  Why?

Because when you bump into even a stranger, you will see God in his/her eyes.  You will look upon a flower and see the cosmos within the fold of its petals.  You will sit up against a tree and feel its life energy resounding through your core and you will sit upon the earth and feel her heart-beat pumping out the rhythm of all life.

Hippy Thinking or Revolutionary Insight?

Some of you may be thinking that I’m some deranged and dangerous hippy, you know, one of those people that doesn’t even want to eat a vegetable because they feel they are killing the plant.

No, not at all. What I am suggesting is that no matter what you do, do it with love and respect.  If you want to eat an animal, consume it with love and gratitude in your heart for its life and sacrifice.  When you press a ripe and bursting strawberry to your lips, give your utmost attention to its life force and presence (the sunlight that made it grow, the water that gave it its succulence, the earth that housed it). You see nothing ever truly ‘dies’, it is transmuted.

Whether You or the Animal is Lunch

The animal becomes a part of your biology as does the strawberry.  You become part of the earth again when it is your time to move on (or in the unusual circumstance that you decide to go on a rather unsuccessful safari, you may become a lion’s appetizer and therefore be at one with the lion and eventually come out as the fertilizer for the earth).   Life really has got a sense of continuity (and humor), no matter which way you perceive it!

Find that humor in life, find the peculiarity of oneness with life and find the love for being a part of this unique system — life.  See yourself in everything and everything will reflect the wholeness of your being. Feel the life force in everything and shift into unity consciousness.  Do this and you will step into love and bliss.

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Purpose Fairy

You may also enjoy:

The Fine Balancing Art of Yin and Yang

‘Love and Light’ — What Does it Mean?

Finding Humility Through Wisdom

Why Weird is the New Cool

The Magic Ingredient of Life

Painting a Zebra From Scratch

Come Be a Fly on my Studio Wall

Here’s a pictorial blog following me creating one of my ‘close up’ zebra paintings. This has been done with acrylics.

1)  It starts off with a permanent black marker pen on canvas:

Z001

2)  Then I add the lighter colour first in between the stripes:Z002

3)  Then comes the black stripes:Z003

4)  The stripes are finished but the eyes still need to be done:Z004

5)  Now the eyes are done and the finer details are taken care of:Z005

6)  I felt there was still something missing from this painting so I experimented with a blue wash.  I liked the blue tone so much that I did about 2-3 watered down blue washes — I think it gives the painting an air of mystery and intrigue.  It really pops now:Z006

The original was sold at the beginning of 2013 but I have prints available (click on the picture below to take you to the store):

Blue Zebra — Cherie Roe Dirksen

You may also enjoy:

Zebra Fever — Affordable Art Posters for Your Wall

Rock Art Series Painting no. 3 — Jeff Buckley ‘Raw’

Spreading Your Goodwill

As you all probably know by now, I dedicate my Friday blog to something creative and free for public use.

Today I conjured up this e-card in an attempt to spread some cheer around the globe at the beginning of this wonderful new year.  2013 is going to be fantastic…it has to be after the roller-coaster ride of 2012!

So, why not share this with your family and friends today — go on, put a smile on their faces!

To download, just click on the picture and ‘save as’ to your computer — otherwise you can just copy and paste into your e-mail.  Quick and easy!  🙂

Wonderful Day ecardHave a great weekend!

To see the original artwork used to make this card, CLICK HERE

You may also enjoy:

The Secret to Excellent Living

 

What Does The World Really Need?

Compassion and Love Quote

The world could always use a bit more compassion…

You may also enjoy:

The Secret to Excellent Living

 

2013 — Bring it On!

Fireworks and Fire Crackers Between Your (Bottom) Cheeks!

Excitement is in the air as we enter a new year full of hope and excitement.  If you’re not feeling the anticipation and spine-tingling joy that a new year brings, I suggest you download a copy of my manifesto, ‘New Life Resolutions’ — it’s free and you have nothing to lose (that is if you haven’t done so already)!

It’s a simple and easy 10-step guide to get a motivational flame licking gently away at your botty until the burning sensation of inspiration takes hold.  It can be a very useful aid that may very well keep you going for the next 12 months or so (hopefully longer, say as in a whole lifetime!).

As it’s Friday and I usually like to create something free to giveaway on this particular day of the week, I have crafted an ecard to grace your mailing list as you wish everyone a Happy New Year…here it is:

Other blogs you may enjoy:

Spreading Your Goodwill

What Does The World Really Need?

The End of the Mayan Calendar but a New Beginning for Us!

8 Life Strategies That Playing Chess Has Taught Me

Being a Rookie

Chess is a game that I love to play with my husband.  He is such an enviable strategist. When I first started playing with him, I felt like a complete fool every time he snookered my king and got me into check-mate.

When I let my pride take the back seat, I discovered a remarkable game that I could undeniably learn from whilst enjoying some quiet, reflective, quality time with my partner.

I found it a relaxing pursuit with red-hot moments of intensive brain-stretching — a great way to quantize your thinking.  It not only takes the grey matter for a stroll around the yard but also teaches you valuable lessons in forethought, planning, awareness and defense tactics.

Has Anyone Seen the Bishop?

I started to see more spiritual truths in chess the more we played; in fact it was beginning to be a remarkable representation of life!

It aroused me to apply these teaching to my own life situations and, if not why not, to other people’s life circumstances too.  A lot of people are already either inadvertently or deliberately playing chess with their situations and relationships.

It opened my eyes and taught me that there is usually either a way to slip out of trouble or to catch yourself and your opponent by surprise with your brilliant and calm maneuvering capabilities.

Be Your Own Knight in Shining Armor

Just when things start to look hopeless, you view your game from a different angle or perspective and you move to the side and allow danger to pass.  What a great allegory for life!

Here are some of the life strategies chess has permitted me to comprehend:

  • Multi-layers — there is always more than meets the eye in any given situation.
  • Patience — slow and steady wins the race.
  • Side-Stepping — there is usually either an evasive move or a counter-action you can take when in the face of danger.  Don’t lose hope.
  • Shifting Views — when things are looking dire for you, all you may need is a shift in perspective that can open up new doorways.
  • Positive Outlook — always try to stay optimistic and you will habitually figure out a good move to make.
  • Acknowledgments — congratulate your opponent on good moves — you can learn from them too.  Don’t let your pride get in the way of wisdom.
  • Grace — be a good loser because you never really lose in life, you just start a new game and learn from the previous one. So hone in on your skills by learning from your mistakes — nothing is ever in vain.  Be a gracious winner too, there is no room for friends in your life if your big head is taking up all the space!
  • Always Have Fun — enjoy the process, the game of chess (life) is exciting, invigorating and challenging — all of which keep you feeling alive, vibrant, polished and motivated.

Metaphors and Metamorphosis — from Pawns to Kings

I love painting life experience with intriguing metaphors and feel even more elated when such an analogy becomes a bald-faced truth.

When we can become the observers of life’s smaller things, like an innocent fixture of chess, and transform it into a fresh perspective of life, it changes us.  We start looking all over for these spiritual growth sign-posts and we usually find them in the strangest of places.

Chess is the ultimate sport of existence and even though I know the strategies have been used in more negative life experiences, such as war and devious corporate obliteration, it can also be used to your advantage in co-creating your reality.

Give yourself a game plan and be flexible enough to discern inherent dangers whilst on track, this way you will be able to metaphorically duck and dive bullets (just like Neo in The Matrix movie).  Be cunning and graceful and you will never be caught off guard.  When you are, don’t give up, learn from it and reload your experience as ammunition for the next round.

There is never failure, only feedback.

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Positively Positive

subscribe button

Other articles you may enjoy:

Live Like You Mean It — Live With Conviction!

The Secret to Excellent Living

Is Social Networking Stifling Your Creative Juices?

The Fine Balancing Art of Yin and Yang

Finding Humility Through Wisdom

Why Weird is the New Cool

2 Commonly Accepted Lies that You May Believe

What Freddy Mercury Can Teach Us About Detachment

The Best Christmas Present Ever!

Merry Christmas!

Let’s not lose sight of what the real message behind Christmas is. Let’s all pray for…

Possibly the best present anyone could ever wish for!

You also might enjoy:

The End of the Mayan Calendar but a New Beginning for Us!

Zen Christmas Wallpaper

Serenity…Your Passport to Peace

The End of the Mayan Calendar but a New Beginning for Us!

Today is the last date on that infamous Mayan calendar.  For me, this is a symbolic ‘reboot’ day.  I feel it is the start of a new way of thinking and life as we know it, on this beautiful planet.  How?  Why?  What the hell?  Who knows!

All I can tell you is that change starts one person at a time.  With that in mind, make sure your attitude is positive and life will blossom all around you.

In keeping with the spirit of new beginnings, I conjured up this laptop/computer wallpaper for you this fabulous Friday:

Happy Friday!

Other blogs you may enjoy:

Spreading Your Goodwill

2013 — Bring it On!

How Taking Things Personally Can Stump Your Creative Output

People Who Own Their Lives Live With Conviction

“When you take a stand out of deep conviction, people know. They may not even agree, but they ask, ‘Do I want someone who is willing to take a hard stand and someone I can trust to do that when the chips are down?’ They want that”. ~Barbara Boxer

Thumb-Sucking in Society

So many people today seem to be mulling about — scampering hither and thither with no real purpose in life.  I’m not implying that you need to have one, two or even three main drives in life, your primary purpose should really only entail the betterment of yourself and, if you can manage it (but usually comes with the package of self-improvement), the betterment of other people’s lives as well.

This does not necessarily mean that you need to don a nun’s outfit and become the next Mother Theresa.  It simply means to live with integrity and to let that little light of yours shine, shine, shine.

For want of not breaking out into song at this point, I will swiftly move on.

So many ‘self-help’ writers (including myself) bang on about purpose but let’s take a look at another word today — conviction.

What does it Mean to Live with Conviction?

Simply put, conviction is a firmly held belief. You can start to act upon your convictions today by ascertaining:

What is it that you stand for?  Is it love, world peace, justice, having a jolly good time, a particular cause, educating the next generation, spreading your particular brand of creativity, etcetera?  Get clear on your legacy. How would you want to be remembered?  This can usually point you in the right direction.

Then ask yourself how you are embodying this?  In other words, how are you walking the talk in your everyday life?  You can either take giant or baby steps to stand in the light of your convictions or you can just talk about them.  If you choose the latter, you’re not going to be judged by me, but you need to then own that decision too.

Conviction is worthless unless it is converted into conduct. ~Thomas Carlyle

Living your conviction, in my tangy opinion, just means to go for what you believe in guns blazing (not literally, of course). Own your choices. The golden rule is to not infringe on anyone elses free will.

Are you Wishy-Washing Your Life Away?

Conviction is a way of taking responsibility for your actions no matter what you are doing. If you can’t take responsibility, then you shouldn’t be doing it.  Chances are that you are going to end up blaming everyone else but yourself for any future repercussions.

Don’t be a ‘poor me’, be an ‘I-know-what-I’m-doing’ kind of chap/lass.

Own your life, own what you want to get out of it, own that you are still learning and growing, own who you are and what you stand for and most of all own the fact that it won’t last forever.

We are in this theatrical production of life together, we will come and we will go — make the most of it while you can.

Hello, Steven Spielberg!

We can write and act out a drama, comedy, romance, horror, sci-fi (if you have the relevant props and celestial connections) or a feel-good script (heck, it could even be a combination of all!) — this is your God-given free-choice.  Live it with conviction and your life story will not only make it onto the Top ranking DVD list but could also end up on Blu-ray.

Own it, be it, do it and then, when it is your time to exit — depart knowing that you truly lived.  If you leave this plane of existence having touched just one person’s life, you have made a difference!

Live like you mean it.

You may also enjoy:

8 Life Strategies That Playing Chess Has Taught Me

Why Weird is the New Cool

What Freddy Mercury Can Teach Us About Detachment

7 Ways to Tame the Ego and Become Instantly Likeable

Never-Before-Seen Photographs of How I Paint my Patterned Poppies

Secrets of the Trade

In the fabulously expressive and creative world of art, I am probably best known for my gold spiral-patterned backgrounds that are usually laced with flowers in the foreground — which, in more cases than not, happen to be poppies (just because I am so very fond of them).

Here is the finished result of a painting called ‘Red Poppies’

(The original is SOLD but you can get prints at SAATCHI — click on picture to take you to the gallery and to read a description of what urged me to paint this 😉

I managed to photograph the process, so come be a fly on my studio wall.

This is the first time I have ever done this and am now going to show you my best kept secret — drum-roll please…

I hope you enjoy seeing the project unfold:

1.  It starts off rather dull and messy, laying a black foundation…

2.  When the foundation layer of black has dried, I chalk out the poppy layout…

3.  Then I start adding the gold motif with an acrylic liner (a squeeze tube with gold acrylic paint inside).  As you can see below, I have to sign the painting before it is actually finished so I can work around the signature with the pattern…

Because this one is so large, I have to lay it on its side to get to the various different parts otherwise my arm will drop off with the effort…

4.  With the background finished, I can now start to add the colour to my poppies…

5.  I keep on adding layers of colour until I get that rich lustre I am after…

6.  Last, but not least, I add the gold stamen work to finish off the painting…

The painting is finished (and so is the artist…lol)!

You can purchase prints of the above by CLICKING HERE or on the pictures below — I’ve got framed prints, canvas prints, greeting cards, pillows and tote bags with this design on:

 red poppy cushion  red poppy print framedred poppy tote bagNow it’s time to check out the photographic painting process of ‘Iceland Poppy Mix’ 😀

Click on the picture below:

Iceland Poppies by Cherie Roe Dirksen

subscribe buttonOther articles you may enjoy:

Rock Art Series Painting no. 3 — Jeff Buckley ‘Raw’

How To Branch Out — Painting Scenes With Trees

Reusable Art for a Dollar!

How to Paint a Quick and Easy Stain-Glass Effect

A Look Behind the Scenes — Painting an Abstract Landscape

Find out why I paint what I paint in my new Art Portfolio book (now available at all leading bookstores worldwide):

front cover amazon 1 lr

Commission a Painting

Cherie Roe Dirksen Art  

Zen Christmas Wallpaper

In keeping with the theme of having a simple Christmas this year (see ‘The Zen of Christmas’).  I created this wallpaper especially for your laptop/computer desktop to serve as a subtle reminder.  🙂

Happy Friday!

Finding God and a Reason for Being Here

“I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It’s just that the translations have gone wrong.” — John Lennon

Sunrise Cove Print

A Non-Religious Point of View

I just want to say from the off that I do not subscribe to any religion and am not pushing any particular doctrine in this article, I am merely purveying the teachings of which I am most familiar with.

I have a great respect for all the various religious prophets.

From the time I was a young girl I have found the church and religious doctrine a very hard concept to grapple with. My father insisted I attend church every Sunday up until the age of sixteen, something I resented him for, but now, find to be not only a very synchronistic part of my life but a necessary part of my greater understanding.

Sampling Tasty Tit-Bits from the Melting Pot

Boat at Sunset PrintWhen I hit my teens, I started to sniff around gathering insights to other religions and spiritual practices.  I found that there is actually a common thread amongst them, one sacred truth to be shared – love.

“Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams – they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do – they all contain truths.”— Muhammad Ali

Although I never liked the power and control the church had over its congregation, I always thought there was some very spiritually sound advice in the Bible.  Some things did have their roots planted in truth, but I also felt that other teachings did not and had the air of control and suppression.

The Anointed One

The parables of Jesus Christ always felt like he had a greater understanding of the intrinsic nature of humanity and the way this world should be experienced – especially when he spoke of our innate divinity – being the sons and daughters of God.

I feel his teachings were deeply rooted in an inborn truth.  The meaning of which translates to a profound spiritual morality that addresses 4 fundamental core emotions and practices for humanity:

  1. Compassion,
  2. understanding,
  3. non-judgment and
  4. love.

If you want to solve all of the world’s problems, start practicing this list.  See divinity in others and you are well on your way to mastery.  I wrote an article a while ago addressing the fear-based myths about God and how to view humanity as you would view your own family and loved ones — you can read about that HERE.

Your Veracity Determines Your Reality

Tree PrintOur truths are buried deep inside, and the whole process of enlightenment is to shine a light on them.  When we do, we bring ourselves into complete clarity, alignment and wholeness.  This is not done by adding to ourselves, it is achieved by going within.  A good place to start is to adopt regular meditational practice (5 Easy Steps to Meditation) and to start exercising trust of your gut instincts.

“The flowering of love is meditation.” — Jiddu Krishnamurti

Jesus was a regular ‘hippy’ spreading the news of love for one another. If you clear all the dogma away around Jesus his message was simple:

‘Unconditional and Unequivocal Love’

We are Divine expressions experiencing the miracle of perceived natural life in the universe.

This life experience is a journey of self-discovery and should be that of joy, love, abundance, peace and wisdom.  You are in the driver’s seat of your life – steer it in the direction you want to head for not in the direction someone else programmed into your GPS.

Your life, your choices.

Source Energy and Experiential Life

The Hindus call the eternal, unchanging infinite that is beyond this universe, Brahman.  They refer to this reality/world as Maya – the personification that the material world is merely an illusion.

“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” Albert Einstein

Lavender Field PrintThis illusory reality world concept can also be seen in the Matrix Trilogy, as humans are literally ‘plugged in’ to a computer-generated world (God bless the Wachowski siblings for making this movie and giving us such an amazing example of this very difficult theory!).

We seem to have lost the ability to see the forest for the trees.  We go around feeling a pit in our stomachs, that feeling that something is missing.

What is missing is your connection to Source.  The ultimate illusion is that you are lacking it.  You aren’t missing anything, you have just forgotten that it exists – and it exists within you.  Your heart center holds the vibration and frequency of the Creators love, the only true building block to your inevitable life’s manifestations.

Feeling Lost?

Home is where your heart is means that anywhere you are is your home – this could even refer to the planet you now find yourself upon.

You are never alone, because where you are, there is God.  Yearning to be somewhere or to be someone else is a self-defeating and self-destructive rehearsal.  Make peace with where you are, who you are and when you are and you will find your place in this world theatre – where you are the writer, director and actor of your very own stage production.

You are the Drop, so Own the Ocean!

We are all Creators living out our creation, we seem to have forgotten that. The ripples, that were born of the one drop, changed their size, and eventually went so far out into the ocean they forgot they were the ocean to begin with – the Source.

Enjoy your life and make your home at the core of your being.

“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”― Anonymous, Holy Bible: King James Version

Believe in your heart quotation 250x244 Finding God and a Reason for Being Here

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Lightworkers World

Other articles you may enjoy:

8 Life Strategies That Playing Chess Has Taught Me

The Fine Balancing Art of Yin and Yang

Finding Humility Through Wisdom

Live Like You Mean It — Live With Conviction!

The Secret to Excellent Living

subscribe button

 

 

How Taking Things Personally Can Stump Your Creativity

Heather

“Don’t Take Anything Personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.” ~Don Miguel Ruiz

If you have a fear about what people will think of what you have to offer — your particular brand of creative expression — then this could be a serious obstacle.

So try and read this with that in mind and then answer this question:

Can I reveal the gifts of my soul to the world even if some may not approve, be ready for, or understand me?

If you can, you are standing in your integrity and are resolute about who you are.  If not, try to get to the root of why you hand your power over to other people for approval.

This article may also help:  Making a Commitment to Creativity…Do You Lack Self-Worth?

Do You Take Things Personally?

SunsetWhen you take something personally or are offended, you are inadvertently agreeing with what has been said about you.

Does this ring true or are you still having a hard time grappling with this concept?

If you are still wrestling with this statement, it could stem from not being able to take responsibility for your own thought streams and self-identification.  I know this sounds a bit harsh but if we are going to effectively tackle self-worth issues; we need to get our hands initially dirty so that we can give them a good scrubbing.

Complete Honesty is Required

A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation. ~Moliere

When someone insults you it is only the tip of the iceberg to what’s lying underneath.  When you feel slighted you are actually supporting the view of your counterpart because it has touched a nerve.  If your nerves are being twisted, you know there is something more to the perceived insult that meets the eye.

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. ~Carl Jung

The person doing the insulting is only reminding you of something that needs to be taken out within yourself to have a good, long and hard look at.  Although you probably won’t want to give them a gold medal for their efforts, I assure you that some people are in this life to push your buttons.  Although this may seem unloving, they actually give you the opportunity to reconsider your belief structures – a chance to turn your trash into treasure.

Taking a Look at the Opposite Pole — Confidence

GirlIf someone tried to hurt you, or perhaps even unintentionally, says something to you that you don’t agree with – no problem – you usually brush off this kind of ‘offense’ because it really doesn’t bother you.  It could be an area in your life that you are 100% sure you have waxed.

We have to learn to be our own best friends because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies. ~Roderick Thorp

So for instance, you are a rocket scientist and someone calls you stupid, the chances of you having a wobbly melt-down in the public lavatory are going to be slim. But let’s take another example, perhaps one that we all have had to deal with in one way or another.

Vanity Fair or Foul?

Let’s say you are happy with your appearance and feel you are a fine specimen, someone passes by in a vehicle and shouts out, ‘hey, freak!’

It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to. ~W.C. Fields

Do you agree with that or not? If you are 100% confident that you are a perfectly dashing human being, just as the Universe intended, then you would most likely shrug the comment off and have a good chuckle about it. Why? This is because you whole-heartedly disagree with the statement.

However, if you are someone whose confidence peaks and troughs daily, you will probably instantly go into depression.  The nerve that has been struck is your internal agreement about yourself, not what the other person has said.  All they have done is ignited the spark on the BBQ that you are going to make sure you roast on.  It is a form of self-torture.   To agree with anyone over anything stemming from feelings of lack is disempowering.

Re-examine all that you have been told…dismiss that which insults your soul. ~Walt Whitman

We live and we learn, we travel within and we discover who we are.

When you feel confident about who you are, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks and you are free to express the many wonders that your unique soul has to offer.

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Purpose Fairy. 

Next installment:  9 Truths About Letting Go of Opinions that Taint Us

You may also enjoy:

Live Like You Mean It — Live With Conviction!

What Excuse is Keeping You in a Holding Pattern?

How to Get Your Creative Space Working For You

Are You Letting Your Creativity Show?

7 Proven Tactics to Spread Joy Around the World

Make Your Own Calendar — Christmas Gift Ideas

With Christmas just around the corner, I wanted to share a really nice idea with you.  A really special and unique gift for a family member, friend or even a colleague would be to put together your own personal calendar for 2013.

You can click on the picture to get started now!  They are quick and easy to make and Zazzle ships worldwide:

custom calendars picture

Free ecards from my Calendars

If you don’t have the time or inclination, I have put together 2 unique calendars of my art — one focusing primarily on landscape art and the other on poppy art.

You will also find, below the calendars, your 2 free ecards for this week (click on the picture, then right-click and ‘save as’, then upload to your e-mail anytime you want to use them), inspired from the art I chose for the calendars…

          

           

Happy Friday!

Other blogs you may enjoy:

The End of the Mayan Calendar but a New Beginning for Us!

Never-Before-Seen Photographs of How I Paint my Patterned Poppies

The Best Christmas Present Ever!

Incredible Inspiring Art by Stephen Wiltshire

An Artful Splash of Colour For Your Facebook Timeline

How to Get Your Creative Space Working For You

 

Are You Playing Russian Roulette With Your Karma?

What is Karma?

Many Faces Many Masks ©Photo by Cherie Roe Dirksen 1024x696 Are You Playing Russian Roulette With Your Karma?If we are to dive into the deep end of the slippery abyss that causes us emotional flare-ups, we need to begin our journey with that tricky little boomerang energetic signature called karma.

So what exactly is karma?  In a nutshell, it is an action or deed that starts the cycle of cause and effect.  This can be carried over through many lifetimes or it can have the light of awareness shone on it and be resolved in one corporeal sojourn.

We are all in the process of learning and expanding our selves, karma is a way of balancing out any lingering dualistic energy.  It is not a form of punishment — I believe it is just a realigning or rebalancing of your soul.

The Uncomfortable Truth

Karma can be a great source of discomfort and why?  Because it demands that you go within yourself for answers.   Introspection is always difficult and most of us squirm at the thought of delving into our own psyche, akashic records or past life experiences for fear of what we might find there — this is perfectly normal.

However, the truth to any situation is found at the core of your being and one of the most effective ways to get at that core is to meditate (for those of you needing a little nudge to get meditating, here is a link to an article you may find useful: https://cherieroedirksen.com/2011/12/08/do-you-need-to-meditate-part-1/ ).  Another great way to identify your karma is to look for triggers.

What Are Triggers?

Triggers can come in the shape or form of things, situations or people that push your buttons.  So let’s throw in a few examples:

  • Things — let’s say you are afraid of snakes.  You may come up with a few reasons why you are.  One being that it is a rational fear – some snakes are poisonous and can be deadly.  However, there are many animals that are dangerous that you may not be frightened of — so this cannot be the only reason for your phobia.  This could very well be a karmic attribute that you have stumbled upon.
  • Situations — you could be someone who absolutely abhors going to a fairground.  You don’t know why but it gives you the willies.  Or, it could be that you can’t bear to stand on top of a high building or mountain.  These can all lead you to childhood or past-life traumatic events.
  • People — I’m sure this is the one you can relate to the most.  Yes, you know the ones I’m speaking of.  Those button-pushers, the instant reactivity conductors.  They could play a major part in your life lessons.  Go into why they trigger you so much and see if you can release them.

Dicing with Your Demons

If you do not address your causality then you will suffer the effect until you do take it out to scrutinize.  So, like the old proverb ‘a stitch in time saves nine’, make a timely effort now and prevent more work later on.   My advice:  Get stitching!

You have a choice to do the work now or later.  Though don’t kid yourself, it will have to be done at some point — postponing the inevitable only leads to greater suffering and denial.

I don’t want any long faces so let’s lighten this up a bit…

Play with a Fun Perspective

Hiden Treasure ©Photo by Cherie Roe Dirksen 1024x575 Are You Playing Russian Roulette With Your Karma?If you can look at it more optimistically, it is like a treasure hunt – you are looking for clues to unravel the tapestry of your life and its microcosmic theatricals to unveil the macrocosmic self and its journey’s.

This, if looked at in the light of consciousness, can indeed be an epic adventure.  You will come across many synchronicities and pointers that will amaze you.  This divine matrix of life works its wiles to weave its multidimensional graft of art and all of it is for your benefit.  As Yoda might say, ‘honored you should be!’

Banish the Inner Judge

Hold back any judgment you may want to pass on others and yourself.  Just let what has happened rise to the surface to be examined, appreciated (i.e. give thanks for the lesson that you have learnt) and then let it go.

I can hear you say, ‘this all sounds fantastic but what can I realistically do to take the first steps of releasing karma once I have found it?’

You do the Ho’oponopono.

Ho’opono-what?

It’s a remedy I got from a dear friend.  It is a prayer from the ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness.  Give it a try:

I am sorry

Please forgive me

I love you

Thank you

Now let’s get to the juicy bit…what comes after karma?

Dharma without the ‘Greg’

Hiding ©Photo by Cherie Roe Dirksen 515x1024 Are You Playing Russian Roulette With Your Karma?When you can release your karma you are able to step into Dharma (and I’m not talking about that sitcom from the nineties).  Dharma, in this sense, is simply getting back to basics and being present with the natural law of the universe – it is a state of nirvana, that ‘inner peace’ we all search for.

You will be tested, however, and karma – even when it is resolved – can, and most certainly will, be thrown at your feet time and time again for you to pick up and be drawn back into the drama.

This is where you, from your calm centered place of dharma, will rise above the drama.  You will be able to detect and single out your karma when you are aware of the programs you have been running and the lessons you needed to learn.

Bring in your awareness to any of these arising issues and recognize them for what they are.

Easier Said than Done?

For sure, but just remember that when you bring awareness to any situation you have already shone 50% of the light on it.

When you can observe the nasty little head of karma, as it seeks to lure you back into 3D reality dramas, you will be able to be the calm, grounded entity who knows thyself.  You will be able to say ‘no, thank you — I am moving forward in my life not backwards’, and you can simply walk away.

Yes, you can walk away!  You are the still presence that is the walking example, guiding others to their inner knowledge.  When your friends and family (and button-pushers) start realizing that they no longer have any effect on you, they are going to want what you have.

Guess what?  You are probably going to want to give it to them to — because spreading the light is what you do best!

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Lightworkers World

Other articles you may enjoy:

Finding God and a Reason for Being Here

Live Like You Mean It — Live With Conviction!

 

 

Take The Test — Are You a Slave to Social Networking?

Freedom Header

This is not going to be an article bashing social networking or shouting from the rooftops that it’s from the devil.  No, I find it an extremely helpful, if not detrimental, modern-day tool.  I utilize it socially — to stay in touch with friends and family — and I use it for my business.

Social networking is a great device for spreading information and touching base.  However, it can also be abused.

All too often I see people with their noses stuck to their iPods, even when they are publicly with someone else.  Does anyone else find this extremely rude?

What is it that keeps the populace stuck to other people’s dramas or, in some case, tedious actions?  Are we craving attention?  Is it the need to feel connected? Is it that ugly ego rearing its head and wanting to be seen or to compare?

I feel these actions can inadvertantly drain our inspiration and drive.  However, if used properly, they can be great tools of motivation and new ideas.

Let’s Get Real

I think we will all have different reasons for using social networking but if you are finding it hard to keep those nimble thumbs off your key-pad, then let’s dive into a bit of introspection — answer these questions honestly:

  • Control – do you have command over how much time you spend on social networks such as facebook or twitter, or does it have an irrepressible hold on you?
  • Breaks — can you go without it for a long period of time and not be bothered?  Have you ever tested yourself on this?
  • Loss — do you feel disconnected if you don’t ‘plug in’?  Are you just itching to be updated again?  Are you feeling like you are missing out on something?
  • Time – how many moments do you waste scouring news feeds only to find that 2 hours have passed and you have not really found anything of true value?
  • Question — how are you using it?  Is it benefitting you in some way?  Or is it serving as a distraction?  Or both?
  • Limits — can you set yourself boundaries and time limits?
  • Trimming —Hone down who and what you give your energy to.  Are you wasting a lot of time on engaging in a drama that really doesn’t involve you?  Are you helping or fueling the situation? Or are you just filling empty space?
  • Clarity — are you using facebook for friends and people you actually know?  Or do you befriend any Tom, Dick and Harry that requests your precious time?  Get clear about which social networks are for what.  In other words, use facebook or twitter to stay in touch with interesting people, friends and family and sites like LinkedIn and facebook business pages for your associates, promotions and dealings.  Be clear about the reason you are using these sites and don’t just give your time away willy-nilly.
  • Allocations — assign specific times to go on for personal and business use and be liable for those periods — keep to that schedule.

Rudeness Concealed as ‘The Norm’

At all costs avoid whipping out your iPad in real conversation with bona fide friends and colleagues – nobody appreciates this and you may end up losing a tangible friend or business deal for one moment of digital gratification.

The friends who are willing to meet up with you in the flesh are the ones that will be there for you when you need them.  Give them your undivided attention and respect.

If someone has taken time out to be with you, they should take precedence over any electronic device that is beeping for your attention — learn to turn it off if it’s a distraction.

Take the Test

If you find that social networking is controlling you and you can’t let go, try this out:

  • Alert your connections that you will be taking one weeks (or however long you feel you need) ‘vacation’ from the net.
  • Hold yourself accountable for it, no matter what juicy adventures you want to share – be present with that urge to splurge and be at peace with telling no-one.
  • Observe how remaining silent makes you feel – do you feel a certain tranquility or are you chomping at the bit?  Really question yourself — do you truly need to share that photo of your dinner last night?  Do your friends need to know how long you were at the gym this morning?  Possibly not.
  • If you are experiencing more calm and ease without social networking, then this exercise has worked.  You will be more aware of how to limit your time dedicated to it in the future.  Work out a viable timetable and stick to it.
  • If you are edgy and feel anxious, then this exercise has also worked and you need to go into why you are feeling this way.  Social networking has a hold over you and there is something there that needs addressing.  Dig deep and follow the thread of answers to this question:  Why do I feel the need to be distracted?  You will be taken to the core of your inability to ‘let go’ of being in the loop about every little detail, or keeping people in the loop about every endeavor you undertake.

You Are the Center of Your Own World

When you take a break from your social networking sites, I can bet that you most likely will not be missed — however, this will not be from the lack of love your friends and associates have for you.

The reason is, in all actuality, you are not going to be the center of their worlds and they will most likely have many other diversions to keep them busy.  Don’t take offense at this — it is helpfully indicative that everyone has a ‘life’.  You are at the center of your revolving world and they are conducting their version of reality too — learn to honor this and be grateful when your worlds collide for the greater good.

This can give you a clearer perspective of how you identify what is important and hone down what you feel you need to distribute that will benefit others.  It will aid you to ascertain what needs to be shared and what can remain private.

Call to Action

I want you to work out approximately how much time a week you spend on social networking and then compare it to your new timetable.  Let us know how much time you have saved and what you now do to use that time more creatively.

Use social networking responsibly and you will have the best of both worlds.

Use social networking to see the beauty in life, to get inspired and to spread good vibes — don’t let it use you to become a slave to that lower vibrational world of gossip, drama and bullshit.

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Conscious Life News

Subscribe Icon

Other articles you may enjoy:

8 Life Strategies That Playing Chess Has Taught Me

How to Get Your Creative Space Working For You

9 Truths About Letting Go of Opinions that Taint Us

An Artful Splash of Colour For Your Facebook Timeline

 

Poppy Block Header FINAL          green logo

The Zen of Christmas

Keep it Simple

As you are all probably well-aware of, Christmas has become the most over commercialized holiday on record.

Where are those Christmas Day’s that saw us making presents for each other, or simply buying one token of appreciation for that special someone instead of amassing them with a dozen gifts whilst maxing out your credit card?

It all seems a bit over-the-top to me.  Christmas has gone haywire!  We overspend, over-consume and over-indulge.

A Change for the Better

In an attempt to rekindle the spark of this festive season, my family and I have decided to get together for a celebratory meal, to exchange gifts that are either home-made or to stick to a budget of no more than around $8.00 (or a really nice idea is to donate to a cause close to their heart, in their name).

The focus is going to be on having fun, counting our blessings and having the honour and privilege of being together.

Bring the Sparkle Back with Simplicity

Let’s try to bring back the magic to Christmas by making things simple.

  • Prepare a simple meal (you know what I mean — most people go way over the top and end up cooking for a small army).
  • Make, or even better, bake your gifts!  There’s nothing that says you care more than a gift from the heart (especially a tasty one!).
  • Simply be kind to everyone you meet (you should try to make this an everyday practice and not just a seasonal tradition — but to start at Christmas-time would be a giant leap in the right direction).
  • Instead of hyping yourself up with all the preparations and festive manic fiasco’s, do a ‘go slow’.  Maintain a calm and peaceful resolve and enjoy yourself — make it about fun and festivities, not chaos and tears.  I promise you will get more done this way.  Simplify and you will gratify.
  • Try to play it safe this season.   Limit the alcohol intake, the traveling (unless you really have to) and on pain of death — don’t combine a mixture of the two!

Free Zen e-card and Festive Timeline

Below you will find a free zen e-card that you can send your family and friends and you can jazz up your Facebook timeline with this zen-themed picture for the season.

Here is your free zen Christmas e-card (click on the picture, right-click and ‘save as’ to your computer, then upload from your computer or just simply copy and paste into the e-mail):

Here is your festive zen-themed Facebook Timeline (click on the picture, right-click and ‘save as’ to your computer, then upload from your computer onto your Facebook page as a cover):

Check out the ‘Zen of Life’ HERE

Other posts you may enjoy:

Zen Christmas Wallpaper

The Zen of Life

‘Love and Light’ — What Does it Mean?

What is Meant by the Saying Love and Light?

This is an interesting conundrum.  It is a saying that has become a standard greeting in the spiritual community but what exactly does it mean?

“Where there is love there is life”  — Mahatma Gandhi

Divine You Book by Cherie Roe Dirksen

I touched on this adage in my book Divine You — Redefining Love in the New Earth but never really found a satisfactory answer.  But, hang on, do I see a light at the end of this tunnel?

I was listening to Deepak Chopra (click here to see which one of his books TOTALLY changed my perspective of success forever!) the other day and he was discussing light in the context of photosynthesis.

Science and Light

Can you believe it, science rearing its technical head in a spiritual blog?  Actually, the bridge between spirituality and science is closing in rapidly.

Let’s put this simply because I don’t want your attention to wane: Light creates form.  There you go, in a nutshell!

Ha, but what does this have to do with spirituality?

Everything!

Unity in DiversityWe are spirit having a human or ‘material’ experience.  We are incarnate — in form in a dimension that requires atoms (which are pretty much free-floating molecules) to coagulate into matter to make up ‘stuff’ (I know, my scientific prowess is amazing — I’m surprised New Science magazine hasn’t lassoed me to write for their journal yet).

Suffice to say that we need this ‘stuff’, or, more eloquently, solid matter to navigate this third dimension of physical, tangible reality.

Okay, now I know you’re an intelligent bunch so you’re still with me…

The sun’s rays are transported to Earth through the ether and provides organisms with light energy which they convert into chemical energy — a process otherwise known as photosynthesis.

Even the word ‘photosynthesis’ is profound — it is derived from the Greek photo-, “light”, and synthesis, “putting together”.

Without light, plants won’t grow and without plants, herbivores would die and without herbivores, then carnivores and omnivores die — you get the picture.

Are you beginning to put things together here?  Light = putting together.

Right, so Where is Love in all of This?

Love — although it can’t be proven in a laboratory — is the glue that binds existence together for us spiritual beings.  It’s what makes life interesting and adds to our staying power here.

Without love, what would be the point, right?

Ergo, in my humble opinion, love is what keeps us on this planet.  It is what holds the form together, the egg to our cake — the binding ingredient of all biological life.

So light provides us with form and love keeps us in form — interesting, huh?

Let’s Put this Together, Shall We?

What does love and light mean

If you liked this article, don’t forget to Pin it! 🙂

In conclusion to this verbiage, I’d like to sum this up by adding; there is another wise saying in spiritual circles — Namaste — which means ‘I bow to the God in you’ — it’s beautiful and shows respect.

It is a recognition of the divine spark or aspect of the creator/God/source within another.

However, of late, we have this new ‘greeting’ to contend with, ‘love and light’. It can either send a shiver of contempt down your spine or fill you with good vibes.

I know that for some the former is true…it may irritate more than invoke feelings of euphoria — hell, it can irritate me sometimes too — especially when you wonder if the person whimsically tossing it about actually grasps the meaning of it or if they just like to poop candyfloss — but, eh, whatever floats your boat.

Now, hopefully, you can say or interpret this with some relevant meaning (as per the above discussion) aka ‘may you be held lovingly in good form’ (or something to that  waffling effect).

What’s your take on this adage?  Do you use it?  Does it get your heckles up?  What does it mean to you?

Original article was written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Lightworkers World but adapted for use here.

Other articles you may enjoy:

The Fine Balancing Art of Yin and Yang

Tried and Tested — A Tale of Two Countries

In the past 2 years I have experienced the delights of visiting Thailand and being bowled over by their inherent sense of beauty and creativity to their humble way of life and their desire to please.  I have also recently been to Egypt and have encountered, firsthand, the very friendly yet domineering patriarchal way of their culture.

“The ancients envisioned their world in two halves – masculine and feminine. Their gods and goddesses worked to keep a balance of power. Yin and Yang. When male and female were balanced, there was harmony in the world. When they were unbalanced there was chaos. ” ~ Dan Brown

Both cultures are clearly trying very hard to make their way in life off the tourism trade and I felt like a walking ‘dollar’ sign (if they knew I dealt primarily in Rands — South African currency — they probably wouldn’t have bothered!).

I do, however, understand this and hold no judgment for them, in that respect — we all need to make a living.  The difference however was that the Thai people came across as being very gentle, artistic and what I would like to call matriarchal people.  The Egyptians left me with an impression of being aggressive, zealous and patriarchal.

Balancing the Yin and Yang

I only figured out, some time after both of these excursions, that they each reflected the opposite side of the scale.

I saw massive potential in both cultures and met and made wonderful friends both in Thailand and in Egypt.   I have to say that the youth of Egypt certainly show the most signs of growth and thinking out-of-the-box.  My encounters with the more belligerent Egyptians were definitely steeped in ’old energy’ thinking and customs.  This is something I am obviously not used to, so it affected me quite deeply.

However, both these cultures lack something.  They are missing the balance of both left hemisphere (linear, structural, orderly, etc.) and right hemisphere (passionate, artistic, expressive, etc.) thinking, the marriage of divine masculine and divine feminine — the coming together of the yin and yang.

When either one of these attributes is out of alignment or missing, there is unbalance.

“Most men are very attached to the idea of being male, and usually experience a lot of fear and insecurity around the idea of being a man. Most women are very identified with their gender, and also experience a tremendous amount of fear and insecurity.”  ~ Andrew Cohen

Creativity versus Order

In the case of the Thai people, they were extremely creative and inventive yet they were incredibly submissive and this leaves them open for exploitation.

With the Egyptians, they had a system of order and controlled interaction that would not budge.  It was either their way or the highway.  With the obvious lack of female energy (as it is tradition for their women to be at home and not in the workplace), you had a definite sense of escalated anger over small things.  They could go from 0 – 10 in a matter of seconds.  As friendly as they were at times, they also lost their cool very quickly.  This is because there was too much masculine energy and no feminine presence to temper the storm of emotions that arise.

You need both masculine and feminine energies to complete a fully charged and functional system.  This brings me to dimensions.

Harmonic Dimensions

We live in a world that is deemed as 3D, however, it is very compartmentalized.  This is a true reflection of the statistical mindset of the world at present.  What we need is to incorporate the uneven trait of creativity and sensitivity to balance out this equation. It is okay to have organization and order as long as you also have an even balance of creative expression.  The world is coming into this balance as more and more people are seeking to express their imaginative flare.  When we reach a tipping point, you will see how fast love and happiness are spread on a global scale.

Can you see how this dimension theory brings in the concept of left brain order and right brain inventiveness? When humanity realizes that all we need to do is to direct ourselves creatively amidst the structure, we will have stepped into the new paradigm — a New Earth.

In Closing, Let’s All Say a Prayer

In closing, I would like to ask that you all say a little prayer for that brave young Pakistani lady, Malala Yousafzai, to make a full recovery.

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” ~ Joseph Campbell

She is a symbol of great courage and hope for so many.  May the seed she plants for women’s rights today blossom into the tree that represents balance and equality in her society.

Originally written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Purpose Fairy.

Other articles you may enjoy:

Finding God and a Reason for Being Here

Live Like You Mean It — Live With Conviction!

Are You Playing Russian Roulette With Your Karma?

‘Love and Light’ — What Does it Mean?

What Does Thanks-Giving Mean to You?

Incredible Inspiring Art by Stephen Wiltshire

I just had to share this with my readers when I saw it circulating on Facebook.  What an inspiration this man is!

The below extract is taken from Stephens site, you can visit that here to see more from this incredible artist.

Stephen Wiltshire is an artist who draws and paints detailed cityscapes. He has a             particular talent for drawing lifelike, accurate representations of cities, sometimes after having only observed them briefly. He was awarded an MBE for services to the art world in 2006. He studied Fine Art at City & Guilds Art College. His work is popular all over the world, and is held in a number of important collections.   Read more HERE. 

An Artful Splash of Colour For Your Facebook Timeline

My niece came up with a great idea the other day, she asked me if I had any of my art on Facebook headers/timeline covers (or whatever else  you want to call them — you know, that strip of space behind your profile pic?).

So I came up with these 4, for now, which you are welcome to use (just click on picture, right-click and ‘save as’, then upload to facebook by clicking on the ‘change cover’ icon on the right-hand corner of the header).

PS.  All of the above paintings are available as posters and prints too — check out my ‘Art’ page HERE

Other pages you may enjoy:

Dripping Art, Dragonflies and Mood Enhancing Facebook Timelines

Free e-cards

Free Wallpaper Quotations

Is Social Networking Stifling Your Creative Juices?

5 Simple Food Habits That Will Rapidly Improve Your Well-Being

Wo(man) versus Carbs!

I’ve always been rather health conscious and have tried to eat the ‘right’ foods, drink loads of pure, clean water and stick to a moderate exercise regime.  I had a blood test about 10 years ago that came back saying that I was carbohydrate intolerant.  I ignored this and carried on as per usual.  Nothing was going to separate me from my carbs!

“ Vegetating in front of the TV whilst snacking is not conscious consumption— it is unconscious calories!”

Recently, a close friend of mine told me he was on a wheat-free diet, this jogged my memory back to my own blood test result.  I always like to follow-up on life’s little synchronicities anI decided to follow a low-carb plan — I call it a ‘plan’ because of the negative connotations that foul little four-letter word ‘diet’ has.

Stodgy Revelations

The difference has been quite shocking.  Aside from losing about 7cm off my belly in the first 2 weeks, I am never full.

Huh?  Isn’t that a bad thing?

Well, it is unusual at first, but is it actually a bad thing?  I don’t think so.  It is the difference between feeling saturated or satiated.

Saturate (def) — Holding as much water (substitute this for the word ‘food and drink’) as can be absorbed; thoroughly soaked (authors note:  substitute for ‘full’ or ‘stuffed’…he he — sounds familiar, doesn’t it?).

Satiate (def) — Supplied (especially fed) to satisfaction (authors note:  hmm, more like it).

Now do you see that vitally important difference?

Would You Rather be a Slug or a Gazelle?

I feel very sluggish when I eat a lot of heavy, starchy foods and, to be honest, it doesn’t always feel good.  I mean, who wants to go around feeling like a lead weight?  I never really gave myself the space to truly go into what it feels like to eat lighter foods but now that I am exploring this wheat-free world, I am literally discovering a whole new feeling and body to go with it!

There are, however, other ways of listening to our bodies needs without having to immediately cut back on wheat or gluten.

Eat With Awareness

Here are my 5 guidelines to tuning into your body and listening to its needs.  Find out if these tips work for you:

  • Complete Honesty — this one can be difficult — be honest about when you are truly full.  Listen to your body and don’t eat everything on your plate because you feel you have to.  I call this the ‘Starving Children in Africa’ Syndrome.  We were told when we were young to eat everything on our plate and to think of the starving children in Africa but, unfortunately, this neither alleviates the problem for the African children nor does it do your body any good to continue eating when you are no longer hungry.  Get real about what you are doing.
  • The Reward System Sham— I used to do this a lot.  I had a ‘reward’ system and it went something like this:  If I do this or work hard at that I am going to reward myself with something nice tonight.  Big mistake!  Those chocolate slabs or crisp rewards end up being a major punishment for your body.  Remember, everything in moderation.  I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to treat yourself to a favorite snack every now and then (not every day!), just be careful not to go haywire on the portion sizes.
  • No TV Munchies — don’t snack in front of the box.  Your food won’t miraculously gain more calories if you do, but it is the amount of food you graze on when you are unconsciously eating — hand-to-mouth continuously without ever looking down.  Vegetating in front of the tube, whilst snacking, is not conscious consumption it is unconscious calories!  If you must have a nibble whilst watching your favorite program, make sure you get a small controlled portion of your allotted snack.  Never take the whole packet or box with you to the couch.
  • Tea/Water — when you feel hungry and it is not a meal-time, try having a glass of water or a cup of tea.  I have found this is astonishingly helpful.  Most of the hunger signals we pick up on are actually due to dehydration — so drink lots of pure water and throw in some nice steaming cups of green tea or natural, caffeine-free rooibos (I have to plug rooibos, being South African and all).
  • Conscious Eating — eat with awareness and consciousness.  Enjoy your food.  Chew slowly, breath in between mouthfuls, savor the taste — make it a sacred ritual not a quick fix.  And most important give thanks and be grateful for your food.  Gratitude never goes astray.

I hope these tips will help you honor your body and fine tune the way your system works.  Remember to trust your gut instinct (pun definitely intended) and eat what feels right for you — your body will let you know what it does and doesn’t like.

Something worth looking into, wouldn’t you say?

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Conscious Life News

What Excuse is Keeping You From Your Creativity?

This is going to be short, sweet and to the point because I’m in a ‘no bullshit’ kind of mood today.

I’m Pointing my Finger at You!

If you are someone who knows they have an artistic streak buried inside (and believe me, this is aimed at most of the global population) and is not expressing it due to failure of inspiration/motivation/so-called ability or inability/having time/blah blah blah…This blog is for you!

Yes, you know who you are.

Extricating All Obstacles from Every Crevice

There is really only one way to put this.  Either go get a box of matches, erect a neat little pile of kindling, light it and hover your backside over the flames (aka. get a fire lit under your arse!) or you can gently remove the finger that is plugging up your nether regions (i.e. pull finger!).

No seriously, this is a no-brainer, if you want to get creative you will find a way.  If you make excuses  you are shooting yourself in the foot — you are the only loser in this game of if’s and but’s (or butt’s, as this case may be).

There is no need to ‘think’ about it, there is only a need to act.  Simple.

Well?  What are you waiting for!  Get going!!!  As Yoda said, ‘do or do not, there is no try’.

If you need a further push and reason to get creative, read this:

9 Great Reasons for Getting Creative (No Artistic Experience Needed)

Other articles you may enjoy:

Is Social Networking Stifling Your Creative Juices?

How to Get Your Creative Space Working For You

Incredible Inspiring Art by Stephen Wiltshire

Serenity…Your Passport to Peace

Serenity — that wondrous state of being calm, peaceful and untroubled.

But how do we get there?  You get quiet — it’s really that simple.

“Nothing is so aggravating as calmness.” 
―    Mahatma Gandhi

Have you ever tried remaining calm when someone else is raging at you?  Have you noticed how quickly they stop?  Why is that?  Well, you look like an idiot for one thing — it’s the best form of defense.

Serenity is all about being calm in the face of reality and in the words of Lao Tzu:

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” 

When you are able to observe your emotions as they rise within you, you will begin to master having greater control of how you act upon them — if at all.

Here are some blogs that may help you get to your state of serenity:

5 Easy Steps to Meditating (No Lotus Position Required)

Do You Need to Meditate?

Free Serenity eCard

And last but not least, I haven’t forgotten that it’s Friday and that means you get another e-card to add to the collection (click on picture, right-click and ‘save as’):

You may also enjoy:

The Magic Ingredient of Life

Your Passionate Quote of the Day

Dripping Art, Dragonflies and Mood Enhancing Facebook Timelines

4 Practices to Help Cure Negative Thinking

Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come. ~Robert H. Schuller

My friend and I were out walking this morning around the neighborhood when we noticed some magnificent landscaping and flower beds to die for!  We were also, funnily enough, talking about having foggy, congested heads (physically and mentally) because of the amount of time we are spending on our computers.  We both happen to be writers.

I found that looking at these spectacular gardens really opened up my heart space and led me to think about this concept of the mind/garden metaphor.

If we can just give ourselves time in our own gardens (minds) to prune back, weed and cut off any dead branches and scrape up old leaves off the grass, we would be able to temper that stuffy headedness.

Back to my morning stroll…we then went on to discuss how meditation, exercise, getting out into nature and yoga work to unclog this tightness and tiredness in the head.

So, some good practices to follow when you feel your thoughts aren’t being honorable paying guests in your head are to:

1. Gift yourself some time for space and clarity

This doesn’t have to be for very long stretches (however long you want) but make sure it is at least 10-15 minutes of down-time.  You can sit in your garden or in a comfortable quiet space and reflect on your thoughts.  Realign them to what you feel comfortable with.  Then simply let all your thoughts dissolve and sit in stillness.  Observe what comes up and then put it aside.  Enjoy the space of just being.  We are human BEINGS not human DOINGS.  Don’t forget that.

More important than the quest for certainty is the quest for clarity. ~Francois Gautier

2. Assess yourself

If you are having a lot of negative, worrisome thoughts, ask yourself if they are really necessary?  Is worrying about it going to change anything?  How can you steer them onto a different more nurturing path?

There is a basic law that like attracts like. Negative thinking definitely attracts negative results. Conversely, if a person habitually thinks optimistically and hopefully, his positive thinking sets in motion creative forces — and success instead of eluding him flows toward him ~ Norman Vincent Peale

3. Go for a walk or do some yoga

Any kind of exercise can actually give you a huge boost.  I know a lot of people who are tired and worn out from a hard day’s work don’t particularly care for physical movement.  Perhaps you think it is the last thing that can help but it really can.  Just 20-30 minutes can really get you to shift stagnant energy and get your system up and firing.

Walking is a man’s best medicine. ~Hippocrates

If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk. ~Raymond Inmon

4. Breathe properly

Take a few good and hearty breathes.  This is a wonderful grounding tool and can get you into balance very quickly.  Most of us breathe very shallowly, not allowing for the body to become fully oxygenated.  Try to take in enough breath as to fill your lungs and spill over into your stomach (you should look like your pregnant — that is an indicator that you have got in enough air). Breathe in to the count of 5, hold it to the count of 5 and then consciously breathe out to the count of 5.  This enlivens and awakens your mind — try it, you’ll see.

Focusing on the act of breathing clears the mind of all daily distractions and clears our energy enabling us to better connect with the Spirit within. ~Author Unknown

Kick out fear, worry and drama to finally start renting your headspace out to positive, nurturing and creative thinking — the paying guest.

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Purpose Fairy

subscribe button

What Does Thanks-Giving Mean to You?

Now for those of you wondering what a South African has to say about Thanksgiving — this is not about the American holiday, it is about the art and practice of gratitude.

Why is Gratitude Important?

Gratitude, like everything else in the universe, is a workable energy. On the scale of polarity, it is a positive energy that when used will attract more of the like back to you.

What Does this Mean?

This means that the more you ‘give thanks’ for the things in your life, whether they be your family, friends, your health, roof over your head, food in the fridge, your clothes, car, etc — the more of that energy will be returned to you.

Whether it be through appreciation or just the universe giving you more of what you are grateful for.

“We often only tend to see the lack we are experiencing”

Gratitude should be given for everything and anything. Try to see all the positive things, people or situations you have in your life. Make a list, if you can. You will be surprised at how much there is to be thankful for. Then keep on reminding yourself when you are feeling lack – pull out the list and read it!

We often only tend to see the lack we are experiencing. When this is the prime focus you are attracting more of that energy into your life. This is how energy works or what is referred to as the Law of Attraction.

Like Attracts Like

So when you are putting thoughts out there of lack or longing, your energy is that of lack and longing and that is what you will continue to draw into your life.

Change your thoughts by simply altering your energy from lack to gratitude. There is always something to be grateful for. Even if it is the air that you are breathing — that is keeping you alive — be grateful!

Just the fact that you woke up in a warm bed and with a roof over your head is testimony to the full life you are leading. We take too much for granted.

“As you open to receive, your heart will expand and this feeling is elation and bliss”

When you alter your energy you will ‘feel’ it. When you experience the ‘not having’ you will feel it in your solar plexus (stomach area), this feels like you’ve been punched in the gut. Not a nice feeling at all. It can even lead you to feel nauseous.

An Attitude for Gratitude

When you alter that energy to gratitude, you are moving up on the scale of positivity and you should begin to shift that feeling out of your solar plexus and start to feel a more expansive feeling in your chest. This is commonly referred to as your heart chakra.

As you open to receive, your heart will expand and this feeling is elation and bliss — much better than being kicked in the stomach, eh?

Try it out. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Shift your attitude and embrace gratitude. Your life will change. Practicing the art of gratitude allows for you to start experiencing your life the way it was meant to be lived.

Make every day thanks-giving day!

Original article was written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Interviewfest.

For a little more inspirational thanksgiving day ideas and tips on making a gratitude board, CLICK HERE.

You may also enjoy:

How Stubbing Your Toe is Good News!

Finding Your Inner Peace

Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does  not obtain peace of mind — Buddha

I want to keep on reminding you about gratitude.  Why?  Because to be in a state of thankfulness you are very close if not touching internal peace.

When you brim with gratitude, that feeling is overwhelmingly heart-centred and can literally make you glow.  To be mindful of all that is right for you in the world now instead of harping on all that is wrong, brings you into alignment with abundance.

Think of abundance as your ‘happy place’.  It’s not just about being rich, it’s about experiencing all the good things life has to offer…joy, peace, bliss, health, material wealth, love, friendship, etc.

So do your little a-bun-dance!  Wiggle your butt and dance for joy in honour of all you have.

In honour of joy and abundance, here is your free wallpaper and e-card download for this week (click on picture, right-click and ‘save as’):

Other articles you may enjoy:

Gift Yourself this Thanksgiving — Presents from the Heart that Last a Lifetime!

Are You Playing Russian Roulette With Your Karma?

Finding Humility Through Wisdom

Finding God and a Reason for Being Here

Finding Humility Through Wisdom

Recognizing the Source in All Life — Realigning with a New Dress-Code

Let’s tackle a very difficult notion, one that I think needs addressing.  Actually, not only does it need addressing but also undressing and a complete new wardrobe!  I’m going to have a crack at being the brave little tailor here.

We believe in the dignity of every life, the possibility of every mind, the divinity of every soul. This is our true North. ~Elizabeth Dole

Now then, let’s see — simply put — God, the Divine Intelligence that created us all, the Source or whatever you choose to call it, is omnipresent, in everyone and everything.  This is not a new concept— most religions or faiths believe this.  So why is it so hard to see the divinity in others?

I think it is because we don’t understand the outer actions or inner framework of thought construct with some of our global siblings.  But how can we overcome this huge hurdle and see divinity en-masse?  And how can we get over our own spiritual egos so that we can treat all as equal?

Are Adults Superior to Children?

Let’s use this as a metaphor.  Say you have a 4 year-old and you are an adult of 34.  Would you look down on the child and shake your head declaring, ‘you just don’t get it, do you?’  Would you feel superior because, in your experiential 30 years of extra life, you do get it?

Hardly, I should think.  Why?  Because you know that the child will most likely catch up to your level of experience by the time he is 34, if not surpass your current field of understanding altogether.

Now let’s apply this to a global metaphor.

The Illusion of Supremacy

Some souls are further along in their development than others; however the latter are like the child metaphor — they could be just starting out.  Just because they started their spiritual sojourn later than you, does not make you better than them.

They could grow so exponentially that they might end up being the next Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King — even though it may not be in their current lifetime.

It’s all about seeing the bigger picture, being humble in the wake of your accumulated knowledge and look past all preconceived ideas or judgments about another soul’s path.  When you do this, you may be able to recognize the divine shard of God that they hold.

Don Your New Outfit

Clothe yourself in a cloak of understanding, humility and reverence for all life — no matter what shape, size or form it takes in the present moment.

Do not judge a sleeping person for missing out on the beautiful delights of the dawn.  Rather enjoy the spectacle of the sunrise and know in your heart that when they awaken, they will too experience the joy of the sun.

You are no better or worse than another, through your personal awakening you have just become aware.

Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment. ~Morihei Ueshiba

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Purpose Fairy

Other articles you may enjoy:

The Secret to Excellent Living

Are You Playing Russian Roulette With Your Karma?

The Fine Balancing Art of Yin and Yang

How to Get Your Creative Space Working For You

I had not picked up a paint-brush in ages.  I decided a few months back to devote my time to writing and the site.  But, to be perfectly honest with you, I am missing the art side of things like crazy.

I suppose you can’t just switch something off in you that is innate and is trying to bash down the walls to come out again.

My Studio — the Graveyard

I was also feeling trapped and confined in my creative working area — my studio and office space are one room.  It had become a dumping ground with boxes bursting at the seems full of, well, for want of a better word…crap.  There were also boxes in there for donation that had been sitting there for at least 6 months.

My studio had become a morgue, a place for things to come and die.

When I made my decision to stop painting for a while, I still allowed myself personal time to paint and get creative for myself but not even this was happening.  It’s a case of ‘no-shit-Sherlock’ if you had to take a look at my studio.

I had my painting desk facing the corner of the room like I was in the ‘dunce’ timeout zone.  A really stupid place to put a table where you are going to hopefully create works of fine art.

Making the Artist Retreat Respectable

Last week I got a huge yellow and black bee up my bonnet and decided to make a concerted effort to beautify, clear up and simplify my space to best work for me.

I buzzed hither and thither on my mission of organization and beautification.  I even made it into a little spiritual retreat with fairy lights dangling from my curtain rail to candles and incense burners dotted around.

After this was done, I actually got a bit of painting in!  Can I hear a ‘whoop whoop‘?

Let the Creative Juices Flow…

I wanted today’s creativity/inspirational blog to be about why we need to create, what get’s us going?  What do other artists and masterminds have to say.  I stumbled upon this great blog called ’15 Famous Quotes on Creativity’ — well worth a read.

Here are my top 3 favourite quotes from this article.

And last but not least…my childhood guru, Dr Seuss:

For more creative inspiration, please read:

9 Great Reasons for Getting Creative (No Artistic Experience Needed)

5 Tips on Getting Back In The Groove

The Zen of Life

We make life complicated.  The key to true happiness lies in our ability to simplify our lives, not to busy them.

Peel away the onion layers…find the innate within.

(To download the above quote as a desktop wallpaper, click on the picture — then right-click and ‘save as’)

I’ve come up with a Christmas card design — going with this ‘zen’ theme.  🙂  Here it is:

Have a great weekend!

Check out the ‘Zen of Christmas’ HERE

Other posts you may enjoy:

Finding God and a Reason for Being Here

The Fine Balancing Art of Yin and Yang

 

Zen Christmas Wallpaper

 

7 Ways to Lift You from Depression

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light.“~Dumbledore (Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling)

Get Me Out Of Here!

We are smack bang in the middle of tumultuous, chaotic and confusing times.  With that kind of energy flying about, we have to take what goes with it — the many peaks and troughs in our day-to-day existence.  How does one draw on positivity when you feel like you’ve been sucked through a black hole and just got spat out the other end?

Yes, we all have these days.  You wake up and you, for no really good reason, feel like thumbing a lift off the planet and onto the next passing UFO (if you do decide to do this, remember to take along your hand-towel, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy manual and eat lots of salted peanuts).

Enough Tom-Foolery

Let’s get back to the brass tacks of riding out your low-wave storms.  The first thing to remember is you are not alone.  There are many people out there experiencing these highs and lows, just like you.  Enlightenment or awareness does not automatically present you with a ‘get out of jail free’ card.  No, you just need to know how to ride the tsunami when it hits.

Second thing to bear in mind is that ‘this too shall pass’.  Sometimes when we experience the dark night of the soul, we feel like we are in an emotional abyss and nothing will ever be the same again.

This is just another wave that needs surfing, you will ride it out and you will live to see another day.  Just hold tight onto that surfboard and apply copious amounts of sunblock (metaphorically speaking, in real-time just eat lots of chocolate — that usually does the trick!  Not only does wholesome organic or dark chocolate release happy endorphins but a friend of mine recently told me that it also has grounding effects).

“Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.” ~Benjamin Franklin

Stocking Your Cupboard Full of Happiness

Okay, so we all have our dark moments, but what can we do to get ourselves back on track besides stuff our faces with choco-licious treats or sumptuously sipping at a glass of merlot?

Gratitude is important and heart-centered living is the future.  So with this in mind, how do we expand our feelings of love and gratitude?

Build up reservoirs of things that make you HAPPY and GRATEFUL by remembering:

Loved Ones — think of all the people in your life that make living a joy.  Picture their happy, smiling faces and feel the effect of their love in your heart center.

Play Music — from Bach to the Beatles, we all have our favorite songs that cheer us up and get a spark lit under our backsides.  Dust off those LP’s or plug in your iPod!  Have a dance around your living room floor, shake that booty and kick up those heels!  Or you can drift off to Debussy and have some quiet, reflective and pensive moments of sheer bliss. Don’t underestimate the power of frequency, let music be your bridge to aural ecstasy.

Precious Memories — bring out that old scrapbook of magical magnificent memoirs.  Remind yourself of how many moments you’ve had in your life that were full and extraordinary.

Encounters with Animals —  for those of us lucky enough to have had or currently have pets, you will know what I’m talking about when I say that they have the most remarkable way of lifting your spirits.  Go spend a bit of time with them.  If you don’t have any pets, go take a walk where you know people hang out with their pets.  Most animal owners don’t mind a bit if you stroke their animals.  Cats also have an astonishing talent to balance your aura with their purring — it has a vibrational resonance that heals any ‘leakages’.

Nature — yes, you know I like to hit this one home every now and again in my blogs.  Go be in nature!  It is calming, grounding and balancing.  If you are depressed, it is the most inexpensive cure to your quandaries and it sure beats any pill your doctor is offering you.

Count Your Blessings — do you have a roof over your head?   A comfortable bed to sleep in?  People who love and support you?  Clothes to keep you warm?  Food in the fridge?  A functional body?  These are all things we take for-granted but are wonderful markers to realign us with all there is to be thankful for and can be the very push you may need to get you out of a wallowing hole.

Laugh Your Head Off — another inexpensive cure to all dis-ease.  Put on some side-splitting comedy, something that you know will boost your morale.  A good pant-wetting episode every now and again is the best remedy for being on this planet right now.  No-one likes a sour-puss, so make sure your face is creased with laughter lines.

Go forth and make merry.

“Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, even joyous. That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor.” ~Paul Hawken

This article was written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Purpose Fairy

Other articles you may enjoy:

4 Practices to Help Cure Negative Thinking

3 Silver Bullets to Eliminate Fear

Is Your Past Tripping Up Your Future?

Do You Lack Self-Worth When it Comes to Creativity?

6 Techniques to Stop Worrying

How Trust Can Bring You Abundance

Why Weird is the New Cool

Featured

A Call to all Potential and Existing Weirdos!

Destiny, fortune, luck, kismet — are these all words you associate with ‘weird’?

Well, believe it or not, the actual meaning of this repudiated word ‘weird’ is all of the above.   As an adjective it suggests something uncanny or supernatural and as a noun it is a person’s destiny!

The original word stems from Wyrd which can be traced back to Germanic, Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse etymology — all meaning ‘destiny’.  In Old English it is also a verb meaning ‘to come to pass or to become’.

“Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” — William Jennings Bryan

Yes, my friends, you have guessed it — it’s totally cool to be weird!

If someone now calls you weird you can retort with, ‘thank you, I rather pride myself on my supernatural and mysterious ability to become who I was meant to be and fulfill my destiny’.  That should keep their mouths shut.

You won't believe what the etymology of weird is!

Don’t forget to pin it!

It’s a Kind of Kismet

Kismet, better known as luck or destiny, is a much spicier word than fate.  Fate has a certain doom and gloom about it.

Fate conjures up imagery of having no control over your future, being left to chance or just handing over your power and feeling impotent in its wake.

Banish Fate and Give a Warm Welcome to Destiny

Don’t give in to fate — grab destiny by the horns and start believing in your innate power of fulfilling your calling.

“People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history.” — Dan Quayle

You are either consciously co-creating your life experience by taking responsibility for your choices and where your thoughts and actions are taking you, or, you are randomly plodding along the path that is leading to your so-called fate.

The latter being a route that you feel you have no choice over and that this hocus-pocus balderdash of ‘creating your own destiny’ is just a new-age farce.  I have no problem with that and good luck to you.

However, what if there was just one iota of truth in the ideology that you can create your future?  I would say it’s worth a try, wouldn’t you?

In fact, I have tried it out for myself and I can honestly say that it works.  However, my life experiences are not going to convince you of its validation; only you can take charge of your life and make those changes so you can see for yourself, firsthand, that there is legitimacy in the claim.

Alarm Bells and Wake-Up Calls — Have You Been Hitting the Snooze Button?

“The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny.” —  Albert Ellis

What’s that buzzing noise?  Oops, my alarm clock is going off!

Wake up because millions of people are doing this and are exercising their rights to become successful co-creators of their reality.  They’re having a ball finding out how this life fits together like a giant jigsaw puzzle when you are out looking for those synchronicities and pointers that slot your desires into place.

Why don’t you join them and see where it takes you?  You can officially be weird and proud!

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Lightworkers World

Pink Green Spring Flower Quotes Pinterest GraphicOther articles you may like:

Why Taking Things Personally Could Be Ruining Your Life

6 Impossible Things To Do Every Day

Did You Know That ‘Abracadabra’ Really is a Magically Loaded Word?

7 Ways You Can Conquer Stress

Disenchanted? This Music Video from Indie Band TEMPLETON UNIVERSE Says it All!

1 Common Mistake You May Be Making When Using the Law of Attraction

Why Nothing Truly Matters (but in a Good Way)

9 Great Reasons for Getting Creative (No Artistic Experience Needed)

 

How to Gift Yourself with Gratitude

The Attitude for Gratitude

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I was thinking about how all global citizens can catch a ride on this American holiday wave.

Gratitude is something we should express every day, not just on one particular day — obviously.  However, having one ‘big’ day to truly express your thanks is not a bad thing.

Taking Leaves Out of American Books

So, why not mark off Thanksgiving Day as a special day for you too — no matter where you are in the world — to give thanks for all that you have.  If you already make this part of your daily routine, my hat is lifted to you.

If it is something you just haven’t got around to thinking about yet, or, you have given it some thought but somehow that chemical reaction in your brain runs out of electricity as it is passed out through your ear.

In other words, you know you have mounds of things to be grateful for but you haven’t the staying power to run through the list every morning.

Making Your Own Gratitude Board in Seconds!

I have the solution!  It’s called a gratitude board and it goes straight onto your fridge — the one place you are guaranteed to look at least once day!

You can make it out of cardboard, you can print it from your computer, you can make your own at Zazzle or you can buy it ready-made HERE.

However you decide to go about making this board, I suggest you set a goal to have it up and running by a certain date and hold yourself accountable.  Better yet, pair up with a friend and do it together — that way you can hold each other accountable to get it done!

Suggestions and Tips to Get the Ball Rolling 

These boards make great gifts too, especially if you are looking for a meaningful token for that certain someone who needs a little nudge in the right direction.

“When children are immersed in a creative task, the underlying lesson sticks like glue.”

You  can also present them to your guests as a parting novelty at Thanksgiving dinner — a heart-felt gesture like that is sure to go down a treat!  Or, if you are not hosting this special occasions yourself, why not give one to your whomever happens to be your gracious host at Thanksgiving lunch/dinner.  Heck, they even make the perfect birthday or Christmas gift!

If you don’t feel like getting the magazines, photo’s, glue and cardboard out to make your own board from scratch, you can make a gratitude dry-erase board on Zazzle and customize it to your heart’s content — CLICK HERE (they start at $16.95).  You can dress them up with your own pictures or photo’s of loved ones that you are grateful for — go mad!

Get the Kids On-Board the Gratitude Express!

You can even get your children or grandchildren involved with this project — it will be a valuable lesson for them to see just how much they also have in their lives to be thankful for.  When children are immersed in a creative task, the underlying lesson sticks like glue.

Just remember to leave some room on the board for expansion.  This is something that you are going to have to get used to along your path of gratitude because the more you give thanks for what you have, the more you will have to be thankful for.

You don’t feel like making your own or you just don’t have the time?  Click on the picture below, I have already made up one for you.

Other articles you may enjoy:

Why is Gratitude so Important when Creating Abundance?

7 Helpful Pointer to Activate the Flow of Abundance

Beet it! 2 Super Juices that will Give you the Edge

My local supermarket started stocking organic vegetable juice recently.  I took the plunge and bought their beetroot and carrot juices (separately).  I have experienced carrot juice before and it is fairly innocuous — especially when mixed with orange juice.

Beetroot, however, is pungent and, although I don’t mnd the taste, it can be rather invasive smell-wise, stain-wise, urine-wise (you’ll know what I mean if you eat beetroot!).

So what keeps me buying these juices every week and literally has me force-feeding my husband, who is vegetable intolerant, with a funnel?

I looked up the health benefits of both.  Let me start with beetroot.  If I haven’t got you galvanized, by the end of this blog, to shoot off down to your local grocers then I need throw in the towel.

Beetroot Benefits:

  • Anti-aging properties
  • Fights cancer
  • Improves digestion and metabolism
  • Stimulates weight loss
  • Detoxes the liver
  • Helps with Glandular Fever
  • Boosts the immune system
  • Stimulates brain function
  • Radiation protection

Footnote:  If you are not accustomed to eating or drinking beet, be warned that your excretions — both no.1 or 2 — could be tinged red due to the colouration of this vivacious veg.

For a more detailed article on beetroot, please CLICK HERE

Carrot Wise:

  • Lowers the risk of cancer
  • Improves vision (so Bugs Bunny was right!)
  • Prevents heart disease
  • Reduces the risk of having a stroke
  • Anti-aging properties
  • Helps with skin tone

To read more about carrots, CLICK HERE

I hope I have convinced you to add a glass of these super juices to your daily diet.  And on that note, here are your free e-card downloads for this week.  I thought I could inject some humour into this juicy subject with an ‘I’m sorry’ card and a ‘Birthday’ card:

To download:  Click on the picture, then right-click and ‘save as’

               

To check out more of my fruity produce designs, please feel free to peruse the many optical delights of my VEGE-TATE GALLERY — Click Here.

Happy Friday!

3 Silver Bullets to Eliminate Fear

Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free. ~Jim Morrison

Shooting Straight from the Hip

Fear is a mighty, malevolent and strong emotion.  Why does it have so much potency in our lives?

The media, governments and big business corporations galvanize us into believing or buying into so many illusory reasons to fear the worst case scenarios (as made up by them).  They usually claim to hold the answer to all your problems too – not in the least bit suspicious, right?

We also need to take responsibility for giving credence to and creating our own fears, literally stifling ourselves with things to worry about.

Every time you give into fear you feed negativity and give it more power.  In fact, you give away your own power in the process.  Fear is a choice, like it or not.

There are, of course, many different types of fear but they are all grounded in the act of giving your power away.  When we come up against any fear, we are actually being presented with a chance from the universe to be brave and face up to it.  Get to the nitty-gritty and uncover the truth about why we are so afraid or uncomfortable.

Stripping Fear

Let’s get to the core of anxiety.  What is fear?

In order to work this emotion back into the light, we need to find its polar opposite.  This, simply put, is LOVE.  When you inject love into fear it dissipates.   It has no stronghold in the presence of love.  But how do I start projecting love when my knees are knocking?

Well, let’s address what is called heart-centered living — I’m sure you’ve all probably heard that word by now.  People are talking about it a lot and as airy-fairy and lace-clad as it may seem — there is a solid foundation of truth in it.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Heart-Based Quickening

When you work through your heart, based primarily upon how you are feeling about something (as opposed to working through your mind and how you think about something), you are guided by a more truthful resonance of picking up subtle nuances from your surroundings rather than being directed by what reason dictates.

So even though we are in need of our minds and pensiveness, we have been dominated by left-brain thinking for centuries.  A shift is occurring, not to totally disregard our thoughts but to channel through the heart and then process through the mind.  In other words, not just to go straight to the head and bypass our hearts or how we are feeling intuitively.

Rationality can be useful but it has, in some cases, left our instinctive abilities to wither in its heated presence.  Sometimes our ‘logic’ has actually hindered and held us back from following our bliss because ‘society dictates otherwise’ or ‘the norm is to…’  — be careful of whose ‘norm’ you are conceding to.

It’s that age old conflict between science and spirituality (left-brain versus right-brain) — the solution to which is using both in balance.

3 Key factors to transmute fear are remembering that:

1. FEAR 

Don’t buy into it.  Think of all the things you have feared in the past — did any come true?  If yes, did you survive it?  I take it you did if you are reading this.  The energy or vibration of fear draws that which you worry about closer to you.  Have you ever been with someone who is not afraid of dogs but you are.  When a dog comes running at you both, it goes for you, my sweaty-palmed friend, not your companion.  Animals, as you probably know, can sense fear — so can the universe and the universe is impartial.  It acquiesces to what it thinks you desire via your frequency output.  Your emotions are pointing towards fear?  Expect life to become frightening then.  The only thing you should fear is fear itself.

2. LOVE IS ABSOLUTE

 Get used to being tuned into your feelings and steering them to safer shores.  When you are in fear, inject some love into your aura by thinking of someone you love, your favorite pet, the infectious chuckle of your child or grandchild or a blissful memory.  This is how you get to expand on the feeling of love in the face of fear.  Show fear that you have too much love in your heart.  Fear is a mental construct in the absence of love.  Trust your instincts.

3. YOU ARE IN CONTROL 

Short, sweet and to the point.  If you want to be self-empowered then the first things you need are awareness and the ability to take responsibility for your actions.  These two fundamental principles are gateways for you to realize your inherent potential.  You are a co-creator, take responsibility for that and take control.

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. ~Nelson Mandela

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for PURPOSE FAIRY

2 Commonly Accepted Lies that You May Believe

Lie no. 1.  You should fit in and be normal like everyone else.  You know the story, white picket fence and two and a half kids, 9-5 job, etc.

REALITY — Do what YOU want to do with your life, be who YOU want to be and live under a bridge if it makes you happy!

Lie no. 2.  Following your dreams will not earn you enough money to support yourself or your family.

REALITY — It takes time to build the foundations of your dream life — Rome wasn’t built in a day — but taking baby steps towards your vision will see you reaping the rewards for the rest of your life.  Just remember, when you do what you love, you will never work another day in your life (according to Confucius and I happen to agree).

This world would be a happier, brighter, more peaceful place if we all plucked up the courage to flaunt our deepest, inner-most creative expression.  LIve your Truth!

You may also enjoy these reads:

Are You Letting Your Creativity Show?

Live Like You Mean It — Live With Conviction!

Stopping to Smell the Flowers…Inspiring Quotes

 

The Simple Pleasures in Life

Flower Power

I was out walking with a friend yesterday, we noticed some beautiful gardens.

Among the gorgeous, colourful flower beds, my eye fell upon some wild red poppies.  It brought back memories of my poppy painting days.  So I took a trip down memory lane and pulled out some of these quotes to accompany my poppy art.  I hope you enjoy them.

“I like it when a flower or a little tuft of grass grows through a crack in the concrete. It’s so fuckin’ heroic.”  — George Carlin

Let’s try to remember beauty and the simple pleasures of life — don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.

To download the images below, just right-click and ‘save as’:

Flower Quote Nature Quote by Cherie Roe Dirksen

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God.  Because only then does one feel  that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.  As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be.  And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”  — Anne Frank

You may also enjoy these articles: 

Dripping Art, Dragonflies and Mood Enhancing Facebook Timelines

How to Destroy a Frown with One Simple Trick

2 Musical Quotations To Take Note Of

Finding Your Magnificence

Can Using Yellow in Art Enhance Your Mood?

9 Truths to Stop You From Caring What People Think

Print

We’ve all feared, at some point in our lives, what other people think of us but here are 9 reasons to let go of the opinions of others for our own good:

1. Smoke and Mirrors

The fear of imperfection and/or of not being accepted is, of course, an illusion. Who gets to be the judge and jury on what is deemed beautiful or hideous — successful or stupid? Let me guess:  The tabloids or magazines, possibly Hollywood or the catwalks of Milan? How about TV/movies and the media? Spare a thought about who you give your power over to.  The various outlets that dictate what beauty and normal are seem to be pushing fake, in my opinion.  There are moments where true beauty can shine through these channels, but those flashes are few and far between.  True beauty and acceptance is in the eye of the beholder.  So anyone claiming to know what beauty or normal definitely is needs very close examining if they are not including every member of the human race in their rundown.

2. Self-Realization and Repair Kits

When you can out these undesirable contracts you can begin to repair them.  We have to discover why we felt the lack and how we are feeling now about the same issue. Then we must align it to our higher self by breaking down the agreement piece by piece and offer it up to the light to be cleansed.

3. Inherent Beauty and Perfection

We need to look at ourselves and find the beauty inherent in us, not always trying to fish out our perceived faults. When you treat yourself with loving kindness and nurture your self-esteem with positive thoughts, you will begin to shift into alignment with your higher self.

4. Dissecting Agreements

When we were young we had no inhibitions and sang at the top of our voices, danced our hearts out (whether someone was looking or not) and thought we were princesses and superheroes. Then one day someone came along and made you feel less than what you felt about yourself. You may have paused to take it in – then you made a crucial decision. Either you agreed with what they said or you didn’t. That is why some of us can still dance freely and not be bothered whilst others cringe at the thought of dancing in public – this could be due to an earlier experience of being made to feel like you were ‘no good’ by someone who was only giving you one piece of the puzzle.

Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner. ~Lao Tzu

5. Piecing Together Your Puzzle

When I said that the person was only giving one piece of the puzzle I mean that they have a preference based on their version of reality. That is one person’s perspective in a sea of other possible candidates – ones who may have loved your form of expression.  This person could have also been a child, an acquaintance, a stranger or it could have been someone you trusted and loved deeply. The latter is often the case and can make the hurt twice as potent.  However, we must consider that some things are said in the heat of the moment and not really meant by the offender, so we really need to see why we made the agreement.

6. That Tricky Enigma Called Universal Appeal

You need to know that you can never have universal appeal.  You or your talents may not be one person’s cup of tea but what about all the other people in the world who will resonate with your particular brand of uniqueness?  However, ultimately you need to please only you. When you do this then you are immediately accepted and no outside influence can make you feel anything other than what you know yourself to be.

7. Acknowledge the Good

We sometimes tend to disregard the ones who encourage us, leaving only space in our thoughts for the ones who hurt us. Why is this, I wonder?  Everyone has the urge to be liked and accepted for who they are. This is normal. But what we need to redefine is what is normal? Every soul is special and has equally unique attributes, abilities and ways of expressing themselves creatively. There should be no judgment.

8. Identify the Judge

When judgment rears its head, we must question the one doing the judging.   Tell that judge that you are in love with your differences.  Viva la difference!  Without freedom of expression this world would be a very dull place.  Without diversity in hair colour, body shapes, talents, voices, tastes, etcetera we would be tantamount to sheep running around in a field day in and day out – baa-baa-boring!

9. Know Thyself!

Only then will you begin to discover, on the deepest level, that which you truly are and what you have accomplished – not only in this lifetime but in the countless life experiences you have had.  Draw on that wealth of talents you have stored, that which you haven’t even begun to extract from your being.  When you do, there is nothing anyone can say or do to you that would ever hurt you.  You will be resolute as to who you are and nobody can take that away from you — unless you allow them to.

When you are living with the statement ‘be the best you can be’ and you are doing this with all your integrity and might — you have nothing to fear.

Empowerment comes from fearing no-thing and facing every day with courage and love in your heart. Strive to be and do the best you can in every situation, then you will be living in your integrity.  Words or energy that does not fit with your frequency or vibration will not be allowed to penetrate your field of self.  You will have become the master of your life and your reality.

Something worth looking into, wouldn’t you say?

Original article was written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for PURPOSE FAIRY

Other articles you may enjoy:

7 Things I Wish I Knew when I Was a Teenager

12 Things Successful People Do To Excel

Live Like You Mean It — Live With Conviction!

6 Ways to Alleviate Stress Now

Are You Letting Your Creativity Show?

Image

Why You Need to Claim This Present Now!

Image

Let Nature Guide You to Health and Happiness

Our Natural State of Bliss

When we are in nature, we are in our natural state — in our ‘element’. That is why it feels so joyful, a state of inexplicable bliss.

We are made up of the dirt of the earth and will return there some day.  The ingredients of our bodies are made up from Mother Earth, we are part of the same system. When we honor and respect Her, we honor and respect ourselves.

We are One and the Same

The food you eat to make up the content of your body, is of the earth.  The house you live in, the car you drive, the computer you sit at, the ground that supports you is made possible by the planet you inhabit.

Take some time out to engage in your senses and nature:

  • Touch — Taking a walk among trees, touching the rough bark
  • Smell — Sitting on a park bench or in your garden, can you identify all the different aromas? Can you smell the sweet scent of the flowers?
  • Feel — Strolling on the beach, letting the water wash over your bare feet
  • Taste — Biting into a freshly picked berry or sprig of parsley
  • Beauty — Appreciating the world around you — look at how magnificent the wing of a bee is!
  • Hear — Listening to the sound of birds singing in the trees
  • Vision — Marveling at the sunset or sunrise or a cloud formation

Here are some inspirational desktop wallpapers/posters for you to download (click on the picture, right-click and ‘save as’):

Here are the accompanying e-cards (click on the picture, right-click and ‘save as’):

   

(all for your personal use only, i.e. no re-selling please)

These are 2 of my paintings (originals are, alas, sold), they can be purchased as posters below.  I also have some other unique items that hold this design, come take a peek:

    

To visit my Spiral Design Gift Store click on the picture below:

 

The Dummies Guide to Awakening

Originally posted on LIGHTWORKERS WORLD by Cherie Roe Dirksen

We are living in chaotic and tumultuous times.  We have a plethora of information pumped out at us from every channel, be it media, religion, government or our social groups.

You must be this, act like that, live like us — you know the story but you are feeling overwhelmed and a definite sense of lack.  That pit in your stomach that tells you something is not quite right.

The truth is that when you filter through all this garbage and sift out the gems, you are.

Hey!  You left that sentence hanging — you can’t do that!

Yes, I can and I did it for a good reason.  You just are — the ‘I am that I am’, nothing more, nothing less.  Everything else that is external and trying to tug at your attention is a mere distraction to the call that comes from within.

That feeling of

  • being alone in the world
  • not being understood
  • not even understanding yourself
  • feeling depressed
  • emotional swings
  • always struggling to be happy
  • or to have enough
  • the need to be recognized or acknowledged
  • the fear of not being good enough

Do these attributes sound familiar?

Welcome to Planet Earth, the Galaxies no.1 Classroom for Misfits and Lost Souls!

What is worrisome is that the medical profession starts to label all these conditions and you are now marked as ‘chronically depressed’, ‘ADHD’ or ‘bi-polar’ (yeah, aren’t we all!  This is the realm of duality), the list goes on.  Then the medicating starts and what is treated is suppressed and the little emotion we have left is dulled-down to a drip.

Does Medicine Come Cheap?

It should but alas it doesn’t, especially not if you are in the business of making money from illness.  If the drug corporations and governments truly had people’s welfare at heart, medicine and healing practices would not literally have to cost you and arm or a leg.

Keep ‘em Sick

The more illnesses recognized by the profession the better — the more money to be made.  Have you ever looked at the contra-indications of medicine?  It’s a laugh!  And it’s all ‘legal’.  I especially love how most medication warns that this may result in death — no shit, Sherlock!

Be careful of labels when the condition is emotional.  Ply it with drugs if you want to sweep things under the rug, maybe we’ll see you back here in another life to work it out, or maybe you can deal with it today.

I’m not suggesting you throw away all your pills right now.  Just look into what you really need and what can be replaced with a good eating and exercise plan (never mind a good ‘thought’ plan).

Modern medicine has given us value, a bridge from illness to wellness in many cases.  However, sometimes the training wheels need to come off so we can realize our fullest potential.  To continuously take drugs is not going to do your body any long-term good.  Use medication sparingly, if at all.I’m not suggesting you throw away all your pills right now.  

The Real Good News

The upshot of all this is that there is a non-expensive cure to any disease, mental or physical.  It’s called AWARENESS.

Awareness or enlightenment doesn’t automatically conjure up a cloud for you to float on and dictate gospels to your scribe.  You are still going to have the odd bout of anxiety, depression or ailment — the difference is you are going to be able to identify it immediately and start to work on the remedy instead of having a pity party and feel helpless.

You Are in the Driver’s Seat!

You are always in control of your life circumstance.  You are not a human being having a spiritual experience, you are a soul having a corporeal experience.  You are a master of matter, you have just forgotten.

The world is experiencing what the spiritually inclined would call a consciousness shift and what science would refer to as evolution of species.

We are being upgraded, if you like.  Humanity have been sleeping sheep for centuries (no wonder we count sheep in order to fall asleep) and the time is ripe to WAKE UP!  Can you hear the galaxies alarm clock going off?

The alarm has been going off for quite some time now, unfortunately some have continuously hit the snooze button.  Fret not, the galaxy is readying a pale of ice-cold water and is swirling the bucket as we speak — best to wake up now rather than wake up cold, wet and in shock.

What Can I Do to Fix Myself?

Oh, thank heavens!  I thought you’d never ask.  The answer is simple:  Remember.

To remember means to re-member — to become a part of the whole again.

More specifically, you need to remember that:

  • You have a spark of the divine that lives within your sacred temple  you refer to as your body — treat your body with reverence and respect
  • You are in control of your destiny and not a victim of your fate
  • You came here to experience the great shift of consciousness and to be a part of it
  • You are not only whole but a part of the whole, see the divine en-masse — in your brothers and sisters all over the world
  • Fear is an illusion meant to suppress and contain
  • You were never meant to be contained or suppressed
  • You can rise above any limitations
  • If God is omnipresent, then you are also a part of God (this is especially for those of you who have been or are indoctrinated)
  • Your planet is also a part of God and she holds the cure to any ailment in lost traditions — look to plants and natural, wholesome foods to cure your sick bodies
  • Your thoughts and intent dictate the unfolding of your life — this is why positive thinking, prayer, meditation and affirmations are potent and can also heal many aspects of your life — body and soul
  • Love is the only way forward — it is going to mend the past, present and the future

Break free of your limiting beliefs and join the uprising of the soul — become a part of Awakened Humanity.

Other articles that may help:

Energy Forecast:  Carry an Umbrella, it’s Raining Emotions!

Why Now is the Time to Meditate

The 11 Step Guide to Spreading Love

Writing is Just Painting with Words…

Image

Where is Your Thinking Pointing You?

Today, I want to focus your attention on your thoughts.

  • What is it that you are always primarily thinking about?
  • Are they thoughts and intentions that will lead you to where you want to be?

If not, today may very well be the day that you get that cold bucket of water on your face — now is the time for your wake up call!

Here are some articles that can get you to clear up any garbage that may be cluttering the foundations of your mind.

CAUTION: You Are Creating Your Life Through Frequency Emissions

5 Easy Steps to Meditating (No Lotus Position Required)

Everything You Do Matters (Jonathan Hilton’s Blog)

I have compiled some quotations (below) that may help you to realign your attention to where you want your thoughts to point you.

Instructions To Download the Quotations Below as Desktop Wallpaper

  • Click on the picture(s) below
  • Right-click
  • ‘Save as’

Here are some free e-cards for you to download too (same process:  click on the picture, right-click and ‘save as’)

     

If you like the design of these cards, they can be bought as posters via my store, just click on the pictures below to take you there (BONUS: 14.92% Off All Orders until Monday 8th October 2012!   Use Code: THEOCEANBLUE  at the checkout) :

          

Have a very Happy Friday and enjoy your weekend!

What Freddy Mercury Can Teach Us About Detachment

Guest article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Lightworkers World

‘Nothing really matters, anyone can see…nothing really matters.  Nothing really matters to me…any way the wind blows.” – Freddy Mercury (Bohemian Rhapsody)

Freddie Mercury What Freddy Mercury Can Teach Us About Detachment

Beautifully put!

Thank you, Freddy Mercury, for writing this poetic piece of universal truth and to Queen for adding the sound vibration and bringing this song alive through Bohemian Rhapsody.

Why am I quoting this?

Well, I was singing it the other day when it hit me, ‘this is quite spiritually profound’.

Mastery Over Matter

I have been going through a lot of detachment lately — on many different levels.  From friendships to career choices, desired outcomes to ego battles and the one thing that keeps coming up for me is ‘nothing matters’.

The energy of late seems to be circling around your ability to regroup and ground yourself to what is really important.

No material thing or situation should concern you too much — the lighter the baggage on your earthly sojourn, the less for you to carry (this should be taken literally and metaphorically).  The more at peace you are with the fact that you are here temporarily and no thing or person is a constant, the more likely you are to enjoy your experience.

Now, as I say in my book ‘Divine You’, I don’t mean that nothing matters in an ‘I don’t care’ sort of way.  The art of detaching is just another tool to let you be in the world and not of it.  Question yourself:

  • Can you be here, in this reality, but not be attached to it?
  •  Can you dream up desires and outcomes for yourself and not be attached to them if they change or do not materialize as you may have wanted them to?
  •  Can you detach yourself from drama — be it on a social network, in the office or with your family or friends?
  •  Can you look at circumstances as if you were hovering above them?  An observer, one that is removed from any outcome but still revels in the joys and intrigue of the world.
  • Can you be someone that cares and loves everyone and everything but could leave this plane of existence tomorrow?
  • Are you afraid of death?  Or have you made peace with your multi-dimensional, infinite existence?

Who are You?

This is the I AM THAT I AM  that people talk about.  Being 100% satisfied with where you are and who you are, without needing anyone or anything outside of yourself for gratification.

Loving enough to know when to say nothing, or do nothing, to help a loved one.  When you are able to detach from drama, you will show others that it can be done.  Peace is achievable — one soul at a time.

Do You Find it Difficult to Detach?

pensive What Freddy Mercury Can Teach Us About DetachmentDetachment is not hard or cold.  It is your ability to love enough to leave a bit of space — some room for peace and stillness where there may be none.  You will be that still presence that can ground those around you into the present moment.

What is blocking your ability to let go?

  • Your mind or ego?  Do you perhaps get a kick out of drama?  Can you admit to that?
  • Your ‘worries’?  Do you think that to detach would leave you looking like you don’t care?

Remember that to detach is a loving act.  If you stress or worry about what other people will think of you for detaching or not getting involved in drama, then you need to work on why their opinions matter.  If they are close to you, either friends or family, you can still let them know you care but are not going to interfere with their lives.

If there is something tangible you can do to help, then by all means do but remain that still presence and have an awareness of your emotional body.  If you feel like you are being drained or getting sucked back into 3D drama, then you need to exercise detachment again (for further reading about detaching out of love or fear, click here: https://cherieroedirksen.com/2012/04/12/are-you-clinging-by-your-finger-nails/).

Let’s Wrap This Up

Tracy by the pond 250x166 What Freddy Mercury Can Teach Us About DetachmentWhen you realize that no-thing really matters, you can bend like a reed in the wind and go any way the wind blows.You remain whole and unfaltering, present and aware — you are impartial and just.  This is true detachment.

Thank you, Queen.

Other articles you may enjoy:

8 Life Strategies That Playing Chess Has Taught Me

What The Beatles Look Like From the End of my Paintbrush

If you want to recap on my last article about beginning this Beatles project, please CLICK HERE.

If you want to recap on the whole ROCK ART series BEGIN HERE

Let’s get on with the big reveal…

Whimsical, Colourful, Bright and Vibrant

The title just encapsulates the outcome of this project.  It is just dripping with juicy hues, abstract sensations and psychedelic fantasy.  But what would you expect from a painting inspired purely by listening to the Beatles — non-stop?

I really felt quite taken back to my youth with this one (no, not quite to the swinging ’60’s — I’m a 70’s baby).  There was just so much reminiscence going on with this painting that a bit of child-like play surfaced in the making of this bold artwork.

Compared to the Last

When I put the Radiohead painting up next to this one, I really get a sense of what I’m trying to achieve with this Rock Art project.  They couldn’t be more different!

I am going to have a pictorial comparison at the end of this blog for all you curious types.  Please feel free to share your views.

Without Much Ado…

Here is the final product:

Here is that comparison between the Radiohead painting and The Beatles one:

    

As you can well see, the difference is quite apparent.  So there really is something in this whole experiment with painting to different types of music.  My curiosity is peaked and I am now really looking forward to doing the rest of this series.

Because Muse has just released their 6th album (2nd law), they are going to be next in line — can’t wait to see what cosmic waves are going to come out of my paint pots this time.

The Title — Help!

Before I sign off, I haven’t come up with a title for this yet.  I was wondering if perhaps you could contribute any suggestions you may have that would befit this painting — the title needs to sum it all up.

Please leave your suggestions in the comment section below.  Any feedback, critique or just general banter are welcome!

UPDATE:  The title is ‘Metamorphic Dilatation’ (the process of changing and expanding)

Albums that I listened to in the Making of This:

Rubber Soul

Magical Mystery Tour

Abbey Road

Sgt. Pepper

Help!

Revolver

My husband told me that it’s John’s birthday soon (9 October)…so,

‘Happy Birthday, John’ — missed but never forgotten, your music lives on in all of us! 

Related Articles:

What Radiohead Looks Like Through The End of My Brush

Rock Art Series — The Beatles

Blissful Wallpaper Quotations (All for Free!)

I went away with a friend a couple of months ago to a spiritual retreat called Temenos in McGregor, Western Cape.  It was a truly blissful 4 day excursion of introspection and quiet reflection.

The gardens and sacred spaces were not only peaceful, exhilarating and beautiful but also inspiring.  I took along my camera in the hope of capturing the stillness and tranquility which I have now made into wallpaper quotations and e-cards for you to use (feel free to click on any or all images, then right-click and ‘save as’).

 

 

My only request, as per usual, is that you use them for personal use only — i.e. the images are copyright protected and reselling is not allowed.

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

5 Easy Steps to Meditating (No Lotus Position Required)

Why Do You Need to Meditate?

The most important reason why people have been practicing meditation since time immemorial is that it swiftly brings you into alignment with your core being.  This is where you will find balance and true peace.

In our modern-day culture, however, meditation is most commonly practiced to alleviate stress.

Both reasons are as good as any to start practicing this amazing art that is meditation.  If you do already meditate — good on you.  If you are thinking about it — now is the time!

What Exactly is Meditation?

Let’s cut past any preconceived notions about meditation.  It does not require that you:

  • Sit in any position that you find uncomfortable
  • Need to chant or repeat a mantra
  • Need training or classes
  • Need to belong to a specific religion or faith

These things are optional and entirely up to the individual.  The most important thing about meditation is…The art of being still and quieting your mind

How to meditate

Don’t forget to pin it!

It is the ability to bridge the gap between the thinker and the thought-less.  You are offering your self a chance to still the mind-chatter (you know, that continuous loop of ‘what ifs‘ and ‘don’t mind if I do’s’).  I like to refer to this is mind-static — just like the white noise you see on a TV screen when there is a disturbance with the reception.  Our minds can be on a continuous buzz, enough to drive us to the brink of insanity.

This is where meditation will help you to de-clutter your thought processes and align you to your higher purpose through contact with your higher self.

Okay, Sounds Good but How do I go About This?

Simple.  All you need to do is:

  • Concentrate on your breath — this easy step allows you to be more present and centered in your body. It also diverts your attention from thinking to breathing.  If you like, use a mantra — this is a common tool used to stop any unwanted thoughts from creeping in.
  • Close your eyes and relax your body — Feel and imagine the stress draining away as you begin to let your vitality blossom.
  • Feel the tingle — acknowledge the prana or life force that is embodied in every single cell. This is sometimes felt as a tingling sensation in the body. Starting from your feet upwards, expand on that tingling sensation. This amplifies the life-force in your body. Notice how you feel when you do this. Are you feeling alive and vibrant? Are you relaxed and peaceful?
  • Opening your crown chakra — breathe in and imagine a white light streaming in through the top of your head (crown chakra) and permeating your entire body.
  • Relax — the above are only steps to get you into the present moment. When you feel relaxed and peaceful, just be with that feeling for as long as you can. You are now meditating!

Meditation quoteYou can start with just 5 minutes of still, quiet breathing a day and then gradually work your way up to 10-20 minutes at a time.

You do not have to stick to any method to get you to your place of inner peace, just do what works for you. The main point of meditation is to relax and take a break from the constant mind-chatter.

Try to practice this at least 1-2 times a day.

What are the Benefits?

  • Meditation gives you the space to relax your body and to recoup your mind
  • It is proven to reduce stress
  • It is a gateway to discovering your authentic self

And remember:

“Thoughts create everything ~ have clarity of thought and you can achieve anything…”

This was a guest article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Lightworkers World 

Other articles you may enjoy:

What playing chess taught me about life  Win the Lottery Using the LOA  7 things teenagers should know

9 Great Reasons for Getting Creative (No Artistic Experience Needed)

Featured

Why Should I Bother With Creativity?

I’m going to answer that question with another question. What better way to gift yourself than to spend some quality time expressing your inner feelings and desires?

Creativity is for everyone, not just arts and crafters. Look at how the creativity in others touches your own life.

Let Me Paint a Colorless Picture

Can you envision our world without imagination? Try to visualize Vincent Van Gogh deciding he was no good at painting and never picking up a paintbrush to allow his perspective of beauty and vibrant energy to spring onto a canvas.

Or, how about the aural delights of a classical composer like Bach lacking the confidence to grace our ears with his heart-wrenching and evocative rendition of “Air on a G String?”

The list could go on as we venture into the world of artistic genius and magnificence, but I’m sure you get the dreary portrayal of what our lives would be like if we lacked creativity or the drive to be inventive.

But I’m Not an Artist!

Everybody has a spark of creativity within—you don’t have to be a master artist or musician to be able to express yourself.

Creativity can emerge through anyone, from playwrights, chefs, teachers, computer programmers, healers, writers, and homemakers to artisans, designers, gardeners, and street sweepers. All of these people can, and in many cases do, exercise creative flow with every task they carry out, regardless of their so-called “profession.”

I am, primarily, a writer, artist, and musician, but I also try to express my creativity in other forms. This can be anything from experimental cooking to how I decide to dress myself each day—each look and meal is never quite the same because I’m never quite the same. I go according to how I feel. This is what adds spice to your life!

I’ve used myself as an example to demonstrate all the vast corners that creativity can be lurking in. It’s your job to show it the light of day in as many avenues of your life as you can. This is not something that you should be thinking of doing only when you retire! The time is now.

“When you choose a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life.”
Confucius

Inadvertently Paying It Forward

When you find that one thing (or several things) that allows you to express your unique self, it will be felt by those around you. You may even inspire them to rekindle a past passion that they have shelved or invoke them to try something new to bring out their resourcefulness.

Anyone can radiate creativity and beauty into their surroundings; it is how you utilize your talents, not what your job is, that truly defines who you are.

Why Is Creative Expression Important for Me?

When you give yourself time out to practice and explore your ingenuity, you are gifting yourself with:

  • Playfulness—You honor yourself when you allow time to fool around and to tap into that inner child that so many of us have forgotten about.
  • Imagination—Drawing from the resources of the right hemisphere of the brain, which is our supply of creative juice, you create a much needed balance and vacation from the often-dominate, linear thinking left hemisphere of your brain.
  • Relaxation—Make time to unwind and craft that creative time into a peaceful, soothing scene of tranquility—an escape from the noise and looped mind-chatter of the daily grind.
  • Space—Give yourself that much needed freedom to unreservedly express how you are feeling.

How Will This Ultimately Benefit Me?

Expressing your creative sparkle is priceless, but just in case you need more convincing, here are some key factors outlining the benefits of allowing yourself the time and space for artistic endeavor:

  • De-stressing—When you are in the zone, it is tantamount to meditating, where all logical and worrisome thoughts cease and you are taken over by the imaginative current, which will reduce your stress levels dramatically.
  • Calming—When you are in this state of mindlessly enjoying yourself, you will feel an instantaneous calm come over you.
  • Personal Fulfillment—The feeling of birthing something beautiful into this world is incalculable, and you feel that sense of achievement and liveliness that creation brings with it.
  • Inner Reflection—Just like the de-stressing point above, when you are in this meditative state, it gives you the time to do a bit of introspection. You can realign yourself with your goals and keep in touch with the core of your self.
  • Enjoyment—When you tickle the inner child that bursts to express joy and ingenuity, you will find that the tasks you do that invoke such inventiveness also bring elation. Connecting with your creativity will connect you with your joy.

Your Call to Action

Try creating a tranquil, serene place where you can retreat when you feel like you are in the mood for a bit of creativity. Mark it off as your special creative zone.

If you are finding it difficult to tap into your source of imagination and originality, I always find it extremely helpful to take a walk in nature or to practice daily meditation (you know, that “thing” where you are alone and quiet with no interruptions?). When you get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, you gain a certain clarity that can only be found when there is peace and quiet.

Free up some space this evening to tap into the inner child that just wants to finger paint and get mucky, pick up that pen and write that epic you’ve always dreamed about, cut out colorful pictures and make a collage, take those first steps to learning that instrument that has been sitting in your closet for ten years, or just do some mindless doodling—whatever tickles your creative genius buds to blossom. Sometimes, just giving the intent to find your creative spark is all that is needed to get the ball rolling.

So get out there and give your creative juices a squeeze and bring a little zest into your life!

Header Image by Alexandr Ivanov from Pixabay

This was a guest article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Positively Positive 

Other blogs you may enjoy:

Why Rejection Can Be Our Saviour

How to Paint Rhino’s and Evoke Protective Spells

Astonishing Ways to Make Your Home Look Like a Luxury Retreat

Can Music Jump-Start Humanity’s Awakening?

7 Tips on How to Market Your Art From Behind Your Desk

Why You Need to Pay Attention to Synchronicity Now!

Subscribe Icon

Self-Empowerment Books by Cherie Roe Dirksen:

untitled             

Table Books of Art and Inspirational Teachings by Cherie Roe Dirksen:

Creative Expression        Art Portfolio

Need an unusual and unique gift for someone special?

green logo

Don’t You Get It?

Okay, these weeks are really rolling away fast.  I can’t keep track of time or the date anymore, it feels like we’re in a no-time bubble.  But, all blurbs aside, we have happened on that magical day of the week — yes, it’s Friday…again!  And that means that I need to cough up something useful for you good folks.

Today I am delivering on my promise and present you with another free e-card and wallpaper/poster download (see bottom of blog).  If you have missed out on all the previous weeks free downloads, — check my menu bar above;  under ‘free stuff’ you’ll find a drop-down menu.  Just select ‘free e-cards’ to browse through the steadily growing collection.

Do You Get It?

This is taken from my painting called ‘Do You Get It?’.  It is part of my private collection (because my husband refuses to let go of it and it hangs on his studio wall).  I’ve been working on a couple of designs for my Spiral Store, check them out below:

Do You Get It?  Shirts  Do You Get It? Design Galaxy Nexus Cover  Do You Get It?  Shirts

You can have a sniff about all the other stuff you can get with this design on it HERE.

Unleash Your Creative Force This Weekend

For those of you dying to get your hands mucky over the weekend and delve into some kind of creative endeavor of your own — have a squizz at my guest article which has just been published (this week) on Positively Positives site:

9 Great Reasons for Getting Creative (No Artistic Experience Needed)

Here is the e-card I created especially for you (click on the photo, then right-click and ‘save as’):

And last, but not least, here is your free wallpaper/poster download (click on the photo, then right-click and ‘save as’):

I hope you have a fun weekend!