Sunday, October 20, 2013

"Red Hood Traps the Wolf in his own game"

  I love the empowering picture of the two little red riding hood characters fighting back, way too often women and girls are taught to smile and be polite in the midst of the grotesque. And society victim blames accusing the victim for the incident. One in three women and girls will experience domestic violence/ intimate partner abuse at some point in their lives. There are many versions of the Red Riding Hood fairy tale but essentially it is another cautionary tale to warn us about social predators, the people in society who dress up as something else, who purposely deceive, gain our trust, lure and bait. Wikipedia: "The tale makes the clearest contrast between the safe world of the village and the dangers of the forest, conventional antitheses that are essentially medieval, though no written versions are as old as that. Specifically, the tale parallels how an innocent victim can be taken in and controlled by a criminal mentality, therefore, facilitating further subjection of a crime or harm against a vulnerable victim through mischievous criminal intent by removing the victim from a familiar or "safe" public location — facilitating the crime in an effort to isolate the victim by drawing her to another location "away from the public eye" where the criminal entity has complete control over the victim. It also warns about the dangers of not obeying the mother (at least in the Grimms' version). There is a second version version which the Grimm brothers wrote that featured the girl and her grandmother trapping and killing another wolf, this time anticipating his moves based on their experience with the previous one. The girl did not leave the path when the wolf spoke to her, her grandmother locked the door to keep it out, and when the wolf lurked, the grandmother had Little Red Riding Hood put a trough under the chimney and fill it with water that sausages had been cooked in; the smell lured the wolf down, and it drowned. Wikipedia: In Against Our Will, Susan Brownmiller described the fairy tale as a description of rape. Red Riding Hood has also been seen as a parable of sexual maturity. In this interpretation, the red cloak symbolizes the blood of menstruation,[28] braving the "dark forest" of womanhood. Or the cloak could symbolize the hymen (earlier versions of the tale generally do not state that the cloak is red). In this case, the wolf threatens the girl's virginity. The anthropomorphic wolf symbolizes a man, who could be a lover, seducer or sexual predator. This differs from the ritual explanation in that the entry into adulthood is biologically, not socially, determined. The film Hard Candy, about a young girl who lures a child rapist into a trap and proceeds to torture him psychologically, is an exploration of the idea of a situation where the roles of predator and prey are reversed. The film's poster features a red hooded girl standing in the middle of an animal trap, often seen as an allusion to Little Red Riding Hood. However, this was a serendipitous wardrobe choice by the creative team that was not realized until later on. Foreign marketing for the film made great use of this allusion. For example, a tagline on the Japanese site for the film reads: "Red Hood traps the Wolf in his own game." Red Riding Hood Fairy Tales Link here

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Bluebeard and the Wife

Bluebeard

by Charles Perrault

This is a fairytale it happened along time ago references to any living person is strictly a coincidence and no need for you to stalk, threaten or bully.  Here goes...........There was once a man who had fine houses, both in town and country, a deal of silver and gold plate, embroidered furniture, and coaches gilded all over
with gold. But this man was so unlucky as to have a blue beard, which made him so frightfully ugly that all the women and girls ran away from him.
One of his neighbors, a lady of quality, had two daughters who were perfect beauties. He desired of her one of them in marriage, leaving to her choice which of the two she would bestow on him. Neither of them would have him, and they sent him backwards and forwards from one to the other, not being able to bear the thoughts of marrying a man who had a blue beard. Adding to their disgust and aversion was the fact that he already had been married to several wives, and nobody knew what had become of them.
Bluebeard, to engage their affection, took them, with their mother and three or four ladies of their acquaintance, with other young people of the neighborhood, to one of his country houses, where they stayed a whole week.
The time was filled with parties, hunting, fishing, dancing, mirth, and feasting. Nobody went to bed, but all passed the night in rallying and joking with each other. In short, everything succeeded so well that the youngest daughter began to think that the man's beard was not so very blue after all, and that he was a mighty civil gentleman.
As soon as they returned home, the marriage was concluded. About a month afterwards, Bluebeard told his wife that he was obliged to take a country journey for six weeks at least, about affairs of very great consequence. He desired her to divert herself in his absence, to send for her friends and acquaintances, to take them into the country, if she pleased, and to make good cheer wherever she was.
"Here," said he," are the keys to the two great wardrobes, wherein I have my best furniture. These are to my silver and gold plate, which is not everyday in use. These open my strongboxes, which hold my money, both gold and silver; these my caskets of jewels. And this is the master key to all my apartments. But as for this little one here, it is the key to the closet at the end of the great hall on the ground floor. Open them all; go into each and every one of them, except that little closet, which I forbid you, and forbid it in such a manner that, if you happen to open it, you may expect my just anger and resentment."
She promised to observe, very exactly, whatever he had ordered. Then he, after having embraced her, got into his coach and proceeded on his journey.
Her neighbors and good friends did not wait to be sent for by the newly married lady. They were impatient to see all the rich furniture of her house, and had not dared to come while her husband was there, because of his blue beard, which frightened them. They ran through all the rooms, closets, and wardrobes, which were all so fine and rich that they seemed to surpass one another.
After that, they went up into the two great rooms, which contained the best and richest furniture. They could not sufficiently admire the number and beauty of the tapestry, beds, couches, cabinets, stands, tables, and looking glasses, in which you might see yourself from head to foot; some of them were framed with glass, others with silver, plain and gilded, the finest and most magnificent that they had ever seen.
They ceased not to extol and envy the happiness of their friend, who in the meantime in no way diverted herself in looking upon all these rich things, because of the impatience she had to go and open the closet on the ground floor. She was so much pressed by her curiosity that, without considering that it was very uncivil for her to leave her company, she went down a little back staircase, and with such excessive haste that she nearly fell and broke her neck.
Having come to the closet door, she made a stop for some time, thinking about her husband's orders, and considering what unhappiness might attend her if she was disobedient; but the temptation was so strong that she could not overcome it. She then took the little key, and opened it, trembling. At first she could not see anything plainly, because the windows were shut. After some moments she began to perceive that the floor was all covered over with clotted blood, on which lay the bodies of several dead women, ranged against the walls. (These were all the wives whom Bluebeard had married and murdered, one after another.) She thought she should have died for fear, and the key, which she, pulled out of the lock, fell out of her hand.
After having somewhat recovered her surprise, she picked up the key, locked the door, and went upstairs into her chamber to recover; but she could not, so much was she frightened. Having observed that the key to the closet was stained with blood, she tried two or three times to wipe it off; but the blood would not come out; in vain did she wash it, and even rub it with soap and sand. The blood still remained, for the key was magical and she could never make it quite clean; when the blood was gone off from one side, it came again on the other.
Bluebeard returned from his journey the same evening, saying that he had received letters upon the road, informing him that the affair he went about had concluded to his advantage. His wife did all she could to convince him that she was extremely happy about his speedy return.
The next morning he asked her for the keys, which she gave him, but with such a trembling hand that he easily guessed what had happened.
"What!" said he, "is not the key of my closet among the rest?"
"I must," said she, "have left it upstairs upon the table."
"Fail not," said Bluebeard, "to bring it to me at once."
After several goings backwards and forwards, she was forced to bring him the key. Bluebeard, having very attentively considered it, said to his wife, "Why is there blood on the key?"
"I do not know," cried the poor woman, paler than death.
"You do not know!" replied Bluebeard. "I very well know. You went into the closet, did you not? Very well, madam; you shall go back, and take your place among the ladies you saw there."
Upon this she threw herself at her husband's feet, and begged his pardon with all the signs of a true repentance, vowing that she would never more be disobedient. She would have melted a rock, so beautiful and sorrowful was she; but Bluebeard had a heart harder than any rock!
"You must die, madam," said he, "at once."
"Since I must die," answered she (looking upon him with her eyes all bathed in tears), "give me some little time to say my prayers."
"I give you," replied Bluebeard, "half a quarter of an hour, but not one moment more."
When she was alone she called out to her sister, and said to her, "Sister Anne" (for that was her name), "go up, I beg you, to the top of the tower, and look if my brothers are not coming. They promised me that they would come today, and if you see them, give them a sign to make haste."
Her sister Anne went up to the top of the tower, and the poor afflicted wife cried out from time to time, "Anne, sister Anne, do you see anyone coming?"
And sister Anne said, "I see nothing but a cloud of dust in the sun, and the green grass."
In the meanwhile Bluebeard, holding a great saber in his hand, cried out as loud as he could bawl to his wife, "Come down instantly, or I shall come up to you."
"One moment longer, if you please," said his wife; and then she cried out very softly, "Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?"
And sister Anne answered, "I see nothing but a cloud of dust in the sun, and the green grass."
"Come down quickly," cried Bluebeard, "or I will come up to you."
"I am coming," answered his wife; and then she cried, "Anne, sister Anne, do you not see anyone coming?"
"I see," replied sister Anne, "a great cloud of dust approaching us."
"Are they my brothers?"
"Alas, no my dear sister, I see a flock of sheep."
"Will you not come down?" cried Bluebeard.
"One moment longer," said his wife, and then she cried out, "Anne, sister Anne, do you see nobody coming?"
"I see," said she, "two horsemen, but they are still a great way off."
"God be praised," replied the poor wife joyfully. "They are my brothers. I will make them a sign, as well as I can for them to make haste."
Then Bluebeard bawled out so loud that he made the whole house tremble. The distressed wife came down, and threw herself at his feet, all in tears, with her hair about her shoulders.
"This means nothing," said Bluebeard. "You must die!" Then, taking hold of her hair with one hand, and lifting up the sword with the other, he prepared to strike off her head. The poor lady, turning about to him, and looking at him with dying eyes, desired him to afford her one little moment to recollect herself.
"No, no," said he, "commend yourself to God," and was just ready to strike.
At this very instant there was such a loud knocking at the gate that Bluebeard made a sudden stop. The gate was opened, and two horsemen entered. Drawing their swords, they ran directly to Bluebeard. He knew them to be his wife's brothers, one a dragoon, the other a musketeer; so that he ran away immediately to save himself; but the two brothers pursued and overtook him before he could get to the steps of the porch. Then they ran their swords through his body and left him dead. The poor wife was almost as dead as her husband, and had not strength enough to rise and welcome her brothers.
Bluebeard had no heirs, and so his wife became mistress of all his estate. She made use of one part of it to marry her sister Anne to a young gentleman who had loved her a long while; another part to buy captains' commissions for her brothers, and the rest to marry herself to a very worthy gentleman, who made her forget the ill time she had passed with Bluebeard.

Ceramic pieces by  Claire Partington 
http://clairepartington.co.uk/archive/work-2012/bluebeard-and-the-wife/

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  If you are in a toxic relationship leaving can be very dangerous and you need to properly plan your exit/ escape, please be aware that your email, FB accounts, cell phone and the mileage on your car is being checked as are any websites you visit. Stay safe.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Saturday, August 31, 2013

The Guardian Angel


The Guardian Angel
2007, Acrylic on canvas, 48"x60"
As I worked on this I would play the song "We're Missing You" from recording artist Kris Kelli whom was a dear friend of my brother who departed this earth in 2001. The song was written and recorded by her as a tribute to his memory. Initially I had planned to paint a blue Krishna/ Shiva figure with a woman in a red saree but when I got into the zone that place where space and time stand still, the blue figure regressed into the background, the woman in the red saree ended up having a corset top and protective metal cage like skirt over her clothes.  In the painting the metal dress is like an armour to face the rough times, the winged  figure in the background represents those we have lost who are still with us and whom can inspire and give us the push we need. I believe we are all energy and at death that energy doesn't die it continues on.  The ground dove that has chosen to fly in through the female figures protective metal over skirt and land on her soft garment is a symbol of the messenger able to dwell in the two worlds heavens and earth, visiting at will.  I was not planning to give this piece a title but a friend encouraged me so I blurted out "The Guardian Angel".  Kris Kelli did ask how I came up with the title she was curious because the song was recorded on the Guardian Angel riddim (rhythm) which is not noted anywhere on the CD. That coincedence I believe is a message from him.  Happy Birthday Jeffrey Stephenson we love you now and forever and always until we meet again and again our love will never end.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Kristie Stephenson: Artwork

Kristie Stephenson: Artwork
Visual Artist inspired by Story and Myth.

Touching on subjects of the past and the human experience, my themes evoke the sacred feminine and female sexuality. By exploring multicultural spiritual ideas of myth and legend, with works that incorporate the collective unconscious. Chronicling experiences of women in society these experiences are represented as a message of empowerment. My subjects are not portraits they are female archetypes that exist in my subconscious. These paintings are part of an ongoing series sometimes representing a past experience or an awoken unconscious idea. Story and Myth inspire my artwork, the characters are often a blend of several female archetype figures that we find in history, folklore, myth or within ourselves. I also incorporate symbols into my work. These symbols I find in many cultures throughout the world, they all help to unite us as a global community, to remind women of their history and to spread my message of empowerment, goodwill & peace.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Beware the narcissistic sociopath disguised as your “Soul Mate” by Paula Carrasquillo

Will You Be My Next Soul Mate?The idea of a soul mate is very romantic. To meet someone else in this world of billions who shares your same values, interests, desires, and goals is an exhilarating notion, don’t you think? It’s possible to meet someone who, at any given moment in time, is at the same place you are geographically and spiritually. But to think two people can remain on a joint wavelength over many, many years is, in my mind, a set up for failure. Yet, we continue to watch those silly movies that end in “happily ever after” and fool ourselves into thinking it’s real. Enter the narcissistic sociopath. A master at making the magic SEEM real just long enough to send you spiraling into a fog. The following was taken from a message board. (I do not know the original author. If you know, let me know so I can cite the source appropriately): [The narcissist as our] “SOUL MATE” is cunning and knows who to select and who to avoid. He will come on strong, sweep us off our feet. He seems to have the same values, interests, goals, philosophies, tastes, habits. He admires our intellect, ambition, honesty and sincerity. He wants to marry us quickly. He fakes integrity, appears helpful, comforting, generous in his ‘idealization’ of us phase. It never lasts. Eventually Jekyll turns into Hyde. Why do they work so quickly? As noted in my previous post, narcissistic sociopaths can’t stand to be alone, and they fear being abandoned. At first, knowing this may make you want to pity such an unfortunate creature and help him change his attitude about life, love, and relationships. But don’t be fooled. The narcissist has no interest in changing. He subconsciously enjoys and feeds off of his own self-destructive nature. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like that is possible. But once you start learning about his past relationships and how he coped by blaming “them” and not himself, you start to wonder. How could such a romantic and loving guy always end up losing the girl? Or falling out of love with her? I have come to understand the following: the narcissist simply enjoys being in the throes of the newness of love. The newness of first meeting and the ego boost/narcissistic supply is intoxicating to him; and he blossoms at this stage (like we all do, right?) But the narcissist takes this stage to the extreme and foolishly believes and expects it to last for eternity. He creates and shares romantic visions of the future. He talks about growing old together. He puts his love interest on a pedestal. She is the most beautiful, the smartest, the best mother, the most ambitious. He never wants to leave her side or spend a night without her. And he says these things to her repeatedly, like a mantra or a prayer, that is meant to hypnotize her into full and complete submission. This is when he plants his seeds of control and domination, the foundation for future abuse. The woman inhales and ingests his words. The words make her think he is a man who has spent his entire life looking for the perfect woman and has FINALLY found her. She is “The One.” She feels special. She feels unique. But little does she know that his words to her are the exact same words he used with every single woman who came before her. He used them on his first wife. He used them on his fiancée that he proposed to just days after he kicked his wife out of his house. He used them on the new woman he proposed to after he kicked his fiancée out of his house. And so on. There is NOTHING unique or exceptional about her, about YOU! The only thing unique and exceptional about you is that you came AFTER them. You are next in line. The narcissist never learned from his previous relationships. He may tell you he has and that he never makes the same mistake twice. That just means he never makes the same mistake twice with the same person. There’s a difference. You are fresh and pure and filled with naiveté and ignorance about what is inevitably going to sneak up on you and slap you in the face. You are not his soul mate; you are not the one. You are his “right now” that he hopes he can control. The ones who came before you were crazy because they were out of his control. They weren’t “out of control” just out of HIS control. And to him that equals crazy. If you know who you are and like yourself, you’ll be the next one who becomes out of control. The next one he calls crazy. Just wait and see. If the narcissistic sociopath’s idea of a soul mate is wrong, then what IS a Soul Mate? A soul mate is a person who wants to be your best friend as much as he wants to be your lover. A soul mate praises you when you need praise. A soul mate never tries to diminish your successes. A soul mate doesn’t expect or even desire perfection. A soul mate accepts you as you are but encourages you if you seek to better yourself. A soul mate never says your efforts will be in vain. A soul mate nurtures you when you need nurtured. A soul mate can sense when you are feeling weak and tries to lift you up. A soul mate doesn’t use your moment of weakness to bring you down further. A soul mate never blames you for anything; instead, a soul mate helps you come up with a solution. A soul mate allows you to blossom and pursue all of your interests even if it means making new friends and being separated for a little while. A soul mate never feels jealous of others you share a bond. A soul mate respects your mind and respects your family and respects your past mistakes and past successes. A soul mate never belittles or shames you. A soul mate sets you free and never tries to control who you talk to, where you shop, what you buy, when you buy it, how you dress, how you walk, how you love your children, or ANY action that makes you the person you were born to be. A soul mate exists for each of us but it takes work, dedication, care, and lots and lots of patience and love for a “happily ever after.” We create the magic in our own lives. It doesn’t just happen. Don’t be fooled by those pushy narcissists who have no idea how to love themselves let alone love another. Peace.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Liana

Liana was born on September 30,
1976 and passed away on Sunday, January 10, 2010.  Two months before Liana passed away  twin sisters Carla and Lisa  were murdered on Thanks Giving Day by their brother who suffered from mental illness.  Liana was also murdered by her boyfriend in what the news report headlined as a murder suicide.  Below is the official  death investigation from Miami Dade County Florida:
The Miami-Dade Police Department, Homicide Bureau is conducting a death investigation at the listed location.  Upon the officer's arrival, they observed Liana Simon suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and Kevin Rivero deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  According to investigators, Ms. Simon and Rivero, who have been dating, were involved in a verbal dispute inside a vehicle.  As Ms. Simon ran away from the vehicle, Rivero discharged his firearm striking Ms. Simon and subsequently shot himself.  Ms. Simon was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

Liana was described as a friendly, dynamic and dedicated school teacher who touched the lives of many preschoolers and their families.

She was a beautiful young woman I knew and who I would see at the local Jaycee chapter we were members of in Miami.  Behind her beautiful face and blond hair was always a smile.  I have become a bit more observant of late and when I read this now I realize Liana was a victim of domestic violence, the most dangerous time for a survivor is when she is trying to leave.  The statistics are extremely high as reports say one in four women will be a victim of domestic violence.  She was perhaps trying to end the relationship or had ended it, but her boyfriend begged her, probably crying and bawling and threatening suicide if she did not meet with him, so she did.  She may not have even known she was in an abusive relationship. Her cell phone, her emails were all probably checked by him.  It is often hard for a survivor to leave without proper planning.  There are many more red flags and warning signs so I encourage you to do a search of those on your own.  And I hope you know how powerful and beautiful you truly are. Rest in peace Liana you are gone but not forgotten.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Lunar Eclipse ~ May 25th, 2013


                                                                                                                                       
Here is a perspective you might find interesting of energies flowing through for us at this time, written by Astrologer Molly Hall:

May 25th Lunar Eclipse, Full Moon.

Shockwaves & Aspirations
The May 25th lunar eclipse ends a month of release and coming down to Earth. The Scorpio and Taurus eclipses were a call to invest more in what nourishes, than what steals our vital energies. For some, it's been full of sobering experiences or having bubbles burst.

That phenomenon of coming out of denial, "waking up" to hidden truths, or meeting the shadow lightens the load. That's the reward of taking the risk -- it's the enlightening process! We die to old realities, and enter new ones. The past can eventually feel like a lifetime ago. "I can't believe I use to think that way," we say.

The release of old traumas and limiting beliefs frees up energy to get fired up about the future, to feel optimistic and aim for something higher. A Sagittarius Full Moon is divine timing, to elevate our thinking!

The release brings more of your soul into the now. This gives you the agility to act on what's happening, and trust your instincts. A lot of change can happen in a short time!

Between the high solar activity (there's a geomagnetic storm in-progress), and the waxing Uranus-Pluto square, the tension is great showing both inwardly and outwardly. These strong currents are surely stimulating -- they get us moving! There's a sense of urgency in the air. And yet, we can also feel agitated or scrambled by the big squeeze. It's not always clear how best to direct it. My normally super high-energy husband said he feels tired, but extremely restless to be doingsomething.

Big Picture Views
At this Sagittarius Full Moon, there can be flash sightings of a new big picture. Sagittarius is mutablefire, the sign of broad knowledge -- the kind that connects the dots. This is very, very empowering, and allows you to consider new and surprising possibilities.

Since there's an awakening happening, the timing is sweet. An event or breakthrough in perception snaps you awake to a new way to see. After the first two eclipses, A Sagittarius eclipse brings together the lively curiosity of Gemini (Sun) and the sharp instincts of Sagittarius (Moon).

It's time for the enlightened Fool to set forth on a new adventure! Be watchful for prophetic dreams, and note the serendipity in waking life. Sagittarius is ruled by lucky Jupiter, the planet that keeps us close to the path that feels right and true. The lucky star!
Please Share This Rare Opportunity!

Monday, April 29, 2013

Darkness of Ignorance: sleeping in Gu

Darkness of Ignorance: Sleeping in Gu.  The true meaning of Guru is "one who dispels darkness of ignorance". "Gu" means "darkness of ignorance" and "Ru" means "one who removes". Ru in the film is nature, intuition, the collective unconscious, subconscious communicating with conscious and unconscious, spirit guides - the white Alsatian dog, my childhood dog, who had been with me while I was inside my mothers womb, I never saw another dog like it, except in this new land where I would see lots of them, the heavens, the constellations, Orion's Belt- the constellation of stars I search for when I travel to another country or continent, I often place them in my paintings, the ability to communicate with another human being who is far away without using words but using thoughts, call it telepathy.  Thoughts going out to those in toxic and dangerous situations may all beings be free of suffering.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Cautionary Tales


The original fairy tales did not have the happy endings as we know them to be, for example in the story of the Little Mermaid, she dies in the end.  In Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf represented sexual predators, and Little Red represented innocent girls.The most noticeable was when the wolf asked Little Red to get into bed with him when he was dressed like grandma. The lesson being, to listen to your parents, don't listen or talk to strangers. In the original tale of Sleeping Beauty, the young woman is put to sleep because of a prophesy, rather than a curse. And it isn’t the kiss of a prince which wakes her up: the king seeing her asleep,  rapes her. After nine months she gives birth to two children (while she is still asleep). One of the children sucks her finger which removes the piece of flax which was keeping her asleep. She wakes up to find herself raped and the mother of two kids.  Cautionary Tales is a modern day reminder to wake up and revisit those original fairy tales whose purpose was to warn society of social predators those suffering from various degrees of mental illnesses, anti social personality disorders and psychopaths.  Lifetime movies seem more like fiction than truth but they are quite common.  This "tale"  explores the pysche of a charming social predator with a deformity his family hides, his targeting of women and colleagues outside of his social network, his ability to lure and bait facilitated by a network of underserved peers, who benefit from his deception.  Once he is discovered and the heroine escapes (leaving is dangerous as many women are killed  or threatened with his suicide)  she is ceremoniously and symbolically buried in the deepest darkest  part of his house and a new tale is devised to explain the disappearance, all that is left of the escaped women are their shells (clothes).

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

On a Jet Plane

The world lies in the hands of those who have the courage to dream and who take the risk of living out their dreams - each according to his or her own talent. ~ Paulo Coelho  #mala #mantra #prayer #travel #safetravel #peace #love #light #lead # Live #Free #Being #NewBeginnings #Power #Buddha #Krishna #Christ #Spirituality #Protection #DivineMasculine #SacredFeminine #blessingbeads #prayerbeads #onajetplane #LifeLessons ♥

Monday, April 15, 2013

The Rani & The Raj: The Sacred Feminine & The Divine Masculine: Blessing Beads Inspiration


I have a love for Indian Bollywood movies especially historic films one of my favorites is Jodha Akbar it is about the Muslim Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great, played by Hrithik Roshan, and the Hindu Rajput Princess Jodhabai who becomes his wife, played by Aishwarya Rai. My love for Indian textiles and gems especially how in the film tons of pearls would be paired with rubies or emeralds. Here I was inspired by the spirituality in the film, the blessing beads which are tear shaped pearls from the earth in Jamaica and combining them with precious and semi-precious stones. I am creating something that gives you power and protection a personal talisman. http://www.facebook.com/storyandmyth #driven #powerul #ladyboss #sacredfeminine #divinemasculine #malagoddess #islandmala #blessingbeads #storyandmyth #108beads #rubies #jade #jobstears #yoga #mantra #prayer #intentionsetting #madeinJamaica #integrity (Rani and Raj translates as Queen and King.)

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Miami Tsunami Reconstruction Team


Remembering the December 26th (Boxing Day) 2004 Tsunami, the friends I met in Galle, the stories they told of loosing loved ones. The beautiful spirit, hospitality and kindness of the Sri Lankan people.  The seven samurai from Miami who journeyed there.  We were living in Miami from several countries and we made it happen and made a difference.  You are always in my thoughts, always. Namaste.
I had lost a loved one when I took that journey, a change in geography, helping people who lost several family members and friends created a shift and a positive change and outlook in me.  I am late with this message, thinking of you all.



Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Caribbean Yoga Conference 2013

Looking forward to the CYC this year in Montego Bay and reconnecting with the wellness community. Working on malas for the VIP presenters. Main Event January 31st to February 3rd.

 

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Ring of Fire: Welcome 2013

"The Messenger", 60cm x 80cm, acrylic on canvas. The painting is influenced by my occassional jogs through the forests and woods in Belgium, running there was my yoga I felt grounded. I would stop and listen to the birds there and admire the beauty and awe of the woods in fall and winter. No trees perse are depicted but the subject is surrounded by a ring of fire, suggesting her environment is up in an enferno, the enferno was my new life and role in a foreign country. Although that constructed paper mache world was burning around me, the fire I would later realize is a positive thing. Fire represents destruction but also regeneration, purification and transformation. The hands symbolize her connection to self, to source, when all else cannot be trusted, your heart or your head the one thing you should always listen to according to Einstein is your intuition. The figures right hand rests on her stomach and holds the plumes of the mythical phoenix bird that is speaking into her ear. The Phoenix is described as a bird with colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet. It has a 500 to 1000 year life cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix rises, reborn anew to live again. The new phoenix is destined to live as long as its old self. The Phoenix's ability to be reborn from its own ashes implies that it is immortal.  I look forward to leaving all those things that did not serve me in 2012 behind and I express gratitude for all the wonderful things that I experienced that year. Here is wishing you all better positive energy for the new year, a year filled with being surrounded by good honest people and energy and the ability to listen and trust your intuition.