out of the darkness and into the light

i have not really been feeling up to posting these past 2 weeks...

i was actually in a pretty dark place and just did not have the

words to share it with others in this venue. i read a while back

about one blogger (whom i really respect and am inspired by)

who was tired of seeing 'happy' on everyone's blog, as if

their lives were perfect all the time. sometimes i choose to write

about things that are not so rosy, but for the most part, i try

to focus on the more blissful, uplifting moments so that i can

refer back to them when i am feeling really down...

plus, i see so much darkness out there in the news and all

around us, so it seems like this is a good place to put some

beauty and peace.

...however, i do like seeing other people's struggles and to learn

about the tools they use to get through things (that we all face

from time to time). i still don't really feel like sharing why

i was sad, but i will say that it's the saddest i have felt in a really

long time and the most tears i have cried (ever, i think).

 ...
so now for the part about finding

my way out of that darkness and into the light...

 i went to be a guest at my friend jeannie's art camp this week at

total care life center in norwalk, ct. i waited til the last possible

minute to confirm and was really not in the space (mental or physical)

to be around people, especially those i don't know very well...

but i went and i'm so glad i did.

 it's the first time i've seen her office and i was floored by

how beautiful and peaceful it was. she had taken some of

my artwork a while ago to sell in this space and i love

how the colors in our work speak to each other... 

she does amazing pieces in felt and i am all over the place,

using whatever i have or am inspired by at any given moment.
(included here is a vision board she made in one of the workshops)

 she used to own a gallery and everything she placed in her

office was done so with such care and thoughtfulness

as to which color, shapes and symbols should be placed

next to one another.

 here's a close-up of her felted gratitude chakra stones, her gratitude

journals and some of my prayer flags - along with saraswati and

dancing shiva...

 this is her little working nook, complete with a spirit pole, and lots

of teal and fushia... i felt so at ease and inspired in this space.

 her messages are so positive and bright - it's hard to be in a

dark place anywhere near her energy or artwork.

 what a great environment to work in... so inviting and filled

with love, strength and tranquility

 we did a trade - mehndi for a tarot reading, and the cards i

got were so spot on for what is going on in my life these days...

i was sad i only got to do a small design for her - a "Yes" with

some paisley on the top of her hand... hopefully, i will get to give

her a larger one soon...

here's the little 'yes' that she enjoys seeing
every time she looks down at her hand:)

 this is what i made during the workshop she and beth led.

in the morning we wrote in our journals and learned some

basic palm reading information and then we did a collaborative

art and writing exercise along with our own art designs

that were inspired by learning to find out what archetypes

we were through reading the mounds (or mounts) on our dominant hands.

the one in the center was collaborative and i did the rest with

finger painting. it was so freeing, and slowly but surely, i felt

as if the darkness was fading and i could sense the light inside

of me a bit more... the laughter and sharing helped too.

 later in the evening, after i had returned home, i gave myself a

full mehndi sleeve of a butterfly and garden of flowers... it was

just what i needed after a good healthy meal to wind down the day.

 this is a painting i did a few days ago inspired by

some writing jeannie sent to me.  that along with other things

helped me get into a better place... she is so insightful,

so eloquent and supportive.

 i went back to tlc center today for her last day of camp and we

made our own chakra gratitude stones... after doing a beautiful

guided meditation led by beth. 

 so much more healing going on inside my heart and soul...
the pink one was made by jeannie and the top one was made
by diane - another fan of pink and green!

 an exploding and blooming heart for beth,

which doesn't come close to expressing her vibrant energy,

beautiful belly laughter and the love she shares with those

around her

and an om heart for k. who is going through some

life transitions...

love and peace to j, b, k, + d for helping

to make me smile and bringing some light my way.
ps. they are doing another art camp in august.
i highly recommend joining in on the good soul stuff...

August 1-4 A MID-SUMMER'S DAY CAMP FOR WOMEN AT TLC CENTER, A Play Camp for Goddesses...Norwalk, CT,  10am-1pm, call to register 914.714.8944 or 203-853-4852