ceremonies; from an eye-opening mixed–media class taught by a fantastic artist; and from a frenzy of painting time for several commissions and shows. Yahoo!! I know you all have missed me!! LOL!!!
This morning, I was out in my wildflower garden, with all of the bees humming contently around me, drinking my coffee and pulling weeds, when it occurred to me that our lives are much like a garden.
Like the garden, we have weeds — thoughts that keep us from moving forward. These are thoughts that, left to grow, could and would choke out all of our beauty, our flowers, our gifts. It takes work, every day, to pull out the thoughts that are detrimental to our spiritual selves. It takes commitment to want to be beautiful both inside and out and to make the time to work on ourselves.
Sun dancing was like going out and pulling weeds for a week. It’s intense prayer. After all, what else are you to do while dancing around a tree for four days?
But we, like the garden, need constant maintenance to continue flourishing. It’s not just a one time “Okay I’ve done my prayer time” thing. It’s not “done and completed” all at once. It is a commitment to the journey — a commitment to the garden; a commitment to ourselves; to the beauty that is within — that allows the flowers, the gifts, to blossom. It’s taking time to pull the weeds when we notice them and letting them go — knowing that they don’t belong in OUR garden. It’s realizing that we need to take time to water, fertilize, and maintain ourselves.
And so, my lesson for the day — my desire for my lifetime — is to be a peaceful Zen garden. Never perfect — always a work in progress — knowing that I always have a commitment to the beauty that lies within me and within all creation.
Love to all,
Me
I believe in the power of “time-off.” Time off to regenerate and recharge. Time to get another perspective on everything. Time to explore and learn. Time to pray and vision. I think it is just as essential as actual painting time. It’s essential for growth. It’s essential for all artists. It is essential for everyone.
Shakin’ it up for love and authenticity
August 18 2010
I have a friend — okay, so I have a few — but in this blog, I have a friend — well, okay, three friends — whose lives whose lives are shakin’ right now. Mine, too. And why?? (Listen for the proverbial whiny voice that goes along with it. Tell me you can hear it . . . ) “Why, Creator? Why, Source? Why MEEEEEE????”
My first wonderful friend I met on Facebook . . . yes . . . Facebook! We have wonderful rapport, and I felt like I have known her forever! She caught her husband with another woman. Wow . . . what a shock . . . .what a shake-up.
She asked me yesterday why Spirit would take her down so far — to which I replied — “Spirit didn’t take you down. Spirit gave you wings. In order for different energies to come in, we have to get rid of all other energies that don’t serve us well.”
Really shakin’ for her. It’s a rough time, but in it, she has found jewels — friends that will always be there for her. Probably some gems that she didn’t even expect. Gifts — abundance — LOVE!
My second friend had a “knock down drag out with his son” — big time. Shakin’, again. Probably a lot of name-calling and anger floating around — but the result was incredible understanding about each other — and honesty. And, Love. Shakin’ things up, dropping what is not real and pulling out the authenticity. Love.
My third friend told me this week, “I have friends that I have had for ages who don’t seem to fit into my life anymore, and no matter how hard I try, I just don’t seem to be able to get them in.”
Ah, this is a biggie. A shake up. She is on the precipice of huge changes in her life — she is on the edge of the cliff getting ready to jump.
“And how,” I asked her, “will you fit all of the other new wonderful people and friends in if you don’t clear out some of the old?”
Me . . . .well, my daughter is getting married to an incredible man who loves her very much and puts her on the pedestal she deserves. (A little prejudice!) We had a bit of a disagreement last night because we were three “people pleasers” trying to make each other happy — and creating instead a few misunderstandings. Shakin’.
The result was a lesson in speaking up for what you want, being honest (there is THAT word again) and a greater respect for each other’s positions and feelings. Love, again. Without that shake-up, all the love and respect that I feel for my daughter would not be quite so strong.
I look at our energy bodies as a bulging closet full of clothes — beautiful, wonderful, exquisite clothes. But some of them are dated and some don’t fit; some you look at and wonder “what the heck was I thinking?”; some are ripped and stained. How in the heck are you going to fit any new beautiful, wonderful, exquisite clothing in there if you don’t shake it up and clean it out????!!! (Seriously, those bell bottoms and platform shoes have GOT to go!)
And so . . . Creator answers the “Why MEEE????” with “Why not you? I love you so much that I send these shake-ups in order to allow you to live a more authentic life — a life full of integrity; a life full of honesty; a life full of love. Without these shake-ups you would stay stagnant and wouldn’t grow. These are gifts from me, because I love you.”
Ah, there it is.
Some days, I wish Creator didn’t love me sooo much — LOL — Just kidding.
Blessings to all,
Paula
I seem to question why a lot. Or I used to. Like why was I chosen to paint . . . when it is something that I never, ever dreamed of doing? Why was I chosen to write this book . . . when I never thought much of writing? I suppose, it is a lesson in learning how to surrender and allow. Allow the answers to be revealed. Allow what is going to happen to happen. The answers will come, Paula. Painting has opened your heart. What writing will do for you will be revealed.
Gaia — dog with fleas??!?
October 5 2010
I just spent the most wonderful week with many, many family and friends . . . and was able to share with my nieces and nephews (and brother/brother-in-law/and sister) some of my fun, funky metaphors which I use to explain some of my new-found and deeply rooted beliefs. It’s been a long time since I have seen my family. I’m not the same person I used to be, and I knew there would be many questions.
Of course, the majority of the questions came from the young — and so I chose my words carefully . . .
“Aunt Polly — tell me about the earth.”
Hmm . . . How do I explain to a 12 year old my knowing that Mother Earth/Gaia is a living being?
“Well . . . do you know what Buster is like when he has fleas?”
(Really Paula, do you think this is going to work?)
“The flea only knows that he eats and lives on the dog. The flea doesn’t know that he is hurting the dog.”
(Okay, maybe this will be good . . . and maybe not.)
“And, the dog gets irritated because the flea makes him uncomfortable, so he scratches and bites and tries to rid himself of the irritation — trying to make himself feel normal again.”
(I like where this is headed.)
“So too, Mother Earth is a living being a sentient being — think of her as the dog — and think of us as the fleas.”
(Not too far off).
“She is trying to correct herself — not punish us — just making herself feel normal and ridding herself of the irritation.”
Ahhh . . . I see a light in Cassey’s eyes . . . perfect.
“So,