Monday, July 30, 2012

Shared Messages from the Universe - Practice

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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I know people that equate practice with work. 

Practice in my mind equals play.

P R A C T I C E  =  P L A Y

As a child, I remember taking piano lessons (by the way I took them throughout grade school). I also remember that I could not memorize music.  No matter how long I practiced it just wouldn't stick in my head. But, I didn't let that stop me.

I could get lost playing. 
I could express how I was feeling just by the song that I chose to play. 
I miss playing the piano.

Now, I am learning and practicing to use watercolors, inktense pencils, tombow markets, micron pens, peerless watercolors, and I believe that I have learned what I like and what I don't.

P R A C T I C E

What do you practice?

Are you learning something new? Or, trying to perfect a technique?

I want to encourage you to approach your next practice lesson as play. 

Pay attention and see if just by making that shift in your mind if practice can be more play instead of work. I bet you'll find more joy in the practice.

P R A C T I C E  =  P L A Y








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Sunday, July 29, 2012

Creative Color Challenge - July

I am linking up with Louise Gale and her Creative Color Challenge today.

She challenged us with 4 colors and asked that we use letters in our piece. I chose to play with a new stencil that I recently purchased and my pan pastels.

 

I think that I might add more tangle patterns to the piece then send it off to my Mom.

Make sure that you hop over and visit the other artists who played along this month.

 

Friday, July 27, 2012

In the picture...Reflection

 Today I'm linking up with Urban Muser and her monthly in the picture theme.

Urban Muser hosts a self portrait link up each month and inspires us with a theme. This month her {in the picture} theme is reflection. I took this literally and had a blast capturing my reflection around NYC.  

capturing my commute home                           (c) Lori Moon


when it rains wear flowers                     (c) Lori Moon


I always 'need' a cup of coffee                              (c) Lori Moon


playing with my reflection                               (c) Lori Moon

Where can you capture reflections of you?


Make sure you hop on over and check out the other amazing self portraits this month.

In The Picture



Monday, July 23, 2012

Shared Messages from the Universe...Stand Clear

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

------------------------------------------------------------------


I took this picture about 5 weeks ago and at the time the message that came to my mind was...look out, here I come, stand clear and get out of my way. Forward momentum! (The picture that was in my head me as a warrior carrying my sword above my head rushing into battle.)

Well, that isn't how my last 5 weeks ago have gone.

They have, in fact, been the exact opposite. I have Fibromyalgia, diagnosed 16 years ago (wow, I hadn't done the math lately) after years of not knowing what was wrong. Learning to live with Fibro, instead of against it, has been my choice.

I say this because I could have chosen to become of victim and lived my life a certain way because I have it. But, I didn't, I chose to live with it - to pay attention to my body, to create self-care routines that help instead of hinder. I'll admit that some days are easier than others and stress plays a big part of me being able to cope with the pain.

Many things have been stressful the past couple of months and stress is a trigger to make my Fibro pain worse. My reaction was to stand clear. In some ways, I unconsciously chose to back away, a defense mechanism to stand clear. In other ways, I chose to stand clear. The bottom line is that I needed to back up, slow down. 

Well, I went too far...

I withdrew, I became mechanical and put on my blinders. I focused on having to function (go to the day job, blog post on certain days, go to physical therapy, remember to eat, sleep...I need so much sleep). All of this has made me sad, intensely super sad, a deep sad that I haven't felt in almost a decade. I've had moments of joy, good times with friends, giggles with children but poor Superman has seen my sadness. He's held me, helped me, been patient and supportive - I love him to death.

By the way, I'm writing this to share where I've been. It is part of my journey. It is who I am. I believe that out of the darkness comes light and I'm done standing clear. I need to move past this. So, slowly I am turning toward the light.

Happily, my body has started to feel better during the past week, I've gotten a lot of sleep, I took myself on artist's dates both Saturday and Sunday with my camera and took some pictures in Shakespeare Garden in Central Park. I've also been reading Renee Burke's SumMEr of Me series and it has reminded me that I need to embrace where I am and take care of myself.

I believe that I have turned the corner. I have put on a different pair of glasses to let a little more light in so that I can see the world around me a little bit better.

Now I know I am back on track, I have my sword slightly raised and will work on raising it higher as I move forward into my world.  Stand clear because I am making my way into battle for the life that I want.




Sunday, July 22, 2012

Sunday Snippets

 My week in pictures...as seen on Instagram:










I am joining up with Tinniegirl this weeks and her Sunday Snippets. I am letting the pictures tell my story.
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