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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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.

 

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.

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

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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 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.

A Little Bliss...

I am linking up with Liv Lane today and her Little Bliss List. I am really enjoying sharing what has brought me happiness and joy this past week with you. The real truth is that it makes me more aware throughout the week, more grateful, more positive, more present. I love it!

I've had a difficult week: my fibromyalgia pain has been over the top (some day I'll share more went I won't whine), the day job has been more than stressful,  blah, blah, blah...so the little moments of bliss this week have a little more meaning to me. 

1. Cork love. Friends have been saving corks for me. What I'm going to do with them I'm not entirely sure, yet. I've carved a couple, used some for making marks on paintings but I know that there is a creative cork creation in my future so I will continue to collect them. I love the heart that was burned into the corks from a particular brand of wine that they drink. 

 2. Hanging out with very dear friends, enjoying good food, laughs and great conversation as well as a little entertainment from their daughter who is 2. I love children at this age who are just learning to talk, always inquisitive and the simple joy that they exude is contagious. Thank you friends.

3. Sometimes it is the simply things that can make me smile. I get up early and Superman sleeps later every day. The morning is my time to write, to create, to blog hop...I love the quiet. Each morning I get up and make coffee in a clean coffee pot. I said it was the simple things that can make me smile. Superman cleans the coffee pot, fills it with water each day after I've gone to work so that the next morning I just have to grind coffee and have my morning cup. He's the best. xoxo


Also, do me a favor and visit Renee Burke's blog Happily Ever After where I am guest posting today in celebration of her sumMEr of ME series. 

Click the button below and visit the link party and share the love with a few other blogs. Get inspired and remember what brought you bliss and touched your heart this past week.

WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday

 I am linking up with Julia over at Stamping Ground for WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday.  It has been a few weeks since I played along. 

My desk is rather clean for once as you can see above.  I am having so much fun playing with watercolors, doodling and now adding black pen line art to my journal pages.  I can't wait to play with those pan pastels that you can see in the photo above.

Below is the same page but with some of the black line art added to the page. This still needs a lot of work.

Do me a favor and hop over to Stamping Ground and check out a few desks today to see what other people are working on.

Shared Messages from the Universe - Yes

 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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It is such a little word...yet, it carries so much power.

Y E S

If you are like me thoughts, ideas, and questions are always on your mind.

While out for a walk the other day, during a rather stressful day at the crazy day job, there were a few questions that were on my mind. 

Well, these blue little Yes stickers were stuck all along my path. 

I could have walked anywhere that day during lunch but the universe guided my direction. I was constantly reminded that the answer, at least on that day at that time, was Y E S.

I could have easily not noticed these little stickers. They are only about 1.5 inches in diameter. 

And, I'll be honest, I probably didn't notice the first couple. 

But then I started to see them more often.

Like the universe was validating my questions.

I laughed out loud.

Y E S

I hope that you pay attention today.

 Is the universe trying to tell you something?

By the way, I'm going to have to see if the universe ever says no in the future. 

A Little Bliss

I am linking up with Liv Lane today and her Little Bliss List. I am really enjoying sharing what has brought me happiness and joy this past week with you. The real truth is that it makes me more aware throughout the week, more grateful, more positive, more present. I love it!


1. This week was filled with friends and joy. The fabulous and always inspiring Pauline Leger sent me an original piece of art as a sweet surprise. The painting makes my soul smile. Thank you my dear friend.

2. I had a great conversation with my niece this week. You remember what it was like to be 18 and how busy you were. I honestly didn't expect her to answer when I called while walking home. I figured I would get her voicemail but, happily, she answered and had a few minutes to tell me about her 2 summer jobs and the classes that she registered to take this Fall as she starts college. She is an amazing soul - love her!


3. Superman and I took a road trip and escaped the city the past weekend. We were hosted by the fabulous Deborah Velásquez  and we had such a great time hanging out, discussing a secret project that is in the works, seeing her studio (oh, what I wouldn't do for that space), and visiting with her beautiful family. Thank you, my friend.


4. My new kitten, yes, kitten, she is much younger than originally thought as she has grown in the past month. Little Java is also in the terrible 2's of kittenhood - biting, crazy energy and sometimes just down right mean. But, a little glimmer of hope this week, she has started to groom Tucker and occasionally sleeps next to him without biting him - so there is hope that she will grow into the spoiled loving cat that I want her to be. :)

How has your week been?

Did you have little moments of bliss? 

Did you savor them and let them touch your heart?

Click the button below and visit the link party and share the love with a few other blogs. Get inspired and remember what brought you bliss and touched your heart this past week.

Pausing Today...

No long post today. I just thought I would share a photo of the different wall textures that I see every day.

 

What every day item can you capture in a new way?

Messages from the Universe - Created

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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Superman and I escaped the city this past weekend and drove to visit the lovely Deborah Velásquez and her family.

Deb and I met while taking Flying Lessons, spent last Thanksgiving together and share a wonderful friendship. She is a fabulous artist and simply just fun to hang out with.

Deb and her son E have often told me that finding messages from the universe in the rural town where they live is difficult. There are few billboards and very little graffiti - unlike NYC.  

I am so inspired because they decided to create messages from the universe for me. These greeted me, hung in a tree in the driveway, upon my arrival. 

I love that they made me messages from the universe. 

I think my favorite is: Make Your Own Luck. :)

If you are having difficulty finding messages where you live - I suggest you make your own. Maybe you can hang them at the end of your driveway. 

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.

 

Moments of a Little Bliss

I am linking up with Liv Lane and her Little Bliss List today.

1. Looking up...in NYC you just don't do it...unless you are a tourist. Well, I vow to do it more often.

2. Visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art on July 4th with Superman. A little exercise for my knees, air conditioning, his hand in mine, and art - it was lovely.

3. Time spent playing and experimenting with watercolors. I am having so much fun doodling with watercolors.

4. Learning that my newly adopted cat, Java, is still a kitten, under a year, she gained a pound in the last 5 weeks and grew. There is hope that I can break her habit of biting, yippee.

Moments of bliss.

Hop over to Liv's blog and see what little moments of bliss others had this week.

What moments of bliss have noticed in your day lately?

Happy 4th of July!

 

Happy 4th of July!

To all the men and women who serve and fight to maintain our freedom, thank you!

To their families who support them, thank you!

Shared Messages from the Universe - Hearts & Love

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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Lately, I've been noticing hearts again in my every day. Without consciously looking, I notice them.

The one above was captured in the subway station on my way home from a long day. Now normally, I am in zombie mode at the end of long day simply rushing from work, to the subway and home. Why or how I was actually conscious enough to notice this heart - I will never know.

As I paged through my Instagram photos that I've uploaded to flickr I kept going back to this one this morning. Even though there are no words it holds a lot of meaning for me this morning.

See, I've been reading your comments. Yes, I know I am a little slow to take in all of your kind words that you've left me for me during the past week. And, yes, I know I haven't commented or visited back - but I will. This past week has been a little personally difficult. You know the kind of week where you wish you could get a do over - well that was my past week. All of your comments this morning melted my heart, touched me and brightened my day before it even really got started. I believe that this is why this photo spoke to me this morning.

The shared message today is to capture the love in everything you do. The smile you receive from the stranger as you walk down the street, the thank you the store clerk says as you check-out, the good morning you get greeted with, the simple everyday kindness that we all take for granted...capture the love and hold it in your heart.

Thank you, each of you, for reading, for staying connected, for sending me love via your comments - your words hold such power and love. They have touched my heart. Thank you for sharing!

Photo-Heart Connection - June

This still brings a smile to my face and my heart.

I stumbled upon this hopscotch grid while walking home through Central Park one day last week.

I can imagine the giggles, the excitement of running back to the beginning to do it again, the pure joy the at the children felt while they were playing this before I discovered it.

And, the energy that they left when they were done lingered all around me as I stood in this spot.

For a moment, all my concerns were washed away. 

Honestly, I felt like I was 8 again. 

I tossed a stone and hopped

and

I did it again.

As I walked away, I saw 2 other adults stop and play and I giggled out loud.

Ahh, the joy that those children shared with a little sidewalk chalk.

I smiled from deep within and I continued my walk home with that smile in my heart.

I am linking up with Kat at Kat Eye Studio and her Photo Heart Connection today. Each month she asks us to review the photos that we have taken during the past month and select the photo that speaks to our heart. Please visit her blog and stalk the other participants posts - the photos are amazing and the stories that have been written about them are touching.