So, just for fun, I thought I'd share a few of my more colorful friends, and this guy seemed appropriate to the season. I've always been a huge fan of insects, bugs, exoskeletons...! My first pet was a beetle I named Goliath, and my first, and only, encyclopedia was an insect encyclopedia, given to me by my grandmother.
I made these with paper mache, using cereal and cracker boxes for the wings, and newspaper for the bodies. The spider legs are wire, as well as the hairs coming out of his body and the praying mantis' head, and the winged guy's body.
This blog has been a wonderful place for me to display a facet of my life, primarily through my art, in a public way. I've shared my philosophies, struggles, ideas, and ponderings, on my pages and in my posts, receiving amazing feedback and support from wonderful strangers and friends alike. For the most part I have kept politics out of it. I love that my work attracts a diverse group of people from all over the world, and that it often can speak universally, because I use imagery for communication more than words, but today I am risking turning off some of my cyber friends, because soon, we here in the United States will be given the opportunity to begin again, and I want to say something about that.
I tend to look at things symbolically, and to me this election represents a most powerful set of symbols. I believe, we are being asked to choose between a symbol of the past: rigiditiy, outdated, warring, fear based, witch hunting, intolerant, stagnant energy - or we can step into an evolving energy. One that stretches beyond our literal and figurative borders. One that lives in a symbol of multi-culturalism and inclusiveness, a steady, calm, thoughtful, peaceful, and new evolving energy. We are on a precipice and have a choice. I believe it's time to take a leap of faith. I am not willing to turn my back on the unknown, only to return and walk back into the 'been there, done that' all over again, where we are being promised more war, more killing, more dependance on limited resources, more removal of human rights and individual rights, and less expansion of our hearts and minds.
Do I think that either choice we have is ideal? Not at all. I'd prefer a multi party system, where more ideas and voices could be heard. Where money didn't make or break a candidate. I'm also tired of voting against, rather than for a candidate.
This year is different, for me - I'm voting for my country, not just a man, or a party.
This is simply my opinion, but one that I feel is my responsibility, as a citizen, to share. This is too important and dangerous a time for us not to speak up in what we believe. I am confident that we are ready to evolve into a higher state on this planet - one that doesn't allow maverick folksiness to even be on the priority list for choosing our leaders. Thanks for reading, I hope you'll watch part of what made this post so important to me...
If watching on YouTube, use 'high quality' setting!
This piece was done for a political themed show, prior to the election in 2004.
I believe the news media played a huge part in helping the Bush administration to continue it's regime and hold over the country, as well as the world, by drilling fear into us all about security, and the threat of non-existent weaponry.
I began with the plan to do a book about the war, and the unprecedented way we got there. Rather quickly, it turned into what you see here - about more - the whole of the catastrophic situation. A statement about our media, our society, how we are force fed images and words of fear, terror, vulnerability, and how readily we follow where those fears lead. The problem I see, is that too many of us choose to take on what we read and hear as truth, rather than looking deeper, for bigger Truths - beyond fear...
These awards came to me at a perfect time. While preparing myself for the surgery I wondered - what can I do for my blog while I'm away? As I've said, I wanted to keep some of the flow going, energy moving, and I knew I wanted to prepare a few postings in advance, but what would they be? As if by magic, one award came in, and then another the next day, and then I was "tagged". What better way to keep the flow of energy moving than to guide people to other blogs where I find inspiration?
The first came from a kindred spirit, atPassions of an Odd Chick, who creates beautifully with both words and her art. Her posts always leave me touched, and with questions to ponder.
The second came fromConnie, a new friend over atDirty Footprints. Connie is a creative soul who explores her life with great honesty and openness. Since Connie, is a new online pal, for her award I'm listing people I have just discovered very recently, though look forward to visiting them again and again!
I was tagged by Jennifer Robertson Williams over at Trial and Error, where she shares her daily self, art, dilemmas, dreams, humor, and heart. So I guess this means I have to share six random things about myself now - which of course is leaving my brain totally blank...
I became by vegan nearly 20 years ago after reading Diet for a New America by John Robbins. He convinced me that not only would I be helping my physical health and the environment, but I'd be deepening my understanding of compassion and ability to live compassionately.
I cannot throw anything away. I can imagine another purpose for nearly anything. Maybe I learned this from my dad. He used to save burnt out light bulbs - I don't know why! I know I imagined that he thought someday they'd figure out a way to recharge them - I'll have to ask him!
I really don't like to travel, so I wish I lived closer to all my friends and family.
I have a passion for cacti. I have over 100 plants, and have moved across country more than once. The Department of Agriculture had to come out and inspect them before one of our moves, to make sure they were disease free crossing state lines! They are another part of my can't throw things away problem - they are so healthy and grow so well, I take cuttings to keep them under control. So they multiply...
I'd pick french fries and stuffed olives over chocolate and sweets any day!
I just realized that these things are mostly unimportant random things about me and I'm wondering if I should go back and find more 'important' thoughts to raise, instead of wasting words on french fries, so, another thing about me is - I'm always thinking, watching, analyzing, wondering churning and turning things over...
So, in honor of these accolades, let me introduce you to a sampling of a few blogs I'm enjoying these days:
Daily artwork on the theme of peace - what more could you want? JAFA BRIT:
Really interesting multi media artist
My friendly fellow bloggers above may chose to pass on the awards as they see fit- this is simply how I've chosen to share the honor! Many thanks to all who want to share my blog with others, via the passed on awards. I like the daily focus and rhythm to my journal and my blog, so I will not participate in them in the future, as they kinda interrupt that flow.Vikki North created this symbol to represent her decision to withdraw from this practice (and wrote about it) on her Red Chair Gallery blog.
...anymore!
I will continue to share my favorite folks with you, and new finds, by listing them in my side bar. I also do not do link exchanges, as I find the longer the list, the more diluted and lost the individual gem becomes. So, you'll see some folks come and go. As I change, so may my inspirations!
I cannot tell you how deeply touched I am by the caring thoughts and support I feel from you all, with the kind and meaningful words you have sent me. I know that it is part of why I have already been up and walking around, less than 24 hours following my surgery. Actually, I probably didn't have a choice in that - but I walked way farther and more strongly than anyone thought, and got a few - "Wow, you're doing great"'s along the way!
I arrived at theHospital for Special Surgerya little after noon yesterday and went through the registration process. I was asked if I wanted a single, or double room. Singles are available first come, first serve so I had prayed (and asked a few others to join me) for a single room, because I am the world's lightest sleeper. So when I found out I had a choice, that alone made me happy. a view of the river, or a street view. Last time I went for the side of a building, wanting to save money. This time I decided - hey, this is the last time I'm going to do this, so why not do it big? I'm going for the river!
So, after signing in, my husband John, and I, went into the family waiting room, which is quite large, with comfy chairs and a wall of windows overlooking the East River.
I felt a wash of peace move through me, and a completely calm and confident ease about being there, in the moment. Then I got a deeper sense move and settle into me - one of the assurance and knowing that I had many people thinking about me and sending their prayers, positive thoughts, and deep caring, for which I felt, and feel, abundantly grateful.
Soon, I was met by a pastor, a nutritionist (totally confused about what a vegan might eat - jello? protein drink with whey - they are okay, right?! So I went into teacher mode for a little while!), nurses, resident, anesthesiologist,
and finally my surgeon,Dr Federico Girardi; a kind, attentive, and truly wonderful person as well as physician.
I feel I went into this experience being held in such a deep way, that I can't describe it well with words, (images to come, I'm sure!) I was actually able to go into surgery feeling happy - relatively!
It began around 4 and lasted for 2 hours. I remember little, even about the recovery room, other than seeing my surgeon's face and hearing that everything went well.
When I was taken to my room I could not have been more surprised and overjoyed by what greeted me. Not only was it a room with a view, but 2 walls were windows overlooking the East River and just a bit of FDR Drive (for those who know NYC) and the buildings lining it. It was dark when I got in, so the lights were reflecting off the river from both sides... Quite nice, I thought, until I watched the sunrise over it this morning! Red, orange light bounced off low clouds, set against a vibrantly blue dawn sky. Breath taking! I didn't have my camera for it, but will try for a capture tomorrow, instead, here are some day time views I had.
If you've managed to read this far, thanks! And I have one more request. I am running a fever. Not something you want to have happen after a surgery, and I think it's just a cold - but if you would, keep sending those powerful good vibes I felt carry me into surgery! Okay, time for some good sleep.
Tomorrow I head to The Hospital for Special Surgery for my third back surgery...
I have all the confidence that this will be the easiest and smoothest of back surgeries I've been through. (Though these drawings imply upper back issues, it's all lower - artistic license!) Less than a year ago, I had a lumbar fusion, after an unsuccessful partial discectomy from two years prior to that. Now, I have to have the screws and rod used to support my spine while the fusion healed, taken out. Normally it is left in, but my body still has not accepted this foreign material, and may have even developed an allergy to the titanium it is made up of - which is rare, but not unheard of.
The journey of my back began after a fall, while I was trying to stop my dog from falling down the stairs... She had a brain tumor, and was unsteady on her feet. Well, I succeeded at keeping her from tumbling, by taking her place! I know, it sounds like something I couldn't make up - add that her name was Frida... (as in Khalo. Yeah, I'll be picking my pet names way more carefully in the future!) but that's what happened.
My Sweet Frida
Anyway, I can hardly wait for this to all be healed so that I can sit and create comfortably, take walks, do yoga again, and not have my back be the first thing I am aware of in the morning, and the last thing I feel as I try to go to sleep.
I've pre-prepared a few posts for you and will have them come up while I'm in the hospital, including a slide movie tour of my studio and the process I go through, from beginning to end, with my pages in a day. That's slotted for tomorrow! (How cool that we can pre-post and it will pop up when the date and time is set for?!)
Please think of me tomorrow, as you go through your day, and send healing thoughts.
(My surgery is scheduled for 3:30 PM New York time!)
Thank you, Karin
By the way, these mandalas are taken from a mandala journal I kept a few years ago. Too much on my plate for my journal today - I'm already going through withdrawal!
