Gremlin Stomp

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I'm loving this week of 12 Secrets as Jamie leads us in our ongoing fight against Gremlins!

This is right up my alley, as I don my steel-toed boots and start stomping away!

Gremlins you say?

Honey! Gremlins are coming out of the woodwork inside and out! Inside and out! So let the games begin.

Meet the Pink Gremlin: She is so soft and sweet and cuddly, but from her scarlet lips come the poison zingers. "Are you sure you can do this?" "Do you think maybe you are being a bit too strong?" "People don't like assertive women, maybe you should tone it down a bit, sweetie."

To this gremlin, I say. "Yes, I can do this! Yes, I am strong and assertive! It took me long enough to be this way, so take your pink sweetness and shove along!"

Meet the Sunny Gremlin: He is a happy fellow, all smiles and sunshine with a dark underbelly that will trip you up. He likes to deliver one-line jokes at your expense. And he laughs and laughs and laughs.

I stuff a nice big cloth in his pie hole and skip along.

Meet the Green Gremlin: He is so full of bile and jealousy, and is determined to thwart you at every turn. He likes to make you second guess yourself. Criticizes your every move. He flat out refuses to cooperate and when you confront him, he cries. Like a baby. Ah, the old guilt card!

Stomp!
Refuse to feel guilt for your convictions, and your successes. Plow over the little bastard and keep going. He lacks the wherewithal to do anything but spew toxins.
Stomp don't ingest!

Meet the Blue Gremlin: She likes to appear friendly and comforting. She is always present when you are feeling low, determined to serve you tea and depression. Comforting you with words like. "You can't win all the time." "You couldn't really do it anyway." "Nobody loves you but me." "Success isn't for everyone."

I shove the tea and tissues right back at her, and declare, "Go away! I can win, even when I seem not to, because I gain something from every experience, be-otch! I can do anything I choose to, and I love me, no matter what! Be gone!"

Meet the Red Gremlin: She is hot with her fury and bubbles over with rage. Rage at the world, anger with everything and everyone in it. Hatred for you if you do not join her. She spurs you on with her little forked tongue. "How dare they do that to you!" "Who do you think you are fooling?" "Shut up, no one is listening, and no one cares!"

The best antidote for this gremlin is smiling. A huge, lovely smile plastered on your face, even if you have to do it over gritted teeth. Smile, baby, smile. And she will dissolve in a fiery puddle of her own stewing.

Do you recognize these gremlins? They multiply and have cousins that echo inside of you. They like to make us into their puppets, but no, they are full of hot air. The only power they have is the one we give them. They are meaningless, unhappy little critters who like company in their misery. Do not give it to them!

Laugh!
Rejoice!
Play!
Paint!
Draw!
Dance!
Who cares if it's not perfect? Do it for the sheer delight of it!
Hop into rain puddles!
Skip along singing a tune of your choosing even if it is off key. Even if no one else is singing!

And they will dissolve.
They will flee holding their ears in terror, because their little nasty tricks did not work!

This I know is true.

Blessed be! :)

Focus

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I painted this piece to represent the growth that is coming our way. Spring is around the corner, and I am so looking forward to it. I am looking forward to the way the air seems so full of promise. The budding flowers. The trees sprouting their baby pods that will grow into leaves. The growing light.

I am looking forward to spring cleaning, and preparing the garden for its face lift. I am looking forward to rearranging my home. I am looking forward to making some minor changes that will improve my home.

I am looking forward to taking walks, and seeing smiles on people's faces.

I am looking forward to sitting in a park or on a patio and drafting the blueprints of my future: my Tarot deck, my proposal to the Board, my pop-up book for adults.

I am looking forward to greeting my friend's little one into the world for the first time. I am looking forward to seeing this world through his eyes.

I am looking forward to renewal.

I had an epiphany last night. This relates to my relationship to myself. All these years, I have been cataloging in my mind what is wrong with me, and what I need to improve. That's a good thing, right?

Well, no. It's wrong. It's had me focusing on what I lack. I lack perfection. So do we all. But why constantly focus on it? Why constantly live with the constant "if only" in my life? I would be beautiful if only I would lose weight. I would be happy if only I could publish a book. I would be fulfilled if only I had a mate. I would have so much fun if only I had more money.

That's just the wrong lens to be staring out of. I am adjusting my lens. That is what the above painting also represents. It represents a shift in focus.

I have decided to focus on my strengths and talents. On what makes me beautiful, happy, complete, productive. On what makes me healthy, vital and strong. On what fulfills me and nurtures me. On what puts a smile on my face and a song in my heart. On what makes me unique and necessary in this world.

That's what I will focus on. What will you focus on? :)

Speaking on focus. Judi made this amazing award, and gave me the incredible honor of bestowing it on me. If you have not visited Judi's blog, you are in for a huge treat! Her humor and wisdom, her perspective and understanding are so unique and refreshing!



Thank you Judi! You are precious to me! :)

If you feel like a cup, grab it and run! :)

Perspectives

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My fascination with trees continues with this painting I made in Photoshop last night. I have been trying to work with perspective and light. A different view, another outlook. Looking up instead of out or in.

I am working on perspective in my life as well. Trying to step away and give myself a different view while so many things mull in my head.

Like my art. I know at some point, I need to pick up a brush and start painting on canvas or paper. But sometimes, I feel this subtle pressure, and it's not coming from within. I know some people believe that graphic arts are not as worthy or as "artistic" as conventional art. There seems to be a subterranean hierarchy in the art world. Some artists seem to be more worthy of attention and praise than others. I don't subscribe to that, as I have written at length what art is to me. Yet, I must be honest and say it troubles me at times. It troubles me because there is yet another hurdle I must overcome, or ignore. The choice is mine.

I love painting digitally, for now. It's a training ground for me. It allows me a freedom that manual art doesn't. It allows me the containment I need at the moment to gain confidence in my vision and technique. In my artistic voice. And if some people believe that this art is not worthy of being framed and hung on a wall, then that is their choice. No?

That's not going to change my relationship with my process. And part of my process is blogging about it.

I have been participating in a a lot of blogging initiatives, and they feed my mind and art. I am engaged by everyone's perspectives, and particularly fascinated when that perspective seems to echo throughout the blogosphere. There is movement, acceptance, and support. Some give of it freely to others. Others are concerned with their own. Still others give it only to some. That is all perfectly valid. Each person gives what he or she can or wants to. I like visiting people's blog homes, and sitting down to enjoy their success, give support or presence for their agonies, voice my thoughts on their concerns. This is part of being in a community, which this very much is to me. A tribe, a support group, a family.

That is why I thank everyone so much. You do not know how much your comments mean to me whether they are one word or paragraphs. Whether they are daily or occasional. I welcome them with open mind and heart because I know they are made with the best intentions. And they give me perspective. A new look inside from outside.

I have written at length about my job s a teacher. I am so blessed to love my job, because I believe it is a very important job. My students' future rides on what I am able to impart to them; how I give them the opportunity to grow intellectually and creatively in a safe environment; how I expose them to different perspectives and broaden their own. I sometimes have to overcome barriers of attitude, or trauma, or walls of bigotry, or chasms of language. But I do not give up, because I think it is important; because I think they are important.

I also have to deal with a lot of frustrations, and they almost never come from the kids. Teens will always have that innate angst that bubbles out sometimes in very bizarre ways. I can deal with that. It's the adults who perturb me. Adults who are also in charge of these kids' futures; adults who refuse change or a different perspective; adults who dig their heals in their right to be right, so much so that they become enormous obstacles to everyone's sanity and growth.

Connie over at Dirty Footprints wrote a post about the possibility that the Arts program will be cut from schools.

This is exactly what I am talking about. Instead of cutting a "non-essential" course, as they see it, they need to look at it from a different perspective: the absolute necessity of the Arts not only for students, but for teachers as well.

We have been getting a lot of Professional Development sessions this year, trying to encourage teachers to use more "high yield" strategies. Meaning teachers are boring kids to death.

There are two sides of this coin. Some kids are over-entertained. It's hard to compete with the lure of digital fun and excitement. I don't come with a PVR (TiVo) and I can't be shuffled to play a different tune, but I do manage to keep my students engaged and learning. Why? Because my lessons are varied and creative. Why? Because I am creative.

Then there is the other side. There are teachers who have been teaching the same lesson, the same way for years and years. I don't know how they do it. To me that's water torture. But really, have they been taught differently? Have they been given the true opportunity to try something different? They have been told to, but what good is that?

You can't ask a bear to fly without giving it wings.

Teachers need to be allowed and encouraged to explore their own creativity through workshops, not be sat in a room told that their lessons are not "high yield" enough. Sure, you can bake a cake with a recipe, but it will only be a great cake if you own the recipe. If you love the recipe and the art of making a cake. The Board and the Administration like to dole out recipes without providing kitchens or utensils or ingredients. They say their teachers are bad bakers without giving them the opportunity to experiment with their own baking skills.

That's because the very people who say that teachers can't think outside the box, are firmly entrenched in boxes themselves.

So I am baking an idea. A proposal that I will take to the Board. It might blow their lids, but if they go for it, it will really address the issue not put a little band aid on a gaping wound.

It's time to look up, see things from a different perspective. Enjoy the light playing with the leaves and bursting through the trees. And take one huge, refreshing gulp of breath.

Update: I totally forgot it was Jamie's Wishcasting Wednesday! Doh! But this post fits right in. I wish for my idea to take flight and change the face of education! There! Weee!

Snowy Dreams

Stellar Jamie, the Princess of Potential, the Empress of Engagement, the Goddess of Gratitude, is once again hosting the Full Moon Dreamboard!

And of course I'm playing!

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This full moon is about the heralding of spring and new growth. It is about the melting snow and all the life-giving goodness that lies underneath, waiting to sprout into new promise.
So this Full Moon:
I am dreaming of and manifesting LOVE!

I love each and every one of you and all your blogs that are abundant with inspiration, reflection, creativity, growth and love.

I love my friends who have been there for me, one way or another.

I love my Stinky, who has been my most loyal companion.

I love myself through thick or thin, down or up, inspired or low, happy or sad.

I love this earth, the waters, the trees, the air, the valleys, the clouds, the deserts, the snow, the rain, the sun, the grass, the flowers, the critters big and small.

I love the young. I love my goddaughter, little children, and babies, my students, those who need love and caring and guidance.

I love life, for it has blessed me with health and home, experience and wisdom, love and loss, discovery and purpose, freedom and light.

I love music for all the wonder and happiness it has brought me.

I love art for its soulful expression and the miracles it contains.

I love the Universe and all its enchantment!

I am sending love to all those who are suffering loss in Australia.

This full moon, I manifest the romantic, soulful, authentic, exciting, fulfilling, sexy, inspiring love of my mate whoever he may be. Hurry up already! :)

What do you wish to manifest this month?

Inspirational Lemonade Photo Awards

Greetings and Salutations!

I don't know how or why, but I have a wicked hangover and I have not had a drop of alcohol or any recreational drugs. Plus my shoulders are stiffer than a Driving Tester's face.

The good news is: the sun is shining, some of the snow has melted and it's not bone chilling outside!

Today I will take some time to share the bountiful blog love that has come my way in the past few days. It's tag and award time!

Marianne tagged me with the Lemonade award. Thank you Marianne! Her lovely blog is chock full of amazing journal pages, art work, collages and observations. Please take some time and give her some blog ♥!

The rules are pretty standard for this award. This award is about Great Attitude and Gratitude! I have not been to any blog that doesn't have these amazing qualities. On days when I am feeling low, all I have to do is visit any one of your blogs and find my spirits lift and stir. Thank you sweet people!

I'm supposed to tag 10 people, but I like 9 better, so here we go :) This is some blog love and acknowledgment. It is not an obligation. You don't have to do anything with this except smile and know you are loved and appreciated! :)

1. Judi at Mindmists whose humour and down-to-earth attitude never ceases to put a smile on my face and a song in my heart. :)

2. Rebecca at Just a Thought whose incredible writing makes my skin and blood undulate with thrills! :)

3. Ms Scorpio at Inevitable Regeneration whose blogs always make me smile, and ponder, and laugh out loud. :)

4. BohoMama at Words from a Bohemian Mom is a free spirit whose perspective is solidly unique, and uniquely solid! :)

5. Jane at Painted House 52 whose strong voice and attitude come shining through on her blog. :)

6. iGodess at iGodess whose rockalicious funkadelity will shazam you! :)

7. Tori at Tori's Path whose energy and vivaciousness are deliciously contagious! :)

8. Tracy at Seaside Enchantment whose gratitude lists make my soul soar! :)

9. Tabby at I Choose Bliss whose heart can encompass the world and uplifts every soul that visits her blog! :)

I had much more of these to hand out, but I would be here for days posting. :) I will get all the rest of the lovelies next time :)

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The wonderful Pamela from A Touch of Inspiration awarded me with this beauty.

Pamela is a wonderful inspiring and supportive person whose blog is full of positive light and wonderful insight. Please take some time and give her some blog ♥!

I will tag the following awesome art blogs, but as with the previous, there is no obligation to do anything with this award other than accept it as a gesture of love and admiration! :)

1. Steven Emery at Color Sweet Tooth whose spectacular art and thoughtful process is deeply engaging and illuminating. :)

2. Linda at Vulture Peak Muse whose magical art and soulful process makes me get lost in fascinating contemplation. :)

3. Robyn at Tales of Inglewood whose photographs, her masterpiece of a garden, and her musings never cease to inspire me. :)

4. Caroline at NoWordz whose photography puts me in a dream state of Zen - beautifully peaceful and full. :)

5. Serena at Serena Lewis whose photography, art, and perspective are more refreshing than a spring day! :)

6. Kara at Mother Henna whose crystal insights, her beautiful art, and inspiring challenges uplift me to no end! :)

7. Tammie Lee at Spirithelpers whose photography and poetry is a blissful wedding of beauty and meditation! :)

8. Rowena at Warrior Girl whose art, The Flying Girl series, and her writing is deeply evocative and inspiring! :)


This award comes with the activity of naming 7 things you love.

1. Life.
2. Creativity.
3. Stinky (my cat)
4. Lovely people including all of YOU!
5. The ocean and all bodies of water
6. Mellow weather
7. Clouds

I have about 100,000 more, or so, things I love but I will stop here :)

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Last but not least, I was tagged both by June at Arty Retreat whose amazing Art and art Challenges are fun and fascinating, not to mention, June is an awesome person; and Peppylady at Peppylady Almost Perfect World whose outlook and lovely crafts are a feast for the soul. Thank you ladies! Please take some time and give them some blog ♥!

This is a phototag and I have two different sets of instructions: One is to find the 6th pic in the 6th folder and the other is the 4th in the 4th, so I will split the difference! Here is the 5th pic in my 5th folder... hehe I am supposed to tag others, but I am leaving an open tag to anyone who wants to play! :)

This is from my house and homes folder of images. Isn't this room absolutely dreamy? Look at the view and the grand piano. I can see myself spending many a blissful day and night there! How about you?

Spotlight in

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As we progress through 12 Secrets , the magnificent Jamie's latest book blog club, we are asked to focus not only on self but on support of others' creativity.

I have never had a problem being, sometimes, a one-woman cheering squad for people. I try to always give people a hand, a shoulder, an ear, or encouragement, ideas, advice when asked, or just a silent presence when needed. I am a believer in "anything is possible", and a crusader of "dreams come true" to the Nth degree.

For others.

Increasingly, it has become clearer that I need to be that for myself as well.

For me, it's not a matter of time, but of attitude. Letting go of the guilt associated with putting myself first when I need to. Letting go of this ingrained belief that I am not worthy of praise, or support, or unconditional love. Trying to figure out where that attitude came from is, for me, pointless. I don't like wallowing in the past. It's time to forge ahead.

I need to be my own advocate. My own cheering squad. I need to be a silent presence for my soul to speak. And if I do it badly, I need to be there for myself, and say "It's okay honey. You will get it right next time."

I have always been a private person. I have not shared of myself to my deepest core, and I have always been reluctant to show my art. Look at me now. Blogging away the very marrow of my soul that people, most of whom I have not met before, might read. Displaying my art, being vulnerable, showing what I am doing, whether it is good or not. I am proud of myself for that. This is a huge step for me.

Now I need to learn one more thing:

To ask for help. To show my vulnerability. To tell others what I need. To reach out, and ask other people to be there for me.

I have always been fiercely independent. It comes from being an only child. It comes from this fiery nature that refuses to cry "Give!" It comes from the core of my personality.

Yet, it is this very independence that causes people to believe that I am okay, that I don't need support, or a friendly phone call, or an invitation to coffee, or a smile of encouragement.

I need those things too. And I am asking for them.

What is it that you have been denying yourself? How will you get it?

Blessed be my friends :)

Purple Musings

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Today I feel purple, and that's a good thing. There is something about this color and all its nuances that infuses me with a spectrum of emotions from a peaceful contentment to a deep excitement.

Its symbolic meanings range from royalty, wealth and ambition, to wisdom, dignity, independence, and creativity, to spirituality, mystery, and magic. (According to color-wheel-pro.com) In other words it's chock full of goodies!

It was Cleopatra's favorite color, and that fits my Greek-Egyptian roots. She was one of the most kick-ass women in history. Ruler of one of the most powerful countries at the time, she was a Goddess and the last Hellenistic Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. She dropped all association with her younger brother Ptolemy and became sole ruler of Egypt, even going as far as printing only her face on their coins! Never before did a female Pharaoh shrug off male superiority, before her. She was a Woman of Consequence, who inspired love and devotion as well as political allegiance in two of the most prominent men in the Roman Empire - Caesar and Mark Anthony. How amazing was she? She even left the planet on her own terms.

In Feng Shui, purple is associated with the high vibrations of the 7th chakra and deep spirituality.

What else does purple inspire?

the Purple Heart
Purple Rain
the Purple Rain Protest (anti-apartheid movement)
the Purple Pleione (a fast spinning star)

What does purple inspire in you?

Then there is the tree.

Trees both ground me and raise my spirit to the heavens. Trees are the inspiration for legends and mythology. There is a language of trees. Each tree has its own personality and each type of tree its unique imprint in the world and beyond the world. In literature such as in Lord of the Rings and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, trees are alive with parts of their own to play.

Trees inspire poetry and prose. There is nothing more delicious than sitting under a tree on a hot summer day, even taking a nap. Hugging a tree brings you into a deep communion with the earth and all its magic.

Trees are life. They oxygenate us and feed us. They shade us and protect us. They inspire our imaginations and souls. They provide homes for a myriad of animals, and support tree houses where children's fantasies take flight.

Trees are majestic and beautiful.

All this inspired my painting today. All this I gift to you on this day in February.

Blessed be :)

Fighting One Gremlin at a Time

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I have been busy fighting gremlins these past couple of days. It has been a hard battle, and I am tired, but I refuse to allow them to enter my blood stream and poison me.

Introducing the Gremlins:

• People who make passive aggressive statements aimed to criticize or belittle me at work
• People who have a sense of superiority and like to make others feel like they are the crud at the bottom of their shoe
• People who like to lord it over others with their being "right". Always.
• Remarks like "frivolous"and "ridiculous"
• Being blown off like what I am saying is of no consequence
• Being openly contradicted even though the person contradicting me doesn't have a grasp of the situation
• Being blamed for things that I did not do and have no control over
• Being made to feel that I have no sense of what is appropriate because I don't have children

I am surrounded by some very self-righteous, mean, petty, judgemental people. I have to lead these people. I have to circumvent them in order to do my job.

• I refuse to let them wipe out my self-respect.
• I refuse to be marginalized.
• I refuse to be placed in their designer boxes.
• I refuse to allow them to make me feel less than what I am.

They can all take a giant flying leap into oblivion. They are pimples on the skin of my profession. I will not deal with them except on a professional basis. And if I have to spend every single minute outside of class elsewhere, I will.

Will someone please tell me, what the hell is wrong with some people?

And in the spirit of dissolving the negative and embracing the positive: An Update!

Today is Wishcasting Wednesday and our illustrious wishtress extraordinaire, Jamie, has done it again! She has managed to turn my frown upside down! The prompt for today is: What do you wish to become?

See the comic above that I made? That's what I wish to become: I wish to become a superhero fighting the nasties, one gremlin at a time. Not just my own, but everyone's.

I want to don my spandex costume of imperviousness to the negative ninnies, and with my super abilities, zap their waves of BLAH into smithereens! I want to smother their dark powers with my smile and internal happiness, and share this with my fellow fighters so that we may eliminate all gremlins, external and internal. I want to smack their superiority and smugness with my cape, right in the face!

Will you join me on the mission? Will you join the J-Team (J for Joy) and help fight the nasties?

Words Form Images

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Happy Imbolc!

The month of February brings the celebration of words in Leah's Creative Every Day Challenge.
The wordster in me is jumping for joy. :)

I have always swam in the wonderful realm of words. They open up worlds of imagination and through them I can invite others to explore the dusty paths, the secret valleys, the majestic forests, and the enchanted towers of my dreams. With words, I meander through the rain-soaked streets, and forbidden alleys, the nooks and rusted crevices of cities. People with mechanical eyes, or wings for feet reside there. They speak in musical notes, in fecund tones, in a myriad of registers.

Crafting words like a gleeful elf, molding the images in my head, and bringing them to life, has always brought me joy. Through words I speak with ghosts of my past, and the flesh of my future. I transverse vistas, and time, and possibility.

Words feed my soul, and speak for it.

Words lift my spirit and shape it's colors.

Words reach out, sometimes with tender fingers, sometimes with enraged fists and push their way into the world through the birth passage of my imagination. Their first sounds are heavenly.

Words are like my Diva's voice, raised high in the register, shattering glass and preconceptions, floating to the heavens on their separate and distinct notes, carrying the audience with them.

Words are like mighty streams, and meandering rivers, fathomless oceans and meditative lakes, that quench the thirst of my soul. My soul's voice. The voice that would otherwise be mute.

Words make me a fearless explorer, a powerful swami, an ageless wanderer of the spirit.

Words are my manna. They feed my hunger. My soul's need to break the silence of myth and rear it with love and unspeakable beauty.

Words wail my pain and that of others. Others who have not spoken, who cannot speak, find solace and power in words. Mightier than the sword, words outlast those who gave birth to them, and live like perenial seeds in those who ingest them. Words live forever, as long as there are eyes to read, and ears to hear. Words are eternal life.

And these words I offer to you.

Blessed be :)

p.s. If you feel like playing, look at the previous post and have fun creating your very own Box of Creative Goodies! :)

Box of Creative Goodies

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1. Chronica, 2. Art Supplies, 3. Browsing Magazine and Sipping My Cardamom Tea..., 4. Faro de la Isla de Mouro II (Santander), 5. Tree House, 6. Purple Euphoria, 7. Summer Evening, 8. Art Deco Facade, 9. Twilight / Crepúsculo, 10. Ci sei dentro, 11. Lonely in golden place!, 12. Montmartre

Creative Goodies Meme

I decided to create this meme to get the creative juices going when I languish in the valleys of inspiration.

For each question there are three answers:

Type each answer into Flickr search. Choose an image from only the first page that comes up, then copy and paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker .

Et voila! You have your box of Creative Goodies!

1. What three things/objects inspire you to play?
a.
b.
c.

2. What three places invoke a dream state for you?
a.
b.
c.

3. What three artists/artistic styles do you most admire?
a.
b.
c.

4. What three things do you do to lift your energy?
a.
b.
c.

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My answers:

1. What three things/objects inspire you to play?
a. 3D Digitals
b. Art Supplies
c. Magazines

2. What three places invoke a dream state for you?
a. Light houses
b. Tree Houses
c. Purple Sunsets

3. What three artists/artistic styles do you most admire?
a. Magic realism
b. Art Deco
c. Art Nouveau Architecture

4. What three things do you do to lift your energy?
a. Music and dancing
b. Walking
c. Going for a coffee with my journal and a book

If you do it, please feel free to use Mr Linky's widget below, and I will pop on by and cheer your box of creative goodies! :) Make sure you add the post URL not the blog URL. Have FUN! :)