blog

Just a few words to assure you that winter in Ohio will end and the spring will come. Mother nature will warm us and surround us with greenery, warmth and beauty.
I had an interesting thought (to me) the other day. I wondered if Mother Nature misses the feel of my bare feet in her earth as much as I miss the feel? Could she need the connection with me as much as I need the connection with her? I think the answer is yes. So if we’re both feeling the loss in this frigid tundra we call winter, what can we do to help ourselves and our planet?
A friend reminded me that it’s a great time to repot plants in the house. Our hands can enjoy the dirt and nurturing our green friends the same as when outdoors. We’re also drawing near to the time of planning gardens and even starting our plants indoors. So I opened my personal seed stash and began my list of what I wanted to add to the garden this year. Perhaps a cruise thru a few online seed catalogs. I found http://www.seedsofchange.com ,  http://www.seedsavers.org/onlinestore/  ,  and a list of seed catalogs on http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/seed-catalog-time to light my fire. Other favorites?
So… dig in my gardening inclined friends. And if you feel that you’re not so inclined… perhaps it’s time to adopt a houseplant? Meet my new “friend” at the gallery, Hyacinth.
Peace and much love,
su

‘Tis the time of year when people start talking about resolutions. I listened to several women talking the other day about which diet they were going to start in 2015. One is trying Low Carb… another thinks the Abs diet. One talked about a diet she bought (you can PAY for a diet?)  Then along with their dreams, the conversation slid to their expectations that the diets probably won’t work.
At that point, the big GONG in my head rang out… and it came to me that resolutions are just one more thing (or many more things) that we SHOULD do, Must Do, Have to DO!!
The last thing I want to ponder when I think about a new year ahead of me is more things I should/could/have to do.
So I’m setting intentions for the new year and here’s what I mean.
I intend this new year to be happy, healthy, more satisfying. I intend a bit more fun time, art time and less worry time. I visualize it to be a year of abundance- love, money and peace.
and now what, you may ask?
Intentions are set in my world by imagining your life a bit better than it is now. You might take time to play more music, be more active, take more naps. Then without taking a moment to figure out exactly how you’ll make this happy things happen… you sit down and visualize that better life. Again… not making a list of step 1, then 2… but visualizing how it will feel. Sit down and close your eyes and imagine how your 2015 will feel. Imagine how your body will feel. Imagine how you’ll feel if (for example) you don’t worry about money anymore because you have an abundance of it. Imagine lying down for an afternoon (or morning?) nap without a care in the world. Imagine your body feeling more healthy. And I’m calling you to really submerge yourself in this imagining. Visualize bending over and feeling limber and balanced. Visualize enjoying your favorite vacation place… how the sand feels in your toes, how the sun warms your skin. Imagine waking up in the morning feeling absolutely fabulous and eager to begin your day.
This is how I set intentions. I visualize my joy- how it tastes, how it feels against my skin, how it sounds. And I visualize these intentions every day.
Now I’m not suggesting you spend your days daydreaming… but to set aside 5 minutes in the morning and perhaps even another 5 minutes in the evening visualizing the reality you want created around you.
And why, pray tell, do I challenge you to do this? Because my dear dears, this visualization of your better life can make a difference in your world.
How can that be? Well… perhaps I’ll blog a bit more about this subject sometime soon.
And if you can’t wait for me… it’s about the law of attraction. It has changed my life.
Peace, love and heaps of joy!
su
painting is “lovers of life” by me at JourneyArtGallery.com
ps. yes, you might say that asking you to visualize joy IS actually giving you something else to do. But it’s much more fun and satisfying than imagining failing at a diet? really! Dream with me… a better world can be.

I’m a hermit. That’s not a complaint or something I would change… just a fact. I require a lot of time alone to recharge. I truly look forward to those times. One thing that I’ve always savored is meditation time… and up to now, that’s generally been a solo event, other than classes I might teach. But somehow this fall, I was moved to set up a Monday noon time meditation at the gallery. This isn’t a class… just a time when I commit to be in the classroom, sitting in meditation. I invite the public to join me, no charge. Hmm… why would a hermit decide to do this on her day off?
That’s a good question and one I asked myself before I committed to announcing Monday Meditation publicly. But the idea was one of those things… those ideas that well up inside you as though planted there. These sorts of ideas seem to me as though they didn’t really come from me or from my experience. I’ve learned it’s best to follow thru on things like this and so Monday Meditation began.
I don’t generally prepare for the group meditation, although often an idea will come to me. Today wasn’t one of those days… today, I had no ideas. So I walked into the room, tried to open heart and mind. And as the group arrived, I listened to them and our subject rose up from their conversation. I didn’t mentally think about it again, just stayed open and we began.
We explored light and positive energy and how we might use it to prepare ourselves for our days. Monday is a tough day for many people as we’re tossed back into our work week and often there’s stress in that, based on our experience week after week after week? 😉 We practiced looking forward to our day with joy, with expectation for good. We filled ourselves, our room, our community and even the world with our light and good energy. Afterward, I explained to them a bit about the “Law of Attraction” and my rudimentary understanding about Quantum Physics… and why there is a scientific basis for why we should keep our focus on positive things as those are the things that we seem to attract to our life.
Everyone has a nice time. We shared a bit at the end. Hugs all around, then back to our lives.
Here I am again alone and when I reviewed the meditation, I found that I had gotten exactly what I needed from the group session also. Their directing the subject, my allowing the meditation to be led by whatever the Universe sent… all that had resulted in my receiving answers and confirmation.
So sometimes it’s okay for the hermit to sit on the mountain… but when the “village” calls… go where you are called and you’ll likely be exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Peace and love
s
Painting is “settle in to peace” by me, at Journey Art Gallery.

For those of you who missed Monday Meditation, we talked about self care. Hopefully we all have some sort of self-care plan… yoga on Tues, meditation on Thurs, eat right, drink water, etc. But I proposed to the group a little different self-care plan. This one is directed at those moments when we find ourselves panicked, anxious or angry. I’m guessing you’ve had an experience (or perhaps two ;)) standing in line at a store and it’s taking forever and it seems that everyone is just making you NUTS? Or of course, there’s that driver ahead of you who knows not how to drive? You know those moments, when you’re seething or frightened or beating yourself up over something less than perfect you did.
These are the self-care moments I’m talking about. At these stressful times, what we do and what we say to ourselves, can either help us or hurt us. Replaying some negative scenario or allowing the angry voice in your head to scream, “What’s wrong with these people??!!” actually is harmful to you. It causes anxiety and stress to escalate- blood pressure spikes, breathing is shallow and your body goes into “fight or flight” mode. So instead of adding fuel to the physiological “fire,” I propose we take action to calm ourselves. Yes… it’s possible and can actually be very effective.
First, acknowledge that you’re not taking care of yourself when you’re angry, fearful or anxious. Practice turning your focus in during stressful times. Generally what is outside of you is not within your control, but the inside that is where you can affect positive changes.
Second, realize that “it is what it is” and likely this situation is out of your control. If it’s a person or situation you find yourself with and you can’t walk away, acknowledge that you can’t change things. If you are replaying a past event or projecting a negative scenario in the future, both of those aren’t anything you can control.
And thirdly, take care of yourself. How? Begin with a breath. Taking a deep inhalation is always a good step. Breathe in oxygen as well as peace or calm in your imagination. And when you exhale, let go of a bit of anger, anxiety or stress. Breathe in the good, let go of the yuck. Continue breathing, keeping your attention on your insides. It helps you begin to detach from whatever was stressing you. You can breathe and drive…. breathe while waiting in line… just breathe. One of my meditation teachers challenged me years ago to try to hang onto fear or anger while breathing deeply. I tried… but have yet to prove him wrong. Breathing just makes you feel better. A deep breath defuses the flight or fight mode while shallow, rapid breathing feeds it.
Once you’ve detached a bit from the situation that is stressing you and you’re breathing fully, it’s time to visualize something that makes you happy. You don’t need to sit in lotus position with eyes closed to visualize but it does help to practice the “happy place” visualization when you are some where calm and comfortable. That was what we did today in meditation… explored our happy places. Often people love the feeling of sun on their face, the sound of the ocean, a walk in the woods. I imagine standing in a hot shower and the water is washing alway all my stress. It is amazing what even a few moments of positive visualization can do to your emotional state. Learn to take care of yourself by practicing replaying happy experiences in your mind.
So take care of you, especially when you  find yourself in a stressful space. Make the decision to take care of yourself regardless what is going on around you. Let go of the uncontrollable, and turn your attention within. Breathe, breathe, breathe. Then visualize something lovely… a place, a positive result, the sun on your face. If you were attached to some sort of monitoring device, likely you’d watch your breathing rate and pulse slow and your blood pressure drop. But it doesn’t take any special equipment to realize that you feel better… calmer, stronger and able to cope.
You might not know… but start looking for signs… that your calmness (as well as your anger) affects those around you. Whether you vocalize your joy (or your frustration) or not, that energy can be felt by others. The office, your home and the world around us need your positive energy and your joy. So in helping yourself, you help others. Help me make the world a better place to live… even one deep breath can help.
Have fun!
su
ps. The image above is “Go with the flow” by me.
 

Running an art gallery showing 20+ artists has been an amazing learning experience. My artwork is here as is the work of others. I always try to show all the artists, tell all their stories and let the client decide what speaks to them.
Today a group designing a new office lobby came in. They were interested in one piece by another artist but were headed back to another gallery to buy a few pieces they had seen there first. They had noticed my work but decided that they thought they wanted a piece by another artist. I’m happy, thinking they will be back.
But after they had gone, I looked at the piece that was preferred and wondered what my work is missing? Maybe my work needs to be more complex? Maybe putting some of my work in frames would help?  etc etc.
Then the tiny voice within said, “this is what you do… you don’t need to be someone else.” And I did relax and go on with the day.
Maybe an hour later, the group was back and in the end commissioned four paintings to be made… by me. As they had decided that my work had just what they wanted. And I had to smile… inside and outside. While, of course, I’m grateful for the commissions but I’m particularly grateful for that tiny voice in my head (or is it in my heart) that says… you are okay, just as you are.  I attribute that voice partly to age and experience… as I certainly didn’t have that voice when I was younger. The voice that blasted thru my head generally told me I wasn’t good enough. And now, the “not good enough” voice does still live in my head but she’s more like a doddering old lady, muttering in the corner. And to me, that is truly cause for celebration!!!
Believe in yourself… you’re the only you that there is.
 

Happy mid February, especially to my neighbors here in Ohio. We certainly have had a “real” winter here this year. Lots of cold, fair amounts of snow… even I have uttered those familiar mid-Febrary words, “Enough, already?!”
 

Somehow one of the little voices in my head reminded me today that spending time in nature is so nurturing, healing and calming for us. Well, I know that’s true when the weather is beautiful but surely not in February? Well, our mother… mother Nature doesn’t go south for the winter. Her power, her beauty and her wisdom do still abound regardless of the season.

So, we can bundle up and take a brisk walk. But often I find that taking a “gazing break” is also very helpful. Gazing out the window at winter’s wonders is also very comforting. Studying the intricacies of a snowflake or pondering the interesting shapes which have evolved on my patio as a result of pots and rocks and who knows what else got left out there under all the snow. Savor the brilliant colors of birds, stark black branches and brilliant white snow.

Bringing some green indoors is also a lovely solution. I have some new basil which I hope will sprout soon in my south facing studio windows. Or just try spending some more time with those green friends who already might be sharing your indoors.

Art showing nature is also a good solution. I chose an image from Katie Balas’ show at the gallery to share here. Katie told me she chose this color palette to combat her winter doldrums. Heck the article below mentions that just staring at a green rectangle can encourage creativity more than any other color? So I encourage you to enjoy the season, however suits you best. Allow your positive thoughts to lift you up, brighten your day regardless of the season.

 http://www.theguardian.com/news/oliver-burkeman-s-blog/2014/jan/21/spending-time-nature-mental-health

 Image from Katie Balas, “Forest of Souls”. Katie’s show is at Journey Art Gallery thru March 13, 2014, JourneyArtGallery.com 

Welcome to the new year. I LOVE this time of year. So exciting to imagine what’s coming.
I just got home from leading a meditation/ chanting gathering. I was reminded there about our topic last month which has been affecting me in a positive way. Thought I’d share.
That topic was Vipassana, mindfulness and the aspect of non-duality in this practice. But rather than wax all Eastern and guru-ish, let me say it’s about wholeness.
Vipassana means to see things as they really are. The idea of non-duality to me is about being one, about being complete within ourselves. We don’t need to have a “bad kid” mentality about part of ourselves. In our gathering, the example was when our mind wanders in meditation, we may think, “Dang… there I go again, When will I grow out of this?” Rather, we can gather our mind back to us, like we might pull a small puppy we’re training back to us… with love that this being or this aspect of ourselves is part of our whole and we can love it. We’ll entertain the thought that all parts of our self, our mind, our personalities serve a purpose.
There was a tv show in the early 90’s called Hermans Head. In that show they explored the concept of a “committee” of varied personalities that “lived” in one man’s head. There were men and women, laid back and uptight, accomplished and insecure. And the show just had fun with how all those personalities contributed/ or took away from Herman’s daily life, activities and decisions. I think many of us can identify with having different parts of our personality. Some of us even totally can relate to the committee concept in our head. Non-duality/ wholeness calls us to see all those aspects of ourselves as good and needed. There’s no part of us that we need to think about as having to get rid of. We may not choose to take action on what each and every part of ourselves may think about… but having all the parts there is a good thing.
So today I encourage you to start loving all the pieces parts of yourself, accepting all those as facets of a more beautiful whole.
It takes us “off the hook” (thanks Jenny) for parts of our personality and frees up that much more energy to enjoy this moment.
Happy new year. Savor this moment… this very moment as it’s all we really have.
much love
namaste
and
HAVE FUN!
s

Local Canton folks know of Taggarts Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant. This local landmark and maker of great memories was robbed this week by a trio of young men. The establishment, the patrons, the wait staff… all threatened, terrified and robbed. It’s a frightening thing to hear about. And while I hear a few of the expected “if I got my hands on those thugs…” the much louder response was “let’s go help.” The day after the crime, people took action in love and went to Taggart’s. They bought ice cream and gift certificates. They waited in line for tables. They brought cash and spent it– to help, to love, to remind the victims that our community supports.
As a business owner in downtown Canton, sometimes I wonder… was this a good idea to open a gallery in this small town struggling to reinvent itself? Yesterday, my dear neighbor Maranda stopped by the gallery. We were talking about Taggart’s and she said to me, “If I could just find them, I would…” and I cringed a bit… then she finished,” If I could just find them, I would hug them. That’s what they need. Probably no one has ever taught them how to love.” And my eyes grew misty, and I knew that yes, indeed, it is a good idea to open a business where more and more people believe that we can change things through positive choices, by pulling together and by finding a way to love.
Gallery events
Annette Poitau, oil painter, has a amazing show of her work at the gallery thru Jan. 3. Large, colorful abstracts, small series paintings and limited edition prints.
Holiday Tree Show– 10 artists, 10 trees, 10 expressions of holiday joy. Trees for sale at $175 each (a tax deductible donation to Journey Scholarship Fund). And we encourage you to vote for your favorite tree at 25 cents per vote. The artist of the vote winning tree receives the vote money given to their tree. We start taking offers on unsold trees on Dec 15th.
Trunk Show of jewelry from Linda Grubb this Friday and Saturday nights. Appetizers, wine, cheese
Black Friday and Small Business Saturday we’re open 12-9pm. You’ll find amazing gift shopping all over the Downtown Arts District.
Image= “Oneness” by su ni at http://www.JourneyStudios.com