…and a(nother) good time was had by all. Here are a few of the pictures I took. It was seriously overcast and somewhat sprinkly and cool outdoors. That alone will prompt another visit soon when it’s sunny. The outdoors is magnificent. Aside from the high tension wires and local vegetation, I could imagine myself transported to India.
Between my visit in 2017 and this one I have continued to learn about ancient architecture and the geometry needed to build such structures. However, it’s the inside, the decoration and the artistry that keeps my attention. In India they follow the principles of Vaastu Shastra, which is similar to Feng Shui. You have to be dead or heavily medicated if you don’t *feel* something upon entry. It is the definition of Awe-some.
Category: <span>My photos</span>
Towards the end of my first 200 hr of IYT at Kripalu Center, 2000) we were asked to choose a topic that we wanted to study using the techniques and practices we were learning. I struggled to find a topic. Specialization was contrary to my personal philosophy of Yoga. I wanted to be skilled in ways to help everyone. But choose I did and I narrowed it down to stress management & women’s health, looking for the lowest common denominator that would cover most people. As a divorced, 50year old, real estate broker, (20+ years ) I understood stress. As a mother of a tween & a teen, I was already suffering from the flashes that reminded me menopause was on it’s way. I wasn’t getting younger. I continued to study stress and was fascinated by where it led and what I learned. My early classes were mostly women experiencing mental/emotional and hormonal balance/imbalance. Integrative Yoga Therapy covers all of it.
Psychology was my first major course of study in college (1967) After watching the professionals deal with mental/emotional difficulties for decades, I am convinced that the holistic nature of yoga provides better healing for what ails us. Whether that be: abuse, trauma, addiction, estrangement, or just plain ole daily living.
Years and years of assisting the senior faculty at Kripalu Center honed my skills and satisfied my heart, I learned about healing from: abuse, trauma, disappointment, and basic life stressors. The issues are in the tissues, so says Swami Kripalu. For 20+ years I was part of the Inner Quest Intensive Facilitation Team, an experience of divine intervention in my life.
On December 14, 2012, the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT occured. I was in my car on the way to the grocery store when the news came thru on WNYC radio. I immediately slowed down as I took in the news. My first born grandson was 6 at the time so I felt an immediate connection to the story and stayed riveted for weeks to come.
Early in 2013 I was contacted by another of the facilitators from Kripalu. She was a gifted psychotherapist from CT. working with Sandy Hook Promise, the non-profit organization formed to help the community, the survivors, and anyone else affected by the tragedy. She was currently treating about 6-7 people directly connected to the event and thought an IQI-type retreat/intensive might be really helpful. Would I help her? After much discussion in Sept. 2013 we rented a vacation home in the Catskills for 4 days and brought in a group from Newtown, CT to participate in a healing retreat. I will tell a more complete story later, but the point now is how that experience changed me. From that moment forward I got to see how the work I was doing privately in my studio at home and at Kripalu could impact the world.
Sadly, events like this have only multiplied and escalated over the years. Treating trauma has mostly been one to one., if at all. But today, due to the state of the world and some earth-shaking astrology, we need more of this. We are all wounded healers of sorts.
Meanwhile, aside from gun massacres, wars, pandemics and climate events, abuse, addiction, psychological/emotional/mental afflictions and other dis-eases continue, all rampant in our society. Everywhere across all lines,
Yoga, however you choose to practice is necessary in today’s world. It’s not exercise. It’s not woo-woo. It’s not religious, or political, or anything that would encourage people to be anything less than peaceful towards themselves and each other. If everyone practiced, alone and together, we would have a better world and calmer communities.
Geometric drawing has taken me on quite a cultural journey. Today, I understand why geometry is sacred.
Initially I became interested in what is known as Islamic geometry. Examples of it’s artistry are found around the world and on this website. In holy and humble places, the patterns are everywhere once you *see* them. Straight lines dominate but movement, fluidity, and spiraling is evident, especially with the addition of the biomorphs.
Ready to jump into a new genre, I found Lucie Rose, a teacher in Paris. When I saw her course in May, 2023 on the South Rose Window of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris I signed up. Whereas Islamic geometry is mostly straight lines, gothic geometry requires a multitude of circles, hardly a square to be found.
I was there in July, 2015 with my grandkids and the pictures from that day are a treasure. I watched with shock and gratitude that I had been there before the fire. Having an emotional connection to a project steps up the preparation.
Architectural achievements that display man’s faith, trust, and reliance on a higher power fuel my personal beliefs.
So, I cleaned up the entire art room and reorganized it to tackle this ONE project, rather than the many I usually have going at the same time. It took nearly the entire summer to complete the drawing and transfer it to the Khadi watercolor paper, which was a very risky choice. The first layer of color came from my coffee cup.
Rose Windows are saturated with symbolism, combining earthly and heavenly qualities, the tracery and the glass. Customarily they are placed opposite a cross at the altar. The feminine stands in balance with the masculine.
To complete my project I began to consider it a tool for meditation, like drawing a mandala. Fighting with the inner perfectionist became crystal clear! Letting go, in every way, became a joy.
It’s still a work-in-progress. I’ve been adding some silvery shine which doesn’t really show well for a blog post.
As Fall approached I got distracted and began a second Rose Window. More circles. Still on the risky paper. But loving the new colors, and now I can use all the gold & copper colors I have! We’ll see how it goes.
In December I’ll be re-directing my creative energy towards drawing the Tree-of-Life for the Winter Solstice. Want to join me for our Solstice Sadhana? LMK.
I’m now in my seventh decade of life here, this time around, and find myself still firmly rooted in the same vicinity of my birthplace, Neptune………… New Jersey, that is. The fact that planet Neptune is located near the nadir of my horoscope is a constant source of amusement. Synchronicity, you know?
During High School I was on the staff of The Megaphone, the APHS newspaper. At one time I was the official “typing editor”. Whatever. Hanging around with would be writers, editors, journalists, and graphic designers was a good fit for me, although I didn’t appreciate it at the time.
From the getgo I imagined this blog as an expression of the moment as filtered thru this brain with an attempt to connect to who? what? To self-publish anything and not have to go through the judgement and opinions of others was mind-blowing for this baby-boomer! I really learned a lot and education is never wasted.
As I repost this I remember that the chart for this post shows the moon at 26 Gemini which seems fitting with the nature of this post.
May all beings practice right speech.
SUNDAY, OCT 9, 2016
1:30 pm
East Brunswick Public Library, 2 Civic Center Drive. NJ
I’ve attended the Harper’s Escape weekend intensive maybe 6 times, and now that I’ve finally gotten the ‘hang’ of it, it’s ending. After 25 years Kathy, the director, and one of my most favorite teachers, is retiring this event. So sad. But, I do understand. The details above is for the final public concert that completes the weekend event. I’ll be there and, it’s free. Come! It’s always a full house so get there early for a good seat, not that it matters.
Taking up the harp at 50 changed my life brain. Switching from piano to harp as my primary musical instrument was a learning curve that proved frustrating, challenging, and incredibly rewarding. More on that another time. Suffice it to say, 8 fingers on 36 strings, re-wired my brain in ways only a yogi could understand….or a brain scientist.
Next year Kathy is taking a group to Ireland! OMG. For those who know me, you know how much I want to go on that trip!
In August, 2002 my daughter and I traveled there and searched for all-things-harp for 2 weeks. We landed in Shannon and made our way to Galway during the big horse race event. We journeyed thru dense fog to Inisheer, one of the Aran Islands. We drove on the wrong right long straight road running from the west coast all the way to way to Dublin. The only harp I found was in a glass case at Trinity Library and I wrote about it here. Of course there were images of harps on coins and beer cans everywhere, but, no harp music anywhere. Still, the music we did find was damn good! Money is tight right now so maybe I’ll crowdfund the trip? If everyone I know/love could send me $5. I bet that might get me there! I’ll be happy to entertain you all with my harp when I return.
Just kidding….
Anyway, Wally, a Camac Aziliz, (who I still want to swap/sell/trade for a Fisher) needs some serious tuning after a hot, humid summer and weeks of neglect. But, he’ll sing next weekend at the Harpers Escape for sure.
Learning to play the harp, and developing a repetoire that suits me and my abilities has been so much fun. It’s taken me to places both musical and geographical that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. I am blessed.
Here’s a story I wrote about one such experience. It happened in July, 2007.
Come to this concert….your heart will thank you.
May all beings feel love. 
I have so many questions for you today. I wish you were here. I miss the quiet, calm, presence we shared when we sat together. What would you make of this world in 2016? I’d love to hear what you’d say regarding the current political situation! And, there’s no doubt in my mind that you’d be sitting with at least half a dozen digital screens around you….you were pre-geek.
Well, wherever you are now, may it be peaceful, loving, and kind.
Love,
Your Daughter
A few weeks ago while at the Grounds for Sculpture (GFS) with Storyteller’s Mosaic I told a story about Paris and seeing the Mona Lisa. It was a fun day for everyone. The weather was wonderful and the Grounds were a spectacular backdrop to the event. Truly, the GFS is NJ’s best kept secret.
It’s fascinating to me what gets stirred up in the universe when we tell a story…..spiritually & energetically. Storytelling, for me, has a magical component that I can’t really describe in words, but here’s more of what has happened regarding this story…..
Weeks earlier, while preparing my story someone had told me about an ‘interactive’ display somewhere at the GFS which included the Mona Lisa. So, after we had checked in and found our ‘stage’ I went looking for her……again…..and the photo on the left delightfully displays my success in finding her……….again!
The telling of the story went well and I breathed a sigh of relief and ease when it was over. I included a line about going” right over there to have your picture taken with Mona Lisa!” After leaving the stage I was approached by another storyteller who had just returned from Paris and pulled out his iPhone to show me his picture of Mona, with him in it. I showed him mine too! A funny moment for sure!
The day after the event I was flipping channels on the tv. I paused at one of those newsmagazine show’s because they were doing a segment on the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and the utter chaos & rudeness that occurs in the room where she is displayed…..which was my experience too, of course, but here ? now? on my tv………… a coincidence? I’ve read about how ones computer and other digital devices can become highly personalized these days…without our conscious intent…but?
Yesterday, someone I know from another piece of my life approached me in the local arts and crafts store. It was a surprise to see each other and we met in the middle of the aisle among the paints & paintbrushes to chat. Then she mentioned that she was shopping for some ideas on how to create her Halloween costume…..she planned to be……….yup, you guessed it…..Mona Lisa. …and did I have any ideas about how she could do that? Really!? She had no knowledge of me going to Paris, or telling stories, or anything that made sense.
Anyway, it all feels a little silly and not really worthy of a blog post……….but the Yogi’s have taught us that “energy follows attention” so by writing and talking about the Mona Lisa I have simply opened up the channels for more of the same. Hmmm. We’ll see what happens next.
Happy New Moon……
I’ve been back for nearly a month now, yet Paris lingers in my mind. The Eifel Tower was my #1 must see and we got there on the first day. The night before, we wandered around an amusement park near our hotel and when we got near the top of our ferris wheel ride I got my first glimpse! So exciting! Hard to get the *feel* of it all from my pictures….need to improve my photography skills- but, if you click on the photos’s to make them bigger you might feel the awe that I felt.
….more later
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Heading to the NJ State Folk Festival this weekend where I’ll see one of my favorite harp teachers. I’m really excited to hear some current folk music. It’s been a while. As a “baby-boomer-extraordinaire” I spent countless hours listening to people like Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and Tim something?…… It’s a maritime theme this year and I just attended a local photowalk and took these pictures (scroll down) experimenting with b/w in the fog. I rarely spend time around boats so the sychronicity is hard to ignore.
Music touches and heals us like no other activity. It’s A Documented Truth. Playing instruments, singing songs, or listening to others play and sing lights up our brain cells and activates the neural plasticity that is being written about so frequently now.
That yod I mentioned yesterday….it’s energizing my Sun in ways that are amazing to experience…physically, mentally, and most obvious (to me) synchronistically. Does that make sense? It’s hard to verbalize.
Time to go learn Row, Row, Row your Boat on my harp……
Jai Bhagwan…..
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This Sunday is The NJ Storyteller’s Festival and I’ll be on a stage at 4pm. Me and stages have had a comfortable relationship thruout my life. I’ve been on them many times, for many reasons, with groups and solo a lot, too. But, this time, it feels really new and different and scary/exciting…….
I’m telling a personal story that my parents might seriously disapprove of. But, I am soon to be 65 and they are both, long gone as is everyone that I know of in their generation. I am the elder now……daunting. And, this story did indeed impact my life in ways that are so much clearer today.
This is a photo of my mother and Uncle Sam, her brother, who was a favorite uncle until he disappeared from my life.
Being a Scorpio, life can be a mystery to me much of the time. Being born in a family that had ‘secrets’ fueled my curiosity in ways that continue even today.
If you’re in or around the Grounds for Sculpture in NJ (a fabulous backdrop to the day!) come and hear some stories……. maybe you’ll get inspired to tell your own?