...

mjd - 2015 - offering bowl

maintain an open heart

dutifully

devotedly

diligently

daily.

open

mjd - 2015 - open - sterling ring

realizing that the thing to be most feared

is lacking the courage 

to remain open in heart and mind.

practicing non-judgment and big love

only brings light to the world.

why contribute to the darkness?

mjd - 2015 - open - sterling ring

thoughts for morning -

mjd - rise awaken and shine 2015

as the sun rises

and the moon sets

may i begin my day

awake.

may i move through

each moment

mindfully

lightly 

and with clarity.

a heart

bursting with love

a mind

propped open,

may i shine

to lessen

the darkness

of another being's 

suffering.

daybreak - mar. 2015

mjd - 2015 - be still/printemps

thawing is happening here,

revealing

tender things.

trusting green shoots

and 

open hearts

that will soon belie

their fragile appearance

with a blossoming

worthy only

of the strong. 

--------------------

mlle printemps made her first appearance yesterday, international women's day. it seems to have given her some forcefulness as she did not tiptoe. with crashing icicles and running rivers of thaw, she made clear that she had waited long enough.

today this little one poked his/her head out to see what kind of progress was being made.  

2015 - chipmunk in residence

the tender heart

mjd - 2013

in our (mistaken) attempt to guard the heart
against vulnerability 
and pain,

mjd - 2013

we can isolate it 

from tenderness

and connection.

the open heart shines in the darkness -

guided by courage, it remains true.

though feeling deeply, 
it resists the urge
to hide
to build walls
to strap on armor.

love overrides all fear.

it is
beating
pumping
raw

compassion
come to life.




*please note: the use of images of adornment in these times of sorrow are not meant to promote my work. i process my feelings at the bench and so these pieces are merely visual representations of emotion and thought.

cont'd

'your task is not to seek for love, 

but merely to seek and find

all the barriers within yourself

that you have built against it.'

- rumi

(open heart)

opening

(in progress)

'your task is not to seek for love,

but merely to seek and find

all the barriers within yourself 

that you have built against it.'

- jalal ad-din rumi

perhaps with a touch of this?