the power is yours

you create your universe

'watch your thoughts, for they become words.

watch your words, for they become actions.

watch your actions, for they become habits.

watch your habits, for they become character.

watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.'
~ author unknown

reflecting - already

'deep breath' seems to have struck a deep chord, the same one that zinged in me as i read akilah's post... it is something to rejoice about and something to mourn... i am happy that you have now thought more positively about embracing your Selves, sad that we drown in the negative voices inside of us that warn against such acknowledgment...

we are not talking 'shout it from the mountaintops' daily pronouncements... we are talking about feeding ourSelves a positive diet devoid of derogatory thought, of listening to a soft voice that whispers that we are valid, important entities in this world, going thru it with the attitude needed to create and perpetuate change... to be a part of the Solution & not a part of the Problem...

we are willing to take the time to read labels on foods to eliminate trans fats, exercise or diet to take care of our physical selves... seriously, how much money is spent per year by the populace on weight reduction/exercise programs? and yet we leave our real, our inner Selves so neglected...

very... BIG... problem...

why have we been so conditioned to believe only the self-destructive thoughts and not the self-affirming? my doing this exercise challenged the very deeply ingrained 'don't toot your own horn' message (even to my own Self) that was blaring in the background... i fully believe in listening to your gut, i think we lose the innate ability to respond to things on a very sensitive level... but this message did not resonate from the gut, it came from the mind...

it has obviously been hovering in my subconscious as i have been creating pieces with affirming messages... but as usual, i have to sometimes be whacked upside my head with a stick to get it... t. allen-mercado writes incredible, thought-provoking posts... and one of hers really got to me lately as well...

we have to learn to listen to our inner voices... stop shutting them out... we know what we need and, really, how could anyone else know better than we?

this challenge came at a very critical time for me... because once the negative pulls you down to where only your eyeballs are above surface of the pit of muck and mire, it is a lifetime journey just to get out of it... don't you want to use your life for more than that? the women i have had contact with in this community are gifted, savvy, smart and have so very much to offer... what a waste it would be!

i have heard the phrase 'thought is power' so many times... it is now time to listen!

'by choosing your thoughts,
and by selecting which emotional currents you will release
and which you will reinforce,
you determine the quality of your Light.
you determine the effects you will have upon others,
and the nature of the experiences of your life.'
- gary zukav

peace...

and i am waiting...

to hear from you!

on your sleeve

'you can't shake hands with a clenched fist.'
-indira gandhi

if one can wear their heart on their sleeve, then certainly you can wear your peaceful intentions on your wrist! mak of makustudios made some wonderful peace sign raku beads for me... and she is also the creator of the round raku bead as well... kristie at artisan clay made the smoke fired ceramic tube bead... i love the subtle changes of color and pattern in them... mary ann at linden avenue designs created the river rock lampwork glass beads... again, she has managed to create a glass bead that emulates stone, giving me another medium to mingle in with the others... faceted feldspath, mexican painting stone, a double drilled beach stone from stone me, and lots of bali, karen hill tribe and wax cast silver (from cathy dailey)... the beautiful raku buddha face comes from the buddha builder and i could not/would not/will not part with that!

sooooooooo - what do these components have in common? i hadn't really thought about it until i was ruminating over how much i love the smokey effect of mak and kristie's beads... smoke... fire! hmm... mary ann's glass beads were created with fire too... metals i purchase are worked with heat... how about the ceramicists who talk about glazes they use and how different levels of heat affect the outcome? enamel work on metal? polymer clay? pmc? and these are small scale pieces... torches, kilns... on a larger scale (i shall not use the word grander) i have been in the glass blowing studio my daughter works at... furnaces set to 1900 & 2300 degrees... it is beautiful, fascinating and daunting to watch the glowing masses of melted glass become bowls, vases, etc... it made me think of the blog posts i have read about how artists didn't know what the outcome of their work was going to look like, how it was surprising to them... i have read that numerous times from numerous artists working with different materials... it makes me wish i could be in a studio with them while they wait until the unveiling...

fire is so often associated with its destructive properties, but what of the transformative ones? the purifying ones? fire is know for its dichotomous nature... we are mesmerized by it... the power and destructiveness of a volcano is still entrancing... fire is one of the four elements - along with earth, water & air - & seems to be associated with energy and power... phrases using the words, 'fire', 'spark', flame' are abundant... they often refer to love, desire, freedom, life, creativity, spirituality... how fitting...

one of my favorite quotes has to do with this:

'in everyone's life, at some point,
our inner fire goes out.
it is then burst into flame
by an encounter with another human being.
we should all be thankful for those people
who rekindle the inner spirit.
- albert schweitzer

so wear it for all to see...

you are the key

there is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire,
which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity,
but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.'
- washington irving

search the phrase 'the key to...' on google and you will find an almost infinite number of results... the key to happiness, love, success, freedom, etc... everyone has something to say on the matter... but truly, it all comes down to you, that beautiful woman who is one of a kind, has so much to offer the world & who often doubts herself... everyone's situation is different, adversities vary, but we all face challenges and our own personal demons... having love and support is critical, but we need to realize that even if it comes in baby steps, we can find our way...

'continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key
to unlocking our potential.'
- winston churchill

this double vintaj bracelet is adorned with reminders of your inner power... i found a gorgeous pewter green girl studios naked lady bead at beadlady and fell in love with her... she holds herself gently, looking out into the world... the vintaj key is for obvious reasons! ... glass beads by pinocean in earthy colors of sky blue, green & brown & in different shapes and sizes - like our obstacles... when faced with something unexpected, i try to bring myself up quickly with the assessment - inconvenience or problem? a vintaj 'inspire' tag keeps you aware of the fact that your tenacity, your loving attitude and gentle spirit may be inspiring others... a single lapis lazuli bead (given to me by a treasured friend) encourages taking charge of life & self-awareness... it is also a protective stone...

'no man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience.'
- john locke

so when your world feels like it is crumbling or when you feel unfathomable joy, know that you can now push forward further than you could have before... wear this bracelet to keep you conscious of all that is great within you...