be still

'courage doesn't always roar. 

sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end

of the day saying, 

'i will try again tomorrow.''

~ mary ann radmacher

it's there if you listen earrings... calming, empowering... wear your affirmation to grow quiet and listen to your inner voice...

'listen' is set in resin with a concave surface as one has to turn inside and dig deep at times... the paper was left unprotected and so is a bit darker - also reflecting quietude... 

'voice' has been preserved with some dried seeds... seeds to remind you of your potential for growth and of opportunity... use of faceted african opal (which is just so very beautiful), vintaj brass and bezels from objects and elements... 

this can be an overwhelming time of year... while joyous, it also places upon many extra demands created by heightened expectations... it can be hard to get through the day and when the day passes you merely feel like you have one less to accomplish your goals... take a moment, be still, breathe... enjoy what the holiday season really means to you & set aside all else for just a bit... 

nearing sunset

'if i have been of service,
if i have glimpsed more of the nature and essence of ultimate good,
if i am inspired to reach wider horizons of thought and action,
if i am at peace with myself, it has been a successful day.'
- alex noble

i keep a prism in my window so that each night as the sun begins its descent, a beautiful little spectrum travels across my kitchen... it ends up crossing my little jizo and kuan yin... this time of day holds its own magic...

'when i admire the wonders of a sunset or beauty of the moon,
my soul expands in the worship of the creator.'
- mohandas gandhi

i write this while my rambunctious neighbor of 7 yrs. old (this is said with love!) tears around the house with my 3 kids... attempting to write something short and testing my ability to be at peace in the middle of chaos... that is the goal, right?

the rainbow rising on 2 of my favorite material possessions is relaxing for me to watch... it means that the time is nearing for me to make my green tea, get the kids settled & get out my book (currently rereading 'the half-blood prince in anticipation of the movie's release)... jizo bodhisattva is the protector of travelers, women & children... i had always wanted one and recently found this little treasure at jizo's shop on etsy... i have had kuan yin for years & find peace and inspiration in her... she is the manifestation of Great Love & Great Compassion and can assume any form to free beings from suffering... i definitely subscribe to the dalai lama's belief that it is more important to be spiritual than religious... but while i may not worship these figures are they are revered elsewhere, it's nice to feel during challenging days and nights that they have my back...

what brings you peace?

adrift

'not all those who wander are lost'
the fellowship of the ring
j.r.r. tolkien

we go walking in a park where a stream runs through... there is even a wooden bridge that crosses it which makes me think of the one that christopher robin and company stand on to play pooh-sticks... trees filled with their warm weather garb form a canopy... your view of the bright blue cloudless sky is filtered through the branches and the leaves... when you look into the water, you see that same view reflected back on the shimmering water...
and then a soft breeze blows, rustling the leaves... some of the small dead ones from the forest floor are swept up and drop into the water, and they are adrift... swirling along with the water as it moves around branches and rocks... gliding along with the stream's curving path...
'not all those who wander are lost'...
we all need time to wander, to free ourselves from the over scheduled, task-oriented lifestyle we often find ourselves caught up in... wandering can be physical - going to the beach, a park, or on a walk - and we find ourselves rejuvenated by nature... but really, more important than where you are is your mindset while you are there... did you free yourself? or did you think about how long you can stay so you can go on to your next task? you can be in the midst of your office or home and as long as you can shut off the head static and let your mind go, you are wandering... go for it...
the metallic blue lentil beads with raku finish from blue seraphim make me think of leaves floating on water... and only mak's raku beads could compliment them... thank you both... and to jenn at blue seraphim, you have my apologies for not mentioning you in my first blog... i'm a newbie but getting better!