Invisible Influence

Invisible Influence

collage, 7.25 x 6.75 inches

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which  kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would not otherwise occur."
                                                                   ~ W. H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition



"When we are writing, or painting, or composing, we are, during the time of creativity, freed from normal restrictions, and are opened to a wider world, where colors are brighter, sounds clearer, and people more wondrously complex than we normally realize."
                                                                                                     ~ Madeline L'Engle

Weekly Quick Collage: Biosphere

Biosphere

collage, 4 x 5 inches

“The question is whether any civilization can wage relentless war on life without destroying itself, and without losing the right to be called civilized.”

                                                                                                         ~ Rachel Carson


“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”
                                                                                                     ~ Theodore Roosevelt


“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed."                                                                                                                                 ~ Mahatma Gandhi   

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.

                                                                                                                ~ John Muir

Weekly Quick Collage: Reverie

Reverie

collage, 8.5 x 7.25 inches

Down near the bottom

of the crossed-out list

of things you have to do today,

between "green thread"

and "broccoli" you find

that you have penciled "sunlight."

Resting on the page, the word

is as beautiful, it touches you

as if you had a friend

and sunlight were a present

he had sent you from some place distant

as this morning -- to cheer you up,

and to remind you that,

among your duties, pleasure

is a thing,

that also needs accomplishing

Do you remember?

that time and light are kinds

of love, and love

is no less practical

than a coffee grinder

or a safe spare tire?

Tomorrow you may be utterly

without a clue

but today you get a telegram,

from the heart in exile

proclaiming that the kingdom

still exists,

the king and queen alive,

still speaking to their children,

- to any one among them

who can find the time,

to sit out in the sun and listen.  

                                                                                           by Tony Hoagland

Weekly Quick Collage: Copper Cliff

Back to my weekly quick collages, and hopefully, posting much more regularly.

Copper Cliff

collage, 5.5 x 5 inches

Instead of the short quotes I usually post with my collages, I thought I'd share with you some thoughts on mindfulness and happiness from philosopher, Zen Buddhist, Episcopal priest and spiritual teacher Alan Watts.  This comes from an article by Maria Popova entitled, "An Antidote to the Age of Anxiety: Alan Watts on Happiness and How to Live with Presence", which you can find in its entirety here.

"What keeps us from happiness, Watts argues, is our inability to fully inhabit the present:

The “primary consciousness,” the basic mind which knows reality rather than ideas about it, does not know the future. It lives completely in the present, and perceives nothing more than what is at this moment. The ingenious brain, however, looks at that part of present experience called memory, and by studying it is able to make predictions. These predictions are, relatively, so accurate and reliable (e.g., “everyone will die”) that the future assumes a high degree of reality — so high that the present loses its value.

But the future is still not here, and cannot become a part of experienced reality until it is present. Since what we know of the future is made up of purely abstract and logical elements — inferences, guesses, deductions — it cannot be eaten, felt, smelled, seen, heard, or otherwise enjoyed. To pursue it is to pursue a constantly retreating phantom, and the faster you chase it, the faster it runs ahead. This is why all the affairs of civilization are rushed, why hardly anyone enjoys what he has, and is forever seeking more and more. Happiness, then, will consist, not of solid and substantial realities, but of such abstract and superficial things as promises, hopes, and assurances."


For most of us, mindfulness, or being completely in the present moment, is very difficult. Yet it seems we would almost certainly be happier if we could achieve this. What, then, is the best way to go about finding this mental state of "presence"? 

Long Time, No Post

Looking at my blog just now, I was shocked to see that I hadn't posted anything since last month's Searching for Roy G Biv.  I keep meaning to do a post, but sometimes life just keeps happening.

So for now, I just want to wish you the happiest of holidays and a blessed solstice. I promise to post more artwork again soon!

Searching for Roy G Biv: Pink

Since finding something pink around here in November is pretty difficult (gray or brown - take your pick), I had to go back a month or so for the photos.  I tried to cover a wide variety of the possible shades of pink, so here goes.

 Rosy pink veronica...

 ... a lavendar-pink petunia...

 ... a classic pink cosmo...

... coppery-pink grasses...

... magenta-pink cosmos...

... and faded pink coneflowers.



To enjoy all the shades of pink found by other Roy G Biv participants, please visit the blogs of our hostesses, Jennifer Coyne Qudeen and Julie B. Booth.

Drawing Challenge: Liminal

Portal

collage, 5 x 5 inches

When Veronica called the latest drawing challenge, "Liminal", I must admit that I had to look up the meaning.

1:  of or relating to a sensory threshold 

 

2:  barely perceptible

 

3:  of, relating to, or being an intermediate state, phase, or condition :  in-between, transitional liminal

state between life and death — Deborah Jowitt>

To see other interpretations, go to Veronica's beautiful blog and check out the links.