tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287613262024-03-14T13:03:42.757-05:00Art in Every DayCheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-9869290002693678582018-02-18T13:24:00.001-06:002018-02-18T13:24:45.255-06:00Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-45267384643063149362009-06-22T23:17:00.025-05:002012-10-26T21:32:19.351-05:00"The Peony: A Kiss of Bliss"<div align="center">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBv6JKaQoXNOs-eyES9EKc28XP0AQfApiyRaQoIYn6HeVvkKtiMhoT7Tawalx8hL8EfghbKI1Wkg1IZ3eH9Oth6tWY-I8I6VhiNZCnlN1zKPj9ochm2aSzpvE3jNQhch3mkEs/s1600-h/PeonyPortraitWhite.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350387194019194162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBv6JKaQoXNOs-eyES9EKc28XP0AQfApiyRaQoIYn6HeVvkKtiMhoT7Tawalx8hL8EfghbKI1Wkg1IZ3eH9Oth6tWY-I8I6VhiNZCnlN1zKPj9ochm2aSzpvE3jNQhch3mkEs/s320/PeonyPortraitWhite.jpg" style="display: block; height: 214px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<b>(double-click for a peony kiss!)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I am smitten.</div>
</div>
<div align="center">
Peonies. </div>
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Their beauty and presence intoxicates my soul...</div>
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...especially peonies like these: </div>
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voluptuous,</div>
<div align="center">
feathery blooms,</div>
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....with a flirt of pink.</div>
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Yes, they've cast a spell over me. </div>
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They transport me to an "other" place.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDpmBoAVX_xDLL3NbxE9b1pmKWZ6szT_RgTuZejW6JV28qSq0oGUR51NyLGu4IkAeBFDJN54He9jNfWb98oIT-Hhzwf1nvgM2Zre7VHx_0-Z4MWnd-HfPeKeDW8GQbjOMTt0r/s1600-h/PeoniesWhite2LargePic.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350374361501342642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDpmBoAVX_xDLL3NbxE9b1pmKWZ6szT_RgTuZejW6JV28qSq0oGUR51NyLGu4IkAeBFDJN54He9jNfWb98oIT-Hhzwf1nvgM2Zre7VHx_0-Z4MWnd-HfPeKeDW8GQbjOMTt0r/s320/PeoniesWhite2LargePic.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Imbibing them visually, experiencing their presence...<br />
is a kiss...of bliss.<br />
A meditation of...<br />
embodied gratitude.<br />
A prayer answered. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJO39-xY7nIwLJlqSflN4uBK74AeqQa-LIIGKwQP2QcVXRVrmXkTJ1wxG4zZTqugVkPm5KpCgqSnz5UOzaQ2pjh8YhauQv14TS_D7pbF1BOrbLaOxhWf1IewTCKnliICTbGDss/s1600-h/PeoniesWhiteVertical.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350374204389231826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJO39-xY7nIwLJlqSflN4uBK74AeqQa-LIIGKwQP2QcVXRVrmXkTJ1wxG4zZTqugVkPm5KpCgqSnz5UOzaQ2pjh8YhauQv14TS_D7pbF1BOrbLaOxhWf1IewTCKnliICTbGDss/s320/PeoniesWhiteVertical.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></a><strong></strong></div>
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<br />
They continue to sweep me away </div>
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to an "other" world....<br />
It's a soul love affair.</div>
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* * *</div>
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<strong>If I were a flower...</strong><br />
I would be the Peony...<br />
Delicate,<br />
other-worldy,<br />
heavenly fragrant,<br />
grace & beauty endlessly-unfolding.<br />
A short-lived bloom....<br />
and yet...<br />
long-lived in the minds </div>
<div align="center">
and hearts<br />
of those who knew me,<br />
...a kiss...of bliss.<br />
* * *<br />
<strong><em>So...what flower would you be?</em></strong> </div>
</div>
Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-50894472168134764372009-02-22T20:22:00.007-06:002009-02-22T23:39:55.382-06:00Lattices in Winter: "Anticipation"<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WrIVGd41VXA2aCIoIvYuc-IgI2TBKD02ljWUmwF6IyMktdIJFymiCNG1c-hpOmqF62XcDaprNBwGUvGKuP_xpK9GF2M8rdMvX2hu06dJS1QxPYdrZL7jLlM7I5MQMR44ajir/s1600-h/Lattices2large.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305834741143188754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WrIVGd41VXA2aCIoIvYuc-IgI2TBKD02ljWUmwF6IyMktdIJFymiCNG1c-hpOmqF62XcDaprNBwGUvGKuP_xpK9GF2M8rdMvX2hu06dJS1QxPYdrZL7jLlM7I5MQMR44ajir/s320/Lattices2large.jpg" border="0" /></a> My <em>Art in Every Day</em> walk today revealed these bare lattices.<br /></div><div align="center">They fill me </div><div align="center">with anticipation </div><div align="center">of what is to come:</div><div align="center">beautiful...</div><div align="center">blooming...</div><div align="center">colorful...</div><div align="center">cascading</div><div align="center">flowers. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">It reminds me of the importance of our foundation; and how we too are challenged in the seasons of our lives to stand firm as needed...to bear the winters so we can support the harvest of our flowering life-seeds...our intentions...which bloom into... beautiful, colorful, and cascading...flowers of our life - vivid with color and emotion...</div><div align="center">passion and inspiration...</div><div align="center">seed pods...and transformation...</div><div align="center">reflections...and lessons...</div><div align="center">and blessings.</div>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-37192541932147182052009-02-16T04:10:00.003-06:002009-02-22T20:54:21.231-06:00I'm at the Oasis!Come on over! ...visit me at my blog: the <a href="http://www.mandalaoasis.blogspot.com/">Mandala Oasis </a>!Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-57976107231278284522008-11-03T21:34:00.005-06:002008-12-03T12:13:30.290-06:00"Lovee" - Intention Doll<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZ-pH3lqYqO9Xv8Qd5ZIXIpDNM8b6gG9P0tQMAwjRO0uRLryqNlHWtw00nMbR60F4dyXriX59O7AJjXtQnxDYDPzJKL5-OgM9CMCvYtpSnWpCtEkmAsy5Px2lc3TjN_nZdhLP/s1600-h/DollBrenda.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264640751931972946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZ-pH3lqYqO9Xv8Qd5ZIXIpDNM8b6gG9P0tQMAwjRO0uRLryqNlHWtw00nMbR60F4dyXriX59O7AJjXtQnxDYDPzJKL5-OgM9CMCvYtpSnWpCtEkmAsy5Px2lc3TjN_nZdhLP/s320/DollBrenda.jpg" border="0" /></a> Once my friend Brenda heard about, and saw my Intention Doll... she ordered one of her own...custom with her specific intent. Words cannot express how rewarding it is to create these dolls - each one (2 so far...and working on the third ordered by another friend) - not only a unique doll...but a unique experience...it's like giving birth....I'm sort of ...the Stork... delivering the dolls to their new family ..after Spirit creates. By the way... Brenda loved her doll!<br /><br />I just love this process, and I'm so glad that I found out about Lisa Sorce Schmitz, and the healing art she facilitates at her Studio, <a href="http://www.itsmysite.com/cgi-bin/itsmy/go.exe?page=3&domain=1&webdir=whispersfromthemoon">Whispers from the Moon...which you can read about here.</a> She offers a banquet of goodies for the soul; one of which will be <strong>my SoulCollage workshop</strong> <strong>on January 24, 2009 </strong>- <a href="http://acapellasoul2.blogspot.com/">which you can read about here</a>.Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-68488223139886608772008-11-03T21:14:00.005-06:002008-12-31T18:31:26.478-06:00Intention Doll<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iVb1Oakr5SW5GoVhXjyvV0bkeP36jVeimYG7s9w_pYAoXYrJ0xLwhCcYsnML4Gnju6_8627FRYb8jP7dnGyVtamC_iXVvvezeoWkQjEbV4ORrL8RluVibG-wJpYCzhEbeTXy/s1600-h/100_1253.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264636636084606722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iVb1Oakr5SW5GoVhXjyvV0bkeP36jVeimYG7s9w_pYAoXYrJ0xLwhCcYsnML4Gnju6_8627FRYb8jP7dnGyVtamC_iXVvvezeoWkQjEbV4ORrL8RluVibG-wJpYCzhEbeTXy/s320/100_1253.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEXXTuAF7ySod8Pc_Gu_T_-rNqHXheRWaYxw4hfom7X5wbhSx-4SJt6cnIdC3TmAAKKgLpKuhEPncLXG5_OZ5IOkiXutNd5GbYj6M9-WTMYhauCN9tyLIV3rpwwri8niEeQu_/s1600-h/100_1254.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264636412033835714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEXXTuAF7ySod8Pc_Gu_T_-rNqHXheRWaYxw4hfom7X5wbhSx-4SJt6cnIdC3TmAAKKgLpKuhEPncLXG5_OZ5IOkiXutNd5GbYj6M9-WTMYhauCN9tyLIV3rpwwri8niEeQu_/s320/100_1254.JPG" border="0" /></a>What an amazing experience...creating this "Intention Doll" - at a workshop faciliated by Lisa, owner of <a href="http://www.itsmysite.com/cgi-bin/itsmy/go.exe?page=3&domain=1&webdir=whispersfromthemoon"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Whispers From the Moon</span></a>. The photos can't capture the charm and presence of this doll, but believe me...she is something special. The workshop was truly an experience of creative bliss. It's like 3D Soul Collage! </div><div></div><div>Speaking of SoulCollage....I'll be facilitating a <a href="http://acapellasoul2.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#cc0000;">SoulCollage Workshop</span></a> at Whispers from the Moon on January 24, 2009! If you're in the Chicago area want to attend the workshop, - OR be added to my mailing list...send me an e-mail: <a href="mailto:cherylsworld@hotmail.com">cherylsworld at hotmail.com</a> - I'll be happy to add your name. </div>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-42711833923351315982008-08-02T14:56:00.009-05:002008-09-11T18:47:41.479-05:00Dialing it down...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfIN4AIm8bn4j9ONy2_AmYJNQQc1wi8-VFgCsSiYx7CuAagn1AQ-4K-1JWXvYRZXcWO3C33tqXw1vZmQLpiEcwG5HueB9g3UpyoY7bzoaFMTGKsscEsU5LJZdvr4oQsmD0TMs/s1600-h/MandalaPurpleRiver1007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230016897893669666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfIN4AIm8bn4j9ONy2_AmYJNQQc1wi8-VFgCsSiYx7CuAagn1AQ-4K-1JWXvYRZXcWO3C33tqXw1vZmQLpiEcwG5HueB9g3UpyoY7bzoaFMTGKsscEsU5LJZdvr4oQsmD0TMs/s320/MandalaPurpleRiver1007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><a href="http://teric.wordpress.com/">Teri </a>has inspired me to try more Haikiu, so...here goes:<br /><br /><div></div>Coming in for a landing<br />It's the purple path<br />Sacred balance is the way<br /><br />In an effort to dial down the pace of my life...and create more time for simply being, as well as to further nurture and develop my creative dreams...<strong>I will not be posting here for a while. I will however, post from time to time on my </strong><a href="http://mandalaoasis.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Mandala Oasis</strong></span></a><strong> and </strong><a href="http://www.acapellasoul.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>SoulCollage</strong></span></a><strong> blogs</strong>; so please...come visit me there! And in case you don't know yet... <strong>I am overjoyed that we've created a creative & kindred community at the </strong><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MandalaOasis/"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Mandala Oasis Yahoo! Group</strong></span></a><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>,</strong></span> <strong>which you are welcome to join us if you'd like to explore your creativity and inner-landscape in a spontaneous way.<br /></strong><br />Please know, it has been most rewarding getting to know you all over the last year; and your presence has enriched my life more than you might know. Take care...be well...be creative..and keep shining your light! <strong>I'll hope to see you at my Mandala Oasis blog.<br /></strong><br />Love,<br />Cheryl<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">P.S. The orange text is a live link</span>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-54917732973676281252008-06-21T23:14:00.017-05:002008-06-25T17:23:34.669-05:00Star Mandala<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3PWeG-yMtfU_Yjz70rK5dmyn016lggy2_bazZDNBnD5mjccpftZCARtwsc0yXxDwzQNbEqaLEYyG9hwCWIDQFuQ8N5rkT0OI0A9clXTiYd-WoADtV4_1L88jFpveQmyRX9GG/s1600-h/MandalaStar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214554615854686642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3PWeG-yMtfU_Yjz70rK5dmyn016lggy2_bazZDNBnD5mjccpftZCARtwsc0yXxDwzQNbEqaLEYyG9hwCWIDQFuQ8N5rkT0OI0A9clXTiYd-WoADtV4_1L88jFpveQmyRX9GG/s320/MandalaStar.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This star mandala is on it's way to Jillian Curtis and her sons in Minnesota for a memorial project they have created; details of the project are *</span><a href="http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S431130.shtml?cat=10151"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I colored it specifically for Jillian's project using PrismaColor markers. The beautiful mandala design is by *</span><a href="http://mandalaclare.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">Clare Goodwin </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">.</span> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If you would like to contribute a star, or stars of any kind, Jillian can be contacted through </span><a href="http://blog-me-til-midnight.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">her blog</span></a>*<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. She would be delighted to hear from you. ~ Namaste.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">You can see my hand-drawn mandalas on this blog, as well as on on my new mandala blog, <a href="http://www.mandalaoasis.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#cc0000;">here</span></a>* -- Thanks for coming by!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">*(live link)</span></div><div></div>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-14015195894176908022008-06-13T22:45:00.011-05:002008-06-22T21:47:17.633-05:00Mother Nature's Mandalas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYm-tjICQt8MSgM0OODjDKe0ajJqsDMITO_HA1zWIE0J6BiUMXbZOpAp4N3IzUZ7llJKt7_GW75UiuVj-T62qW9XLOhsqfYB1oVD9WVU0Ih6a5mj1qN_xZxL2nGU2Y-lspl4QX/s1600-h/MandalaMums.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211579026050886786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYm-tjICQt8MSgM0OODjDKe0ajJqsDMITO_HA1zWIE0J6BiUMXbZOpAp4N3IzUZ7llJKt7_GW75UiuVj-T62qW9XLOhsqfYB1oVD9WVU0Ih6a5mj1qN_xZxL2nGU2Y-lspl4QX/s320/MandalaMums.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Don't ya just love the way Mother Nature creates her own mandalas? And...I just love her flower mandalas, especially these - a series of clusters is quite unique.<br />A few days after my birthday...I opened my office door and this batch of potted mums...(did you know mums could be so beautiful?!)... greeted me like a choir! They were so perky & colorful ..and gorgeous...I swear they were swaying when I walked in! They were a gift from a thoughtful, sweet guy who waters my plants for me, long after I've forgotten about them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V7-OIZMbTCM2voB9grMLWlPSIEkbvrxh4el-IdK5AKISDSKpLIoiVtA0ReU7pFhVux8REOR3JDfwRXPQ0Mmg95x800ePVmUdqkf0WLMoi7g7aZRUYY0B9kqPs33P7tq8CfUT/s1600-h/MandalaMums3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211579034801504690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V7-OIZMbTCM2voB9grMLWlPSIEkbvrxh4el-IdK5AKISDSKpLIoiVtA0ReU7pFhVux8REOR3JDfwRXPQ0Mmg95x800ePVmUdqkf0WLMoi7g7aZRUYY0B9kqPs33P7tq8CfUT/s320/MandalaMums3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There are so many things and reasons to be thankful, and natural beauty and color raises that "gratitude vibration"...family and friends raise it a thousand fold!<br /><br />"Beauty is truth, and truth... beauty." ~J. Keats.Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-38435513649372959952008-06-09T02:10:00.017-05:002009-03-17T17:49:23.836-05:00Oasis Mandala<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCh1RujPehakrrVJYFKwjL8Vb9Zd__8CGDlS9hXqNw6fjaeLsvTh40ent91i5gsM27SeoOlTsKUXkMvBBSo4DRI-AKCkO9c1hsVaesv21WxoG9knfp0St_R4cOVBtdtBeKblt2/s1600-h/MandalGrnPurpflower.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209780933624512370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCh1RujPehakrrVJYFKwjL8Vb9Zd__8CGDlS9hXqNw6fjaeLsvTh40ent91i5gsM27SeoOlTsKUXkMvBBSo4DRI-AKCkO9c1hsVaesv21WxoG9knfp0St_R4cOVBtdtBeKblt2/s320/MandalGrnPurpflower.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><span style="color:#000099;">Deep in the center, benevolent energy radiates from deep within the layers. </span><span style="color:#000099;">Ripples shimmy-out and touch the whole...sending gentle shock waves from bud, to petal, to </span><span style="color:#000099;">bloom...then stem...and...the entire bloomin' galaxy......calling back to itself all that is familiar......sounding to the kindred invitation: </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;">"Come....let us gather and quench our creative souls together..at the Oasis."</span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;">.</span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;">Hello everyone and mandala enthusiasts especially... My love of the mandala process, and a good friend, has inspired me to start an online community. You are invited to join us at the new and exciting </span><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MandalaOasis/"><span style="color:#333399;">Mandala Oasis </span></a><span style="color:#333399;">- a kindred Yahoo! Community that focuses on the intuitve art of making your own mandalas...their inspirations and insights. In honor of this and the one year I've been on this mandala journey...I have created </span><a href="http://mandalaoasis.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#333399;">a new blog just for mandalas!</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> I look forward to still seeing you here though, where I will continue to post other creative musings, insights and gratitude.</span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;">.</span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;"><em>"The only way to truly understand mandalas is to draw them."</em> <span style="font-size:85%;">~Michael Brown Ed. S. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">~from </span></span><a href="http://www.soulfulliving.com/meeting_the_mandala.htm"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#333399;">Meeting the Mandala</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#333399;">, by Clare Goodwin</span></div></div>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-38867151887294688332008-05-27T21:33:00.024-05:002009-03-17T17:53:00.341-05:00Whispering Petals Mandala & the Creativity Club Sandwich (CED 2008)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLU60pHsHkzLU-VJtFRe_SUpC4e1kzdFXkKrv6CPGMi7bzh9mdCe8zKrlta06u7xBpxNrNwv7pmaevZQ9HsZ4GeB_K7iMmTmlQ1Rh7wQxGPRTuBoE1yu8LCJca7veCYrsbsCH_/s1600-h/MandalaWordFlower0108.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205251771532120114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLU60pHsHkzLU-VJtFRe_SUpC4e1kzdFXkKrv6CPGMi7bzh9mdCe8zKrlta06u7xBpxNrNwv7pmaevZQ9HsZ4GeB_K7iMmTmlQ1Rh7wQxGPRTuBoE1yu8LCJca7veCYrsbsCH_/s320/MandalaWordFlower0108.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663366;"><span style="color:#663366;">The flower petals in this mandala <span style="color:#663366;">twirl and reveal their whisperings</span> of harmony and nurturance:</span> <span style="color:#663366;">grace, joy, trust, shadow, light, giving, gratitude </span>and more. I find it a bit mesmorizing. It actually feels like the petals are twirling a litte, like a windmill catching a breeze. I'm transported to a place of slowing down, and being present to the moment. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663366;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663366;">Being an<span style="color:#330033;"> "everyday creative",</span> as Eric Maisel mentions in his, <em>The Creativity Book</em> - soothes my soul like nothing else. Creative expression creates a silent conversational dance between the greater part of me that stands ajar noticing what I'm doing, thinking and being - and the rest of me. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663366;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663366;"><span style="color:#333399;">My Muse, the guardian angel of my creative spirit,</span> informs me of ways new ways to "sandwich" creativity it into my every day. The good news is it's <span style="color:#330099;">a Creativity Club Sandwich</span>! Isn't that great?! That means it's double...no, <span style="color:#330099;"><em>triple-decker creativity of many appetizing pieces!</em> </span>Sometimes the creativity is the main sandwich ingredient, and sometimes it's the condiments, or the garnish...depending on the nuggets of time and place that are available. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663366;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663366;">A <span style="color:#330099;"><em>Creativity Club Sandwich</em>...</span>is a small yet, potent way we can be <em>everyday creatives</em>. This mandala was made that way, on dayplanner paper one bite at a time over a few days. So now, any impatience lessens while waiting in line, or at the drive thru, or at an appointment. Now...a seeming-delay becomes a <span style="color:#333399;">Creative Oasis</span> calling for you to dive in and take a bite (or a nibble) of the <em><span style="color:#330099;">Creativity Club Sandwich</span></em> that has materialized before you. ~ <em><span style="color:#330099;">Yes...creativity one bite at a time and sandwiched into our everday life. Delicious!</span></em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663366;"><span style="color:#663366;">Like many of us, my artist-cyberfriend Leah is an<em> "</em></span><em>everyday creative"</em> too. She's created her wildly successful and fun </span><a href="http://www.creativeeveryday.com/creativeeveryday/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">Creative Every Day 2008 </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663366;">project, which I am giddily thrilled to be a part of! - Leah's project has grown from being held once a year, to an ongoing project throughout 2008. Thank you, Leah! You can <a href="http://www.creativeeveryday.com/creativeeveryday/"><span style="color:#330099;">click on over to her site</span></a>...and check it out! </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663366;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;color:#330033;">One more thing, can someone please help me...? Do you know why there's a bluish tint in the background of my photos? And, can you tell me how I can fix it? I appreciate any help you can give. Thanks!</span></div><div></div>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-42454613345573152992008-05-26T02:12:00.014-05:002009-03-17T17:54:44.824-05:00Mountainous Whimsy! (CED 2008)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWav0HNvkD-m5IyycmP08WqwVevrBX5FaKTAAxM_kfCcn241_M50y0ya-scyh5-yQ8EhBMeHGUYYAhJAkWXTgYpIGeQpjFqLhrhzfaJmBao8hXwk-xfwv8MThpAR93QwXocSmj/s1600-h/MountainWhimsy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204581318547279890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWav0HNvkD-m5IyycmP08WqwVevrBX5FaKTAAxM_kfCcn241_M50y0ya-scyh5-yQ8EhBMeHGUYYAhJAkWXTgYpIGeQpjFqLhrhzfaJmBao8hXwk-xfwv8MThpAR93QwXocSmj/s320/MountainWhimsy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;">Oh what fun </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;">"creating on the fly" is! Giving myself a limited time in the spirit of play...and who knows what will show up. This is another creation on blank dayplanner paper. So, now I'm caling these "Dayplanner Doodles". </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#3333ff;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;">Thank goodness for portable creativity! Some people carry books on their daily commute (which I alternate those :) but often I carry markers or colored pens, and blank paper in my dayplanner; and..I have an extra stash of markers at work for when I'm on the phone and on "hold". My friend <a href="http://wwwthebuckstartshere.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Pattie </span></a>calls those "Phone Doodles". It's a beautiful thing... to take a minute here and there to draw without mental investment in the outcome....to do it for creativity's sake...and to delight our creative spirit. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;">Sometimes I look at this dayplanner doodle, and it feels a little creepy...like it could walk in all directions simultaneously...now that IS creepy!..yikes! And...at other times it feels like fun that has broken out all over....one big party! <em><span style="color:#000099;">(What does it look like to you?)</span></em> - And that eye at the bottom...it's watching over us to remind us...to <span style="color:#cc33cc;">have fun</span>, <span style="color:#ff0000;">be creative</span>, <span style="color:#009900;">take time</span><span style="color:#cc33cc;"> to smell the flowers.</span>..and <span style="color:#ff6600;">give ourselves permission</span> <span style="color:#6600cc;">for all of this</span> ...<span style="color:#009900;">and more</span>. Give it a try...see what you come up with doodling a little bit here, a little bit there...and if you'd like to share it...I'd love to see it!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#3333ff;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#3333ff;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#3333ff;">This is entry #2 for</span> <a href="http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2008/05/22/whimsy/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#009900;"><strong>Inspire Me Thursday</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;">, <a href="http://artineveryday.blogspot.com/2008/05/smile-of-whimsy.html">click here</a> to see #1. This also doubles as an entry for <span style="color:#6600cc;">Leah's inspiring project</span>: <a href="http://www.creativeeveryday.com/creativeeveryday/"><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>Creative Every Day 2008</strong></span></a> (click to see it).</span></div>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-54366954355972921322008-05-23T23:45:00.026-05:002009-03-17T17:48:24.939-05:00The Color Purple<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguI-JJvJsJJ7_9XKJT-9X7E02-s3hSFDGg86dSKUNy2bRq9PplP7zYUgfpNCT4YkOamEnNAeytRev57niInV7irfqEG0az5mEppzN1wXNpSZv0NUO1SKiBwL_P88C9WMreN1qx/s1600-h/LilacFestSky20082.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203803504264941570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguI-JJvJsJJ7_9XKJT-9X7E02-s3hSFDGg86dSKUNy2bRq9PplP7zYUgfpNCT4YkOamEnNAeytRev57niInV7irfqEG0az5mEppzN1wXNpSZv0NUO1SKiBwL_P88C9WMreN1qx/s320/LilacFestSky20082.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>Now this is the <span style="color:#6600cc;">Art in Every Day</span> I'm talking about!</strong> </span></span><span style="color:#663366;">This beauty welcomes our<br /><br />appreciation of it. It was a wondrously, glorious and beautiful day to celebrate Nature's beauty at the <strong>Lilac Festival</strong></span><span style="color:#993399;">!</span><span style="color:#006600;"><br /><br />Who would have thought there are so many different varieties and shades of lilacs! </span><span style="color:#663366;">The wind was blowing when I took that first photo...but even though it's a little blurry...it makes it easier for you to smell the lilac's windblown fragrance...right?<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEkCho_Plviq0u5H8R7ZH_MEbmhSM38b6Ur4QzMlcZxjWe-gteb-Rx24TQf-ALtd9Jo15i-piIkgHB24bxk6C8D-psH02v60_rI_F_dbmTPd2EOIYf0gTppR9qhLx1Wf3MHzS/s1600-h/LilacFest2008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203802799890304978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEkCho_Plviq0u5H8R7ZH_MEbmhSM38b6Ur4QzMlcZxjWe-gteb-Rx24TQf-ALtd9Jo15i-piIkgHB24bxk6C8D-psH02v60_rI_F_dbmTPd2EOIYf0gTppR9qhLx1Wf3MHzS/s320/LilacFest2008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDT_UeQL9Y5Tmm-N3SxMpcpWlxDyqzitq4ZLs6Vi3IHvoPMmvvX4eCKD6lb-r107VtGeIJ3see_5Qy2oKn6baDeuy_6RPRov_xCy8_fQXKu0Ya3oZ9DnsuEbuUGzlC6djeJr-Q/s1600-h/LilacFestSky2008.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Appreciating and sharing Mother Nature's jewels is another way to honor being</span><a href="http://www.creativeeveryday.com/creativeeveryday/creative-every-day-2008-.html"><strong><span style="color:#663366;"> Creative Every Day</span></strong></a><span style="color:#663366;">*.</span><span style="color:#006600;"> The Lilac Fest donned bountiful, fragrant and numerous varieties of lilacs. </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">.<br /></span><span style="color:#663366;">We heard lots of "ooos" and "ahhhs"...and we were giddy as we stopped to "smell the flowers". The clear blue sky and Spring breeze werethe perfect backdrop to show off these lilacious gems!<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMpJf0Isuwze4QkcEipHIPlrn1H8Alt8CHg9tSDgXKMlJdLRLjXaFcvlUPZnDx-M9I5SsIS4YsvIo4X65UTKjWo9keq20pNva5Txe6D4TeTDNY0Hjz5hPxokk9V7Iiu8pjPSU/s1600-h/LilacFest20083.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203802821365141490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMpJf0Isuwze4QkcEipHIPlrn1H8Alt8CHg9tSDgXKMlJdLRLjXaFcvlUPZnDx-M9I5SsIS4YsvIo4X65UTKjWo9keq20pNva5Txe6D4TeTDNY0Hjz5hPxokk9V7Iiu8pjPSU/s320/LilacFest20083.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#663366;">Isn't this one gorgeous! Its color is a<strong> pinkish purple, </strong>and the flowers grow elongated on the branch vs. in clusters like the others.<br /><br />Nature's beauty knows no boundaries... it overflows...and grows. What a gift to have such beauty around us.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Thank you</span></strong> God, thank you Universe, thank you Spirit, thank you Mother Nature, thank you Father Sun...thank you... thank you... thank you...for this captivating slideshow of your creativity.</span><br /><span style="color:#663366;">.<br />*Click that link above,or the badge on my sidebar to see Leah's<strong> "Creative Every Day 2008"</strong> project <strong>-</strong> </span>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-18238658750805400432008-05-23T22:42:00.007-05:002009-02-19T02:50:14.447-06:00A Smile of Whimsy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWAvX3TvrQw3iKdM-nfod1K-lquRjBAduVCSovubieY4so3S8gUiRndJEPGRJAAoCR90PKg3VYU0deJEfKMtv7DDzQwG7js1qmNX4BKr5uto_idmu56GvYbdNNtcMkiDrjjaT/s1600-h/MandalaLips052308.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203785121804914594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWAvX3TvrQw3iKdM-nfod1K-lquRjBAduVCSovubieY4so3S8gUiRndJEPGRJAAoCR90PKg3VYU0deJEfKMtv7DDzQwG7js1qmNX4BKr5uto_idmu56GvYbdNNtcMkiDrjjaT/s320/MandalaLips052308.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">Isn't it interesting that oftentimes the most quirky, fun and fun creative activity comes on a "whim"? You know...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">when you decide in the blink of an eye to pick up a marker and squiggle something? ..or you let your hands do what they will and it delights your senses? ...without a left-brained thought? Now THAT..is fun! </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">That's what happened with this "A Smile of Whimsy" mandala. I created it while doodling on a sheet from my Franklin-Covey dayplanner. It might've been while I was on "hold" during a phone call. I created a section in my planner with blank paper just for just the purpose of capturing my creative whims....and I'm so glad I did! And...it's a perfect fit for this week's theme of </span><a href="http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2008/05/22/whimsy/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">"Whimsy" at Inspire Me Thursday</span></a><span style="color:#330033;"> </span><a href="http://artineveryday.blogspot.com/2008/05/mountainous-whimsy.html"><span style="color:#330033;">click here </span></a><span style="color:#330033;">to see whimsical entry #2 - wow, this was fun!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;"><span style="color:#330033;">I find it delightful that certain shapes, colors and a feel of movement in a piece just makes me smile from deep inside. That's why this is "A Smile of Whimsy"...and I'm happy to share it with you! Here's to a day filled with whimsical smiles...from the inside, out</span>! </span></div>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-58734641349774032682008-05-15T00:10:00.009-05:002009-02-19T02:21:30.341-06:00Dancing Heart<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnVjYguhjOg_mxRbP29al7H-5Swa0BPQQlkafKeHyf1GJavn0YWI0GlkHAP98SfTdMqOGFBVlXuwKFSfPsNC8Ed2GWKWu_KsGl4f_PqXEr-ar8iKd1uvFCpezCkbbJt0RwyRF/s1600-h/MandalaHeartStreams.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200467854858967154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnVjYguhjOg_mxRbP29al7H-5Swa0BPQQlkafKeHyf1GJavn0YWI0GlkHAP98SfTdMqOGFBVlXuwKFSfPsNC8Ed2GWKWu_KsGl4f_PqXEr-ar8iKd1uvFCpezCkbbJt0RwyRF/s320/MandalaHeartStreams.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">Wow! Does it feel good to be back in the <em><strong>Land of Blog</strong></em>. I feel refreshed, and feel myself renewing more each day. You know how it is when you need a break from something...and the time away can sometimes allow you to appreciate that thing even more? That's what this time has been for me. <strong>Visiting your blogs</strong> during this time kept me plugged-in creatively; so <strong>thank you for blogging your creative pursuits and your lives</strong>...it's a beautiful golden thread that keeps us woven together in spriit. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#330033;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">...And...what better way to<strong> re-enter the blogosphere </strong>than with the creative promptings of <strong>Muse Melanie</strong> of </span><a href="http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2008/05/08/doors/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;"><strong>Inspire Me Thursday</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#330033;"><strong>...</strong> with the theme of <strong>"Doors"....</strong>and <em>what better doorway than the heart</em>. Feeling it, listening to it, and heeding it. When I do that life's doors open to me...Life itself opens it's arms wider; when I push too hard...the door's opening isn't as wide. When I let the door of my heart bekon me to it's promptings, (i.e. nurturing myself) everything falls into place. <em><strong>The heart in this mandala is happy...it's an emerging, dancing heart! It's a celebratory, radiating heart...and its door is open...and for that I am thankful</strong></em>.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#330033;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">Thank you to </span><a href="http://bowerwood.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">Krissie,</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;"> </span><a href="http://embraceyourgifts.typepad.com/blog/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">Beverly</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;"> , and </span><a href="http://creativechaos.typepad.com/creative_chaos/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">Karin</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;"> - your loving comments on my post yesterday opened my heart's door even more! You all are awesome!</span></div>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-50128359202894594782008-05-13T09:04:00.003-05:002008-05-13T09:20:36.296-05:00Thank you - I'll be back!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;">Hi everyone,<br />I know it's been a while since I've posted...and my posting patterns have changed a bit...but I will be back! Thank you everyone who's posted a comment, or e-mailed me asking if I'm coming back :) I assure you that I am. <em>Balance, harmony, wholeness, and being present to the moment, inner-listening...</em>all of these I've been working with more intently in my off-line life; I'll be sharing that with you as I begin to post again, more regularly. Thank you all for staying tuned-in to me...and I'll continue to staying in touch with what you're up to via your blogs too. I thank you for your creative inspiration and kindred spirits that continue to share with me.<br /><br />With love...<br />Cheryl</span>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-39390508585613265182008-03-04T12:14:00.015-06:002008-05-31T22:35:55.814-05:00Ladders to the Sun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xL_uuIxWhR84EKnd4ek4GNnJGpceLO9HT9A7UKTiYgvS45PVA63JzJ2FZ07ID3ecAGKlwqXhg10tsTa-hM5nYeMxZ8EiMIDFu4RKIe67pp3oEeh5zJQ3ThtNH_LSMlvK9Xii/s1600-h/MandalaLaddertoSun.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173956728254700994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xL_uuIxWhR84EKnd4ek4GNnJGpceLO9HT9A7UKTiYgvS45PVA63JzJ2FZ07ID3ecAGKlwqXhg10tsTa-hM5nYeMxZ8EiMIDFu4RKIe67pp3oEeh5zJQ3ThtNH_LSMlvK9Xii/s320/MandalaLaddertoSun.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hi everyone! I miss you all! I'm ridin' the waves of my many creative passions. Once again <em>my mandala medicine is my North Star.</em> I made this one in November, and several days later I noticed the ladder-looking image...leading to the sun...to greater illumination, health, joy, order and beauty...whatever I am needing.<br /><br />Whew! I'm determined to balance my creative passions as well as other facets of my life...so many things I like to do! Barbara Sher says <em>those of us who like to do a million different things that we are "renaisssance souls"</em> and talks about this in her book, "</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594863032/qid=1137700399/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-4524712-8792631?n=507846&s=books&v=glance"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Refuse to Choose", </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">which is on it's way to me now! </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anyway, I am in</span><a href="http://acapellasoul2.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> SoulCollageĀ® mode</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> now (you can see one of my latest cards </span><a href="http://acapellasoul.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">) and loving it. It's what my soul is thirsty for right now. I am making it more a part of my daily/weekly life: making cards, doing readings, discovering more about myself and working through parts that are challenging or try to dominate my life.<span style="color:#333333;"> </span><em><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="color:#333333;">For instance my "creative/artist part" has been dominating for a long time, and it's time let the part of me that is supposed to handle the business/home-caring of living take center stage</span>.</span> </em>SoulCollageĀ® is unique and helping me balance that out, so I'll be making a card to honor that part of me...and allowing those two parts of myself have a conversation; <em>it's so interesting</em> to work it out this way! I've become my own art therapist!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Creating mandalas is still a part of my menu of practices. Their illuminating power is invaluable...plus, as you know they're relaxing and fun to just let go and "color and play inside the circle". <em>Please keep me posted on the mandalas you make! </em>Just in case you need a refill, here's <a href="http://artineveryday.blogspot.com/2007/09/making-your-own-mandala-medicine.html">my prescription for mandala medicine</a>. Happy creating!</span>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-7632054905288827682008-02-14T00:08:00.013-06:002008-02-14T01:26:32.852-06:00Marvelous Moon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpw9eroz9JUasIWmlEroZwRlE0rYcWvp0VN3I_OP48zJ9eS-gDPUB88DMlgF7CCSfhAqaKvma5UpY2jl2gE5LIUqxs2N4Ejc33VBdnbzIwn4Z8Imw-8jUV82qkN8UYUcsUTQo/s1600-h/Mandala50MoonchildA+062207.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166714068556311394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpw9eroz9JUasIWmlEroZwRlE0rYcWvp0VN3I_OP48zJ9eS-gDPUB88DMlgF7CCSfhAqaKvma5UpY2jl2gE5LIUqxs2N4Ejc33VBdnbzIwn4Z8Imw-8jUV82qkN8UYUcsUTQo/s320/Mandala50MoonchildA+062207.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For me, the words</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"marvel-</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ous" and</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"moon" go hand in hand. M</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">y daughter's first name means</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"like the moon" and her middle name means "marvelous", in Swahili. So, this week's creative prompt - </span><a href="http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2008/02/08/faces/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Faces"</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> - at <em>Inspire Me Thursday</em><strong> </strong>was the perfect opportunity to share the face of my Marvelous Moon mandala. Her face is pretty cool to me, and...she has a mystical feel...like she's rolling along in space, sight-seeing the universe and in awe of it all. I suspect I'll glance at her one day and I'll hear volumes of insight. Her journey is indeed a marvelous one...just "like the moon".</span>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-11985792887360025002008-01-09T21:48:00.003-06:002009-05-18T03:21:54.448-05:00Believe! ~ Defying Gravity!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYNHgj9bKvYKCAR-mECxD9XpJWXBZPE1bj_K70DV2R6rC3EWHGviCnz_yfH-I_Uo4Wz6F6pDEDptu2o4Rl2yf2Dd2P55s_0zBRKHoMxF_z37cbW3qUu3_FpKSLAZGVC6kLimC/s1600-h/MandalaInfinitePossibilities.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153690017798844882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYNHgj9bKvYKCAR-mECxD9XpJWXBZPE1bj_K70DV2R6rC3EWHGviCnz_yfH-I_Uo4Wz6F6pDEDptu2o4Rl2yf2Dd2P55s_0zBRKHoMxF_z37cbW3qUu3_FpKSLAZGVC6kLimC/s320/MandalaInfinitePossibilities.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><strong>Whispers from my heart</strong> gently, yet strongly sing out...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><em>"Believe". </em>Yes, </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">"believe" is the guiding intention that's trumpet-</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">ing me into this new year; and in its wake I hear the words...<em>"dream bigger"..."believe in the possibility...infinite possibilities. Just believe, Cheryl!?<br /></em></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><strong>What a gift!</strong> I know that living in and from that consciousness..allowing it to further blossom within my Being...yields an abundant harvest of love, health, well-being, joy and creativity. Years ago Emily Dickinson wrote<span style="color:#330033;">, </span></span><a href="http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/ed-possibility.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><span style="color:#330033;">"I dwell in possibility".</span> </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">That's wise counsel even today. <em>To dare to dwell in the possibility of what can be</em>. Ahh...the anchoring contentment of living from that space of infinite possibilities, and "allowing" life to unfold. My heart speaks to, and teaches me from its sacred spaces of <strong>non-resistence </strong>and <strong>possibilities</strong>. Yes...we're beginning a new chapter in our Book of Life...365 new pages...each day a blank page of possibilities to fill.<br />.<br /><strong>This mandala invites me into its mystical center, </strong>beckoning me to cross its threshold and enter its exhilarating, transformative<span style="color:#330033;"> </span><a href="http://www.chopra.com/SSLOS"><span style="color:#330033;">Realm of Pure Potentiality</span></a><span style="color:#330033;">...</span>where Infinite Possibilities await our acceptance. So...here's to living in and from our personal <strong>Land of Oz...Defying Gravity</strong> along the way. I invite you to join me; and<strong>..</strong></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><strong>to get us off to a soaring and roaring start, here's inspiration for Defying Gravity...direct from the spell-binding cast of Wicked! </strong></span><a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=ejGLmx7ZH0c"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#009900;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#009900;">click here.</span> </span></strong></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">So, I ask..."How will you defy gravity this year?"</span> </strong>As for me, I'm allowing myself to <strong>really believe! ~ </strong>Believe I can: <strong>restore health & balance, get to bed earlier, balance my checkbook, dance in the rhythm of life...and create my home as a portrait of my heart...and my art; and to remember to "dwell in possibility" of what can be, believe in myself and the goodness of others...in each moment. </strong>Here's to us - defying gravity - and traveling as light as a feather.</span></div><div> </div>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-4980286483476060592007-12-24T13:24:00.001-06:002009-02-19T02:23:40.171-06:00Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcf6oUzQxf2XMIbCO11_RnvTdSNahj6aLO98_GByw1j-G0B2vCsF6gGMV7dxdFiViVdH-MDWwTo2kkAdIJMTR_sf_MzRVhOqbdauxY_wtRaxviFvhmVd3EJtMDtdIyZ0I_swr/s1600-h/MandalaXmasOrnament07.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147624136702456226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcf6oUzQxf2XMIbCO11_RnvTdSNahj6aLO98_GByw1j-G0B2vCsF6gGMV7dxdFiViVdH-MDWwTo2kkAdIJMTR_sf_MzRVhOqbdauxY_wtRaxviFvhmVd3EJtMDtdIyZ0I_swr/s320/MandalaXmasOrnament07.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizheZVG63xasGY_c0V8sx5jcEqMcNC5YYGY2HOAQIBDhYi8ydIyUfjL_3dqaydwk-HIQKXyOQz8EmL7B6BKqE7uwqijVsAcA26spQCgBibH0IgQHuhp1w7MnyTzPmFMDQi6Owr/s1600-h/MandalaXmasOrnament2.jpg"></a><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#330033;"><strong>I AM THE NEW YEAR.</strong> - I am unused, un-</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">spotted, without blemish, I stretch before you 365 days long. I will present each day in its turn; a new leaf In the book of life for you to place upon it your imprint. </span></div><div><span style="color:#330033;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.<br /><strong>I AM THE NEW YEAR.</strong> - Each hour of every day, I will give you 60 minutes that h</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ave never known the use of man...white and pure I present them; It remains for you to fill them with 60 jeweled-seconds of love, hope, endeavor, patience, and trust.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">.<br /><strong>I AM THE NEW YEAR</strong>. - I am coming...but once past, I can never be recalled. Make me your best! </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#330033;">~~(A</span><span style="color:#330033;"><span style="font-size:85%;">uthor, unknown, but very appreciated!)<br /></span>.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color:#330033;">This is one of my favorite declarations/poems/inspirations (this is </span><a href="http://www.ircbeginner.com/justfun/i-newyear.html"><span style="color:#330033;">one</span></a><span style="color:#330033;"> of a few versions). <strong>May we all receive from this what what speaks to us the most</strong>...and may these whispers be our companion as we<em> begin a new page of a new chapter in the book of our lives</em>...one day, one moment, one breath at a time. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you! </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#330033;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#330033;">(P.S. As usual, the Mystical Mandala Medicine continues to inform me of my inner-life. I had no idea this mandala would evovle into a Christmas-ornament/holiday spirt energy. Hmm...I've got more of the Christmas spirit that I realized. -- This mandala. I created this in early December. -- (Submitted to </span><a href="http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2007/12/20/open-topic-2/#comments"><span style="color:#330033;">Inspire Me Thursday </span></a><span style="color:#330033;">"Holiday" prompt.) </span></span></div>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-24083919418252764742007-12-24T12:26:00.000-06:002007-12-25T03:22:52.486-06:00Meet Kamaria!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxhO0b6qUm1pfcbNF1IPIreTGmHTSBzQRvfCYqc4St6Ci0I9Mrl0xdUf5R5TjD-dpedv0HtUncW5TlRl-e8RCdbueUTZrKyGmdVBfBjG-3vMc-WglBoWMDaAKwE1Ukz8yp1sY/s1600-h/KamariaPortraitA.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147608820849078642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxhO0b6qUm1pfcbNF1IPIreTGmHTSBzQRvfCYqc4St6Ci0I9Mrl0xdUf5R5TjD-dpedv0HtUncW5TlRl-e8RCdbueUTZrKyGmdVBfBjG-3vMc-WglBoWMDaAKwE1Ukz8yp1sY/s320/KamariaPortraitA.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><strong>I'd like you to meet Kamaria</strong>. She's my beautiful, generous, witty, courageous daughter that I talk about in the "Tag!" post below. So.. here are a few quick morsels about her:</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><strong>1. She's a stitch!</strong> She's <em>very</em> funny...and will have you laughing before you know it, whether she's discussing real life, or telling a funny story.. it's that no-nonsense, quick-witted-clarity that is just so genuine and fair-minded...you can't help but love her.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><strong>2. She's creative,</strong> in an "inventor" type of way. At age 13 she created a pully-device in her bedroom which she could operate while lying in bed. The purpose of this contraption? To turn off the light switch without her having to get out of bed! She and my dad were bosom buddies...and often made things together in his wood shop. No wonder she loved the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!..that Dick Van Dyke was always inventing something!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><strong>3. Oh my gosh</strong>, Kamaria is really good a paradies! She comes up with them in the blink of an eye. In Jr. High, whenever there was tension with a classmate...she'd come home and write a parody based one of the popular songs of the day...using one of the trouble-makers names, and creating lyrics that would just make them...back-off! They were so stunned, they had no come-back...(it kinda messed with their mind)...so they just left her alone. Oh, how powerful our mind is...using words and ingenuity as a neutralizer. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><strong>4. Kamaria made it her business</strong> to graduate from college in three years, she's now wrapping up her Masters in Corporate & Mass Communications. Her undergrad was in Radio, TV and Film, with a minor in Spanish.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><strong>5. She likes</strong> music, puzzles, bowling, trying new things; she likes to create/build things, do stuff around the house i.e. cutting the grass, and...she & friends recently layed laminiate wood in her living room; and she's always fine-tuning her vision of what she wants to do in her home...and her life. These are just a few things that she likes. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;"><strong>6. Kamaria is family oriented</strong>. When I visit her...I hang out with her and her friends...we have a good time!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><strong>What I'm most proud of is...</strong>that she's a<em> good</em> person. She's a caring, giving, thoughtful, compassionate Soul. I am so thankful that we've been so blessed to be in this life together, as mom and daughter. I just love her!</span></div>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-53449638275473960962007-12-24T00:40:00.000-06:002007-12-24T02:29:13.903-06:00Tag! ...I'm "it"<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My friend Megan, of </span><a href="http://dotintime.blogspot.com/2007/12/random-facts.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A Month of Todays </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">has tagged me..I don't normally do these...but..what the heck....'tis the season. Here's how this works...I post 7 random tidbits, fact or fiction, about myself... and then three tag others to do do the same...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>OK...here goes:</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1. I have a beautiful, creative, witty and courageous daugter...she'll soon be 25 years of age.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2. I always wanted to be a school teacher, but was discouraged by another teacher in the 70s due to the surplus of teachers. I would've specialized in English/Language Arts...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. I'm a Certified Empowerment Coach (aka Life Coach) - a 2003 graduate of </span><a href="http://ipeccoaching.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">IPEC</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">; added to that in 2006 with Jill Badonsky's </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://themuseisin.com/coaching.html">Creativity Coaches Training</a>; h</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">owever, my day-job is in broadcast advertising with the ABC Television Network.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4. I've written about 20 poems</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">5. I majored in Clothing & Textiles in school</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">6. In 1998 I ran a half-marathon, 2 hours, 12 minutes</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">7. I'm a homebody</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">...The End...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">So now..I'm tagging: <a href="http://bowerwood.blogspot.com/">Krissie of Message in a Bottle</a>,<a href="http://creativechaos.typepad.com/creative_chaos/"> Karin of Creative Chaos</a> and <a href="http://journeythroughlife-afreshstart.blogspot.com/">Annie of Journey Through Life</a>, and<a href="http://embraceyourgifts.typepad.com/blog/"> Beverly of Embrace Your Gifts & Soar</a>!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If you decide to participate,</span><strong> here's the</strong> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>way it works:</strong> In a post on your blog, link to the person who tagged you (that would be me) and share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself...or make them up(!)...who would know? Then tag 3 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs, along with "the way it works." Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. Hope you find some fun with this. </span>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-63522611767568408522007-12-11T01:55:00.001-06:002010-08-15T20:34:28.137-05:00Intentions: In Living Color<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="color:#333333;">Once again...I'm inspired by Krissie's post at her blog</span>, </span><a href="http://bowerwood55.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#666666;"></span><span style="color:#6600cc;">Haiku in a Bottle</span></a><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="color:#333333;">...I just love it! So I decided to share a Haiku of mine too. Thank you Krissie...and the creators of </span><a href="http://haikutherapy.com/"><span style="color:#6600cc;">Haiku Therapy</span></a>, <span style="color:#333333;">and</span> </span><a href="http://onebreathpoetry.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#6600cc;">Haiku: One Deep Breath</span></a><span style="color:#666666;">.</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLr0706Y_E3YdmyQ4Cl3TKDiJ8AU4Amsyrg5oacPvjvpgGl9qrwE4sMr1Ep-iIjo6XOQ8okTQk3KwCDgYABe8BqS52k0CZPx-5G0opKVyDKK0xf-c409awSqLe6RuHNjb0Zoi/s1600-h/MandalaPsychodelic101807.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142621426218837362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLr0706Y_E3YdmyQ4Cl3TKDiJ8AU4Amsyrg5oacPvjvpgGl9qrwE4sMr1Ep-iIjo6XOQ8okTQk3KwCDgYABe8BqS52k0CZPx-5G0opKVyDKK0xf-c409awSqLe6RuHNjb0Zoi/s320/MandalaPsychodelic101807.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#333333;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As the sun rises in this mandala, I reflect on my perinneal intention to live a loving, healthy, fulfilled, joyful and creative life. One that is filled with beauty, color and fun...sprinkled with an abundance of "loved ones"...family & my family of friends...<em>this means you!</em> Ahh, I am indeed...wealthy. Life is good..</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#333333;">.</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><br /><em><span style="color:#333333;">"Our intentions are</span></em></span><br /><span style="color:#333333;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>the atmosphere in which we</em></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><span style="color:#333333;">live our truth out loud</span><span style="color:#00cccc;">"</em></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#333333;">So...here's to living out loud!!...and in</span><span style="color:#6600cc;"> living color!</span><span style="color:#ff6600;"> </span></span></span>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-8640805116094953282007-12-04T01:21:00.000-06:002007-12-25T03:23:49.329-06:00Now You See it, Now You Don't<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nI2lZeR399IGBrF_EYtCCQKQU1LWV5KQ6l7Tve2Dc6hVcV1jxH0hR9vvpCZ-rTO17kLEwo2arQDTdnbeJPSKyD-shUDTzzXCxu6TrR9T5npKTEBBfcLNqsUbgVAOsA0CsZko/s1600-h/MandalaParadoxMars113007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140014875930655314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nI2lZeR399IGBrF_EYtCCQKQU1LWV5KQ6l7Tve2Dc6hVcV1jxH0hR9vvpCZ-rTO17kLEwo2arQDTdnbeJPSKyD-shUDTzzXCxu6TrR9T5npKTEBBfcLNqsUbgVAOsA0CsZko/s320/MandalaParadoxMars113007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2007/11/29/paradox/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">Inspire Me Thursday's "Paradox"</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#009900;"><span style="color:#cc0000;"> Challenge</span><strong>:</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#009900;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Creating intuitively...</strong>heck, living intuitively is my prefered way of travel while on this this yellow brick road we call... "life". -- </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">I began</span></strong> <strong>this mandala</strong> with a few random, intuitive strokes the other night ...just to do a little something creative and colorful before going I went to bed. -- <strong>The second night</strong> I decided to add <span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>a dab</strong></span> of <span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>red</strong></span> in the middle..just a few strokes...then off to bed. -- <strong>The next night</strong> it caught my eye while reading...so I added <span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>more red...</strong></span><strong>first</strong> on the lower-right. Oooo! I liked that! <strong>And...then</strong> the upper arc...<strong>then the lower-left</strong> portion begged for red's attention. <strong>The next thing</strong> I knew I had <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">the red planet</span></strong>, <span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Mars</strong></span>...peaking from behind geometric windows of <strong><span style="color:#009900;">apple green</span>,</strong> <span style="color:#003333;"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">indigo</span></strong> </span>and <span style="color:#993399;"><strong>shades of violet</strong>....</span><strong>or did I? Where'd it go?!!</strong> <strong>It was there a minute ago!</strong> --<span style="color:#6600cc;"><strong><em>Arrrrgg!!</em></strong> --</span> Oh..there is is! <strong>"Now you see it ...Now you don't"...Must be a paradox!</strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;"><strong>Soooo...what do YOU see?</strong></span>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28761326.post-24798619956612820532007-11-27T22:06:00.004-06:002010-12-03T18:10:25.578-06:00The Bottom of My Heart<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eOvlj1-hzwGHx4_odjxxBOPD6-_mUYolVSezSAHSSfXtUlbhHDuv3m6Hce8BkNK7x5xHpoU9OabRiZi0l2CnpTEG_30v5HyKYslmHe9WaiycxayGjNPdIZlWJ8cN88lzkLEe/s1600-h/MandalaBottomofHeart.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137738162532380066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eOvlj1-hzwGHx4_odjxxBOPD6-_mUYolVSezSAHSSfXtUlbhHDuv3m6Hce8BkNK7x5xHpoU9OabRiZi0l2CnpTEG_30v5HyKYslmHe9WaiycxayGjNPdIZlWJ8cN88lzkLEe/s320/MandalaBottomofHeart.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><br />
<div style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><b>Art Every Day Month ~</b></span></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><b>"Love...</b></span></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><b>from the bottom of my heart."</b></span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This mandala puzzled me at first. Since my mandalas are</span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">"stream </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">of </span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">conscious-</span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">ness" creations,</span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I remembered to trust the process, even though I didn't like the black; and in trusting...this mandala revealed much to me. </span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">.</span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><b>So...tonight as I pondered "The Bottom of My Heart" mandala</b> I now see that its center it's alive and well and robust and red! And, that is the case no matter what...that's the core, the Eternal Truth of the matter; that...no matter what seeming-darkness comes into life...<b>vibrant life is at the center</b>; burning away any clouds, misunderstandings, negative emotions, restlessness....whatever might get in the way of well-being. And...<b>like the Pheonix Rising from the ashes</b>, new life prevails<b>..."renewed life".</b> The black is a reminder of those ashes...and the Phoenix principle, and THAT is a blessing. To quote one of my very first spiritual teachers (whom I think the world of), Louise L. Hay<b>..."Deep at the Center of my being there is an infinite well of love*..." </b>so...may we realize, acknowledge and be guided by it, and feel and live the love, joy and peace it gives. May you be well.</span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 85%;">.</span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>* "Deep at the Center..."</b> is the title of a written piece, consisting of wonderful, uplifting, flowing affirmations of self-love, created by <b>Louise L. Hay</b>. It's been a part of my life since 1990, and reading it aloud creates beautiful shifts within me that I cannot explain. I dare you to read it and not feel good! :) -- <b>You can read it </b></span></span><a href="http://www.sapphyr.net/largegems/ilovemyself.htm"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>here.</b> </span></span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 85%;">- Enjoy...</span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: 85%;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: 85%;"><span style="color: #999999;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">Celebrating "Art Every Day </span>M<span style="background-color: #444444;">onth" </span></b><span style="background-color: #444444;">(</span></span><a href="http://www.creativeeveryday.com/creativeeveryday/" style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: #999999;">click here</span></a><span style="background-color: #444444; color: #999999;">) - or at least "posting" some art in some of those "every days" LOL!!</span></span></div>Cheryl Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10027796165405148914noreply@blogger.com5