ORIGINAL BLISS

Uncertainty Has Its Blessings

Who the hell knows what is goin' on these days?

No... that is not a rhetorical question.
If you have any idea and could clue me in, I could use a little "know".

As I meditate upon my life, I notice a LOT of little fires here and there. Some are a'smoldering. Some have some embers. If I am honest, there isn't a single aspect of my life that doesn't have some smoke showing.

Career...
yep.
Family...
check.
Home...
si. 
Health...
uh huh.

I have a list a mile long of worrisome troubles.

And I have arrived at the point of
"who the fuck cares?"

If it all went up in flames it would be a RELIEF!

Seriously. Have you ever thought that sleeping in the woods in a sleeping bag, hunting for your food during the day, and chillin' in nature might be better than all this other crap?

I have.

And what a blessing to not feel attached to the outcome of anything.

When "worst case scenario" actually elicits my inner shrug - I feel free!

I find the simple joy in trimming roses in the sunshine, sharing with my Mom over coffee, doodling a journal page and creating pretty earrings.

Still I wonder how long things smolder before they finally just catch fire.

Burn, baby burn!

Namaste,

C H E Z

Between the Dreaming and the Coming True

I am receiving mixed messages from the Universe. All signs point to CHANGE! I keep getting little nibbles here and there leading me to believe that I am on the right track toward achieving my dreams. But just as soon as the nibbles come, then movement suddenly STOPS. A little revving up, then the engine stalls.

My belief system says once momentum starts, it overcomes inertia, and you keep on rolling down the road.... sure there are hills and curves, but there is still MOVEMENT.

I thought the ride was a roller coaster, but I actually got on the bumper cars! Just as soon as a get going. BAM! Stopped dead in my tracks! It is a jarring sensation.

I still feel the momentum will catch and all the things that are backed up and stalled will finally fly!

Soon.

Soon.

Namaste,

C H E Z

My Sunshine

Dandy Dandy!

I was wandering in my yard the other day and found a lone dandelion in my lawn.
Remember when you were a child how much you LOVED pick them to blow the fairies off the flower into the wind?
Anyone with a lawn probably cringes at the idea now.

I grew up on a country ranch and I loved blowing dandelions then chasing the flying fairies, trying to catch them. A pastime that came in second only to building a dirt cockpit in a levee and lobbing dirt clods at the crop duster that flew low over our field.

Poor dandy. Doomed to judgment as a weed and sentenced to Round Up.

Did you know that honey bees depend on the dandelion?

Early in Spring they are the bees first source of pollen.
Maybe that's why the bee population is dwindling.

Round Up might not be good for them.
Just a thought.

I started this journal page today, first playing with watercolor shapes, adding acrylic color, then covering most of the page with gesso. I didn't have any idea where I was going with it... but then the dandelion came to me.

I can really relate to the dandy's dilemma, thinking itself a flower and wanting to grow, only to be glared at with disdain, ripped out by its roots or poisoned. Doesn't your creative spirit feel that way sometimes? Cornered? Blocked? Sabotaged? What's a mother, wife, homeowner, 911 dispatcher dreaming of being an artist to do?

This piece is not done. I am going to ink some details and maybe add some words.... maybe a bee?

Namaste,

C H E Z

Shannan's Tip for Surviving the Recession

One of my to-do's today was to take a walk in the beautiful sunshine.

Problem was, it got really hot, really early.

AND it was humid, which made the day not so pleasant.

Then I remembered that I really needed to go grocery shopping...

then I had to take Mattea to an appointment...

then I had to pick up the kids from school...

then I had to post new earrings in my ETSY shoppe...

then fill out applications for the farmers market...

then I had to watch "Baby's Mama"...

Then I realized I was making excuses to not exercise,

and how lame was THAT!

Then I realized that if I did exercise, and watched what I eat, I might lose weight.

And if I lost weight, I'd have to buy new, cute clothes.

And if I bought new clothes, I'd have to buy new, cute jewelry to go with them.

And new, cute shoes.

Then I'd have to have Jeff take me out to dinners and night clubs to show off my new cute body and new cute outfits...

Then I realized that not exercising is actually saving my family money and I decided to write this blog about it.

Going for a walk now!

Namaste,

C H E Z

Shine Your Light on the Whole World

Jesus said, "There is a light within an enlightened person, and it shines on the whole world.
If the light does not shine, it is dark."

Saying 24
The Gospel of Thomas
Codex II page 37-38

I was reading "The Not So Secret History of Jesus" article from Toward 2012: Perspectives on the New Age. It amazes me how far astray Christianity has wandered from their savior.

I am now reading some of the Gnostic gospels and sacred texts such as The Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Mary, Philip, Judas, Secret James, Secret John, Act of Peter, Dialogue of the Savior, the Gospel of Truth.

Did you know these existed? That for 2000+ years they were hidden in cave jars away from the light, away from eyes and heart who would read and understand them? Early Roman Christians did not believe them worthy of inclusion in the Bible. In fact, they did everything they could to wipe out these revelations, through the Inquisition and other diabolical means.

If you go back and read your red letters, then read some of these lost texts, you will be so inspired and empowered.

I was.

Namaste,

C H E Z

DRATS!

Feeling really creative today... figures...

I have to spend a day off driving for 5 hours for an appointment.

I'd rather be making new earrings. I'm making these with recycled magazine paper, and mini fine art prints of my journal pages that have been coated with a protective varnish.

Whatcha think?

Open Book

I have so many germinating seedlings sprouting right now. Ideas I've sown, inching toward the light. It is overwhelming in a positive, energy giving way.

• I am working on a book about Soul Journaling. It started out as a pamphlet idea, that I would make available at my workshops, but I have so much more information and ideas already, that I think it will be a full book! I am going to only make it available as an eBook, rather than kill trees to publish it. My goal is to have it finished by June - when the Somerset Gallery I am featured in hits the stands.

            So I am writing writing writing....

• I received an email invitation to participate in the Downtown Stockton Art Walk and Farmer's Market. I love having a little booth, meeting and chatting with people excited about my art and jewelry. So I am back at the jewelry makin' table!

• "Letting Your Soul Speak" Visual Journal Workshop LIVERMORE edition is starting to generate some interest. I am very excited about sharing this fun and transformative process with people. If you are interested in joining us May 16, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. RESERVE your space! Once you are reserved, I will send you more information about the workshop, the location, and what to bring.

I have had a lot of other distracting, disrupting, discouraging, energy DRAINING things on my plate recently as well. They have caused me to doubt that my dreams are worthy enough. Begged the question, "Maybe I should settle for a future that is safer than what my dreams are?"

But I cannot do it. I cannot settle for something that is less that the truth of who I really, fully am. I am going to continue to cultivate my little seedlings. They each have the potential to bear an abundance of fruit.

Namaste,

C H E Z

Singing Soul Songs

Why are we so uncomfortable revealing ourselves to others?
Why are we afraid to reveal ourselves even to OURSELF?
Are we so afraid of what lies beneath the surface?
Is it really that unsettling?

I have learned, and am continually learning, that when I do not listen to the deeper, richer voice of the soul, when I shut her out and try to conform, my day-to-day life is lived out of sync, out of tune. If I don't check in with the soul... the soul comes looking for me...

Today is Easter - a day to celebrate resurrection... rebirth. The egg hatches and new life emerges.

Today, I set an intention to open up and allow my soul to sing her song in every moment.

Namaste,

C H E Z

Turning Tides

So much transitioning has been occurring these past few months.

I am not a big fan of changing. It feels unstable, the process involves too much movement.
It is so much easier to stay balanced when you are standing still...
but you never get anywhere.
I have had to come to terms with the doubts, confusion, and stress. They are a part of this movement.
I don't have a clear, exact picture yet of where I am going, but I feel it is toward something bigger, better and brighter.

I created some hand-made greeting cards last night using my new 8 cartridge ink-jet printer and "museum etching" paper. They are all posted in my ETSY shoppe!

Namaste,

C H E Z