The River ~ John O'Donohue

LISTEN:

"A river blends music of movement with an enduring and accompanying depth of stillness. Again its journey is always out of silence, and this silence dwells deep in the river too. If only our lives could achieve, or indeed allow, such grace and elegance. If we could but find a rhythm of being which could balance a contemplative grace, a poetry of motion and an accompanying stillness and silence, our pilgrimage through this world would flow in beauty through the most ragged and forsaken heartlands of confusion and dishevelment. It would continue to hold a clear flow-line between the memory and depth of the earth and the eternal fluency of the ocean and never lose the passion of flowing towards the ever new promise of the future.

Though a river maintains a line of direction, it somehow turns still, fixed space into the embrace of a flowing circle of presence. It gives itself to the urgency of becoming but never at the cost of disowning its origin. It engages the world while belonging always secretly within its memory and still strives forward into the endless flow of emerging possibility. " from Divine Beauty by John O'Donohue

The ability to receive love seems to be a much larger obstacle within many people than has been acknowledged. Most people I've encountered, including myself, don't have real love and intimacy until they are truly open to receiving it. Until that time, they consciously or unconsciously choose partners not capable of intimacy, not available in some way, or they themselves push love away or sabatoge it in some way.

Being able to receive love involves being in good relationship with the love that you are. When this is present, compassion, patience and empathy are available. These are crucial facilitators of love. They help create real pathways from that which might be destructive to love to that which takes those very same pitfalls and alchemizes them into deeper love, real love and intimacy.

There's what people SAY, what they DO, the ENERGY you sense, and the CONGRUENCY between all these.

Life is like a coloring book. How will you fill in the page you are given today?

Keep breathing. Becoming & unbecoming, opening & surrendering, deepening, getting clearer, embracing, loving, allowing. We create our life, but it also guides & creates us if we listen reverently.

Creativity & Your Level of Confidence

I talk about this a lot, that when you create something a part of your energy is actually in that thing you've created and reflecting yourSelf back to you. Whether you are writing, singing, painting, drawing, making jewelry, dancing, decorating the living room or cooking, the outcome is a creation that is energetically unique to you!

Sometimes we loose track of who we are, what our own energy feels like, what is truly 'us' vs others. Creating can really really help bring you back to center, to your self knowing and even strengthen your own personal energy field.

Now I know what I'm about to say might not hold true to some of you, but I will address that in a minute. I know many of you have created art, or writing or some other form of expression and stepped back and thought, "Wow, I did that? It's pretty cool." This is a powerful experience, one that can boost self confidence (which is why I think art classes for kids is so so so very important!), and even reflect back to you new expanded consciousness of yourSelf and possibly even mystical insights.

For those of you who may be saying, "I try, but I'm just not creative and I never like what I create."  Seeing what we like about our creative work takes practice, and is an act of self acceptance & love. When I paint, I am constantly looking for what's working, what's going on on the canvas that I like, and I build on those things.  If I focused on what I didn't like it would be hard to birth the piece. [Sounds like a Life lesson doesn't it? It is!] Another thing I would say to you, is keep looking for the creative expression that you enjoy. You might not like what you paint, but you might end up loving your pottery, or poetry, or cupcakes.

Take some time this next week to think about your creativity. If you could use a confidence booster, explore creative expression as a means to experience that. If it pleases you, I have several Art Rituals available to guide you, as well as "Create a Vision Pot": You can find those HERE.

You are creative, everyone is a creative being. And just like what you create has a part of your energy in it, you have a part of whatever created you, including the Divine, within you.
 joy & inspiration,
Beth

Finding Sacred Center, Peace, Wholeness & Relaxation

Today feels like a good day to just connect with you in a quiet peaceful way. There are so very many options, tools, voices and choices available to us these days. Sometimes it is very very good to just let go, relax and feel the wholeness of yourself and your life right now in this moment.

I want to tell you that everything is just ok as it is in this moment. What you are doing is enough. Who you are is enough. Simpicity can be profound and powerful. Relaxed & Present is where to start and then return to again and again. Breathe, let go, expand, connect. Be Zen, finding the beauty and chi in each daily task and encounter.

Is there an area where you have been striving, pushing, feeling overwhelmed? That is where you need to just let go right now. Let go. Once you let go, you can get clearer about what's at the core that you are seeking, wanting or needing. Then feel for the most simple direct way out or to that. Often it involves letting go of the strive & push and recalibrating your energy & focus to the simpler, smoother path. Where the path is smooth, the chi is stronger and clearer.

When I'm in a time of overwhelm, stress, heartache or other challenge, I use this mantra: "This is but a moment in time."  This provides a relaxation rsponse and ability to shift into a different inner space.

We live in an amazing time and place. Nurture peacefulness by embracing and standing in wholeness with dichotomies. This will help you stay connected to your sacred center and The Sacred Center.

lots of love,
Beth

www.PaintedJourneys.com


"The inborn Thou is realised in the lived relations with that which meets it." ~Martin Buber, I & Thou

"The Thou meets me through grace- it is not found by seeking....All real living is meeting." ~ Martin Buber, I & Thou

"The real trick to life is not to be in the know,but to be in the mystery."~from the movie What the Bleep

"Your soul knows the geography of your destiny. Your soul alone has the map of your future, therefore you can trust this indirect, oblique side of yourself. If you do, it will take you where you need to go, but more important it will teach you a kindness of rhythm in your journey." ~John O'Donohue

"One of the tasks of true friendship is to listen compassionately and creatively to the hidden silences. Often secrets are not revealed in words, they lie concealed in the silence between the words or in the depth of what is unsayable between two people." ~John O'Donohue