Welcome to the art/life trail. How grand and adventurous to be traveling deep inward during this quieting half of the year. I know. I know. The surface of the water is stirred up into a maelstrom.

 

Family Tree, Drozda, Acrylic/board, 36 x 28″

February Seed Idea: Renewal: this moon/month is guided by the concept of renunciation and regeneration. Garbage in, garbage out. Composting is advisable, whether the refuse be thoughtforms or habit patterns. This month metaphorically dig under the surface and turn over the soil. Prepare the inner ground to accept your creative seed vision.

“When the Mother seats herself in the heart then everything, be it stained or stainless, becomes but an ornament for Her lotus feet… She lives in the bodies of all living creatures wherein She is present in the form of energy… There is no place where She is not.

Sir John Woodruffe: Sakti and Sakta

Feb. 2 marks one of four crossquarter days.

We are now midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox

Daylight and day length are increasing. Celebrate your ability to lighten up your attitude. Celebrate the journey…challenges and all.

In seven weeks we return to the topside world. Until then there is much happening below the surface as we replenish our creative stores prior to resurfacing. Pause to honor our feminine ancestors. In a contemporary update of the traditional crossquarter ceremony called Candlemas we wear white, bring white flowers to a table aglow with burning white candles and gaze into a hand mirror sensing the ancestral connection that brought us to this place and to this very moment in time. Each generation has their work cut out for them.

“The number of women who are now approaching the fully conscious state already exceeds that of men and will be growing even faster in the years to come.
Men may catch up with them in the end, but for some considerable time there will be a gap between the consciousness of men and that of women.

Women are regaining the function that is their birthright: to be a bridge between the manifested world and the Unmanifested, between physicality and spirit.
Your main task as a woman now is to transmute the pain-body so that it no longer comes between you and your true self, the essence of who you are.”
Eckhart Tolle

 

Snake Medicine, Drozda, Acrylic/canvas, 48 x36″, 1998, Private Collection

Transmuting the pain body requires real dedication and focus, there is a lot of falling down and getting up involved.  Yet during this six month ‘below ground’ period spanning from October to April much intuitive and instinctive guidance waits in the wings to be consciously called forth.

Here are the two poems from my book Twenty Two Prayer Poems for Care Givers to support our inner journey this week…

Dying to Be Born

I am not a body, I am free, for I am still as God created me.
ACIM

Dearest Old Friend,

I wonder why the idea of death of this body
Frightens me. I feel so uncomfortable

With myself when I consider how I will take leave.
Naturally the body breaks down and eventually
It is no more.
Naturally we cannot retain a physical existence forever.
Naturally everything is dying from the moment it is born.

 

And yet I live is this fantasy realm where I deny
Cause and effect, where I act as if I will never ‘run out’.
Today I ask to look at my world as though it is
The last day.
Today I am willing to open my heart mind
To my own passing.

As I walk about and come into contact with others today
I ask to welcome each exchange as though it was a
Simultaneous first and last ever visit.

Naturally I require assistance to face death of any kind.
Today I am willing to invest my attention in noticing

The fragile  nature of us all in the physical world.
As I open to receive this awareness
I expand my heart to touch those who suffer
Loss   and feel unspeakable anguish.

Help me to be free of my body thoughts today
Make me available to meet those
That You place on the path before me.
Give me a soft soft soft as a baby heart.
I pray today for whatever You send me
I ask to learn today of the beauty of being free.
Free free free of attachment to the physical.
Amen

Passing of the Dream, Drozda, Acrylic/board, 10 x 14″

Waiting

It takes great learning to realize that everything is helpful.
ACIM

Dear One,

Perhaps You can feel my raw state today.
I am asking that I be released.
I do not know the thing I am.
I don’t know where I am.
I don’t know how to look upon the world.
I don’t know how to look upon myself.

I can feel such a deeply rooted fear of living and dying.
I feel squirmy and unbalanced.
I feel uncomfortable and confused.
I need help.

I am able to remember that You have taught me

That You will live with me
And You will teach with me if I will think with You.
Today I am on my knees. I am surrendering all that I am.
I am surrendering all that I have to You.

I am willing to lean into You loving and gentle arms.

Teach me to heal.
Teach me to be whole.
Direct me today.
Let me know where You would have me go, what You would have me say

And to whom.

I am aware that this raw state is also a place
Where I can find You and where I can
Trust that You will guide safely through.

As I make this rite of passage today
I dedicate each Holy Instant to You.

Amen

I invite you to leave a comment below…don’t be shy…we’re in this together. You may know and love someone who is experiencing negative stress…on the trail we’re applying tools to transmute that sea in which we are collectively swimming to postive creative stress…invention, exploration, celebration.  Share this post and relate with others. Let them know how you are tending your seed vision and looking toward spring.

I look forward to seeing you on the trail.