Wishcast Wed: What do you wish for your creativitiy?

Hi my fellow wishers and dreamers, today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: "What do you wish for your creativity?"

What I wish for my creativity is that I allow it more fully into my life. I tip toe around it a bit, dipping a brush into paint for a moment here and there, gluing some pictures down for a collage, quickly writing some words, briefly allowing the flow to take me. But.. then I stop when the critic mind sneaks up on me with those doubts and judgements. Who I am to think I am a creative person, I'll never be as good as this one or that one.

I am slowly beginning to see I don't HAVE to be as good as anyone else, I just have to follow my own path and listen to my own creative voice. The more I turn up the volume on that voice, the harder it will become to hear the critics voice, of that I am sure.

The times I have really sunk into the creative process and trusted that space are the times I am most myself. I forget myself and who I am when I don't allow time for creating.

They say it takes 30 days to make or break a habit so I am participating in Susannah Conway's August Break with the hopes that at the end of it I will have a new creative habit in place, one I can expand on. There are no rules for August Break you take one photo a day and post it on your blog with or without words, even I can commit to a moment a day. You can read about it here: "August Break".

The picture above is a page I recently created in a small canvas art journal round robin.

So my fellow wishers what are you wishing for your creativity today?

Namaste,

Karen

August Break: Aug 3rd

Day 3 of Susannah Conway's August Break.



This is a picture of a page I did today as part of an small canvas art journal round robin... enjoy the day and may you find some time to create.

August Break with Susannah Conway

I am participating in August Break with Susannah Conway.

You post a picture a day throughout the month of August, with or without words. No rules.

Today I was feeling a bit down so I went next door at work to a no kill shelter and had some play time through the window with the kitties. Here is my fav, I just call him orange guy since I don't know his name.. Actually I don't even know if he is a HE.

Enjoy your day!

Wishcast Wed: How do you wish to nourish yourself?

Click on Pic for a larger view

Hi my fellow wishers and dreamers, I hope this day finds you well. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: "How do you wish to nourish yourself? This is the same list I had for the prompt "What do you wish to nourish" so I though it would apply here also. The picture above is a dream board I did which was all about coming home to my body, feeling safe there. In order to to that I think nourishing it more would be a good way to start

Here is a list of some ways I am committed to nourishing myself, mind, body and spirit. My well has almost run dry so I need to replenish so I can continue to nourish myself and others.
Ok here goes:

1. Spend more time outside in nature, when I do I always feel so much better.
2. Spend less time with distractions like mindlessly eating, surfing the TV and the Internet.
3. Spend some time planning for healthy eating so I have better choices available.
4. Move more, be it walking, dancing, jumping, skipping...move at least 20 min. a day.
5. Spend some time journalling each day even if it is 5 min.
6. Set up creative space so it is there waiting for me.
7. Spend time in creative/sacred space: Start small a few minutes a day until it becomes a habit. This can be art work, taking pictures, drumming, poetry, cooking, singing. Anything that gets the creative juices flowing. PLAYING.
8. Research ways I can get involved with community, so when I am ready I have a plan.
9. Spend less time in anxiety and fear, truly give living in the moment a chance.
10. To fully be there for my husband, friends and family in the best way I can without compromising self.

Most of all I want to nourish the belief in myself, my worthiness, my beauty, my gifts that only I have. To really listen for the right things for me to say YES to and being ok saying NO to the things that are no longer right for me.So my friends, what are you nourishing today?

Namaste,Karen

Wishcast Wed: What do you wish to envision?

Image: Google Images

Hello fellow wishers, today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: What do you wish to envision?

What I would like to envision for myself is a life that looks like this:

Wake up and feel refreshed and ready to start the day.

Finding work that makes me feel like I am not actually working.

Spending time in creative space daily, nurturing my creative side.

Really connecting with the people in my life.

Loving my spouse and myself without expectations.

Searching for, allowing and embracing joy in my life.

Being ok with what is and not rushing into the next thing, actually being in the now.

Finding like minded people to be in community with to give support and be supported.

Filling my mind/body/spirit with the things that will nourish them and getting rid of the junk, be it food, thoughts, actions.

Spending some time each day meditating, slowing down a bit.

Let go of the past, learn from it but then move forward.

Having faith and trust in where I am and where I am headed.

Now if I could only get out of my own way, maybe this list can become a reality! ;-)

So what are you envisioning for yourself today?

Namaste,

Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to focus on?

Image: Google Images

Hi All,

I am a day late to wishcasting this week..why you ask?... because I have lost my FOCUS. So it is no wonder that the wishprompt over at Jamie Ridler's Studio this week is: What do you wish to focus on?

Well It seems like I have lost my focus somewhere in the emotional whirlwind that has been my mind lately. I really have lost it and I am trying to find it again.

I guess I would like to focus on me and finding myself, she is somewhere within this mess. I have a habit of getting so lost in others and their needs that I truly don't know what the heck it is that I want anymore, where do they end and I begin.

So I guess this week I can only say that I am trying to focus on finding that line between myself and others and building some structure around those relationships so I don't lose myself again.

I wish all your wishes come true and although I have not been able to find the energy to post much I am always wishing along with you and for you.

Namaste friends,

Karen

Wednesday Wishcast: What do you wish for your relationships?

Image: Google Images


Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow. ~Swedish Proverb

Hi My fellow wishers and dreamers. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is:

"What do you wish for your relationships?"

As always Jamie seems to ask the the right question at just the right time.

I have been quite on the blogosphere and my e-courses lately due to some relationship issues my husband and I are working on. It really has taken much of my mental space lately and I have not had the energy for much else other than working and such, it has left me feeling a bit wrung out. I feel hopeful after my husband and I talked and I am hoping to get back into participating here more fully but please know that I have been reading your wishes and wishing for you.

I think what I learned most through this experience is that relationships need nuturing just like anything else and at times we have to tend to ourselves first and not get lost within the relationship. This way we keep our wells fill so we can than give to others.

As my husband and I have been talking about what we both would like from the relationship this particular question has been on my mind lately.
So... what I wish for my relationships are listed below. These are things that I think help nuture and grow relationships:


Love
Compassion
Forgiveness
Kindness
Trust
Laughter/joy/play
Respect
Understanding
Space to be yourself within the relationship
Acceptance
Patience
Sharing
Comfort
Partnership

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer we have been dealing with 100 degree temps these last couple of days and I feel like I am melting but happy to be present in each moment.

Namaste and keep dreaming,


Karen

Wednesday Wishcast - What do you wish for your well-being?

Image: Gaian Tarot

Hello my fellow wishers and dreamers. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: "What do you wish for your well being?"

I wish the following for my well being:

Love for myself and others with as little conditions as possible (hey I AM human!) ;-)

Peace in my mind, heart and soul

Forgiveness towards myself and others

Strength to live my life fully

Faith that things are happening as they should and my path is true

Trust that I am making the right choices for ME especially in healing matters

Patience when I feel stuck

Belief that I am worth it!

May we all have these for ourselves.

Namaste my fellow dreamers,

Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: What fun do you wish to have?

Hi my fellow wishers and dreamers. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studios the wish prompt is "What fun do you wish to have?"

Well this one is easy: I WANT TO HAVE FUN WITH MY LIFE, I want to let go of anxiety and other things that prevent myself from fully embracing fun..

I want to sing, I want to dance, I want to paint, I want to smile big and wide as much as I can.

I want to live, love and laugh trusting that things will be ok, I want to LET GO and sink into my life. In order to experience the fun I have to experience it all, the good the bad the ugly. I have to start creating balance in my life, right now the fun meter is low and that is no way to live.

I want to have fun with my husband like we did when we first met, when the worries were less and the days seemed longer. Where we would sit in the car and wait out a good song instead of shutting it off mid stream to rush into the house. Time was different then or so it seemed, slower. Fun with my friends, now it seems we barely make time for each other, I tell you without girlfriend time life can get too serious.

I need to follow my dog Bella's lead: eat, drink, sleep, love and PLAY!

Ok my fellow dreamers what do you wish to have fun with today.

Namaste

Namaste,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to nourish?

Image: Google Images

Hi my fellow wishers and dreamers, I hope this day finds you well.
Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: "What do you wish to nourish?"

Wow nourish, this is something I have not done for a long time for myself, I often find myself doing it for others but not myself.

Here is a list of some ways I am committed to nourishing myself, mind, body and spirit. My well has almost run dry so I need to replenish so I can continue to nourish myself and others. Ok here goes:

1. Spend more time outside in nature, when I do I always feel so much better.
2. Spend less time with distractions like mindlessly eating, surfing the TV and the Internet.
3. Spend some time planning for healthy eating so I have better choices available.
4. Move more, be it walking, dancing, jumping, skipping...move at least 20 min. a day.
5. Spend some time journalling each day even if it is 5 min.
6. Set up creative space so it is there waiting for me.
7. Spend time in creative/sacred space: Start small a few minutes a day until it becomes a habit. This can be art work, taking pictures, drumming, poetry, cooking, singing. Anything that gets the creative juices flowing. PLAYING.
8. Research ways I can get involved with community, so when I am ready I have a plan.
9. Spend less time in anxiety and fear, truly give living in the moment a chance.
10. To fully be there for my husband, friends and family in the best way I can without compromising self.

Most of all I want to nourish the belief in myself, my worthiness, my beauty, my gifts that only I have. To really listen for the right things for me to say YES to and being ok saying NO to the things that are no longer right for me.

So my friends, what are you nourishing today?

Namaste,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: What leap do you wish to take?

Image: Google Images

Good morning my fellow wishers and dreamers. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: What leap do you wish to take?

I wish to leap over this divide I have been at the edge of. The divide between my past and my present/future. I have been stuck with my toes hanging over the edge for some time, knowing the past is over and I have learned what I need to yet fearing the unknown of the present/future. It really is about learning to live in the moment I know that logically but it is my monkey mind I need to get around.

So I wish to close my eyes and have faith and trust and leap into the present, one I have prepared for the best I can and one that is waiting for me with open arms on the other side.

It is always that first step or jump over that is the hardest to take, after that the rest will follow.

I wanted to say I have not had time to comment on everyone's wishes the last couple of weeks due to projects but I am reading them and wishing with you that your wishes come true.

Have a wonderful day wishcasters.

Namaste,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to know?

Good day my fellow wishers and dreamers. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: "What do you wish to know?"

What I wish to know is that I will come out of this funk I seem to have been in for the last few years. I feel like I have been in some holding pattern for awhile and I am filled with anxiety and agitation about it. I feel like I am on pause waiting for the play button to be pushed.

A few years ago there were many deaths in my family,2 favorite Aunts, my Dad and my Father in Law, all with different cancers. I was involved in caretaking with most of them, I think it took something out of me and I am trying to find the missing piece of myself. You almost have to go on auto pilot to experience that kind of a situation, I mean when you are watching a loved one slowly die it does something to you.

I was actually present at 2 of the death moments and they were not new agey fluffy bunnies white light moments, atually they were quite raw, I am sorry to say. Now that may have been my fear not allowing me to see the beauty or peace of it, but I know they were both ready to go and for that we were relieved and prayed for it.

Anyway...before that I had always been the one people went to, the shoulder to lean on and it was like that with my relationship with my parents also. I always felt more like I was the together one and tried to make peace and keep drama at bay.
Then throw in my husband of 15 years doubting his love for me, he loves me but does not know if he is "in love" with me, well let's just say it has been a rough couple of years emotionally.

I think those years with the deaths did something to me and couple that with some childhood traumas and I feel wrung out.

Now when people want to talk to me or someone is ill, I go into distraction mode, I can't connect to my empathy and compassion because It hurts too much. I want to know that I will be able to find that connection to myself and others again.

I want to know that I just need to make the decision to hit the play button of my life and I will move again and live again. I long to feel joy again, I have no problem feeling fear and anxiety, those live right under the surface and are always willing to come out.

I WANT TO KNOW that I will connect to the joy and love my life once was. I put a picture of my puppy Bella today because she makes me sense the joy is there waiting, just look at that smiley face.

Thanks for listening, I feel like this post is a little rambly and disjointed but it is what it is.

What are you wishing to know today my fellow dreamers.

Namaste,
KAren

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish for your space?

Image: naturalhome magazine

Hello my fellow wishers and dreamers.
Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: What do you wish for your space?

My wish today is going to be short and sweet, I wish for my space to reflect my heart and soul. I wish for it to be a place of comfort and security, I place to love and be loved, warm and welcoming.

Right now my space is filled with many areas of clutter and I have a sneaking suspicion that is reflecting my current mood, my mind/spirit is cluttered and I need to sort through the muck and get to the heart of things. Then my space can truly reflect the inner me.

Namaste friends and happy wishing.

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to have?

CLICK PICTURE to make it bigger.

Hi my fellow wishers and dreamers, it is that time again over at Jamie Ridler's Studio, a time of wishing and dreaming.
Today's prompt is "What do you wish to have?"

This is a powerful wish prompt simple, straight forward and cuts to the chase.

What do I wish to have........?

I wish to have a home within myself, a home I look forward to being in, a home I am proud of. This home being my physical body, my spirit and my mind. I wish this home to be harmonious and in sync with my purpose, to be filled with peace, love and laughter. I place I can feel safe and protected in.

This home within has not always been a safe place for me and I tend to spend alot of time in distracting myself instead of looking within.

I have been filling this mind/body/spirit home of mine with as much love and care as I can this last year and I think it is getting closer and closer to a home I can be proud of, a home filled with peace, love, compassion, forgiveness, laughter and most of all a home I yearn to come back to all the time.

You see if I can't feel at home in my own body how can I ever feel at home anywhere?

The dreamboard above is the one I did for the last Full Moon Dreamboard but I finished it too late and did not post it. Now seems like the perfect time since it ended up being about coming home to my body and myself and to loving it as it is and how it will be.

So my lovely wishers out there what do you wish to have this day?

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to experience?

Hi my fellow wishers and dreamers, today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: "What do you wish to experience"

What I would love to experience is a day where I wake up without a negative thought in my mind and not an ache in my body (the 40's have been about adjusting)or to not get so down on myself when I do have the occasional ache or negative/critical thought, that only makes it worse.

I would love to experience the feeling of complete and utter joy at just being alive and breathing. Not too much to ask, right?

I fight the negativity/critic/anxiety so much at times that I get tired and just feel somewhat defeated but I am here and I am still wishing and dreaming and that says alot.

When I was a young girl I used to wish and dream and have such positive thoughts, but those in my live who loved me and were around me were very negative/anxious and depressed people and I struggle with the inheritance but it is in my power to say NO I don't want that, thank you anyway.

I wish to experience the life I was born to live, the life of a sensitive soul who isn't afraid to write poems and create all day if she wants. The girl who dances at the drop of a dime and sings out loud no matter if she is in key. A woman who loves and is in love with life and the people in it, who heals herself and reaches out to help others.

Well that came out fairly quickly and without much thought today, that life must be right there under the surface, I just have to dig a little!

So my fellow wishers what are you wishing to experience today?

Namaste,
Karen

WishCast Wed: What Rules Do You Wish to Make or Break?

Image: Google Images

Good Morning my fellow wishers and dreamers. Today is Wednesday and over at Jamie Ridler's Studio this is a day to wish and dream. The wish prompt today is : What Rules Do You Wish to Make or Break ?

This is hard because I am not a rule breaker, I had my rebellious stage in my late teens-early twenties, but before and after that I was always "the good girl".

So I say here and now that I wish to break that rule in my life, the rule of being the "good girl", the girl who is there for everyone even at the expense of self, the one who quietly sits by while everyone else says and gets what they want. Those days are over.

Truthfully this last year I have been slowly breaking this rule and it has been tough to break because not only does it effect me but the people in my life. When others are used to you being a certain way they have a hard time adjusting when you change. It has been eye opening in many ways to see who in my life is having the hardest time with this.

Besides the golden rules that we all live by I would like to add the following three:

Rule Number 1: Spend at least 1/2 hour in creative space a day, be it reading, writing, painting, collaging, cooking, drumming - anything that will flex the creative muscles on a daily basis. (see below pic this is my page in Carmen's Journal in my Art Saves Round Robin)

CLICK PIC to make bigger.

Rule Number 2: If upset about something: Check yourself before you wreck yourself. I am learning sometimes it is better not to say something, one of my friends says wait 24 hours and if you still feel the same then say something. I seem to be in a transitional stage lately and emotions are coming to the surface which are making me more sensitive than usual and that is saying something.

Rule Number 3: Health wise: Move your body in some way for 30 minutes a way, be it walking, dancing, jumping up and down just MOVE. Also health wise: If I don't recognize a food in the form it is in or it has more than 4 ingredients don't eat it, eat whole foods when possible.

Thanks for another wonderful wish prompt Jamie, they keep me thinking and blogging.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone's rules and whether they are making them or breaking them.

Namaste Friends,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to invest in?

Image: Google Images

Hi my fellow wishers and dreamers, today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: What do you wish to invest in?

Ok, so nothing came to mind immediately... I feel like all these wishes I make are all about me and then I started to feel selfish....but.....then I thought If I invest in myself first then that can trickle out to the world around me.
If I am empty how can I invest myself in good deeds, relationships, creativity and the larger environment I am in.

So I wish to invest in nourishing my mind/body and spirit.
Here are some ways I can start investing:

1. My creativity, I know I say it again and again but I truly believe somewhere beneath that critic's shell that this is a path to spirit and healing for me so I will keep reminding myself of it.

2. My time and how I use it, for one I don't need to come home and immediately put on the TV to conquer the silence, I can put on some music instead, I can still do other things while music is on, TV sucks me in and turns me into a couch potato.

3. My relationships, really learning to accept others for who they are and not projecting my fears and insecurities on them, not only is it NOT fair to them but it is not fair to me. If I can accept others as they are then it will be easier to accept myself for who I am.

4. My health/body - I would like to invest in truly learning to love my body and treat it with the respect it deserves. Somewhere, somehow I lost that respect and self-love that we are born with, maybe someone took it from me but NOW I am in control so I would like to regain it with heatlhy habits, including food, exercise and sexuality.

Well I think those will do for now.

What are you wishing to invest in today?

Namaste
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to dare

Image: Google Image Search

Hi my fellow wishers and dreamers. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the Wish prompt is: What do you wish to DARE?

I wish to dare to hope that things are working just as they should in my life, that my life is unfolding as it is meant to and to trust that I am on the right path.

I dare to open my arms and my heart to my loved ones, to accept them for who they are as I accept myself for who I am.

I dare to let myself spend as much time as I can in creative space, to really let my creative side fly (as Sarah says). I am currently in a art saves journal swap headed up by Carmen over at Writing from Life.
Here is my most recent art pages I did for one of the participants. I just looked at their blog and then went through my magazines and let my intuition guide me. I was drawn to lots of blues for her. See my final product below. I am having fun and it is giving me an excuse to create.


CLICK ON PIC FOR LARGER VIEW

So my fellow wishers and dreamers, what do you wish to dare today?

Namaste,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to be gentle with?

Hi Fellow wishers and dreamers, it is Wishcast Wednesday over at Jamie Ridler's Studio. The wish prompt today is: What do you wish to be gentle with.

Welllllll since I have been so darn hard on myself lately, I wish to be gentle with myself. I'm my own worse enemy in so many ways. I really wish to learn to love and be Ok with myself no matter what is going on in my life, I am tired of always pointing the finger at me and taking on the blame even when it is not mine to take on.

My internal critic and self saboteur are high on the love I feed them and my beautiful soul is starving from the lack of nourishment I give it in comparison. I wish to shift that balance ASAP.

I wish to be gentle during this process with self and also with the people in my life who may be surprised when this shift happens and their perspective of me has to change. They may need to find some bigger boxes to categorize me in because I am growing and expanding people, I tell you it's happening.


This may be a short wishlist today but it is HUGE for me, if I can accomplish this wish it will trickle into every area of my life.

Namaste fellow wishers and dreamers,

Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: How Do you wish to bloom?

Image: Google Images

Hello my fellow wishers and dreamers. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: How do you wish to bloom?

The first few words that came to me were: spirit, good health, opening, loving.

I love the idea of blooming, I wish to bloom in good health, self-love and spirit. Blooming in these areas will lead to opening in all areas of my life, my relationships, my creativity, security, my body and so much more.

I would also like to explore my spirituality in self and community and let that bloom. I feel like I am looking for that connection to spirit.

I wish to bloom creatively through giving myself the time and physical space to be in creative space. I am changing over a small room into a combo library and art studio with the intention of making that an environment where I can explore my creativity.

Only 9 more days to the end of Tax Season...yippeeee!!! I look forward to getting back to my projects and I have the urge to clear the clutter with some spring cleaning.

All the trees are blooming here and the colors are so soft and beautiful.

I look forward to checking in and seeing your wishes today.

Namaste,
Karen