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

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to take a break from?

Image: http://allabtpj.blogspot.com/

Hello my fellow wishers and dreamers. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: What do you wish to take a break from?

Well as some of you know I have struggled with anxiety and I think in this modern world who the heck hasn't.
Well I would like to take a break from that worry and such. I would like to have faith that things are going to be ok that all is going as it should and to be at peace with where I am at this time. I think this will help me live my life to my fullest potential.

All this worrying feeds into my insecurities especially about myself and my relationships, for once I would like to wake up and feel good about myself and my place in this world. I would like to feel secure in my marriage and in my own self even when there are issues to work on, to be ok if things are a little shaky. I think I need to sure up my own personal security so I am not always looking for it externally.

And lastly I would like my inner critic to take a break, a long extented break! ;-)

Another great wishprompt this week. Thanks Jamie!

I have been very busy at work (accounting office) and have not had as much time to comment and blog but I would like you all to know I have been checking in on your blogs even if I have not had the time to comment as I would like, I look forward to reading about your wishes today.

Namaste,
Karen

The Happy Book Blog

Hi.
I am participating in Jamie Ridler's Studio book blog, "The Happy Book" until the book arrives we are sharing happy moments from our week. Here are my happy moments this week:

Getting my Gaian Tarot Deck. I have loved Joanna Powell Colbert's work for awhile and was so excited she did a full deck, her art work is beautiful. Below is a pic of some of her cards. Click on the above Gaian link for a look at all the cards, they are worth the look.


We are enjoying the above normal temps here. The sun is shining and the bird songs are becoming more frequent, spring is in the air. Here is a picture of my puppy waiting for my husband and I to play fetch with her.


I was happy to have some time to play in my Round Robin Art Journal that Carmen over at Writing from Life has put together. The Theme is "Art Saves" this is my first attempt at mixed media canvas art journaling. I put in a picture from Klimt because I love his art work.


I am so happy that tax season will be over in a few weeks, I am grateful for the job but the workload and hours during tax season creates an imbalance to my days, it is work, stress and then come home and basically veg out since my brain is so tired.
I look forward to a more normal workflow soon.

I am so happy my Mother in Law's back surgery went well and she came home this weekend, she is doing great and looking forward to a full recovery.

Wishing you all a happy week!

Namaste,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday:What do you wish to pay attention to?

Image: Google Images

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

Wow another big wish and so important. I am squeezing my wish in from work, which is in an accounting office and has been so busy I have barely had time to blog.

I know I am lucky to have a job and I am happy for that but I am unhappy with the stress right now, which leads me to something I need to pay attention to: MY BODY and how it reacts to stress. With all the stress at work coupled with some personal stress at home my body feels like it is in a constant knot. My stomach is clenching all day, which then activates my heartburn. I need to pay attention to the signals my body send me and tend to my health. During stressful times I tend to gravitate towards carbs and sweets, which then makes my stomach feel even worse.

Some other things I would like to pay attention to are:

My reactions to others moods. I am a very empathic/sensitive person and when people are in bad moods I always think "what have I done" even though I know it is usually NOT about me, it is just that I feel it so strongly. I need to build those boundaries instead of just getting overloaded emotionally which then just shuts me down and then I am no help to myself or others.

My time and how I spend it, I say I am busy and have no time but.. the reality is I am sure I have a good 6 hours of time before or after work and I could allocate some of that to creative/nuturing endeavors, even if it is just 1 hour.

My story that I tell myself about myself. I would like to stop the old tape that keeps running in my head the one I tell myself and others, the one that says I am damaged and don't feel worthy of love and good health. It is in my power to end that story and start a new chapter, one of healing and love.

I have to run now and get back to work but I look forward to reading your wishes later tonight.

I leave you with this Irish Blessing this day.

An Old Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

Namaste,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to say no to?

Image: Google Images

Good day my fellow wishers and dreamers.

Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is "What do you wish to say NO to" here goes:

I wish to say no to the following:

No to fear and anxiety that stops me from living a full life.

No to relationships that make me feel bad about myself. ( I can do that all by myself, thank you very much)

No to the stress that is creeping in to my life right now. I am so busy at my office (accounting firm) that I feel like I can barely breathe. I need to set some boundaries there and take some time outs.

No to letting my creative projects just sit gathering dust just because I don't believe in myself.

No to the critics voice in my head that has so many thoughts about me and my life, it needs a binky or something!

No to food that adds more unhealthiness to my life.

No to old coping behaviors that keep me stuck and frozen in time.

No to things that drain my energy and leave me depleted.

Ok, I think that is enough no for now. Boy those came alot easier than I thought they would considering how I have such a hard time saying no ;-)

I hope I can visit you all today and see what you are saying no today, it may take me today and tomorrow with my workload so busy.

Have a beautiful day, the birds are chirping now and spring is on it's way.

Namaste,
Karen

The Happy Book - what made me happy this week.

Hi All.
I am participating in the Happy Book Blog with Jamie Ridler and her merry bloggers.

I have had many challenges this year thus far and I actually did not post my happy week last Friday, I was finding it tough to see the happy moments in my life.

This week though the stress of work and some family health issues are still happening I really wanted to take some time to think of the happy moments.

So here are some happy moments from my week:

1. Having some girl time with some friends, just chatting over a few drinks, it was a nice stress reliever.

2. Playing with my puppy Bella, always makes for a happy moment.



3. Just standing outside letting the sun beam on to my face, it has been so cold, snowy and dreary here the last few weeks I was truly happy to see the sun come out.



4. Hearing the bird songs getting louder each morning, a sure sign that Spring is right around the corner, and the days are getting longer another sign.

I hope you enjoyed your week and I look forward to reading about your happy moments this week.

I leave you with this sunny song:

Here Comes the Sun

Namaste,
KAren

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to give yourself time for?

Image: Google Images

Hi my fellow wishers and dreamers.

Today over at Jamie Ridler Studio's the wish prompt is: What do you wish to make time for?

With my work (accounting office) getting so busy this time of year, I really feel like my time is consumed with work and it is throwing me off kilter this year, since in the off-season there is so much free time and then bam tax season comes and I have to make this huge time adjustment so....

The main thing I want to give myself time for right now is the time to remember to breathe. In and out and in and out.... The stress builds so when you forget to breathe.

I am thinking of waking an hour or so earlier so I can get in some creative time before work because right now when I get home I just want to eat and then my brain just wants to not think much. This includes time to check in with some e-courses and art projects I am involved in. I figure if I schedule even a 1/2 hour a day I can get some creative time in.

Tax season will be over mid April and by then I will be able to sit down and really think about organizing projects and such.

Lastly as always I wish to give myself time to be present in my life and within my relations with others, no matter where I am in that moment.

So what are you wishing to give yourself time for today?

Namaste,
Karen

Did you ever have one of those days, weeks, hell years!

Image: Google Images)

Hi!
I am just having one of those days/weeks/years...Please humour me as I vent just a wee bit.

I feel like I am constantly on overload and then shutting down. It is so frustrating.
I want to learn/do so much and then I overwhelm myself and end up shutting down, darn unproductive I tell you.

Then of course there are the anxieties and the gremlins trying to tell you that you are not good enough and will never be this or that and I want to just give them a cookie and tell them to go to bed!!

I have been in a funk, CAN YOU TELL??

Trying to slowly work my way out of it, baby steps....trying not to feel the guilt of shutting down a bit, sometimes things in life trigger old emotions and coping patterns and you just have to unknot them like tangled yarn. I have to just remind myself to untangle slowly or it is likely to take twice as long if I go too fast.

And then to add icing to the cake, my period comes a week early with cramps from hell and then my puppy won't pee this morning, making me late for work AND I hit my head on the car door frame getting into the car!!! I think I should just find the humour in this and laugh my ass off, care to join me?

I know in the grande scheme of life these are small things but sometimes it helps to just vent a little and move on.

I actually feel a little better, thanks for listening!

Namaste,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday:What do you wish to give yourself permission for?

Hi fellow wishers and dreamers.
Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is What do you wish to give yourself permission for?

WOW Jamie that is a BIG one. So many women I know speak of having that internal permission needed gene in them, myself included, where it comes from I don't know.
Maybe it was put there by our families or society, who knows but it is a pain in the arse.

So in a world filled with wishing the things I would wish to give myself permission for are:

1. Permission to be ME, the me that is not out to please anyone but who does the right thing for herself. I am not talking about selfishness, I am taking about doing what feels right to you not going against your grain to please someone else.
2. Permission to create and explore my creativity and to not feel like it is a waste of time, that is not my true voice saying that.
3. Permission to speak my words, to be heard, not to feel ashamed or embarrassed by my sensitive side or my anxieties. To know what I feel is true for me even if it does not fit other's ideas of reality.

You know I think I am going to stick to 3 for today, there are many more things I can add, but these are 3 big ones. I will let these sit and be wished upon for a bit.

So my fellow wishers what are you giving yourself permission for today.

Namaste,
Karen

Blog it Forward: What inspires me?

Hi.
I am participating in a blog it forward mash up created by Victoria over at SFGIRLBYBAY
and the prompt is "What Inspires You"

I am inspired by so many things and people I will try to organize my thoughts here to list a few.

1. Nature: I am so inspired visually by nature, the colors, the textures, the sounds, all of it. I am especially drawn to trees, here is a mosaic of some of the pics I have taken of trees.
(click picture to see detail)


2. Blogging and the blogosphere, I have met so many wonderful people here through e-courses and blogging in general. I am daily inspired by their creativity, courage, wit and humility as the deal with life's ups and downs. I am especially grateful to Jamie Ridler over at Jamie Ridler's Studio. I have met many wonderful bloggers through her Wishcast Wednesday and Full Moon Dream board group, and it just goes on from there you meet someone and then find someone else through their blog. It is overwhelming at times keeping up but I love all that I have seen and heard.
There are too many blogs to list each one here but the ones I read and visit I thank you for the inspiration.
I have also met many bloggers through these e-courses:
Mondo Beyondo: The safe space and community that Jen Lemen and Andrea Scher have created over at Mondo has been a blessing, Unravelling (see #3) and Leonie's Goddess School: the magic and creating going on over at the goddess school is so cool. These are the e-courses I have completed I have some others in process that I will write about when I finish those classes/projects.

3. I have been very drawn to photography and poetry lately. The two sites I visit regularly for inspiration on photo taking and poetry are:
Susannah Conway over at Ink on My Fingers and Jen Lee over at Jen Lee. I had the great experience of taking Susannah's Unravelling E-Course and I can honestly say it has changed the way I look at myself and the world around me. I have also met some wonderful people in the class that I am honored to call friends. Jen Lee has been such an encouragement to me in getting me to write, just writing anything simply by saying to me, "What is the Worst that Could Happen if I Let Myself Move This Pen Across Paper?" Thanks Jen.
The best part is that I will be taking "live" classes with both of these amazing women at the Squam Workshops.

A favorite poem from Rumi:

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don't go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want
Don't go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don't go back to sleep.

4. Music, Dance, art - love all styles, rhythms, beats, there is something to be found in all of them.
Here is a great Flamenco Video.

5. And for fun I have to add Johnny Depp to my list because to me he is an inspirational actor especially in the way he gives his all to his characters.
There is something soulful about him and well he IS Johnny Depp!



I now blog it forward to Design Candy, for your blogging viewing pleasure.

Namaste to all,
Karen

The Happy Book - What made me happy this week?

Hi Happy bloggers..Over at Jamie Ridler's Studio I am participating in "The Happy Book" Blog group.

I am sneaking this post in from work, it is so busy here now. I work for an accounting office so the next 2 months will probably be a little crazy.

The things that made me happy this week were:

Attending Jen Louden's Virtual Retreat:

This was an audio retreat with about 10 or so hour long sessions with different speakers, I tuned in live for about 6 of them and then we can listen to the others whenever we want.
Here is what I wrote about it after the weekend was over:

"Thank you again Jen for creating and holding this retreat space. I had no idea what it would be like to participate in an audio retreat, I have only done live or video before. I had various other activities over the weekend and I thought fitting retreat time in was going to be difficult or the weekend would feel like it went by too fast.. Well the odd thing is my weekend seemed longer and more restful than most and I think that is because of the times I spent in live retreat, it actually slowed down time for me.. very interesting.."

I will write about this retreat more on my blog when I have processed it all.

Another happy moment was coming across this man through another bloggers site:

Alvin Toffer: On the wikipedia page this is the quote that really made me happy, happy in the way that it made me think and feel about myself, especially since I have been made to feel bad about being emotional by some in my life.

Toffler explains, "Society needs people who take care of the elderly and who know how to be compassionate and honest. Society needs people who work in hospitals. Society needs all kinds of skills that are not just cognitive; they're emotional, they're affectional. You can't run the society on data and computers alone."[4] Toffler also states, in Rethinking the Future, that "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."

Another happy was finding this book "The Awe-manac, A Daily Dose of Wonder" by Jill Badonsky.
Here is a brief description of it from amazon:

"A playfully practical guide that’s a refreshing twist on the revered Farmer’s Almanac, The Awe-Manac provides daily forecasts and directives to help readers make life more creative, amusing, gratifying, and extraordinary—every day of the year! Through 365 days, readers are encouraged to think more brilliantly, laugh more often, make art or write creatively, and simply add a lot more “awe” into daily life.
Brimming with Jill Badonsky’s colorful, whimsical art, and filled with fun features like “Soul Vitamins,” “GlumBusters,” “Daily Toasts,” and “Doses of Mirth,” The Awe-Manac will be an enchanting “companion” throughout the year—a perennial guide that invites its readers to find the joy and amusement in every day."

So what were the moments of happy for you this week?

Namaste,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday:Where do you wish to make a difference

Hi my fellow wishers and dreamers. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is "Where do you wish to make a difference?".

This is a very hard question for me because it brings up feelings of anxiety in me at the thought of having to actually do something.
Making a difference requires some kind of action and I have become used to living my live in RE-ACTION which actually consists of a lot of in-action followed by a burst of action in response to a situation or a crisis.
This served me well at times in my life but now I am trying to break away from that pattern.

So this brings me back to the question, "Where do you wish to make a difference?" I would love to make a difference in the lives of other women by sharing my story and being witness to their stories, just letting them know and at the same time reminding myself, that we ARE NOT alone out here in the world, there is compassion and understanding to be shared.

Since I don't have my own children I would also love to make a difference in the lives of my nieces and nephews by supporting them and letting them know they are loved and they have my arms to hug them in good times and bad.

The other place I would like to make a difference is in my environment, my home, my marriage my relationships by showing up and being present in the way I treat the people in my life and also the way I treat the world in which I live.

So my fellow wishcasters where would you like to make a difference?

Namaste,
Karen

Happy Valentine's Day

Wishing you all many chocolate hearts today!

Here is a fun, cheezy blast from the past love song:
I Think I'm in Love by Eddie Money

And here are some romantic kissing scenes with a Harry C song.

The Happy Book - What made me happy this week

Hi!
Over at Jamie Ridler's I am participating in the book blog "The Happy Book"

This week while I wait for the book I will share some happy moments.

The Big Happy of the Week was a SNOW DAY smack in the middle of the week, school's closed, work closed, no one on the roads, it was bliss. Here are some pictures for you to share in my happy. The last one is an art project I am working on, I was able to spend some time on that during the snow day, extra bliss.

What were your happy moments this week?

Namaste,
Karen

CLICK ON PICS FOR A LARGER VIEW

Wishcast Wednesday: Where do you wish to Travel?

Image: Rachel Mallino The wishing tree.

Hi fellow wishers and dreamers.. This week over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: Where do you wish to travel?

I think I have a few answers to this one...

The first is quite literal, I would love to TRAVEL period. I am working on my fear of flying and when I overcome it I would love to travel to California, Seattle, Washington,Austin(TX), Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain...to just name a few ;-)

The second not quite so literal, I would love travel into the past and steer the younger me in a different direction a few times, now I know the person I am is a direct result of where I have been and I am doing pretty good so somewhere along the line things did go right. The thing is that I would love to save that young girl some hurt. This is just wishful thinking because I am grateful for who I am and where I am and in reality changing something would make me a different person.
So instead I would just go back and comfort that girl and let her know things are going to turn out ok.

And lastly I would love to travel the depths of my imagination and embrace the creative well that is there just waiting to be explored. I could start by keeping a dream journal, our inner critic tends to be turned off while dreaming.

Just one more thought on travelling, there is a wonderful blog called "The Hermitage" by Rima who is an artist, her and her partner are travelling through Europe in their four wheeled house selling their art. It is a wonderful blog and it even starts, "Welcome Travellers".

Thanks again for a thought provoking prompt Jamie!

So my fellow wishers where would you like to travel?

Namaste,
Karen

Creative Process: Space Spray painting

Hi!
It is always a pleasure to watch someone in creative process.
One of my friends had this posted on her facebook page, very cool.
I hope you enjoy.

Namaste,
Karen

Spray Paint: Space Painting

The Happy Book - What made me happy this week

Hi! Over at Jamie Ridler's Studio I am participating in the Happy Book Book Blog. As we wait for our books to arrive we are checking in each week and giving a shout out to what made us happy this week.

So for this week some things that made me happy were:

1. Eating Chocolate pudding GUILT FREE as I was recouping from a pulled wisdom tooth.
2. This song: Let it Rock - everytime I hear it I want to break out in dance. This is the best version I could find on youtube. LET IT ROCK
3. Creating my Full Moon Dreamboard. Click on picture for better view. I really gave myself the gift of time on this one, I spend hours on the process.


4. Surprisingly happy moment, joining in on the rant over at Suzie the Foodie's blog. Who would have thought venting would lead to a happy moment.
5. Finding out that I got my first choice classes at The Squam Art Retreat. I signed up for Susannah Conway and Jen Lee's classes, I can't wait.

These are just a few. To my surprise I listed some happy moments that I found surprising: turning getting my widom tooth into a happy moment with the chocolate pudding, finding a happy dance beat within a song that has rap, which I don't always like and finding happiness in ranting about a situation in my life that is a source of unhappiness.

I was so glad to give myself some moments in creative space as I have not done that for awhile. I joined a few different classes online and then I just did not give myself the time to do them. Funny how I can find plenty of time to veg out on the couch to the boob tube but not to create. What the heck am I afraid of, and I do feel like it is a form of fear that keeps me from creating. Well that is for another day because this week I did give myself some time to create and next week maybe I will make some more time.

The Happy Book is already working it's magic and It is not even in my hands yet.

What were some of your happy moments this week?

Namaste,
Karen