2012-05-10T19:04:55-04:00 lifetype-1.2.10_r6971 http://www.lidiascherart.com/blog/rss.php?blogId=8381&profile=atom Copyright (c) tag:blogs.artspan.com,2012-05-10:33997 2012-05-10T19:04:55-04:00

I was reading an interview with Wayne Dyer about his new book, Wisdom of the Ages: 60 Days to Enlightenment . The interviewer expressed amazement at Dr. Dyer's description of the ...

Spiritual Art I was reading an interview with Wayne Dyer about his new book, Wisdom of the Ages: 60 Days to Enlightenment . The interviewer expressed amazement at Dr. Dyer's description of the fast process he used in writing this book. He explained it by using Patanjali's thoughts on inspiration"--how when you're inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all of your thoughts break their bonds…your mind transcends limitations and your consciousness expands in every direction. Dormant forces, faculties and talents come alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be. And I was inspired. I was literally in the world of spirit." I worked all morning to complete a door protector for a client. I had started it before and had been unable to move forward. This morning I felt different. I felt as if the painting had a bigger purpose. As I was painting I felt enveloped by all kinds of contradictory emotions. I felt turmoil, some sadness, sweaty palms...I also felt elation, excitement, a rush of adrenaline and joyousness. I knew I was connecting with my client's pain and I wanted to help her ease the pain. I kept praying that what I was creating would help her...and others. I felt strong, powerful and with a strong purpose I have with my work.”And I was inspired. I was literally in the world of spirit." I later found out that her father was near death far away and she was rushing to be with him and her mother. Instinctively I took the painting and started again chanting the prayer I had written on the canvas; OM PADMO USHNISHA VIMALE HUM PHAT, the Wish Fulfilling Mantra. This is a very powerful mantra, which is said to grant the blessing of receiving the things that we wish for. In fact, the mantra itself is so powerful that simply knowing it is already a blessing. In the Ksitigarbha Dasacakra Sutra it is written that whoever sees, hears, remembers or touches this mantra, will be purified of all negativity and gain freedom from rebirth in the lower realms. By now, my thoughts were breaking their bonds…my mind transcending limitations and my consciousness expanding in every direction. Dormant forces, faculties and talents came alive and I saw myself to be a greater person by far than I ever dreamed myself to be. I sat quietly and Patanjali's words about inspiration, read long ago were dancing in my head. I felt empowered to help as many people as I can to learn to heal. To learn to love, forgive themselves and unite in forgiveness of everyone. Then, I stumbled upon the interview with Dr. Dyer! The most amazing part is that just before I sat down to journal, I found the words to the OM HANU PHASA BHARA HE YE SVAHA mantra, said to have the power to purify negative karma, just by seeing it. I feverishly copied the words and incorporated it on a new painting I started. I feel great, powerful, beautiful, loving, whole, and I am determined to move forward with my dreams. I know what I have to do. CLEARLY. I am inspired. I am with Spirit, ALL. tag:blogs.artspan.com,2012-03-05:32313 2012-03-05T10:30:27-05:00

“Begin with nothing until you have considered how it is to be finished”, was written in my fortune cookie the other night. I kept it but put it aside. The sentence did not quite sit ...

Spiritual Art “Begin with nothing until you have considered how it is to be finished”, was written in my fortune cookie the other night. I kept it but put it aside. The sentence did not quite sit comfortably. In clearing out space for a new commission, I found it under a pile of stuff. Immediately I knew why it did not sit well with my experience. Knowing the final shape of what I am about to create is so contrary to what I am about to do. In  A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle writes that the optimal stages of being are acceptance, joy, and enthusiasm.Living in any other state tends to cause suffering for oneself and/or others. He emphasizes that enthusiasm is not the most constant state, but that is necessary for the birth of ideas, projects, new pathways. Once that is underway, generally joy takes over and, depending on the circumstances, acceptance is most likely a state we may be in as we continue to nourish the “project”, modify it, move away for a while to gain perspective, or even decide to abandon it. In my experience, I have never even consider how I will finish any of my pieces. In fact, I generally cannot judge the merits of what I finished until I gain the “morning-after” perspective. As I look around for other examples of birthing, the first one that comes to mind is my most physical experience with it. I knew I wanted a child. I had no idea what he would look like when finished! From conception to the most beautiful rainy day in May, when he was finally out of my womb, my husband and I planned many things, including a warm bath to immitate the feeling of the womb. As he lay on top of my chest and looked at me, neither him nor I wanted to be separated. It was like..so,..that is what you look like! He is not even finished, he continues to grow and change. Now at nearly 33 and a father himself, he looks and acts like nothing I could have considered.The only thing I needed to consider is that I would be able to support him as he was starting out in the world. I had a job, a partner, and the enthusiasm for forecasting the best of circumstances. So is with anything I want to birth. It starts witht enthusiasm. I want to create something. The feelings are not foreign to wanting to mother. In my paintings, I want to say something without speaking. I am not sure how it will grow. I can feel the seed of something new deep within me and I have a deep desire to play with visual objects, with the texture and feel of the paint and the surface or the space. All I need to consider is time and space. It is irrelevant if it will be finished. It is a primal desire to create. The hows simply show up. I go to the art store, or I take a walk, or I read something, or a heard someone speak a random sentence. Back in the studio, somehow it all gets incorporated. In the end, the piece gets seen, someone wants it, or sees something in it and commissions a more personal one. If not, it stays in my basement waiting to be seen another time. I accept for was born and abide in joy. The experience was deeply rewarding. For those of you practicing the Law of Attraction, birthing anything is a wonderful teaching tool to make your dreams come true. Start with a deep desire to manifest your dream, but only focus on what you want to say with the dream. This is the birth of enthusiasm. Brainstorm, chat, read, meditate, go window shopping or actual shopping that will contribute to the manifestation. Stay in that enthusiasm and consider what time you will dedicate to the necessary tasks, the doing part. Never disregard the BEING part. Let joy take over and do not worry how is to be finished. Accept when it is not working. Step aside, allow time to review, re-group and again let new enthusiasm take over. I promise that the morning after will reward you with the success you need, even though it may not look like what you thougth it would! Good thing that I have Adam (my son)! tag:blogs.artspan.com,2012-03-02:32259 2012-03-02T20:03:39-05:00

    The last meeting of 2011 with my sangha (spiritual community), was as usual, very heart warming. This group of women dedicated to learning, growing spiritually and ...

Spiritual Art     The last meeting of 2011 with my sangha (spiritual community), was as usual, very heart warming. This group of women dedicated to learning, growing spiritually and supporting each other's growth is quite remarkable. Some of them have been part of my life for many years. Some have been seating in my living room couch for just under two years. We lost the men a long time ago. Some come from nearby, others make the weekly trek from very far away. Last night we shared insights on how "the many faces of the ego" played in our every day life as well as thoughtful gifts ranging from great food, to great thoughts, to carefully selected items that informed of our love and commitment to each other. As shared experiences are the centerpiece of our weekly sessions, today I am sharing this year's gifts with all of you.   One of the greatest gifts I received is the permission I gave myself to paint for the sheer beauty of the experience. I learned to Play with Fear. Along the way, my world re-arranged itself to reward my enjoyment. I am happy, I am grateful for my work, my family, my friends, my clients, my colleagues, my neighbors, my vendors, my home, my garden, my indoor plants, the weather changes, the music I hear, the television I do not have, the choices I make, the diets I have embraced and my fluctuating weight. I am thankful for those I often spend time with and the people I no longer do. Because I learned to accept and play with Fear, today I stand at the doors of the temple of Light.   I accept that all that I have been and done it is and has been just perfect. I have done my very best given my understandings at the time; whatever I saw as truth. I know that it was and is just right, because all of it has served me to be who I am today. And while I may have inadvertently hurt some and I am regretful, I have nothing to forgive myself for. I have seen that there was deep learning in all of it. I accept full responsibility for feeling needy, demanding, loving, caring, boastful, wanting, experimenting, pushy and remorseful, brilliant and stupid, kind and blind. Above all, I am aware that I am always riding my bicycle.   In control of my handlebars, I don't always understand who crosses my path at the moment, or the full import of what I am experiencing within and without, but I know that it is happening in the "movie script" I created with my thoughts, my beliefs and therefore my behavior. I pay attention and make connections. I search for the nuggets of learning. I sincerely apologize to others and myself for my incorrect perceptions and see that I embrace that I am here to learn and create and that this is my adventure, my journey. I accept that "perfection" is an unnecessary ego-driven desire and that the only way to engage in learning and growing is playing with a full deck of cards and diverse company at the table. I fumble, I put out my cards, I see what others put out and I Play With Fear.   Playing with Fear is accepting that I may not be right, that the game I am in may not be what I am ready for now or ever; that the partners I am with may not be the ones I will complete the journey with and at all times, honor my feelings. I have the power and responsibility to change course, to put out a new card, to be on the next ship and to reflect and re-assess directions. I drive my vehicle and like on the road, I need to mind my manners and drive with presence or I may cause harm for myself and others.   Today I am "poised for greatness", as Mike Dooley puts it. I am standing in my greatest accomplishment; being the best student  of my school of Life. I know I can only work on myself and cannot change anyone or keep them from making my mistakes. These are after all, my mistakes. I also know that I do not have the right to interfere in another's learning path for I do not know what is best for them. I can help by accepting those in my life just as they are in their journey, offer love and presence within the relationship. I can help and not enable. I can love and not expect love back. I can share Light and not wait for another to keep it bright and shining. No attachments and no aversions, the Buddha taught. Play with Fear and dare to enjoy this moment because it is the only one I have!   What wonderful gifts I received this year. Patiently I await the blossoms of the seeds I planted this year. Enter the Temple of Light, Play With Fear and have Happy Holy-Days now and forever!