FALL 2002
We connect with the source of our aliveness when we connect with the awe and wonder of life; when we experience the bliss and fullness of our own being in each and every moment.
Our theme this month: Feeling alive: Being in the moment
Table of Contents
1. Welcome Notes from Carol
2. Inspirations from our Creative Community with New Resources
to Share section
3. Creative Tip of the month: Creating a Daily Practice that Supports
BEing in the Moment by Denise Byron
4. Alive! with Transformational Art by Carol Lorraine
5. Schedule of Creative Events and Retreats
1. Welcome Notes
Welcome to all! Thank you for passing this newsletter along to others you know who would be inspired by Alive! With Creating. This is a private list which is never given out or sold to others. To unsubscribe, hit reply and put unsubscribe in the subject line. To read back issues, check out my website at www.selfimages.com/newsletters. You will also find articles on creating that you can download for free.
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Hello Everyone!
I just returned from a wonderful month long trip to the mainland
where I visited northern and southern California and Santa Fe,
New Mexico. Besides the trunk shows that I did for my hand-painted
silkwear, I experienced heartwarming connections with friends
and family and enjoyed the adventure of traveling to new places,
as well as reconnecting with my birthplace.
I was struck by the dramatic beauty of the high desert in Santa Fe and Taos, so you won't be surprised when you see these influences in my silk paintings in the coming seasons. The sky was SO blue and the aspens SO yellow as fall was in the air. Nature's beauty and essence continues to be most inspirational to my creativity.
Traveling always provides me with opportunities to learn more about myself, how to be at home anywhere, and to stay balanced. In Santa Fe I picked up a book to read on one of my flights by Eckhart Tolle called Practicing The Power of Now, Essential Teachings, Meditations, and Exercises from the Power of Now. It is a companion book to the bigger book, The Power of Now. It has been one of those especially influential books that I highly recommend. I find my creativity heightened by these exercises as I enjoy the blissful feeling of being deeply rooted within myself. As I learn to reclaim my consciousness from my overpowering mind, I experience vast amounts of creativity and aliveness, deep stillness, inner peace and joy!
There are many paths that can lead us to our passion, aliveness, and creating. I hope you enjoy this issue on Feeling Alive~~Being in the Moment.
May you feel the joy of being alive this fall!
With warmest aloha from the Big Island,
Carol
2. Inspirations and Resources from our Creative Community
LET'S SHARE and INSPIRE EACH OTHER! Please send me YOUR creative
writing, articles, poems, stories, songs or experiences of your
creativity.
(To inspire means to be infinitely in spirit)
Resources to Share:
From Stephen Simon~a newsletter on Spiritual Cinema, he reviews
movies with spiritual themes. Email him to subscribe at
stephen@mysticalmovies.com
Thanks to Beverly de Gero of Jarbidge, Nevada for this resource~
Hope Magazine, inspiring people, encouraging change. A bimonthly
publication with uplifting articles about people and their creative
life projects. Hope Magazine
Letters from readers:
Hello Carol Lorraine!
Your newsletter is wonderful! And your passion fills all the empty
space! Keep creating.
love and light
john
Wow Carol, fabulous....great way to begin the day!!!
Much love to you,
Kepola
Carol,
I so enjoyed the part of your (summer) newsletter on passion.
That is a perfect description of it....especially because it
is so difficult to describe to someone else!
My son, Andy is experiencing passion....jewelry making....Wants to stay focused and has incredible energy to see it through, putting all else aside. Here is his website. http://www.humboldt1.com/~growth/
Take a look! I am so proud of him!
Love, Jayne
Hi Carol,
Thanks for your wonderful newsletter! Passion IS so important
to understand in our lives...I truly know mine, it's dance and
I just had an amazing experience with it. I performed for 2 nights
with a group of African dancers and drummers led by a choreographer
from Guinea West Africa. Just rehearsed for about 3 weeks and
truly amazed myself with how well I did with such complex and
fast moving choreography. The drumming feeds my soul and although
I was the oldest of 7 dancers by 10 years, I felt like a 30 year
old on the stage...
Peg
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3. Creative Tip of the month:
Creating a Daily Practice that Supports BEing in the Moment
by Denise Byron
Emerging from the summer and moving into fall has given new life to some daily practices that are essential to my spiritual, emotional and physical well being.
After spending three months this summer in a fiery cauldron, with dense smoke choking our valley and asthma and anxiety choking my body, I realized that an alchemical process was at work and was calling for change. It was time to let go of some old habits, patterns and beliefs. What arose from the cauldron was not new, but stronger and more polished versions of tools that were already in place in my life, waiting to be used to their fullest.
Morning pages have worked for me for five years now; and during the summer, I really needed them as a way to pour out my frustrations. Writing is a form of meditation for me and a way of clearing out the gunk that accumulates in the many levels of my being. Writing every day is not for everyone, but some version of journaling promotes processing and ultimately greater relaxation. Writing is a very in-the-moment activity. While we might muse over past events or dream of the future, the act of writing is in the here and now. Our mind, heart and soul can come together in these moments. Setting aside time for written or artistic journaling confirms for our spirit that we are committed to our path of living fully.
Any form of meditation is also vital for healthy living. Every morning and sometimes throughout the day, I choose to breathe deeply and focus on how my body is feeling, connecting with my guides and the Divine and then letting go of daily concerns. Whether I do this for five minutes or an hour, my day is much more centered with this practice. There are many forms of meditation and it's worth trying as many as feel right to you. I've recently enjoyed breath meditation and loving-kindness meditation -- both supported my healing and growth in powerful ways.
Just as Julia Cameron promotes in her book, Vein of Gold, my daily walks have supported my emotional and physical health immeasurably. During the smoky summer months, I could not be outside and my body, mind, and spirit sorely missed walking through the park near my house. Now, I have the pleasure of taking in the fall colors every day and I feel much more complete and balanced with this relaxing and energizing time, focusing on the moment as I walk.
Since life is continual change, winter will be here soon and while I can bundle up and walk, I may choose to spend a bit more time inside. With that in mind, I am cultivating another daily practice, yoga. As a yoga student for many years, I've attended classes on and off, gathering the benefits intermittently. I now understand yoga to be an amazing teacher, a way for me to connect with my body, mind and spirit, being fully present in the moment. I look forward to some time every morning of stretching and poses, knowing that if I choose, I can utilize yoga as meditation and exercise.
Feeling alive for me means cultivating daily practices that bring me more into the moment, more in tune with my body, my mind and my spirit. I feel more energized and ready for what comes. Practice is just that -- engaging consistently. Given my humanness, I often stray, but now know that coming back to my daily practices is a way of life for me.
Denise Byron, Certified Professional Coach and Writer, lives in Southern Oregon
Vision Your Life offers intuitive-based services that support
you as you connect with your spirit and the deeper resources available
to you.
Website: http://www.visionyourlife.com
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4. Alive! with Transformational Art--Wearable Art by Carol Lorraine
Art comes in many many forms. Some artists call themselves visionary, transformational, or vibrational artists because this is what their expressions are created to do...allow the viewer or wearer to experience themselves differently because of the vibration that is put into the art piece. This comes from the intention and consciousness that the artist creates from. The more conscious and aware, the higher the vibration. The higher the vibration, the more joy, love and inner peace. Focusing on being present, noticing how you are feeling now, creates a more awakened or conscious state of being.
These visionary expressions are really very old and more recently are being reawakened by artists everywhere. They use mandalas, sacred geometry, color, and sound. These ancient healing and vibrational tools are put together in a unique way to create an image that holds a specific vibrational pattern that awakens and expands one's consciousness.
We have had articles on color and sound in the past and in the upcoming issues we will share more about mandalas and sacred geometry and you will be introduced to some visionary artists and their work. I hope you will experiment with these artforms because it is your experience that is important, for you to feel creative and alive.
I call my transformational art-to-wear silks Spirit Creations. Each one is intuited for the person who is ordering it. We begin with a conversation by phone or in person, so I can get a feeling for the person and where they are in their lives and what they most need right now. In meditation and using my inner vision, I then choose the colors, textures and forms that I sense will support the person's growth. The following is an example of one client's experience.
I am thrilled with my special Spirit Creation, a soul essence sarong created with Carol's intuition and talent. Not only is it beautiful -- full of vibrant color and fluid movement, it's sacred energy is tangible. I often use it in my work, placing it on the chair where some of my clients sit during our sessions together. Looking at it reminds me of who I am and that I am a part of something much larger. The feel of it is very expansive and I think of the Universe and my connection to the Divine. When I travel, I often take it with me to use as an altar cloth or to lay on the bed or furniture wherever I am staying. I like having the beauty of it with me as well as its energy. My cat also likes it! :-)
From Susie about her Spirit Creation cape:
What a difference it made not looking at it from a strictly fashion point of view. I spent quite a bit of time over the weekend with my spirit creation. I was on retreat and really used that time to sit with it. It now feels very personal and I really don't want to share it with anyone. It helped me to stay grounded. I was on retreat with 75 people with disabilities so I needed some extra strength. It was just what I needed. I slept with it on my bed at night. I meditate with it on in the morning to get the feeling of it. Thanks so much. I think I am getting the idea of how I am supposed to be using my new gift to myself. I am sure I will grow into it.
Then Susie became creative when she made an accessory to go with her Spirit Creation:
A friend told me about a great shop that sells beads and she made herself a bracelet that was very powerful and meaningful for her. I went there over the weekend and did the same for myself. I chose the Indian red, green, violet, yellow and teal (like in my Spirit Creation) for my bracelet. It has this amazing feeling. It feels very much like when I am wearing my cape. There is a lot of change in my life right now and it is helping me stay grounded and connected at the same time. Thank you again for the beautiful creation. I hope to meet you when you come to the mainland.
So try this out for yourself using one of your favorite garments. Put it on and ask yourself how you feel in it? Wear it for a day and notice how you and others respond to the colors, shapes and symbols on it. Try it with something you don't like. Look in your closet and purge those clothes that no longer "speak to you." When this happens, you have probably gone through some changes in life and those clothes don't match your vibration any longer. Let them go. Get dressed each dayby scanning your closet and noticing which colors call to you. Then observe how your day goes. Then let us know your experience and enjoy!
Carol Lorraine Designs
See my latest hand-painted silk artwear, Spirit Creations. Click
here Gallery of Designs to go to my online gallery.
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5. Schedule of Creative Events and Retreats
Personal Customized Transformational Retreats in Hawaii with Carol Lorraine and friends--For PEACE OF MIND, and SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
A rare treasure is locked within Hawai'i....On hidden levels
it waits...to
be tapped only by those who can truly see...with the inner eyes
of the soul.
It flows as the legendary "Water of Life" that spirals
and channels in
varying rhythms through all things. For there is nothing that
isn't alive....
Kristan Zambucka, author
These retreats can be arranged for any length of time according to your schedule and budget. Just call or email me and we will design your very own heart singing retreat. They can be for one or more individuals or you can bring your own group. You can choose from a variety of rejuvenating services from dolphin swims, massage, aromatherapy, integrative bodywork, watsu, creativity, visits to sacred sites, rituals, and Alive! with Vision spiritual and creativity life coaching. You will enjoy a transformational journey you will always remember.
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Thank you for being a part of our creative community.
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at you back,
May the sun shine warm against your face,
May the rain fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May the spirits hold you in the palms of their hand.
Irish Blessing
Warmest Aloha and Blessings of Peace to You,
Carol