WINTER 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.

Carol Lorraine

You are alive only when your eyes can see Life, which is Love.

don Miguel Ruiz from The Mastery of Love

Our theme this month: Feeling alive: Being LOVE

Table of Contents
1. Welcome Notes from Carol
2. Inspirations from our Creative Community with New Resources to Share section
3. Article of the month: Attune to Love by Carol Lorraine
4. Alive! with Transformational Art~MANDALAS for unity and wholeness
5. Feng Shui for the Holidays by Diantha Harris
6. 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 and Seasons Greetings for Peace and Love to you,

My wish for you is that in this busy season you make time to slow down and enjoy the quiet depth of winter. The winter solstice is upon us, a time to honor the darkest shortest day, and to prepare for brighter days to come. All of Nature slows down to be more quiet, so if you follow her lead you might spend some time in silence listening to the whisperings of your heart.

Diantha Harris gives you more ideas for this in her article about Feng Shui for the holidays. Or try meditating on one of the mandalas in the transformational art article.

Enjoy the creative magic of the season's colors, twinkling lights, festive goodies and Nature's splendor.

May you feel the joy of being alive and in love with life!

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:

This is an inspiring site with wisdom, music and beautiful photos.

http://www.llangley.com/yoga/wisdom/rightnow[2].htm

From Linda Nichole Carrington, of Spirit's Wisdom tm
Where Spirit, Wisdom and Action Meet
Coaching, Consulting, Training, and Intuitive Readings www.Spiritswisdom.com

Letters from readers:

A beautiful Thanksgiving poem written by Colleen Keegan, a Healing Facilitator and Life/Mentor Coach in Boulder, CO

I Am Grateful for You

I Am grateful for you…Here you are, another part of me
You teach me things about myself and the world
Those things that I know
Are the bright and dark sides that we share
About holding on and letting go
That peace is within …surrender, if we dare
Had you not entered my life I may not have known about all the gifts…that I own
Your creativity, your compassion, your ability to love
Your confusion, your pain and your fears
Are all mine as well.
You are a beam of light reaching out
To join the other shining rays
And together we are one…Bright Sun
Co-creators in celebration of life
Joyful souls dancing and singing, even in the rain.
I Am grateful for you…You have helped me to learn
That I Am You as You Are Me
And I embrace what I see
Your glowing spirit and humanity…that just… want…To Be…
Perfect just the way you are
And warm in my heart.You are my teacher… and
I Am grateful for You.

Colleen Keegan, Ph.D.Catalyst for Change Life and Well-Being/Mentor Coach
colleen@changeforsuccess.com
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3. Article of the Month: Attune to Love by Carol Lorraine

You are alive only when your eyes can see Life, which is Love says don Miguel Ruiz in his powerful little book, The Mastery of Love.

How is your attitude these days? Are you feeling grumpy, low energy, focusing on what's not working or what's wrong in your life? Feeling worried, trapped, afraid, wondering why me, or if only...?? If any of these sound familiar, and you want to feel different, then stop and adjust your attitude. With our attitudes we construct our own entrapments.

When we choose to attune to our love for life, for self, and for others, we feel joyful, fulfilled and alive! Love is the key and driving force of the universe. Enjoy a love affair with yourself and notice how your life changes. Self-love will show up as self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-respect and enjoy the reflections you experience.

Love every plant, animal, rock and blade of grass, drop of rain or snow and see what happens in your life. Rejoice in your life and have compassion for yourself and others. Accept yourself right where you are now and see how your attitude changes. Move with the universal flow, freeing your heart. Use your heart to love what you do. Use your head by being clear of your intentions.

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4. Alive! with Transformational Art--Mandalas, Symbols of Wholeness and Unity by Carol Lorraine

Spirit Art Mandala by Carol Lorraine

Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning circle. It has been used for centuries in Native American, Hindu, Tibetan Buddhist, and medieval Christianity as a meditative focus for spiritual transformation. A mandala is a circular symbol of wholeness or unity. Circles are found everywhere--in flowers, plants, foods, the sun, moon, crop circles and planet earth itself.

This mandala was drawn before I moved to Hawaii in answer to a question I asked myself about what was the next step in my work. Spirit Art was my answer and I saw this image in my inner eye. The mandala image guided me and now I work as a transformational artist painting and drawing Spirit Creations that I intuit for others. Each mandala or silk piece is created while I am in meditation and focusing on the client. Mandalas can be helpful in a variety of ways to aid in healing and centering.

Each of us is part of the great mandala of creation, a mandala in the making, a mandala that we can shape with our love and live with a smile.

— Joan and Miron Borysenko

Trained by visionary artist, Judith Cornell, author of the beautiful book Mandala, I offer mandala-making at workshops and retreats.

To see more mandalas, click on these links.
Mandalas & Masks! Awakening Images: The Visionary Art of Ellen Epstein
Karin Bauer's Mandalas

Choose a mandala and spend about a minute looking at it. Let it "speak" to you, noticing what you see, feel, and sense while doing so. Please feel free to share your experience with us for the next newsletter and enjoy!

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5. Feng Shui for the Holidays by Diantha Harris

Some of you may know about Feng Shui, the Chinese art of placement. For others this may be new. I received this article recently from Diantha Harris, a Feng Shui practioner and thought it so timely that I included it in this issue. Watch for her article in our Spring issue that will give more general information on Feng Shui.

The holidays are the season that traditionally teaches and reminds us of the power of unconditional love. The holidays teach us about the power in giving, AND in receiving, and of the flow between the two.

Like the concept of yin and yang, giving and receiving seem at two opposite ends of the spectrum. However, if the giver has no one to whom to give, he cannot be a giver. Conversely, if the receiver has no giver, he cannot receive. Both need each other in order to manifest their desires. One is not more important than the other----they are equal, like two children on a see-saw, the interchange is complete only when both participate.

Many of us struggle through this season. Too many expectations, not enough time or money to accomplish those tasks we set out for ourselves. So how can feng shui help?

First of all, be sure that you haven’t "cluttered" up your calendar. Indeed, it is in times of stress that we most need that quiet time alone. So be sure to include enough quiet time to attend to your needs. When those needs are filled, you can then be truly present to the rest of your life.

Secondly, energize your relationship (compassion) and career (self) corners or guas. This is the time of year we have been told it is better to give than to receive. That is true to a point, but we also must open ourselves to receive. Often, especially for women who are traditionally and culturally the givers/nurturers, receiving is something we are uncomfortable with or even unable to do with grace.

Toward that end, allow for quiet time as above, but also honor yourself by energizing your career/self corner. This is the area in the center of whatever wall your front door falls on. So place something near your front door that really pleases and greets you as you return home. Perhaps it is a photo of loved ones, or a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers, or a treasured Holiday decoration.

For your relationship corner, if it makes sense, place your tree or main Holiday decoration here. Or use the relationship corner of your living room, family room or great room. In your bedroom, place two white or red candles in the relationship corner. When you light them state your intention for relationship whether it be personal or for something as broadly focused as world peace. I suggest you light them every day during the Holiday season even if only for a few minutes, just to energize and bring light to your relationships, on all levels. (The relationship corner is the far right corner of every room as you stand in the doorway.)

Once you have energized these areas, release your expectations and judgements. Things that come your way may look very different from what you expect. I have a great personal story that I’ll share sometime but for now, just trust that this is true.

If any of these areas are missing, place a mirror on that wall to visually extend it. If you live in a warm climate get some golf tees, paint them red, then stick them in the ground to energetically finish the corner. For those who live in colder climes, or who are apartment dwellers, the mirror will do the job for now.

Feng shui can truly work wonders in our lives. But it is not a cure all or fast cure if we aren’t doing our own inner work. Feng Shui works best and fastest for those who are working alongside it on their own inner landscape, thus setting up an etheric and spiritual giving and receiving relationship. Feng Shui will give to us what we are open to and willing to receive. And what we can give to Feng Shui are our clear intent and efforts.

Diantha Harris, FSII, ASID, IACT
Vibrational Therapies including Akashic Records, Color, Sound, Feng Shui, Space Clearing & Healing Touch
lifepnet@aol.com
website: www.lifepnet.com
312-707-8610
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6. 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