power sign

when I was a part of the Toltec Community - we learned that everything could be seen as a power sign. We wore a symbol on us to remind us to "wake up". I wore a necklace with a sword on it. Others wore a ring or something. It all meant the same thing. When we looked at it - hopefully it would snap up out of being "asleep".
Being Asleep meant we were believing our own mind. We were taking things personally, making assumptions, holding resentments, being angry, feeling like we weren't enough, or we were too much. You know, all that inner dialogue we believe about ourselves and our surroundings. It's all garbage. And we think it's the truth. Then we punish ourselves by how we treat ourselves or by living small - or trying to be bigger then others. It's a living hell.

After 5 years of devoting my life and work to that community and practice of " waking up" I decided to leave and go off on my own and start my photography business and practice the tools in my life without signing up for more Toltec Workshops, or weekends. It was for me like leaving a church I went to regularly.

Life was really ok for a while. But little by little I started to allow the beliefs to win out again and I didn't have the same practice I had before to shift my awareness quickly away from fear and back into love. I'm so glad I had that experience. It helps me to understand the importance of community, or of having a place to go regularly for spiritual input. If it's just me - I tend to spin out a bit.

So I decided to head back to 12 step programs. I had gotten my spiritual start there 20+ years ago. Again, I find a community of people all looking for and living in the solution. The answer to internal suffering is simple, yet profound when you are addicted to drama, sadness, depression, and your story. What if that story didn't exist?
Anyhow - my point in all this? Just that the feather in that photo above reminds me to wake up. It's a power sign. It's something out of the blue that catches my attention. I use to collect them. Now I take photos of them. It brings me back to a time when I was new to the Toltec Practice and trying to figure out what the heck the teachers were talking about.
In my life today I realize that all it takes is a moment - a shift in perception - a contrary action - taking direction from another person who may have "been there", and being open and taking action.

I don't act out the way I use to 20 years ago. The drama is much more quiet. Both internally and externally.
The feather reminds me of where I've been and how far I've come and to stop believing the fear based thoughts and beliefs and return to love.

p.s. look at all the potential 4 leaf clovers - talk about power signs!

I needed this!

Another video I found on Superherodesign blog. I love this so much and is a perfect touch for the holidays. Our artwork is our gift to ourselves and to others. Check this out and tell me what you think of it.

thank you

Looking at all the holiday cards we got this year and feeling filled up with friends and friendship, family and meaningful relationships.

Thank you for putting me on your holiday card list. It means a lot, and feels good to see you in our home in some small way.

and YES that is a paw shaped christmas stocking for our cat next to the ones for us humans. It's actually her hanukkah stocking. And it's filled with cat treats. she gets one per night. Last night she got a red bouncy fuzzy ball to chase around the house. And yes she became a kitty on crack and sped through the house with that little thing! It was hilarious.

yesterday I remembered that happiness comes from expressing Love OUTWARD. Not from what you do for a living, what people do for you, not what you wear, eat, where you live, the car you drive etc. Just loving. I learned this from Miguel Ruiz when I was a part of the Toltec community. It's nice to shift back to that place of Loving and not worrying so much about what other people are doing or not doing. Or judging myself for doing or not doing this or that in my personal and professional life. I can get caught up there. For a while I was feeling pretty low. It was all based on expectations and assumptions and taking thing personally. Now as I sit here this morning after seeing a handful of great friends last night and hearing the solution, I feel uplifted again and remember that all it takes is a shift in perception.

The way the sunlight lit up the cards this morning just made my day. Not just as a photographer who chases light around, but as a person who sometimes needs a very obvious indication that all is alright in this moment.

The cards remind me of you. And that makes me feel filled up with Love.
So thank you!

Sending Love back atcha.
xox

little bean

iphone photo from our nature walk.scavenger hunt.

happy hanukkah!

I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!!


Happy Happy Hanukkah!

seeing spots

Another photo from my walk with Jerry a few weeks ago. This one I took at the Kidspace Museum which I didn't know existed until we roamed around the area near the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center. The Museum was along a nature trail. Look at how cool that window is. It gives you a tiny idea of how amazing this place is from the outside. I can't imagine what it's like on the inside.
I'm sure when our little bean enters the world we will be heading over there to take a look inside.

what I found on my walk

A few weeks ago Jerry and I got up early and went on a walk near the Rose Bowl. I had my iphone and took some photos with it while we walked. I was inspired by Andrea Scher and her blog Superherodesigns.com. it's the first time in a LONG time I thought about taking photos at all. So glad that she posts the way she does. So raw and real and open. I love that about her.
So what I found along the path on our walk - was my eyesight! Seriously. having my camera ( even though it's a phone ) helped me open my eyes and notice. I love that about photography.
here is the first of many photos I took as I LOOKED.
I felt like I was on a scavenger hunt instead of a walk.

not a new photo series but....

I've been working on and off on a baby blanket since June. I was pretty invested in knitting in the first trimester of my pregnancy and then I wasn't. That's how I am in general with my creative inspiration. It comes and goes and I just have to be on alert when the juices start flowing. Well 7 months later and the blanket is finally done. I ran out of yarn on the LAST row and found some left over ribbon and decided to see how that would work. I really like how it turned out. I took a photo with a onsie on the blanket that my friend amy sent to me - so you can see the size of it - relative to a newborn baby. I can wrap him up in it and he can use it for a while before it's too small. I almost wish it was larger but - I can always start a new one!

Now that this one is done I'm on to figure out how to make a baby sweater. I picked up the yard this week and plan on taking a class to get some pointers. Looking forward to it. It's all part of my creative outlet. Photography, knitting, cooking, baking, printmaking. oh yea, every time I think about printmaking I want to dig into it even deeper. Take classes, print print print, look at other artists prints, make handmade books with my prints in them, sell my prints, put the prints onto t-shirts. etc etc.
Might be a new direction for me. But I've also been dreaming of creating a new cupcake and baking them in small batches on the side to sell in the area. Cupcakes and printmaking. God that sounds delicious. YES? Oh and of course pinhole photography.
That love will never die.

I love dreaming. Don't you? Especially when wrapped in a handmade blanket!
What are you dreaming about?

Wisdombook.org

© Andrew Zuckerman

http://www.andrewzuckerman.com



please click on the link for Wisdombook.org and watch the mini movie.

So inspiring!!!

Have a wonderful Thursday !

xo



©

prop 8 - the musical with Jack Black, John C Reilly, and more!

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0cf508ff8/prop-8-the-musical-starring-jack-black-john-c-reilly-and-many-more-from-fod-team-jack-black-craig-robinson-john-c-reilly-and-rashida-jones

napili bay - my favorite beach on the planet

My favorite day in Maui.
Look at it!!!!
No waves ( this is a PLUS for me! )
clear water
serene
calm
easy
perfect
beautiful
wonderful
smooth
relaxing
fun
meditative
wait wait wait..........wait a minute!
That's what my life is like right now!
So that photo represents my favorite beach and it's a metaphor of my life here right now!

i'm so lucky!

polaroid love

Gazing at the sand and the water......

funny how polaroid shifts the color. The sand was definitely not this yellow.