Frida Kahlo - An Icon & Goddess

Frida Kahlo - 1907 to 1954, is one of my icons and a goddess in her own right, for whom I have great admiration - view this You Tube video, which has images of her life with some cool music too. 

Someone asked me why I love Frida so much, and her work...and I have done quite a bit of reflecting on this lately... Obviously I did not know her, but from what I have read and seen, on the surface I love her because she is so colourful, flamboyant, wild...I imagine her to be frank, bold, boisterous, compassionate, passionate, moody, emotional, imaginative, loving...I find myself deeply respectful of her journey in life; her determination to conquer life's tests, she showed great courage to succeed over not succumb to her life's pain.  She'd probably be quite opinionated, a social justice advocate, a feminist..all of these things are what I imagine her to be and for which I admire and strive towards in my own life.  Over the years she has had a great impact on many people, particularly womyn in the world, myself being one of them.

Embracing 40 - Another new door opened

I turned 40 last week and am embracing every moment of it...this will be the year I will wrestle less with 'trust' and accept the present moment, roll with the punches, leave worry behind the closed doors behind me...my wise friend, Rhonda said once, that 'worry is negative prayer', how true this is and how this treasure of wisdom has resonated and echoed over and over again in my mind over the years.  I accept that I have no control over a lot of things in life, and instead allow myself to accept the journey I am on and know that I am less than perfect, such is most of life, that in all our imperfections we are so BEAUTIFUL, natural, and connected to each other.  This will be my 40's, embracing all that I am connected to, feel and share the compassion and love more, accept more, just 'be' more.  This is my gift to me and in turn this is my gift to all those around me that mean so much to me.  Compassion, love, acceptance.

Summer Camping Days bring to mind ......

days by the water, in the water, watching and playing with water...When I was a child, my parents would often plan camping trips in and around the Southern parts of England and other lovely parts of the Britain, including Wales and I even remember some great camping trips to France. Now with my little cozy family of 3, we have ventured a few times over the course of Maya's 8 years on some of our own camping trips.  This year after a bit of a hiatus from this summer time adventure, we decided to go on a bit of a camping get away....what heaven it was to just get away from the hustle and bustle of the everyday grind, (cliche I know, but it is so true),...we were lucky enough to get a camp site at the Cypress Lake, Bruce Peninsula National Park and it was such an awesome get away...it really felt like the world around us had been boxed away and we could just immerse ourselves in being away.  It was a time to read, to play games, to have campfires, make smores, go for hikes, eat and sleep, just stare at the stars and get away entirely from the all the things that we think we need and can't live without, but in actuality we can. Who would have guessed that my daughter would have said, yep I can live without the t.v. if I had too...just a great reminder to turn it off a bit more when we are home.  

I absolutely relished her zeal about hiking the trails, up to the grotto, climbing rocky trails and then playing in the lake.   These are the days we will remember, these are the things that life is made up of..and too soon we forget this, while we spend each day figuring out a living....Camping reminds me to just 'be'....to accept what is and let go of what will be, for I really do not know what is around the corner...I truly felt at peace, still, calm and more connected to my family, myself and life in the moment during this time...and today I found myself in a bit of a blissful hazy pace as I went about my day with my daughter and her best friend Allison.  Not a bad feeling to manifest more of....

Blessed Friends & Family - Lovely Summer Days

Birthday Divas - Cancerian Goddesses...what a lovely group of womyn to share a birthday sign with....My sis, Tina, Rhea, my sister-in-law and Cheryl, a great friend....and then there is lovely little Ella, a Cancerian wanna be...Thanks Honey for the lovely birthday cake.

Lambrina and Brett, a lovely couple, and blessed friends..thanks for your friendship and support.

Dida (my mum) and Ella (my neice)-- enjoying the BBQ.  My mum, my personal hero...a great womyn to aspire to be like. 

Cute little Ella, always the jokester.

Friends admiring Cheryl's creations.  Leigh (dear and lovely friend), Joanne (healer and magnetic friend) and Cheryl (another kindred creative diva).

Water spray...cool shot Bryce and Michelina.

Noah (my nephew, big brother to Ella) in action...and the other Noah in action below.

All soaked, chilled and having loads of summer fun. 

Noah and Noah...new friends.  All dried off now.

What a lovely after "artshow" bbq party..thanks Jeff, for the great BBQ feast, and friends and family for all your support and help with the take down at the show...what a lovely summer party.   Thanks to my friend Tracy for sharing these lovely photos....

Walking a 'labyrinth' - opening the heart.

Did you know that walking a Labyrinth is an ancient and spiritual tool, for prayer, meditation, reflection and finding your inner voice?  I found this to be true after walking the labyrinth at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre of Guelph.    Labyrinth's can provide answers where you had been seeking them before, aiding you in finding voice and strength.  Recently I had the pleasure of joining three wonderful facilitators, Jill Davey, Lorraine Gane and Debbie Danbrook at a wonderful workshop called, "Journey to the Heart, Pathways of Sacred Connection."  What a wonderful day this was, between the soulful Shakuhachi flute sounds,  the healing, flowing  and gentle yoga meets dance movements, and the meditating walk into the Labyrinth, while manifesting and releasing my heart's intentions... this whole event was very grounding and centering...and I believe it had a direct impact on opening up my right brain, expanding those creativity spaces.  What joy I found myself experiencing days after in the studio playing with colour, paints and expressing emotions through my creations.  Thank you universe.

Ancestral Stories Continued - New Work

"Heart Answer" - 7 1/2 x 16, Encaustic Mixed Media Collage - This piece about, how if we seek answers, our heart knows...so I have been spending time seeking my heart answers.

"Heart Doorway Open "- 12 x 24, Encaustic Mixed Media Collage.  This is about closing one's eyes to see, to truly feel what your heart is calling.  Lately I have been wondering more about 'my calling', what is it? what is the purpose of my art and for whom will it benefit, besides myself?  This piece came directly out of this meditation, my heart is open to find the answers.

"Going Deeper" - 12 x 24, Encaustic Mixed Media Collage - This piece is also about seeking answers outside of the ego, the left side of the brain that holds the ego worries...letting that go, getting out of the brain more and into the heart to feel, see and understand what the 'calling' may be.  I have incorporated photos of both my grandparents, from my mum's side, my dida, Meera Dakshy and my dadu, Amarandath Dakshy.  For whatever reason, I feel an attachment to them, though I did not know them...they died in a horrible train accident in 1946 in India....leaving my mother at the age of 8 years old and her two surviving siblings orphaned.  For this reason, I think I feel attached to them...as if I would like to hear their stories, give life to the stories, celebrate who they were.  

A Breakthrough of some sort and loving it!

Here are some recent pieces I've completed for Art in the Yard, this weekend...I have been having a blast with these..it is as if a window, a gateway opened...and I feel like I am finding my way, my legs to speak...hope to see some you there at Art in the Yard.

Rebirth 41 - Follow your bliss!

Here is my latest commission piece, I thoroughly enjoyed creating this piece.  The whole time I thought of Jennifer, and poured into it positive healing energies...dancing with the music in my studio, enjoying a colour scheme I don't usually gravitate too...I am so looking forward to seeing Jennifer open it.

In many ways these healing energy words, grace, gratitude, transformation and resiliency found a way into my heart and soul...what healing power is gained from creating in this fantastic studio space, what blessings I am filled with and am so grateful for this opportunity to bask in this transformative process.  Embracing each moment and each day.