Running (Painting) at the Speed of Light
I picked up a brush. Using paint leftover on my palette, I blocked in a young Cheetah cub and some golden ochre rays of grass. I had imagined the "Cheetah Running" image in my head quite awhile before actually painting her. What will she become?
I set her aside, gradually adding to her portrait as the months went by. One day I placed her far away on the mantel piece to view her from a distance. Paintings present themselves from far away as well as close up and personal. Light, color, shade, and raw energy are all needed for complete unified wholeness.
How like life?
As I gazed at the spotless unfinished Cheetah youngster, I noticed some faint rays of white light brushed in below her feet with random brushstrokes. It looked as if she had an invisible companion on her journey, teaching, leading? I stepped nearer to take a closer look.
I took my brush again and whisked in the invisible helper guide making the white light slightly more visible.
Now the Cheetah cub had direction, she seemed to smile at the unseen presence. Now! Spots can now be painted on her youthful body. I made the spots "dimmer" on her feet and legs to suggest dimensions of fluid and frozen light that download into solid forms. I felt like I were looking through windows into the invisible.
The finished Cheetah cub presented herself for viewing. "Mom! She looks like a photograph from National Geographic." Edging closer to view, the white light form makes a subtle appearance.
Invisible to Visible? How? Through vibrations (sound-word) and unseen light, downloading to visible? What are Colors and how do we perceive them? Unseen dimensions (* branes-universes) we feel but do not (yet) see?
** Smiling, I remembered author Jasper Fforde wrote about a "color based economy" in an imaginary world in Shades of Grey.
*** Standing on the Edge of Time....
What is going on? I feel like I'm swimming strongly upstream but floating peacefully downstream at the same time?
I remembered words from a friend:
"Are you the same as your paintings?"
"I don't know, I never thought about it?"
"The paintings, I feel, are messengers from unseen dimensions coming into solid paint from thought-forms, dreams, or 'light bulbs' of inspirations."
"They feel like children being born to me. I free them to be themselves as they take ever changing turns in their colored lives. I am open to painted surprises! I release visualizing completed finished pieces. I release control of texture, color, line, darks and lights. Each painting has intrinsic life and energy (qi), an individual frequency or frequencies, a life story timeline all their 'own.' What can these painted gifts teach me?"
"What is inspiration?"
"Incoming spirit."
**** "When you are inspired, the qi (energy) feels different," He, Weiqi, Tai Chi Master
Richard, a writer, told me, "It's like you pick up a frequency band or beam. It's either there or not there. And if it's not 'there' you can't make it happen!"
Painting qi (energy) feels different from writing qi, both balance each other in an interplay of colored words. Intuitive qi (everyday spontaneous life) is also uniquely alive with feelings (Yin) and actions (Yang).
Way to Glow!
Sound, Water, Light, and Color = Harvest
The Daily Inbox:
***** You are accepted,
accepted by that which is greater than you, and the name of which you do not know.
Do not ask for the name now;
perhaps you will find it later.
Do not try to do anything now;
perhaps later you will do much.
Do not seek for anything.
Do not perform anything:
do not intend anything.
Simply accept the fact that you are accepted!
After such an experience we may not be better than before, and we may not believe more than before.
But everything is transformed.
In that moment, grace conquers sin, and
reconciliation bridges the gulf of estrangement.
Paul Tillich
"Remember that when you leave this Earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received, only what you have given: A full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage," St. Francis of Assisi.
Related Posts:
Tonal Vision (The Power of Music) and What Kind of Animal Are You? (Jan 2011), See Spots Run (Mar 2011), In the K(now) and T-I-M-E (Dec 2011)
Resources:
* Brian Green, physicist, string theory
program: Welcome to the 11th Dimension. PBS series, books and more
** Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde, a fantasy romp with color, "Technology from another time litters the landscape...."
*** Lyrics from song Mandy by Barry Manilow
Other Songs: Love is the 7th Wave, by Sting,Your Wildest Dreams by the Moody Blues, and Salisbury Hill by Peter Gabriel.
**** www.taichi18.com He, Weiqi is a Yang Style Tai Chi Master and Sword Expert. She helped create 18 Form Taiji Qigong (Shibashi) with Lin, Hou Sheng, a Qigong Master. This form can be used by itself or as a warm up for Tai Chi practice. 18 Form is practiced by millions of people world wide. Free DVD downloads for personal practice from Sifu Wing Cheung who studied with the creators of the form.
***** Paul Tillich, writes about Acceptance. If I had written these words, I would edit "grace conquers sin" to "grace enters."
http://imaginehealing.info with Joel P. Bowman, Ph.D, and Debra Basham, CHTP, NLP, HTt, RMT enhance personal healing for yourself, others, and pets.
www.scs-matters.com Debra's New book, Stories From My Heart
http://dbasham.blogspot.com Read More
dahlis.roy@gmail.com Request free PDF illustrated E book Silver Butterfly, Create A Vision: Awaken Your Creative Spirit.
Images:
Running With The Speed of Light, oil painting by Dahlis Roy
Rainbows of Light and Gull on Weko Beach,
photos by Dahlis
* "Motion Creates Energy~
Stillness Creates Calm," Colin Orr
Mystery Crane
I viewed Debra's crane photo taken in Florida. The title of the photo was Mystery Crane. Who is the Mystery Crane? I absorbed the energy and motion of the crane. Later, I painted her based on memory just for fun. When my son, Rob, saw the crane he pointed out, "Mom, you've painted the pyramid of Egypt in the background. I
call her, 'Bird of the Nile!' "
The painting rather looked like she had been painted or carved into rock. She floated by with intent, wading in a sea of glass-crystal. I let the painting happen, free of preconceived notions of what she might become. I wanted to add more light on beak and feet, but silent intuitions whispered, "Leave her alone!" Sunlight caught the texture of the paint-rock, a living experience with "flowing" solidity coupled with fluidity of heart-mind.
White Crane Spreads Wings
This movement in Tai Chi calls us to become the crane. This summer Paul and I walked to the nearby pond in the evenings to breathe in wildflowers and grasses, hear bullfrogs chant, and watch ducklings grow. One evening there was a White Heron Crane there along with a Great Blue Heron! The young white one saw us and took off with a splash, circling first near us then folding his neck back into a snake-like form as his strong wings propelled him past us and into the distance. His wing span made him appear much larger in flight than when he was standing quietly in the pond. Excitement!
Imagine! Seeing a white crane so close and personal! I remembered seeing a "V" shape of twelve white very large Whooping Cranes flying overhead in my front yard when we had just moved here years ago. They called to each other as they circled overhead. I shivered, cranes bring luck and direction in life.
Another evening at the crane pond, Paul and I saw a Wurdemann's Heron crane, a hybrid of a Great White Heron and a Great Blue Heron. The head and neck are white, while the rest of the body is a blue grey. We had seen him last summer, as a young crane. This year he had matured to prime of life. There was a small darker grey female crane hunched in the water near the reeds. She watched as the larger crane proudly paraded in the water. I love to watch the crane's feet while they glide through water.
Cranes step slowly with mindfulness like Buddhist Walking Meditation practitioners:
** "What if every step you took deepened your connection with all of life and imprinted peace, joy, and serenity on the Earth?"
On a later walk, we saw the White Heron stalk and catch a fish in a flash! Patient stillness then swift striking motion catches dinner in an instant. We didn't take a camera to capture the White Crane, but he is etched in timeless happy memories.
"All the time is a once in a lifetime opportunity."
Related Posts:
What Kind of Animal Are You?
Universe Shadows of Cranes
Double Vision, Two cranes are better than one
The Immediate Rabbit (July 2012)
Resources:
* Colin and Mitzi Orr, Tai Chi Qigong Centre for Health, Gorleston by the Sea, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk U.K.
** Joel P. Bowman, Ph.D, and Debra Basham, CHTP, NLP. HTt, RMT help create your healing experiences.
Walking Meditation by Paul Crompton, Intent Leads Energy.
** Walking Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh, mindful walking is peaceful mental and physical meditation.
Dr. Yang, Jwing-ming, The Essence of Shaolin White Crane, and more books and E-books by Dr. Yang. YMAA.com
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist , Author and Tai Chi Instructor
Images:
Bird of the Nile, oil painting by Dahlis
Wurdermann's Heron Crane, photo by Paul
Crane Sketch by Dahlis
"Is the sky really a different color or are the changes within you?"
Paul questioned me, shaking me out of a daydream. Then I remembered:
Once Upon A Rainbow
A few years ago during a quick mid morning thunder shower, Rob and I noticed a rainbow forming in the Northeast sky. Excitedly, we ran outside inhaling heat and humidity, rainwashed with freshness. Lingering sprinkles touched us as we waded through the soaked emerald grass.
This rainbow was a different shape? It was like a staple, with a flatter top, different from a "bow" shape. The colors were muted rather than flickering bright. The most notable hue was the pink area along the bottom edge of the configuration. How did we come to view a rainbow with "pink" in it? Where does the pink come from? Both Rob and I saw the table top rainbow with the pink band. We didn't even grab a camera. We just enjoyed the moment until the rainbow faded into mist as the sunlight moved away.
Fun With Color
I grabbed some paints and, without brushes, colored in a bit of emotion. I used tissues to "block in" the colors and added some swipes of rain. The "green sprinkles" perhaps suggest an evergreen tree canopy or who knows what. Rob thinks the green spots resemble kitty paw prints on a windshield. Picture done, no brushes to clean!
Reflecting, some years ago I wrote:
*The Rainbows Edge
Intuition, I sensed an inner nudge on my shoulder, and for unknown reasons, I walked to the front bay window where the drapes were drawn shut during the silver lightening rainstorm. I parted the curtains for a quick peek. I leaped up with joy. There was a wide, bright big-as-life rainbow in the sky. I turned quickly to sprint upstairs. Wildcat Chessie stared at me balefully from her perch on the dining room table, wondering what all the fuss was about. Her silent mint green eyes followed me.
The rainbow painted the sky like a giant prism. I could almost feel vibrations of the colors. I wondered what colors I would be? In the past. I would paint cool and aloof green-blue-purple. Recently I'd added much needed warmth to my life spectrum with red-orange-yellow rinsing my water color dreams and paintings.
I opened the window and breathed in the humidity of passing thunder, feeling the cool freshened breeze fan my chest. I watched the clouds and rain fade and recharge the rainbow three times against the backdrop of the bruised sky.
Flashing back in time, I viewed again my first rainbow in Richmond, Virginia. I sat up tall and watched it out of the back window of an ancient dark grey car. The rainbow burned bright in my four-year-old mind like a package of Life Savers candy. Lime green was my favorite color flavor. This rainbow was almost as bright as the candy logo itself, shimmering with vibrant light like a Claude Monet painted moment flung out against the sky.
Now from the open upstairs window, as I watched the rainbow and cloud parade, I thought about wonder and glory of the universe. Picturing my energy field, what colors was I radiating? I thought about the immense amount of qi (energy) required for painting, the thunderbolts and lightning experience that is the highest voltage I know (for now).
Tai Chi Moments
My son, Rob, mentioned, "Tai Chi is more than exercise, it enters your whole life. As you progress in Tai Chi, it can help you see and feel differently, a new perspective." I remembered when Rob and I showed Tai Chi to a group of friends. Rob also demonstrated the baseball pitcher's wind up using brush knee left (the wind up) and push out right hand (the throw.) Later Rob added, "And they clapped for us!"
One day as I was unloading the dishwasher using a sweeping motion to lift plates up into the cupboard, "Mom, that's Tai Chi!"
Walking Through Time
Leaving no trace, I painted imaginary pictures in the rain-washed clouds. Tai Chi opens new dimensions in life painting. The storm broke, danced, cleared forming pastel strokes of light brushed with knowing fingertips. The sunset's soft grey was shot with palest blue and deep apricot, then deepening to rose-peach. As I watched, colors faded to silver-grey, a time-lapse memory in my moving picture mind. Brushes, colors, lightening and thunder were painting a Tai Chi panorama, creating a new vision with my life!
Related Posts:
Lavender Blue and Patterns (June, 2012), The Little Chessie That Could (Sept 2011), The Pink Blanket and Phantoms (May 2011), and Catching Up (April 2011)
Resources:
Walt Disney's Fantasia (1940), Various classical music pieces are set to colorful cartoons by Walt Disney's Visionary Artists.
The Pastorale, A Day in the Country, (Beethoven's 6th Symphony) segment brings in artists' visual images from The Greek Myths. Lively Centaurs, Fauns, Flying Horses, Unicorns and more frolic then brave a storm. After the rain everyone views Iris, spreading the rainbow across the sky. Sunset follows with Apollo driving his fiery chariot, a feast for eyes and ears.
The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron, points the way for creative thinking and expression.
www.scs-matters.com
http://imaginehealing.info Joel P. Bowman, Ph.D. and Rev. Debra Basham, CHTP, NLP, RMT help develop your intuition and healing potential. Debra's New Book: Stories from My Heart
* dahlis.roy@gmail.com The Rainbows Edge and more is included in free illustrated PDF E-book: Silver Butterfly Create A Vision, Awaken Your Creative Spirit
Images:
The Pink Rainbow and Beach and Sky details of oil paintings by Dahlis Roy
Chessie in the Woods, photo by Paul
"The success of the students is the most important measure of how effective the teacher is," Dr. Paul Lam
What makes a memorable teacher in any field?
Communication, Inspiration, Empathy
Dr. Paul Lam introduces the art of teaching Tai Chi and communicating with students. These principles can also apply any field of teaching as well as applications to interpersonal relationships in all areas of life.
Teachers of any subject including Tai Chi and martial arts will also benefit from Dr. Lam's wisdom and knowledge. Perhaps a teacher can pick up Tai Chi practice for increased centering, focusing, and health benefits? What better way to teach students along the broad spectrum from quantum physics to visionary creative arts?
** "Science and Art are One," Henry Adams
* What Makes A Good Tai Chi Teacher?
Dr Paul Lam
Many Factors make a Tai Chi teacher effective. Effective teaching takes time and experience, like the art of Tai Chi, the art of teaching grows with practice. You will become a more effective teacher with experience and the willingness to learn. The essential components of effective teachers include knowledge of the art; understanding how your students learn and their objectives; adequate preparation; and the ability to communicate and inspire without intimidating students.
The success of the students is the most important measure of how effective the teacher is. To assess the value of any work, one must first look at the end result. And it's important to define the end result accurately. For example, in the case of an athlete training for competition, the true end result is not necessarily about winning the competition although that can be part of it. The most important end result is the progress of the athlete in terms of his or her physical, mental and emotional growth.
For a Tai Chi teacher, how well your students have learned; how much they have achieved in their goals; how much interest they have developed in Tai Chi; how much they have benefited; how much they enjoy the art, and how frequently they practice are all important components of the end results.
Once the end result is defined, then the teacher should look into the objectives of the students and how they learn. These will form the basis for the teacher to work out a teaching method. For example, there are three main types of sensory learners: the visual, the auditory, and the kinesthetic learners. When teaching a group, chances are there are all types of students, so a teacher should develop techniques to use all three methods in order to achieve the desirable outcome. The teacher should describe the movement for the auditory learners; demonstrate for the visual learners; and do hands on work for the kinesthetic learners.
Yin and Yang in Stained Glass?
Based on ancient Chinese philosophical understanding of nature, harmony, and balance, Tai Chi is an art with great depth. This can be applied to being an effective teacher.
The law of nature is a balance of Yin and Yang, which complement each other. Maintain balance, growing internal strength and harmony are the essence of Tai Chi. In a combat situation the, Tai Chi approach is different from most other martial arts. It's not confrontational in the sense that blocking and punching back, faster and stronger win the day.
The Tai Chi approach is best expressed in the technique of pushing hands. Let's say your opponent throws a punch toward you. You use your hands to touch and "adhere" to the approaching arm, feeling the incoming force and at the same time yielding to it. Yielding is not admitting defeat. You still maintain your balance and center. Yielding is moving backward intentionally without compromising your strategic position, at the same time, absorbing part of the incoming force. Once you understand the direction and property of the incoming force, you can then redirect it away from its intended target. As you redirect, you can add your own force, and select your own way to gain control of your opponent. In a blow-to-blow combat, the winner could sustain injury for blocking a full incoming force. Whereas in Tai Chi approach, you can gain total control without injuring yourself.
This is true for real life, too. Instead of shouting back when someone shouts at you angrily, take a step back to absorb the incoming anger, survey the situation, try to understand why the person is angry. As you do that, the person's anger will most likely be alleviated from your yielding and willingness to listen (being absorbed). once you fully understand the situation, you're in a much better position to work out a more positive outcome for both of you.
I use this technique to resolve some major life challenges....I was able to use the yielding method successfully. In fact it took an immense amount of yielding and redirecting but we were able to work out a way...to achieve...objectives peacefully.
To apply this technique to teaching, first step back and listen to your student. Find out why her or she wants to learn Tai Chi, and then establish an appropriate teaching method. Once we understand what we want to achieve, it's easier to get there.
Dr. Paul Lam: Achieving Goals
Related Posts: Universe Shadows of Cranes, steps to achieve your goal by Dr. Paul Lam (Mar 2011), Catching Up (Apr 2011) Travel Light With Tai Chi (July 2012)
Resources:
* www.taichiforhealthinstitute.org Dr. Paul Lam is a family practice physician in Sydney, Australia. He travels the world to promote Tai Chi for Health programs, empowering people to receive benefits of Tai Chi practice. Free newsletter, articles, research, self-teaching DVDs, music Cd's, E-books, find and a certified instructor in your area. You Tube, Facebook, and Twitter
Teaching Tai Chi Effectively by Dr. Paul Lam, hard copy and E-book available.
* What Makes A Good Tai Chi Teacher by Dr. Paul Lam from Dec 2004, Dr. Lam's online newsletter. Photo of Dr. Paul Lam, Tai Chi on Sail Boat in Helsinki 2012, Tai Chi Practice (2012), and Dr. Lam Teaches. Photos and article reprinted with permission.
** www.fullbooks.com Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres join a pilgrimage led by Henry Adams to sacred sights in France. Read thousands of free full text books on Fullbooks.
Mr. Holland's Opus, a compelling movie about a music teacher inspiring student achievement.
www.voicethread.com Group conversations are collected and shared in once place from anywhere in the world. All with no software to install. Teachers and professors can use these unique methods for feedback and input. Articles, digital library, new Voice Thread Mobile.
http://dbasham.blogspot.com New Book Stories From My Heart by Debra Basham, CHTP, NLP, HTt
http://imaginehealing.info Learn More from Joel P. Bowman, Ph.D and Debra Basham, Executive Wellness Consultant
dahlis.roy@gmail.com Request free PDF E-Book. Silver Butterfly, Create A Vision, A Tai Chi Journey with a Mystic Twist
Photos
Dr. Paul Lam: Tai Chi on Sailboat in Helsinki (2012) Achieving Goals (2012), Teaching Students
Pisces in Zodiac Window of Chartres Cathedral, 12th Century, France, suggests Yin and Yang. Google Images
