Zen and Now
* ...."Turn Around and Say Good Morning to the Night
For unless they see the sky,
For they can't and that is why,
They know not if it's dark outside or light...."
What is Zen Time? Does Time Exist? Can Time Bend and Stretch?
** "The Sun Rises in the Evening...."
Schedule
Most of the "time" my husband and I live on Zen Time. "Anytime" is OK for sleeping, eating, resting, exercising in an open ended and spontaneous flexible schedule. Except, of course, when we have appointments or arrangements to be "on time" for an event.
Near the end of 2012, one afternoon, I was "timing" laundry. Timers go off in my house all the "time." Sometimes I have two timers running at once, for different functions. My husband jokes, "You are a Two-Timer!" Once I had three timers, but one of them smashed to the floor and broke!
A beeping timer called me to come in from blog writing to check on the laundry. "Earth to Dahlis." As I looked at the clock, I perceived one and one half hours has slipped by? But the laundry load was still running in the washing machine?
What?
The laundry cycle on gentle only runs thirty minutes. I asked my husband if he had started a second load of clothes. He hadn't. I checked the clock again. I "recalled" setting the timer at 1:30 PM and it was almost 3 PM?
I growled to myself, "I hope nothing happened to the washer!"
Finally, the washing cycle ground to a halt? The motor seemed OK. Still puzzled, I loaded the clothes into the dryer and started a second load of wash. Setting the "timer" carefully for only fifteen minutes this time to check the machine's progress. It ran as planned, this "time!"
I felt I was in a time warp in multiple dimensions? Why? Especially when I write or paint, I zone out into a tunnel of concentration, "hyper-focus." Momentum, like a runaway horse, carries me further and further into completing the "race." "Winning" is my creative goal of brush strokes on canvas or words on a screen...or, actually anything else, sorting pictures into categories, for example. Every creative streak has its own frequency of "Space and Timing," spliced into chores, tasks at hand, or planned unplanned events.
Artist at Work
*** Dreaming Aloud
A friend of mine wrote a paper in grade school, an independent project called The Value of Daydreaming. The teacher had little comment or encouragement. She showed her paper to a neighbor, a physician friend, "Exactly!"
**** Einstein knew the value of creative daydreaming. He used "Thought Exercises" to focus his imagination to access his fullest scientific and mystic potential. Einstein's job at the Patent Office taught him skills he needed to piece together his scientific papers. Nicola Tesla, William Blake, Johannes Brahms, Leonardo da Vinci and many other pioneers in art and science accessed "imaginings" through meditations, self hypnosis or other means beyond the physical to reach untapped potential.
* "....This Broadway's got
...a lot of songs to sing,
If I knew the tunes I might join in...."
The untapped power of music steps in to boost focus for writing and critical thinking.
Tai Chi and Qigong can also help unlock your creative brain providing pride of accomplishment and high achievement. Many of my Tai Chi students became accomplished painters and writers. Left and right brain functions can be better balanced. After learning and practicing Tai Chi, my left brain expanded to enable sharper, logical writing skills to develop making this blog possible. People with attention span challenges may find music accompaniment beneficial for work and play and Tai Chi and Qigong practice helpful for calm and focus.
Tai Chi encourages relaxation and contemplation while exercising adding a pleasant positive space in your day. Self hypnosis can be another tool of Qigong (energy exercises). Dr Yang Jwing-ming explains how in his book The Essence of Shaolin White Crane. The deeply relaxed brain can receive pieces of information spliced with creative ideas for new insights and discoveries.
** "With no bird singing, the mountain is yet more still...." Thomas Merton
Moving Forward Now and Zen
Winter Beach
Related Posts:
Tonal Vision (Jan 2011), Phantoms (May 2011), Carry Water Chop Wood (June 2011), T-I-M-E and In the (K)now (Dec 2011), Space and Timing, (July 2012), The Edge of Time, (Aug 2012), and Amazing (G)race (Jan 2013)
Resources:
* Elton John (music) and Bernie Taupin (lyrics), Cd Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters from Honky Chateau album.
** Zen and the Bids of Appetite book by Thomas Merton, Zen Sayings
*** Foo Fighters Cd Selections Walking After You and February Stars
**** Ancient Aliens, The Einstein Factor, (2013) series on H2, History International.
Chants of India Cd Ravi Shankar, Produced by George Harrison, selection Vandanaa Trayee, opening music, Ganesha, Saraswati, music Guru.
The Mozart Effect, book by Don Campbell. Use music to stimulate and heal the brain. Chinese music and Ragas from India may also help along with traditional and classical
selections.
http://www.taichiforhealthinstitute.org Dr. Paul Lam creates Tai Chi for Health Programs, music for Tai Chi practice and more.
http://www.ymaa.com Dr. Yang, Jwing-ming, Tai Chi, Qigong and Martial Arts Expert, Chinese Music available. Books include The Essence of Shaolin White Crane.
Patrick McKenna and Rick Green, comedians with ADD create documentaries ADD and Loving It and ADD and Managing It. ADD Lost My Car Keys, book. http://www.pbs.org
http://dbasham.blogspot.com A Time to Lay Fallow (Blog Post Dec 30, 2012) and other posts by Debra Basham on Yellow Brick Road Your Path to Heart and Health
http://imaginehealing.info Create your healing experience for yourself, friends and family and pets too with Joel P. Bowman, Ph.D., and Rev. Debra Basham, CHTP, NLP, HTt
Time Warp Technologies, by Debra and Joel
dahlis.roy@gmail.com Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor, request free PDF illustrated E-book, Silver Butterfly Create A Vision, Awaken Your Creative Spirit.
Photos by Dahlis Roy:
Sunlit Clock, Artist at Work (Cheetah at Play), and Winter Beach
* "Butterflies are Free to Fly...."
Trance-formational Color
Recently a friend of mine had eye surgery. She asked for healing color in advance. I didn't feel any color immediately. Then I walked toward my art room, I spied the Blue Butterfly painting hanging in the hallway.
"That's it!"
I pictured indigo surrounding my friend. I pictured her in perfect health and wholeness.
The Out of the Blue butterfly logo painting was completed with one color on blank canvas. Variations in blues were achieved with heavier paint applications for the darks and dry brush (lighter touch on the brush) for the lights. Pure paint on pure canvas achieved the visual effects.
Later I called to inquire about my friend's post surgery progress without mentioning the color I had imagined. "I am seeing Indigo Blue all the time in front of my eyes and while resting! I feel I am bathed in Blue, and it it so peaceful."
The next evening in my art room, I picked up the book, Vibrational Medicine by Richard Gerber, M.D. I had not opened the book in years. It opened immediately to a chart that showed colors that may help areas of the body. Vision: Indigo Blue!
Imagine Healing!
Another person mentioned that she used the visualization of multi-colored butterflies to aid her healing journeys.
"I picture many little butterflies lighting on me where I am hurting or injured. They work!"
"Happiness is not a matter of intensity, but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony," Tomas Merton
Light Emerging
Related Posts:
The Story of Blue (Oct 2010), The Pink Blanket (May 2011), and Already Done ( June 2012)
Resources:
* "And Butterflies are free to fly...." song Someone Saved My Life Tonight, music by Elton John and Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Vibrational Medicine, New Choices for Healing Ourselves by Richard Gerber, M.D.
Proof of Heaven, a book by Eben Alexander, M.D., a neurosurgeon takes an unexpected healing journey.
Zen and the Birds of Appetite and other books by Thomas Merton
http://imaginehealing.info Rev. Debra Basham and Joel P. Bowman, Ph.D. energize your healing experiences with guided imagery for people and pets.
http://taichiforhealthinstitute.org Paul Lam, M.D., is a family practice physician in Sydney, Australia. He creates Tai Chi for Health programs with medical doctors and Tai Chi experts. Tai Chi, relaxing fitness, empowers people to experience better health and well-being.
dahlis.roy@gmail.com Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Photos by Dahlis Roy:
Colorful Butterflies, photo of fabric
Golden Butterfly, Light Emerging, view through front door glass panel with Christmas Lights shining
Thanks for the Memories
Years ago I kept a Memory Jar while working though self help programs in The Artist's Way, a book by Julia Cameron. I selected a huge Ball Perfect Mason quart jar for the project. Best of all, it was BLUE, the old fashioned colored glass kind. The jar had been my Grandfather's on my mother's side! He loved to make Schmierkase (cottage cheese). My mother claimed she could never eat cottage cheese after helping her father make it! Surprise! My grandfather drew pictures of farm animals, horses, pigs, cows, chickens. He believed in the power of Angels.
I feel a connection.
Recently a photo of a memory jar came into my Facebook friend page. I pricked up my ears! I read with interest about adding one positive message to the jar each day for a year. The next New Year's Day, empty the jar and read your entries!
I remembered the jar, but didn't act on it until a Facebook Friend wrote in that she and her husband were keeping a memory jar and will read it together.
I can do this!
But where is my jar? I knew where it "was" but, after organizing items, where is it "now?"
I mentioned the blue jar to my husband. "Oh, here is is!" He quickly reached up way over my head and carefully lifted down our two large blue remaining ancient jars from the kitchen cupboard.
Years ago for my first jar, I added bright color. I got some neon colored note cards and cut them into strips like bookmarks. I added song titles, quotations, and bits of poetry to the colored strips for the jar along with personal goals and feelings. When I (often) needed a bookmark, I used these happy phrases. Lately I have enjoyed coming across some of these messages still snuggled into my book friends waiting to be rediscovered:
* "Healin' is the colors of the sunshine and the shadows of your eyes," Willie Nelson lyrics
Notice he sang, "Colors" of the sunshine! (jar entry 1997)
The most prophetic note, coming true in the Now:
"Help me to use my artist's gift to share love and joy!" (jar entry 1994)
Resources:
Sting, song and lyrics, Message In a Bottle
Good Times Jar Project, message on Facebook
Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way, Vein of Gold and many more resources. Awaken your creative inner child.
* Willie Nelson song and lyrics, Lovin' You is Easier than Anything I'll Ever Do Again.
dahlis.roy@gmail.com request free PDF Text and illustrated E-book, Silver Butterfly, Create A Vision, Awaken Your Creative Spirit.
Photo:
Memory Jar by Dahlis Roy I washed the jars and added new metal lids. The jar I chose for the project has a glass insert as part of the lid instead of the thin metal type used for canning today.
"God is Infinite Creativity," Deepak Chopra
This morning, I woke up to music and lyrics playing in my head. I even wrote down On the Turning Away on a piece of paper. This deep and mystic song by Pink Floyd was the first piece of music my son Rob and I played when we practiced Tai Chi together years ago....
Popping a milk chocolate creamy truffle into my mouth, I smiled remembering chocolate candies of excellent quality when I was a child. Lately I am also happy to enjoy semi-melted dark unsweetened Baker's Chocolate and organic green tea as treats. I feel benefits.
Beginning to write to the turning and returning music of On the Turning Away, I had a general plan for a story. The tale had a mind of her own....
Take A Hike
Recently I breezed through a shoe department in a large store. I seldom look at shoes. I rarely shop. I scanned the displays. I froze. I spotted my prey! I picked up a Cheetah shoe in my hands. They came in my size and were affordable and on sale! They fit! I smiled. I had my Tai Cheetah Shoes ready for Tai Chi class fun. I had imagined these shoes long ago, and here they are!
"Intuition to Fruition!"
As the clerk I boxed up the shoes, and I carried the prize away, I reflected about gratitude and blessings. I thought about personal abundance, about simplifying life and possessions, about donating books, clothing and other household items where they can be of use....
I tuned into words and music:
* "On the turning away...."
Settling in for a nice, comfortable writing session, words in the music began to shift and disappear. I hear instrumental tones rather than words, a blue of frequencies and colors. I am in a zone of clearest concentration and momentum.
Mind games, spontaneous cutting and pasting pictures and words together, jump into view when my husband asked me if I'd like to go out and help donate books to local libraries?
I stalled, deep in concentration and slowly coming back into the NOW.
"Be flexible," I heard thoughts against my will.
"I don't want to be flexible!" I growled inwardly.
"Can I go?" I wondered....
"Yes, I can!"
Quickly abandoning the writing, it was early twilight when we left to drive the books to new locations. We love our books, our friends and teachers. Soon after, we stopped in at our nearby local beach. Free of snow so far this year, snow fences line up at the ready! Lazily, young hawks floated overhead. Seagulls turned and dipped. White caps greeted us as we breathed in the energy of the rolling waves set against blue-green water. Grey clouds and a smudge of sun gathered in the sky blushing with a pinkish undertone. There was a darker blue line on the horizon now, and we perceived rain clouds in action coming across the lake. The hypnotic lake effect relaxed me....I was nearly asleep
* "Light is changing to shadow...."
On the way home, Paul woke me out of my daydream, "Want to go out to dinner?"
"Uh, yeah..."
We enjoyed wandering around looking at the Christmas Lights as December darkness hovered. We saw ancient and modern light displays in yards, on houses and rooftops. I remembered the jumbo sized lights for our Christmas tree when I was young and how hot they got! My favorite were the blue lights! One year my Dad made an all blue tree.
La Pita Mediterranean restaurant was appealing. Grape leaves, lentil soup, moussaka and rice pudding topped with honey and cinnamon were an unexpected treat.
It was dark night when I settled back down to write. I hear my loudly purring cat against the backdrop of softly playing music.
Mood begins to lift in the lyrics:
* "On the wings of the night...."
Rapid Spontaneous Events
Music's power and energy envelopes us all and soaks down to the cellular level. Watching Paul McCartney sing Blackbird on 12-12-12 Concert and strum his acoustic guitar was a note perfect experience. Time Stopped. Someone commented, "Paul McCartney's antenna is always out, and he picks up signals he'll use years later."
"You said it."
Cosmic cutting and pasting is the collage of creative experience.
"That's exactly it!"
Later my son Rob and I enjoyed hearing and seeing some additional performances on You Tube from the 12-12-12 Concert. We were at rapt attention when Roger Waters accompanied by Eddie Vedder performed Comfortably Numb on our computer screen.
"How do they do that?"
"How can every note on the guitar be that perfect? How can someone learn to play the song exactly like the original?"
"Artists are playing with sound...."
I smile thinking of advancements in technology. Sharing world wide opens doors and windows along the information highway. Networking and outreach expand the positive good. Minds and Hearts Open.
Now I am writing and editing at the same time. I like the spontaneous racing flow of writing, and while resting, the technical details of editing. I wonder how songwriters piece together a song edit it, practice it, record it, perform it, market it?
"All is Process. "
Light appears.
* "No more turning away…."
Off and Running
I put on my Cheetah shoes and practiced Tai Chi while listening to the music of On the Turning Away, "just like old times...."
"The World Is Coming To A Start!"
Related Posts
Tonal Vision
Carry Water, Chop Wood
T-I-M-E
In the K(now)
For the Love of Chocolate
Aftermath
Chasing
Shadows
Resources:
*
On the Turning Away (1988), by Pink Floyd from the album A Momentary Lapse of Reason
I first heard this song years ago. At 3AM while editing a friend's book, I was typing away. The radio played. I stopped still, turned up the volume and listened carefully. The D.J. did not identify title or artists. Much later I heard this tune while driving down the road. What is this song? Later one of Rob's friends brought music to share and there it was!
Deepak Chopra, M.D., Spiritual Teacher and Author
Better World Books: "We generate funding for leading literacy initiates around the world. Our partners build schools, start libraries, train teachers, and provide scholarships. We've re-used or recycled over 80 million pounds of books and raised over 10 million dollars for global literacy and local libraries." Drop Box Locato
Baker's Chocolate since 1780, unsweetened for a treat or use for baking. Semi-sweet and other baking chocolates available.
Cheetah Shoes by Arizona Jean Company
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Photos:
Tai Cheetah Shoes, by Dahlis
Winter Beach at Twilight photo by Paul
Through the Looking Glass (Front Door) by Dahlis
