Suddenly this morning, I received a memory, sitting still in my kitchen and looking out at the fresh green grass and leaves. What triggered it? Unknown~
I thought back to grade school when I was seven years old. Our first class after lunch had finished when our teacher nourished us with "quiet time." No one wanted it! Rest was for babies and little kids.
We put away books, papers, crayons, and pencils. We spread our arms out on our desks and lay our heads down to rest. Silently I rebelled but managed to stay quiet without fidgeting. Just now I sat still and put my head down on the kitchen table to bring the images, sounds, and feelings alive again.
Our teacher played music for us! She introduced ten minute bits of music and briefly told us about the composer.
We heard soothing strains from the Pastoral Symphony by Beethoven. Most of us had seen Walt Disney's Fantasia in the theater. I easily pictured the flying horses. I slipped into a state of quiet restful alertness. Another musical memory was Largo from Dvorak's New World Symphony. We even heard the quieter introduction to Bolero by Ravel.
Over time the class music soaked into my soul. I felt better and less edgy. I asked my parents to buy me music played in class. They eagerly agreed and responded with a small RCA Victor "record player." I liked picture logo of the dog listening to "His Master's Voice" coming out of the megaphone. LP's were being pressed, replacing the large brittle 78 PM discs. We got some of the symphonies in a grocery store special!
Even as a college student, I still played LP's of Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and others on my little RCA Victor "time machine." Time meandered along its evolving creative path.
Looking back this morning, I found it profound that a teacher could have such insight and gentleness to introduce us to some of the world's greatest music through "Meditation." We experienced, against our will, the quieting and restorative powers of restful sounds.
In a flash music, then and now, became an integral part of my creative painting and writing process, opening windows of sound therapy: mental stimulation or quiet as needed.
Today more kids can experience "Meditation" early in their lives along with Tai Chi, Yoga, and creative play and dance.
As I write, I hear my song of the day: *Across the Universe and smile as the words roll by, "Nothing's gonna change my world...."
I marvel at how our world/worlds have changed and yet, at the core, remain the same in active motion and restful stillness.
* "Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box, they tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe...."
Related Posts:
Wings of Light and Paint it Blue (May 2013)
Wander and Ponder (Oct 2013)
Tonal Vision (Jan 2011)
Resources:
Music Matters
* Across the Universe, John Lennon, Paul McCartney (various versions) this one is from Cd Beatles Anthology 2, vocal and guitar recorded Feb 3, 1968. Other versions of this song appear on Let it Be album, remixed by Phil Spector. The first master appeared in a charity compilation with bird songs and backing vocals.
Beethoven, Dvorak, Ravel and many others, adventure in sound.
Mindful Exercise
Yoga Kids International by Marsha Wenig, DVD for kids, teacher certification.
Tai Chi for Kidz, Tai Chi for Young Adults and much more for all ages by Paul Lam, M.D. Tai Chi for Health Institute, research, articles, free lesson on You Tube from Tai Chi for Beginners DVD.
Meditation
Chopra Center Meditation, Deepak Chopra, M.D.
Dahlis Roy Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Photos
Stop and Grow, Bridge to Tomorrow, note the small green and red markers at the bottom of the photo.
Liriope Hiding in the Shadows by Paul
See Spots Run!
"Open Your Heart and Feel That Spirit," Louie Schwartzberg, filmmaker, photographer
Recently I watched Cosmos with Neil Degrasse Tyson. The title of one episode was Hiding in the Light.
I was transfixed.
Inside a dark cave, an artist crouches, studies, sees, knows. The cave artist was a (glory be) young woman! A shaft of golden light cut the darkness in the cave then danced and vibrated onto the cave walls where paintings of (gasp) animals were already painted there!
As the shaft of light played across the walls, the artist rose up and approached the light.
I got up out of my chair!
Like a cat, I crept closer.
What can she see and imagine? How can she paint it? Approaching the walls, the artist took stains from berries and charcoal "paints" in her hands and played with the rock formations, darks and lights formed what I imagined to be a horse. I love horses! Then a scene of a horse grazing in the green grass appeared on the screen. Was this perhaps a horse the artist had seen, memorized, and was now communicating to her clan?
45,000 years ago in the Chauvet Caves of Southern France, artists painted three dimensional animals with correct leg placement, muscular structure and body builds. Personality, expressions, and feelings danced into the eyes of the animals. The head and shoulder paintings of the lion panel and horse head group "spoke" to me.
As I watched the cave artist on TV, I flashed back 14 years to arriving at our current home. Paintings fresh from moving crates dotted the living room. In a room full of packed boxes, weary, I dropped into a comfy chair. Shafts of sunlight appeared through the big window and softly brushed the art work bringing the painted tree leaves into three dimensional motion! Sky and clouds danced into living life! Feeling the vibrational magic that sunlight brings to a piece of art and honoring the ever changing energy-light as it plays across the Earth-School cycle of life brings awe, wonder, and gratitude.
Chessie, the cat, came and rubbed me then investigated her new living room. Chessie brought me back into the present, shaking me out of my daydream, as well as reminding me of my life long connection with animals.
Portrait of Chessie
Before Formal Language, Before Words, Before Writing there was Painting with Light~Seeing and Imagining beyond the Physical World.
On Beams of Light
Pick up your paintbrushes, crayons, colored pencils~have fun with them!
Dance with Light, and Color~
Chase the Wind!
Comments: The Archway and the Cave are one. Both represent doorways into the future-past. Paraphrased from a friend, Nancy.
"The cave represents security, safety, and magic," Paul.
Related Posts
Paint It Blue (May 2014) The Blue Arch
Wander and Ponder (Oct 2013)
The Painted Word (July 2012)
Lavender Blue (June 2012) Everchanging Light and Color
A Strong Clear Vision (Apr 2012)
Running with Horses ( Mar 2012)
See Spots Run (Mar 2011) The Artist and the Vision
Resources
Louie Schwartzberg, filmmaker, photographer, You Tube video: Gratitude
Cosmos A Spacetime Odyssey series, Neil Degrasse Tyson, explore our wondrous worlds. National Geographic Channel
Chauvet Caves art work in southern France 45,000 years ago we see Lion Panel, Horses, Cheetah image and more. Lascaux Caves in France, horses, bison, Hall of Bulls plus ancient Egyptian paintings and writings are both approximately done 5,000 years ago.
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Images
See Spots Run, oil painting in sunlight by Dahlis Roy
Portrait of Chessie, photo by Emilie
On Beams of Light, sunlight beam on oil painting by Dahlis Roy
And here it is May already? Blooms are late this year. Baby leaves are pushing through bare bones twigs and limbs. Slowly the Earth stretches and becomes pink, white, and green again.
FIVE MINUTES A DAY....
Take a few minutes for yourself each day. I am getting better at cut and paste quick quiet moments. Recently I extended my breath to fill my full lung capacity (new for me). I even breathed deeply with a purring Sancat on my lap. I like it! My grandfather loved saying, "Deep breathing is the Science of Health!"
Then I started practicing Tai Chi forms in the spontaneous moment. Increased inner peace is happening. I slowed down my Tai Chi practice to include the full breath (most days). I still like Tai Chi at various speeds, or slow and fast even during the same session as "time" permits.
* "The mind (Intent) leads the qi (energy)," Dr. Yang Jwing-ming.
What is your intent today?
Get Started Meditating
Relax
Free
yourself of rituals, schedules, locations, rules and routines. There is
no right or wrong path to bring your mind into stillness. Your
Comfort~Your Way
Pleasant Moment
Fresh flowers, calming music, dim the lights, light a candle, look out or go outdoors for fresh air, view something green, gaze at a picture you like. Close eyes, picture color/colors. Let them appear.
Sit or Stand Quietly.
Relax and breathe at your comfort level. I free myself from counting a certain number of breaths. Continuous relaxed breathing feels best for me rather than holding the breath at the highest expansion or exhalation. With each breath, Inhale to feel active fresh energy followed by detoxing exhaling. Cells open to receive and release in balance and harmony. Body, Mind, and Spirit radiate with increased joy. Stretch and drink plenty of fresh water after your meditation.
Be Active!
Yes, my favorite is moving while meditating. I find it tedious to sit still. Walk in the fields or indoors if rain or chill is present. Erase conscious thinking and clear your mind and body for awareness and gratitude in the moment. Feel refreshed and energized. Take a Yoga Break or Tai Chi Practice. A short "stretch and breathe" can reset your mental computer and loosen muscles and tendons. You can feel increased peace and well being.
May is National Meditation Month. Meditation sitting, standing, or moving, can reduce stress, anxiety, and blood pressure. Practice can increase creativity, mental clarity, and energy levels.
Mindful Eating: Savor the moment, each bite, each aroma, alone or in pleasant company.
Mindful Sleeping: "Listen" to relaxation music or guided meditation while you sleep. Turn volume to zero and know frequencies and vibrations are reaching you and encouraging rest. I do this often, even for a 10 minute power nap, free of ear buds of other electronic hook ups near you.
** Mindful Breathing: "Three Deep Breaths and A Smile," Rudi Tanzi, Ph.D. Feel better instantly.
"I Don't Have Time to Meditate."
*** "Sit in a Chair and Breathe One Minute!" Jou, Tsung Hwa
**** "All is Possible with the Mind," Paul Lam, M.D.
Related Posts:
Catch the Wind (Oct 2012)
Fully Present (May 2012)
Color (Y)our World (Feb 2011)
The Story of Blue, "Erase Your Mental Blackboard." (Oct 2010)
Resources:
* Yang, Jwing-ming, Ph.D, YMAA Yang's Martial Arts Assoc., author, instruction Taiji, Qigong, Martial Arts
** Chopra Center Meditation, Deepak Chopra, Author, Visionary, Spiritual Teacher, Yoga.
Super Brain book by Deepak Chopra, M.D., and Rudi Tanzi, PhD.
*** Jou, Tsung Hwa, mathematician, author, Tai Chi expert, The Dao of Meditation book.
**** Paul Lam, M.D, Tai Chi for Health World-Wide, articles, research, instruction and more
Dahlis Roy, Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Photos
Allegheny Service Berry and Redbud, photo by Paul
Forsithia and Dewdrops on Wood Violets, photo by Dahlis
**** The Blue Arch~
** "All my walls stood tall, painted blue...."
Some time ago, I saw this this photo. The image stuck in my head. I saw and walked on ancient brickwork, I was the stone cutter, fitting stones and arches together in harmony and balance. In my imagination, I walked through the arches, what will I explore?
Recently, In Silence and Amazement I read:
The Quiet Way
* "Your Path is Quiet. You value solitude in all aspects of your life. You can spend large periods of your life alone without feeling lonely. Your ideal path is one that is very still and quiet. You want to absorb everything around you without feeling overwhelmed. You seek meaning in every aspect of life. And you live very deliberately - both in action and in thought. You don't like crowds but you do like people. You value authentic relationships, and you prefer the depth of one on one interaction."
If I had written a self portrait, this would be it, a painted word image.
How can this be?
* Recently, there were an assortment of archway pictures presented, just for fun. Choose your favorite. Immediately I chose the blue arch! It called me right away.
Then several things happened in my mind. I pictured the above photo my friend, Debra, had taken. I touched the blue tinged ancient stonework in my imagination. Next I saw my blog post, Lavender Blue, run through my imagination.
I felt *** The Camino , a sacred pilgrimage, is near and here. I felt myself walking alone along a sandy path surrounded by tall grasses and faraway trees. It was sunny, hot and humid but breezy. I treasured wearing my giant sunhat and sunglasses plus loose comfortable clothes and comfy shoes. I had my water and pecans for nourishment. I was free of location, departure, arrival, planned agenda, and timed schedules. I walked joyfully and at my own pace, putting each foot mindfully into the sand like a cat.
Where was I? Unknown.
After all these reflections, I began to slowly read about my path through the blue arch printed above, exactly like someone had interviewed me.
While reading, here was a calm assurance, a meditation absorbed with an open heart. I felt a core of inner peace, activity, and happiness. This is the same creative zone I experience while painting.
I am grateful for these words, images, cellular memories, and intuition, an "ongrowing" journey.
How can you describe yourself?
*** "All You really need in life is plenty of fresh water, a good hat, and a really good pair of shoes!" Shirley MacLaine, actress, author
Related Posts:
Connect the Dots....(Apr 2014), Building Blocks (Oct 2013), Angels in the Architecture (June 2013), T-I-M-E and In The K(now) (Dec 2011), Lavender Blue (June 2012),Tonal Vision, The Power of Music (Jan 2011)
Resources:
* Jen Leo's Spiritual Den: Readings, Reiki, and A Loving Spiritual Community on Facebook
** Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran co-wrote the song, Since Yesterday on Taylor's Red album.
*** The Camino book by Shirley MacLaine, a walking journey of the heart, a sacred space of solitude and reflection. Shirley MacLaine is an actress, author, dancer, and spiritual teacher. Quote from Super Soul Sunday, Mar 23, 2014, OWN, Oprah Winfrey's latest interview with Shirley.
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
**** Photo The Blue Arch, viewed in Southern France, published with permission from Debra Basham, author, CHTP, NLP, HTt, RMT
Debra's Blog: Yellow Brick Road, Your Path to Heart and Health
with Joel Bowman, Ph.D, SCS Matters (SCS is Subtle Communication Systems)
Imagine Healing
Silver Butterfly, Create A Vision, oil painting by Dahlis Roy
