Eyes as Big as Plates
The title, Eyes as Big as Plates”, comes from the eerie gaze of a dog (or a troll) that lives under a bridge in a Norwegian folktale. Two Scandinavian artists, Riitta Ikonen and Karoline Hjorth, developed a unique body of work, Eyes as Big as Plates, depicting people in their 60’s, 70’s. 80’s and older, […]
In Memoriam
Our family dog, Gizmo, passed away this weekend. His quirky, lively and soulful personality captured everyone’s heart. This fall he seemed to be particularly attuned to the season. Standing motionless sniffing the air, gently caressed by falling leaves, watching, instead of chasing deer. He seemed utterly present to nature. He seemed in touch with something […]
Experiencing Moments of Ease
“Do you know that your soul is composed of harmony?”– Leonardo da Vinci Sometimes, all the strategies-exercise, meditation, breathing, journaling, yoga, etc. to create calm and fulfillment just feel like hard work. Just exhausting. The mental gymnastics of mindfulness, reflection and contemplation are draining, rather than filling the well. Trying to find tranquility by bringing […]
Cultivating Belonging
The word belonging vibrates, sonorous and profound. Almost onomatopoeic in nature. It strikes at a feeling located deep within our psyche. Its absence leaves us bereft, fluttering fragile and unmoored in the wind. The warmth of its presence suffuses our body, mind and spirit with a sense of all being well in the world. How […]
Leading with Vulnerability- Begin with Yourself First
“The definition of vulnerability is uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure. But vulnerability is not weakness: it’s our most accurate measure of courage.” ~ Brené Brown Given the first part of the definition above, it is no wonder that we want to sprint away from the whole idea of vulnerability. We want to build defenses so high […]
The Case for Serendipity
Definition (The Compact edition of the Oxford English Dictionary 1971) – The faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident. The word serendipity was first coined by Horace Walpole, a member of the British House of Commons. He delighted in his gift of finding things unexpectedly. The name comes from the title of the […]
Stopping a Conversation
In theory, we may think that we are ready to end a conversation that we have been playing like a broken record for a long time. Paradoxically, when the moment finally arrives and we fully recognize that it is time to let go, we hold on even tighter, more desperately, shouting even louder. So much […]
Searching for Magic
Pursuing perfection smacks of trying to summit a mountain after having been kneecapped at basecamp. Reaching the top symbolizes the goal of perfection, but you are already crippled with expectations, frustrations and an inner and external peanut gallery of critics and judges. The teacher, author and artist, Julia Cameron, brilliantly describes the paradox of perfectionism; […]
Intention – A Coalescence of Elements
Image of Intention: An arrow-straight, direct, powerful. Its clarity and purpose suggest it arose fully formed from the smooth terrain of the mind. Yet, I know differently. I know that it evolved from curiosity-maybe desperation; inspiration-maybe boredom; intuition-maybe discipline; mystery-maybe knowledge; reflection-maybe confusion. Oscar Wilde revels in this primary marinade: “Besides, Dorian, don’t deceive yourself. […]