Symbol for my Journey

A Note from 71 Sunflower Lane…………… a small woven basket with a cover sits on my prayer table created by Mik’maq artist Irene Condo. The basket was woven by using sweetgrass and wooden strips; however I don’t know what kind of wood.  I can feel the energy of the weaver.

 Symbolizes of basket –

***Woven –our life is woven with many strips and fibres creating who we are past and present

***Holder or container – my mind, body and spirit.  A basket takes time to weave just as we take time to grow into wisdom.
***Represents the seasons…….seasons of life – to everything there is a season. 
***When the basket is filled symbolizes joy.
***When the basket is empty symbolizes sadness or being empty, just as I am at times
***if the cover remains on the basket, then all remains closed
***if the cover is removed……..open to receive
***symbol of the harvest
***represents the feminine (whether male or female) as the baskets are usually woven by women.

 

What does a basket symbolize for you?

Does one of the above symbolisms of the basket speak to your spirit?

Thank you for stopping by.  Take a moment to comment or say hi.
Meet me here on Thursday.  Enjoy the day..............Marlene

 



Cyclist’s Ramblings………..on a sunny windy day.  Have you ever been restless and not able to center your mind/body/spirit?  That was me, yesterday!  I couldn’t seem to settle my mind or restless body and spirit is part of that equation. Today as I was cycling up a hill, the message came that this is my centering, my way of calming, and a form of mediation.  The body uses the excess energy to burn off the lactic acid in the muscles; the mind is free from all those busy thoughts and to-do list; just savouring the beauty, and the spirit is along to enjoy the ride……..experiencing the calm.  It amazes me how a walk or bicycle ride can change the format of the mind.  Jennie reminds us in yoga class ‘as above….so below.’  What are the thoughts in your mind that are causing havoc in your body stirring up your emotions to cause digestive complaints? 

Take 15 minutes to walk or cycle in the woods, on the street, or on a groomed path…….beware of your breath and the serenity that begins to flows through the body. 

How does your body thing and feel now after you have walked or cycled?

What is your centering practice?

Symbol for the Journey

A Note from 71 Sunflower Lane……………I wanted a symbol as I journey.  Being a very visual person, I wanted something that was physical but symbolized my journey. Symbols speak to the soul.  Unlike words, symbols don’t hold a preconceived idea or meaning.  Symbols are a unique way of giving expression to my life, especially during the storm that engulfs me, as well as discovering the rich meaning by viewing the symbol that is calling me deeper and deeper. As the mind ponders the symbol, ideas float in and out until I realize what the truth is for me. Symbols communicate meaning thus opening doors for transformation.  Jesus used symbols like the vine and the mustard seed.  Symbols mirror my feelings.

The items I pondered that may work as a symbol were dreamcatcher, dragonfly, key, rock, fairy, star, feather, leaf, tree, arrow, compass, and puzzle. I know that I am creative so I didn’t need a key to unlock that door.  I really don’t need a guide like a compass or arrow which points in one direction only.  Most of all I trusted my instinct and none of those items fit my journey.  I knew that I would discover what my symbol was to be………with time.  While working in the design room, I noticed a basket and knew immediately that was my symbol.  Not just any basket. I wanted a basket woven by a Native artisan. I contacted a friend to inquire if she knew where I could get a small round basket that had been woven by a Native American Indian.

I walked away and trusted that what I wanted would appear.

 

Glad you stopped by.  Come again as the door is always open.

If you have time, leave a comment or just say 'hi' so that I know you visited.

Enjoy the sunshine.                               ..............Marlene

The Hawk

Cyclist’s Ramblings………..my spiritual teacher – Nature--- provided me with the chance to mediate. Nearing completion of my travels this morning, I noticed a vehicle stopped on the highway—not off to the side of the road but in the lane of traffic.  As I approached, a woman rolled down her window and pointed towards the field. Thinking that she was looking at the wooded area for a deer or other large animal is where my eyes focused.  Then her hand motioned upward to the electrical wire. There sat a Red Tail Hawk.

 

  Imagine being to watch such an awesome creature with only the width of a secondary road between us.  I was able to watch a high-wire performance of the Red Tail Hawk as the large bird stepped back and forth, back and forth on the wire with eyes zoomed on the prey below. Standing there motionless watching the hawk, I realized that I was mediating.  My mind was clear, my body was still and my spirit was at peace………..a tremendous gift. 

 

Viewing the hawk from such a close range I was able to see the off-white ruffled front features, watch the head turn, twist from front to back, or looking straight at me; observing the claws curled around the wire. Standing, watching, observing, certainly was a gift.  Suddenly, the large wing span opened to swoop down on the tiny prey.  Breathtaking! 

 

The magnificent bird flew with its captive to the frozen snow covered patch of soil blending in so well that it would take a few minutes to discover him.  Finally, the hawk flew and I cycled on. 

 

 Another surprised awaited me as I turned my bicycle onto Otis Drive to discover the hawk flying parallel with me.  Eventually, I lost sight of the Red Tailed Hawk behind the trees. 

 

 

Take time today to mediate with your eyes open viewing the many changes in nature.  Sit on your porch gazing as the clouds float, scoot, or roll across the skies; mediate by observing the dried copper coloured leaves tap dance across the ground or check out the different colours that create the snow………..take time to sit with Nature to be with the One. 

 

 Reap the rewards of taking just five minutes to sit quietly with the Divine/the Great Spirit/the One named God.

Hope you will take a moment to share that you have stopped by with a simple ‘hi’ or with a comment or question.

 The door is open so invite others to stop by for a few moments.

Take care………………..Marlene

 

Ministry of the Arts by the Sisters of St. Joseph

 

These little cards are created by the Sisters of St. Joseph called Pocket Notes.

The pocket cards can be placed in a handbag or on a coffee table or desk at work or kitchen or great in a studio space.

 

The sun is shining in New Brunswick and sending cheer your way for a wonderful day of blessings.

 

take care and stop by again.

Marlene

Sharing...........

A Note from 71 Sunflower Lane……………Sharing.  I have made the decision to share my personal spiritual journey.  Over the years, being told that it isn’t wise to share what is happening in my life, keep it close to the chest (notice the word heart isn’t used) and that may be true.  But how does a person learn about life if life experiences aren’t shared. I am always grateful for the person who shares their journey, struggles and joys as my spirit can relate.  Sharing creates community which every person needs.  Sharing signifies that I am not alone in this world as others have traveled before me with the same or similar problems.

I am artist.  An artist who is struggling with the many wonderful gifts that God has blessed me with.  I believe that there is a message for me in this struggle.  What that message is I haven’t got a clue, but in time that will be revealed; so it is very important that I continue this journey through the flat times, revealing times, the struggling times as well as the pain-filled times.

Creating has been the centre of my life.  As a child, my parents had cabins that were rented to the tourist in the summer.  I would make pot holders on a small red metal frame then sell the pot holders to the tourist for $0.25 - now that was in the 1960s.  It was so much fun to create patterns by using colour loops.  This endeavor occurred every summer for many years.  The point I want to make is that I would create, sell and stop.  Now that was part of the cycle/season but this cycle or habit has followed me through life.  I do get bored as well as inspired by the many new ways to create so I am off and running with a new idea.  I am thrilled to have a challenge to figure how things are put together……..just breathes life and excitement into every cell in my body.

My journey during Lent, meaning Lent for me is a spiritual time, giving me permission to slow down, ponder and examine my life.  I don’t give anything up during Lent, such as candy; instead I try to focus on my intentions to create change such as adding a little more loving kindness.

My journey is this………..there is a craving, a knowing that there is something in the centre of my being that is being called to change.  As I mentioned, I don’t know what that change or yearning is but it all started by my being exhausted with my artistic pattern, sometimes I call it a habit.  Create, sell and stop.  Maybe this is God’s way of getting my attention…………well I am focused to either accept this pattern/habit or change it to something wonderful.

 I invite you to stop by again as my plan is to share my personal journey the first of the week, even plan on adding a recipe or two, then on Thursday I will post my Cyclist’s Ramblings.

Hope you will take a moment to share that you have stopped by with a simple ‘hi’ or with a comment or question.

 The door is open so invite others to stop by for a few moments.

 

Take care………………..Marlene

 

Cyclist's Ramblings...

Cyclist’s Ramblings………..Cycling allows me to view Nature at a much slower pace than driving in a vehicle.  I listen & see the brooks, streams, creeks and ditch water rushing or trickling along.  The charging water hits the rocks being tossed, tumbled and thrown side to side or even tossed in the air.  This symbolic site make me thing of the person who is always in a hurry……….can’t imagine how bruised their spirit is.  I look to find the symbols from Nature and life events, so the ditch water provided me with many symbols this morning.  Looking at the water running over or under or beside the garbage that lies in the ditch made me thing of the stuff in my mind….fear, resentment, anger and so on.  As water cleanse our body so too can the gentle sound of the water remind me to let go. Then there are the gentle streams that flow, sometimes just a trickle but moving along with the flow of Life.
 Are you the rushing brook or stream or gentle flowing creek or is the ditch water a symbol that speaks to you?