A Shining Star Getting Stronger

Kathy Crabbe, In Process. Acrylic & pastel on masonite, 48 x 48 inches. © 2010

The love of life is all that remains. A shining star will appear somewhere.

Salvino Nucera, Re Niliu~Pucambu

The fact is that I don't really care what becomes of these (recent) paintings of mine. I just need to do them.

Q & A

Q. So these paintings were created just for you?

Me: Yes, and no. I willingly share these fits of creative love, expression and heart with the world via my blog, so yes I do care about putting them out there into the world, but I'm not assigning any monetary value to them.

Q. What if someone wants one?

Me: They're not for sale. These paintings are part of one year of Process Painting and I won't have any answers for you until that year is up (some time in October, 2010) and even then I may not be ready to respond to that question.

Q. So why paint?

Me: Today, I was a bit down so I sat in front of a new white board (very large, by the way), played some music, wrote, pondered and eventually put brush to board and in the process felt better and stronger and then the painting process itself grew and morphed and became something in itself; the process carried me along with it. So basically I was able to make a choice: do I want to get out of this bad mood I'm in or stay in it.

Just click the link to see more art in process posts! Musical Ambiance: Planet Soup World Music Compilation

Spotlight on Divine Feminine Moon Muser Jen M.

Divine Moon Muser, Jen M. took part in my online eCourse Awaken Your Divine Feminine Soul recently and had these comments to share:

This course has been the first real shake-up of my inner spiritual eye.

A few months ago I decided to set up a giveaway on my website and in my promotion of the contest, I came across a posting in the Etsy Forums about a new online course called Awaken Your Divine Feminine Soul. It was a timely arrival, as it fell right along the lines of what I needed right now: self-discovery involving creative juices and perhaps even some spiritual development. There’s that whole  Biopsychosocialspiritual framework that we learned about in Social Worker School  and one that I am trying to infuse in my life. It’s something that I feel I have been neglecting, especially in relation to the spiritual side of things.  I joined up for this moon musing course with the hopes that it could help guide me in my continued exploration. As an artist, I sometimes run into blocks mostly formed by my own expectations and lack of time.

Awaken the Divine Feminine helped me by giving me more of a focus and also some tools with which to move forward in my world, artistically, spiritually and as a more in-tune woman.  I now have an interest in Yoga and not just the physical aspects, but the inherent spiritual and mental aspects of the practice. I also have a faery guided meditation that I listen to sometimes at night to help me ease into the sleeping world.  I'm  hoping that what I've learned from this course will continue to steer my creativity wherever it may need to go.

In the meantime, my Etsy Shop is where my  creative objects end up looking for a new, loving home.

An Interview with Jen

Tell us about your craft and/or the items in your shop. Much like my real life, I seem to be unable to focus on one thing for very long. Right now I make crocheted scarves, beachglass necklaces, button necklaces, and I have a few totebags left over from the summer. I'd love to narrow down my practice a bit, but I don't seem to be able to. Next journey: I am taking a sabbatical from producing items, as I am moving to England and want to spend some time making creative things just for me.

What is your favourite material to work with? I have a really hard time narrowing anything down. I started out making purses, so I have an affinity for fabric, but I would have to say that what I love most right now is beach glass. The thrill of the hunt is fantastic!

More Student Spotlights can be found here.

To learn more about this Divine Feminine eCourse please click on the link!

I Won't Fear Love

Are we waking up and discovering "Our shoe's don't fit anymore?" I know we sometimes feel and pray that hope, excitement, peace and love are possible on a world wide scale and on a personal level.

As we travel deep, deep into the center of our souls we release little time bombs, tick, tick, ticking...just waiting to wake us up and then, when we're not even close to being ready, they explode forcing us to face and own up to our shadow, and accept the truth of who we are. So, how do we face our demons?

Do you ever have moments where time just stops and then goes backwards? Or is that just longing for what was?

'All time is now' - sometimes I like this idea, although I can't explain it. Early morning, for example takes me back in time which often makes me sad and may be why I avoid it.

And if I feel a rage I won't deny it I won't fear love.

Sarah McLachlan, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

Musical Ambiance: Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, Ingrid Karklins - Anima Mundi

Aquarius Full Moon Musings

Full Moon In Aquarius – July 25, 2010.

This month’s Full Moon is in the sign of Aquarius, a fixed air sign.

Moon in Aquarius calls us to the circle, away from private concerns and intimacy reminding us of the sacredness of collaboration. We become deeply aware that what affects one, affects us all. It’s time to tend the web of community, to network, review our philosophy and find a way to walk our talk.

More Aquarian Tidbits Aquarius – Water bearer Time of Year – Winter, Imbolc Quality – Fixed Element – Air Ruler – Uranus Anatomy – Bloodstream, circulation, shins, ankles Natural sign of – 11th house Opposite sign – Leo Color – Electric blue, turquoise, silver Gemstone – Obsidian, opal, sapphire Tarot card – The star Goddesses – Feng P’O P’O, Freya, Ix Chel, Nut, Tien-Mu

More About The Moon Phases

The Full Moon invites us to peer deeply into our emotional, intuitive selves as we direct our attention to manifesting the hopes, wishes and dreams that were seeded at the New Moon.

The Moon changes signs approximately every 2 ½ days, going through all twelve signs of the Zodiac every 29 ½ days. The sign that the Moon is in reflects qualities of your inner self and being-ness.

Each month there is at least one Full Moon that will rise at sunset and set at sunrise and is visible all night long from moonrise to moonset. Astrologically speaking this means that the Sun and the Moon are in opposition (opposite each other in the sky and in opposite signs of the zodiac.)

Learning to work in concert with the phases of the Moon is an excellent way to add structure to your life because you are not only connecting with Mother Nature through the Moon’s reflection of the Sun and the Earth, but with human nature and especially with feminine nature.

Aquarian Full Moon Musings

In honour of this month’s Full Moon in Aquarius I am going to guide you through an intuitive, healing, creative exploration into body, mind and soul so that together, we can shift, transform and heal each other and the planet during this time of great change and awakening.

Aquarian energy can be felt by tuning into the energy of the Full Moon that is passing through the astrological sign of Aquarius from July 25 – July 28, 2010.

Independence, detachment, contrariness, outsider perspectives, artistic ability, humane and altruistic behaviour are all key Aquarian concepts that describe energy accessible to all of us right now.

One of my favorite ways to tap into these lunar energies is by attuning to gemstones and crystals, such as the Aquarian ruled gemstone, Sapphire. I begin by holding a small Sapphire in my left hand as I place it on my third eye along with a little help from a double terminated, Isis Lithium Quartz Crystal that I place at my feet while meditating. If you don’t have access to these stones you can work with their images instead.

A Sapphire Meditation

Allow your body to flood with joyful feelings of being-ness as you ask your heart to expand, expand, expand, inviting warmth and happiness into your energy field. Let steep for a few minutes and then say aloud:

“Today I reward myself with happiness.”

Now, envision an image that brings you sheer joy.

Next, you will focus your attention upon two Aquarian images, one is pictured below and the other at the very beginning of this article. Allow yourself to stretch, stretch, stretch – really push yourself! You are entering another world, yet you will remain connected with this one by placing your hand over your heart to feel your heart beating.

This kind of consciously aware being-ness is absolutely essential as you enter into the whole new world that we are creating right now as a society.

Now, take another moment to ask yourself:

“ Am I happy?”

“ What can you, the Aquarius Moon, teach me?”

Next, ask yourself what steps you could take to help yourself.  List three. Be concrete, realistic and include a timeline.

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List three obstacles that you might face.

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Good for you! You’ve stretched, stretched, stretched – I can feel it! So now it’s time to reward yourself. How will you reward yourself for each step you have taken?

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Sparkly Blessings to All for sharing this Aquarian Full Moon with me, I bless and surround you with joy, fulfillment and magic.

Kathy Crabbe is a soul reader artist who has devoted her life to exploring spirituality and creativity with passion and integrity. Her art and writing have been published and shown throughout the world at museum shows, galleries, magazines and books. Through online resources Kathy is able to help other soul seekers express their unique gifts and talents in empowering ways. She maintains a blog and website sharing her experiences with the psychic, intuitive realms and the world of art making.

The artwork above is from Kathy’s Goddess Zodiac deck and Lefty Oracle deck, two of the four decks she incorporates into her soul readings.

Kathy is currently teaching  Awaken Your Divine Feminine Soul at the Wise Woman University. “Celebrating the lunar cycles is an important part of building a spiritual framework. Each month we can tune into her cycles to keep ourselves on track. At the new moon we plant our intentions for the month ahead, at the full moon we watch them flower, and at the waning moon we release and share our wisdom with the world. As women we are naturally able to resonate with these cycles in deep and meaningful ways.”

Aquarian Artist, Hayley Juster

Full Moon in Aquarius July 25, 2010 6:36 pm pdt

Aquarian Artist Spotlight on Hayley Juster Richardson, Texas, United States Shop: jadewolf06

I can relate to Aquarius as the mind-changer; I'm always so eager to try out a new idea as soon as I think of it. I also can relate to Aquarian stubbornness; I'm able to finish things, but usually the wrong things that I haven't fully thought through, so sometimes I'm left pounding my head against a wall! I first started drawing and painting in the seventh grade, shortly after retiring from a childhood spent singing and performing due to a sudden dose of stage fright.

The Aquarius in me is full of questions and creative thoughts and I find that painting helps me channel my thoughts into visual compartments. I've always been an actor and a hand waver not a verbal person and honestly, I didn't think I would continue painting for as long as I have. I thought I would get back into singing and performing, but I'm still here at the age of twenty-four having painted for over ten years, and I'm still enthusiastic - painting has proven to be the one steadfast thing in my life.

Acting took a lot of will power, and I always tried to improve and would often end up feeling disappointed with myself. Being a painter is like breathing, so being an air sign really helps me see the value in this kind of work coming so easily. I plan to start up a business running a consignment art store and metaphysical shop. My challenge is to follow through on the correct things, not just keep continuing down the wrong path because I think I have to. I have started a website for my artwork and an Etsy shop to sell my favorite pieces. Originally I wanted to be a doctor, engineer and environmentalist, but after six years of college I couldn't make up my mind so I've landed on this role, and am breathing more easily now.