Month: May 2014

Amazing

 

““If you aren’t amazed most of the time you aren’t paying attention.”
Michael Lipsey

 

I sat in the woods meditating on the trees. The sun would go behind the clouds and the light would change causing effects that were magical. Later I walked on the beach, watched families walking together. Birds were flying overhead and the waves were coming into shore. I try to spend as much time as I can finding things to be amazed at. I love watching little kids walking with their parents. I love to watch the interplay with animals on their daily walk. Watching one person show another kindness brings me joy. Watching another person doing something for the first time, something they never thought they could inspires me. It’s not difficult to let go and be amazed. It means simply that at any given moment we have to be willing to give up some of our jadedness and see something that we’ve learned to take for granted as something wonderful and new. It’s amazing how much of the mental weight that most of us carry around with us becomes lifted by finding amazement in our daily lives.
Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

Entering the ChambreEntering the Chamber by G A Rosenberg

 

Painted PlantPainted Leaves by G A Rosenberg

 

Night in the Dark Forest

 

“We scarcely know how much of our pleasure and interest in life comes to us through our eyes until we have to do without them; and part of that pleasure is that the eyes can choose where to look. But the ears can’t choose where to listen.”
― Ursula K. Le Guin

 

In my dreams I enter
the dark forest where I walk at night
Shadowed beings greet me
At first fearsome
I realize that the treasure they guard
are parts of myself hidden away.
Treated kindly beneath the trees
they reveal their gifts
The trick is to show no fear
or admit it if they do.
Honesty frees them of their burdens.
There are some paths
yet too dark to face tho
Someday I will accept their gifts as well.
Light beings live in the forest as well.
Their gifts of song and insight
I accept gladly
For each one protects me
Some in ways I have yet to understand
At first light I leave
I thanks all I’ve met
and prepare to sleep to waken
— G A Rosenberg

 

Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

Dark Forest Where I Walk At NightDark Forest by G A Rosenberg

 

Flame GuardianFlame Guardian by G A Rosenberg

 

Rufus’s Lessons

 

“Over the years I’ve come to appreciate how animals enter our lives prepared to teach and far from being burdened by an inability to speak they have many different ways to communicate. It is up to us to listen more than hear, to look into more than past.”
― Nick Trout

 

Today my son and I watched as the vet put our dog to sleep. It came somewhat out of the blue. I knew that he had not been acting quite like himself and put it down to something that he had gotten into. Unfortunately after picking him up after our camping trip, it seemed his condition had deteriorated. It turns out that due to a number of possible causes his kidney and liver had all but shut down. I called my partner who was out of town on business and then called my son and gave him the option to come to the vet and say goodbye. Probably one of the most painful things either of us have had to do.
I’ve learned quite a bit from Rufus over the years. His endless patience with humans and his total lack of it with any other animals notwithstanding, He was an amazing being. He taught me acceptance of anything that comes in life. He taught me that the best defence to being caught doing something that others disapprove of is to act puzzled, as if I have no idea how I came to be in these circumstances. For Rufus, the escape artist supreme this usually involved all of us including him how he ended up in the front yard in the first place. He taught me to love openly and accept almost everybody. He taught me how to claim both time and space for myself when necessary. He taught me that sometimes cuddling on the kitchen floor with a loved one can make almost any day a bit better. This is not such a bad legacy for a 10 yr old Irish Terrier.
Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

Awaiting at the Rainbow BridgeAwaiting the Rainbow Bridge by G A Rosenberg

 

Dark StarDark Star by G A Rosenberg

Principles of Interaction — Intent

 

“If your happiness depends on what somebody else does, I guess you do have a problem.”
― Richard Bach

 

No one else determines my happiness or sadness.
I am responsible for what I feel and when.
I will not blame anyone else for what I am feeling. I will not surrender my power in that way.
If I react badly to something another person does, that is my responsibility and a gift for it shows me my shadow.
If someone reacts badly to me and they communicate it, it does not mean I have to change. It is my choice. That does not mean I won’t modify my behaviour just that I don’t have to.
No one has to change for me.
I will be open to learning from all.
Since kindness and love brings me and others joy, I will be kind and loving as often as I can.
Curiosity is better than anger always.
Open communication is better than silence.
From time to time I will screw up these practices. I will not beat myself up.

 

Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

Opening Night of The Theatre of the RoseOpening Night at the Theatre of the Rose by G A Rosenberg

 

Halucinatory Test PatternHallucinatory Test Pattern by G A Rosenberg

 

Indecision

 

“It is a thousand times better to make every kind of mistake than to slide into the habit of hesitation, of uncertainty, of indecision.”
— Aleister Crowley

 

Caught up in a web of my own doubt
Fearful of consequences
earned by misact ion
I can sit here forever
living a frozen half life
or I can take a chance
and accept whatever comes
I can’t be a seed forever
only by pushing forward
can I grow
flower or weed
success or failure
either one is just a temporary game
and depends on taking that day’s chances.
— G A Rosenberg

 

Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

ApparitionApparition by G A Rosenberg

 

The Way OutThe Way Out by G A Rosenberg

The Wood’s Gifts

 

“I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, and you will say nothing. Words are the source of misunderstandings.” -from the Fox-
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

 

Another trip to the woods reaches it’s end.
One last campfire is banked.
Family communication improved
Times with friends cherished.
Fires throw surprising shadows at times
as does this time in the woods.
We realize that expectations unmet are often not reasoned ones
And that the loneliness that we can feel among loved ones often has little to do with them but everything to do with our own needs that we have yet to ask for.
I am grateful for these trips for everything they are even the hard parts.
Now we return to our city lives
Bearing the wood’s gifts.
Blessings, G

 

20140518-230320.jpgMy favourite tree–850 yrs old

 

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The Why of It

 

“There is in every one of us, even those who seem to be most moderate, a type of desire that is terrible, wild, and lawless.”
—  Plato, The Republic 

 

For over five years now I have been making entries on this blog. For over two and a half years without missing a night. I create and publish my art and writing usually to a pretty appreciative group of people for which I’m more grateful than I can say. From time to time I ponder on why.
To some extent it is the sheer joy and love of creating and sharing what I create. Also I enjoy the self-discipline of the practice. In some ways each piece is a meditation. Even more than either of these reasons is the need to communicate however obscurely my own journey. There is a lot that confuses and saddens me about the nature of human existence. There is also that which fills me with joy. By musing on the ideas of others and expressing my own ideas I both seek clarity and hope to awaken clarity and understanding in others. At least I am having quite a bit of fun in the attempt.
Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

20140517-222948.jpgRaging against the Storm by G A Rosenberg

 

20140517-223228.jpgArtistic Rescue by G A Rosenberg

Campground Encounters

 

“Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music – the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.”
—  Henry Miller

 

When camping out in the woods in relatively quiet spaces, almost anyone who crosses your path is a potential friend. When we pass each other we exchange friendly greetings and chat a bit. It is as if being out here quietly in nature internalizes us and in those few moments we realize that other people exist as well and the solitary moments become shared ones. It is easy at those moments
Of shared beauty to see ourselves in a stranger.
Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

20140516-224439.jpgSimultaneous Encounters by G A Rosenberg

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20140516-224600.jpgGraphic Rescue by G A Rosenberg

Nature Sounds

“The earth has music for those who listen.”
–George Santayana

 

A short entry tonight as once again, I am hanging out with the Mosquitos beneath the trees and the somewhat hazy skies in Washington State. Funny thing when out in nature, grounded even the thickest of emotional shadow stuff seems easier to deal with. It’s hard to stay sad or angry when birds are giving me funny looks as if to say “What out here can seem so serious?” I find myself entering a nice meditative state fairly easily. I look forward to the next few days to help reset abolish clarity of thought and purpose. Tomorrow I will have art to share. For tonight, a few photos and as always
Blessings, G

 

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