Category: Digital Art

The Offensive Gnu – Streaming Consciousness

“I do not know how to find out anything new without being offensive.”
– Charles Fort.

 

To discover.. to look at something and see it for the first time… to discover it in a new way…upsetting the old and the ones who held it— the ones attached see me as wrong for my new eyes..my real eyes..my realization? … most can’t see… Galileo said the earth went around the sun… offended many… did he have the right?… how did he not? People like their Dragon spots and their fear and mystery… removing it…even tho the map may be better scores few thanks..how brave must one be to face the unknown even inside themselves? we’re looking for beings of courage…map makers to a new tomorrow… even if it means we have to throw out our old ones… Aww but the colours were so pretty too… that’s ok..we’ll create with even more pretty colours and it will be true..neophile- lover of the new, neophobe-one who fears the new… I know which one I will be…will myself to be..and if in the end my eyes offend and I lose friends.. i still will see the new..
Blessings, G

 

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Star DivingStar Diving by G A Rosenberg

 

Liquid FireLiquid Fire by G A Rosenberg

A Colourful Business…

“In many shamanic societies, if you came across a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence?”
–Angeles Arrien

 

Where would we be without a sense of wonder? Occasionally I interact with people both in real life and online who seem to have had their imagination shot off in the war. They speak flatly and argue flatly usually for what seems like a flat earth but is in actuality just a reality that stops either at the border of what they have seen or experienced for themselves or sometimes stretches to encompasses writers who tell them that indeed reality does not stretch that far. So in a universe of infinite colour and hue they restrict themselves to sixteen colours and see themselves as fanciful that they do not stop at eight.

How do you describe to someone colours that they have never seen? How can you make them believe that there are complete palettes of shades that do not exist on their colour wheel. Especially when they have always been more than satisfied with their sixteen thank you very much and see as thriftless nutters anyone who could possibly see more than thirty-two. Perhaps if they were open to the idea that such hues existed you could help them to see in their minds eye at least but all to often they have erected a grey wall against it. Eventually you just have to share your colours only with those who have the courage to paint their dreams.
Blessings, G

 

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Dreaming in TandemDreaming in Tandem by G A Rosenberg

 

Gem VortexGem Vortex by G A Rosenberg

Tarot Post – Nine of Wands

 

 

Nine of Wands (Strength / Intensity)

 

Nine of WandsNine of Wands (Strength) by G A Rosenberg

 

Hyper vigilance
Once you are sure then proceed
Imagination soars!

 
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Beware of Judgement
Once you are sure then proceed
Imagination soars!

 

At Dawn they come
I hear the drums beating
as they plan their approach
I alone remain
to meet them
I cannot give way
Will this battle be the one I cannot win?
NO!
I will not surrender
My gods watch over me and so much has been lost
The drums echo louder as I kneel in prayer
Leaning on my staff for support
My company of nine
eight well used and on e freshly carved
tell of other times
that I came through
Drumming louder, drumming stronger
and voices heard
“The dr will see you now
you may go in”
–G A Rosenberg

 

The suite of Wands deal with force-creative, spiritual, and vital. The Nines represent a coming to completion of the energy involved if not the completion itself. This energy has been through almost its whole cycle of manifestation. It has seen conflicts and resolution and tho weary it is ready for anything that comes its way. Tho after encountering conflict and emerging victorious do we forever after have the expectation of conflict somewhere in our minds. Are we perhaps too ready to see everything as a conflict? Perhaps or perhaps we have come to a healthy point where we see everything that comes our way positive or negative as being a challenge. The difference between a conflict and a challenge is that while conflict always needs to be met with either greater conflict or surrender, a challenge takes much more flexibility and fluidity.

 

Astrological Correspondence – Moon in Sagittarius – This energy is both competitive and adaptable. It is not a laboured one that thoroughly plans its every move but one that changes to fit every contest. It grows impatient when held to any plan. The Moon in Sagittarius is optimistic and its optimism carries it through no matter what it may encounter. It is a very in the moment energy and will always forge its own unique path even if its not willing to stick around and take responsibility for debris in its wake afterwards.

 

I Ching Correspondence – 7) Shi – The Army / Multitude

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The Trigram for Earth is over that of Water. This hexagram ties back to the days when China had no standing army but the peasant class would when needed during war time serve. This made it unnecessary to have a large number of men at hand always in readiness for conflict. Water stored in earth arises only when necessary. It is always good to avoid the use of force if there are alternatives. When the use of force does become necessary proper application of it is essential. It is also useful to adapt how we use our force according to both inner will and outer circumstances.

 

When the Nine of Wands shows up in a reading, there may be an indication that it is time to marshall our strength and be in readiness for conflict. It may also mean that we are ready to take on any challenge that may come our way and be able to meet it fully. The Nine of Wands may also mean that we are involved in a contest for the ‘thrill of the game’ rather than to gain anything specific. This card often speaks of a great struggle, depending on where it comes in the reading, it is either ongoing, in the past or about to start. In any case, it is a challenge that will be well met.

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The Nine of Wands reversed in a reading may show that we are being over-cautious and hyper-vigilant. We may have been preparing ourselves for a great battle for so long that we have grown rigid and unyielding and jump at shadows. It can mean that we need to become vulnerable for awhile so that we can once again be ready to engage with proper and flexible readiness.

Finding the Love

“A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does”
― Dan Millman

 

Finding the love in what you do is easier sometimes than it is at others. Obvious yes but still how often do we miss the obvious because it doesn’t fell like it is worth stating? I love making art. I love writing poetry. I love thinking about thing I have never thought of before or thinking of an old thing in a new way. I love walking in nature. I love meditating. I love reading. I love talking to really amazing people both online and off and learning from them. I love music. I love exploring the nature of the All and of love. It has brought more joy to me than I can say that I’ve been able to do so many of the things that I love this past year or two and I feel like I have been touched by a unique grace.
Then there are the necessities, the things we don’t necessarily love that we have to do. Like cleaning the bathroom or washing the dishes or laundry. You can add to the list dealing with loved ones when they’re cranky or having serious questions with people who don’t want to climb out of their box even to look into mine. Yet still with some effort I can get those done. While cleaning I can engage in a conversation with myself about myths or legends or the nature of love. I can listen to an audiobook or I can make a game of the cleaning. Just how clean can I make that toilet? I can write an ode to the leftover pasta sauce on the underside of the bowl I can think of the faces of all those I love or recite a theme song to a 60’s television show. I can find the joy or the love in what I do. Oh its not always easy. You know what else isn’t easy? Anything you fail to try to do.
Blessings, G

 

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Queen of the Fractal GladeQueen of the Fractal Glade by G A Rosenberg

 

SplatteredSplattered by G A Rosenberg

Tarot Post – Eight of Pentacles

 

Eight of Pentacles (Prudence / Knowledge)

 

Oak TreeEight Of Pentacles (Revised) by G A Rosenberg

 

Each step has been learned
In crafty self-expression
Discipline pays off.

 

Honing my craft
Designing new ways to design
creating new ways to create
it’s all self-expression.
Can I make what I contain
both beautiful and useful?
Can I present
what I know
in a way that awakens
knowledge and appreciation
in others as well?
Each day brings something new
either realization or lesson
but how do I know it
until I can show
through my creation
my understanding
of what I’ve learned?

 

The suit of Pentacles refers to the element of Earth and of practical matters such as money and partnerships both of a business nature and of the home. They can also represent nature, the Earth itself as well as our bodies. Eights deal with recognition of boundaries and a focus of the energies to move on and continue. How do we manifest the talents and abilities that we carry within us? There are so many ways such writing, art of all various kinds, crafts, and engineering just to name a few. No matter which one we choose, there is a period of time during which we must train ourselves in the form of that expression. By becoming ever more proficient and disciplined in the forms, we give ourselves the freedom to then experiment and take them to new places, expanding the medium to better express our perceptions.

 

Astrological Correspondence – Sun in Virgo – The Sun in Virgo energy is one of analysis, self-examination and fine-tuning in every aspect of its being. One of the key words involved with this energy is responsibility and its focus will ever be on improving and making a good thing better. At times this may mean getting caught up in the details to the exclusion of the big picture. The Sun in Virgo energy also tends to be very self-contained, so busy exploring and expressing the interior of its existence that it has little need of exterior influence being complete in and of themselves. People with this energy tend to have a strong connection to the physical world and have amazing bodily awareness.

 

I Ching Correspondence – 62) Hsaio Kuo – Preponderance of the Small –

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The trigram of Thunder is over that of the Mountain. When thunder is in the mountains, it tends to echo and so feel a lot closer. It takes discipline to focus on making your way through the storm and get where you’re going rather than be daunted by the noise. This sense of focus on the immediate may seem over detailed or petty to others and yet it gets the job at hand done. This hexagram speaks a lot about self-moderation and discipline and how easily both of these things may be overturned by letting externals pull our focus.

 

When the Eight of Pentacles comes up in a reading, it can indicate that it is a time of great creativity and self-expression as long as we are receptive both to what our inner self wishes to communicate and to the means by which we are communicating it. It may also refer to a time when a tighter focus is needed. If we pay attention to the details, eventually we will be able to reconnect to the bigger picture. This may be true in our relationships as well as business and other practical relationships. The Eight of Pentacles may also be saying that it is time to buckle down and pursue one’s goals as it is possible through focus to attain them.

 

When the Eight of Pentacles turns up reversed, it may mean that we are paying to much attention to details and missing the big picture. Circumstances may have changed and what has been working for us until now may no longer be helpful. We need to step back and take a wider perspective on things before continuing. It is tempting when our efforts are not paying off to grow frustrated but the Eight of Pentacles reversed may be suggesting that patience is needed. Another meaning of this energy reversed may mean that rather than doing something step by step the way we always have, it may be time to think outside the box.

Artistic Road Trip

“Great artists make the roads; good teachers and good companions can point them out. But there ain’t no free rides, baby. No hitchhiking. And if you want to strike out in any new direction — you go alone. With a machete in your hand”
― Ursula K. Le Guin

 

There’s a difference between being lonely and being alone and its a key one. As much as I enjoy company and genuinely enjoy speaking with others, at times especially while creating, thinking or meditating I crave solitude. Those are the times that even if I have gone where others have I am still blazing my own trail. The territories of the mind, heart, spirit and imagination are infinite and while there is a lot of cross-overs each passageway is unique. We can admire the path that someone else has made but we cannot take it as our own, they’ve paid for it with their experiences and those are unique to each.
After we have journeyed for awhile, it is fun to call a friend in to show them what we have found on the passageway as it is to see what they have found. Since we create our trail as we go, we can never know when we will use something given to us by another. Each item whether internal or external is sacred. Eventually the trails will converge with lifetimes of experiences shared by all.
Blessings, G

 

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Killing Time at the CrossroadsKilling Time at the Crossroads by G A Rosenberg

 

Emmitting Light From the CentreEmitting Light From the Centre by G A Rosenberg

The Big Moments are Gonna Come

“Bottom line is, even if you see ’em coming, you’re not ready for the big moments. No one asks for their life to change, not really. But it does. So what are we, helpless? Puppets? No. The big moments are gonna come. You can’t help that. It’s what you do afterwards that counts. That’s when you find out who you are.”
― Joss Whedon

 

We’ve all had them. Maybe we didn’t recognize them at the time but all of a sudden we look up and everything has changed. I call them cusp moments, tho they can also be called crossroad moments or twilight moments or any other metaphor that catches your mind. It could be a parent’s death or a graduation ceremony. It almost always is when you lose your virginity. It could involve a bad breakup or an accident. It could even be a peak experience. However it happens in one fell swoop every map of reality that you have gets systematically erased. You look around you at places and people that were once familiar and you see strangers and strange places.
When this happens you can freak out and scramble towards anything that reminds you of your past and try as best as you can to recreate your own map or you can look at everything with the wonder of a child. You can be free to draw a new map with each new thing in front of you that you see with your new eyes. It can be the best thing ever.
I have spoken before about how every moment can be a new starting point and it can. You may not be able to force either a traumatic or a peak experience but you can consciously and willfully toss out your existing maps and look at your life and your environment with new eyes as if you’ve never seen it before. Redefine your relationships with everything and anything in front of you. Feel free to explore and learn and grow. Grab a hold of the potential new beginning that every moment brings
Blessings, G

 

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Brain StormBrainstorm by G A Rosenberg

 

RibbonsRibbons by G A Rosenberg

Emotional Waters

“Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.”
― Alan Wilson Watts

 

When too much is going on in my head, doing more or finding more to think about rarely helps. I have to sit with what’s there and let it gradually either fade or sink to the bottom. When I’m feeling frustration or impatience, I don’t find it helpful to dwell on the source of these emotions. That just adds fuel to the fire.  It also doesn’t help to tell myself that I shouldn’t feel what I’m feeling. That adds guilt to the list. If I sit with whatever the emotion is, letting myself feel it, even watching myself feel it as much as possible and I find it start to dissipate. It feels quite a bit like muddy water looks when it settles, a clearing thats gradual at first and then picks up speed until only a few traces of the cloudiness remain. After the emotion has gone, I can look at causes and reasons and perhaps come to a dispassionate understanding. At the very least I can do it from a perspective of peace and calm.
Blessings, G

 

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Time-ZoneTIme-Zoned by G A Rosenberg

 

SeededSeeded by G A Rosenberg