In this little treasure of a book I found yesterday, is a quote .. I had not seen this one before from one of Kahlil Gibran’s writings;.
You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance… Kahlil Gibran
Oyashikiri
Every day is a new beginning
PL Precept # 11 Always be with God
Ayez une foi sincere en Dieu
After a meeting at the church, a friend and I went out to lunch, after all Chinese New Year is happening, and the Mandarin on Hunt Club was having a special Chinese New Year Buffet, offering dim sum, and other special dishes. for the celebration. Having indulged ourselves in the many dishes, and the array of desserts offered, we headed back to the church so my friend could get her car.
A stop along the way, was for me a small bonanza of free books. Now that I’m happily working on recycling books, into my own personal versions of “junk journals” I picked out books by size and age. I was not interested in the content but rather the size .. quality of paper was also important but I was going to be using gesso or acrylic paints to change them anyway.
I was particularly drawn to this little 4x 6 book, it was nicely bound and had enough pages for me to get “junk” look to go with my other projects. I had no intention of doing any work on the books when I got home, I planned on just putting them aside for another day.
PL Precept #7 Everything exists in Relativity
PL Precept #15 All is a Mirror
When I got in, the little book fell to the floor, I bent down to retrieve it and saw handwriting in it. I glanced at the writing and realized that it was someone’s journal. The pages were highlighted, small pencil notations were on almost every second page. Someone had read and re read the book from cover to cover. In the back I saw that this particular book was one obtained at a conference on the theme of the book. There was a page with the 12 steps (12 step program) and a few other pages, with goals and objectives etc.
Needless to say, it was like looking into someone’s private, very private thoughts. The person had even identified the book, in case of loss, name and address labels were prominent on both back and front covers. The book was not current. I wondered how it had come to be in a pile of books being given away, left out as garbage at a thrift shop.
Without further thought, I found myself searching for papers, cuttings and colours to depersonalize the book, I removed the labels and then began to paint and glue.
Pl Precept # 19 Begin Once you Perceive
The transformation will not happen overnight, these journals take sometimes years to complete. IF EVER….. that is just the nature of the journals. Unless you are doing a particular theme for a give away, or to share .. They are ongoing projects, and become part of your “personal” inventory of treasures
When I told my friend about the find, she asked if the person had achieved their goal.. I didn’t have the answer, it would have meant that I would have had to read her/his thoughts and try to know his/her mind. Some artistic expressions are to share, others… are for one’s own pleasure.
There are printed pages of the book, that I will leave as is, there are thoughts in there that I can reflect on when I visit the journal from time to time. Like sharing with a friend.
I love sharing with a friend, and today I made a new one. how beautiful is that.
Oyashikiri
What happens when suddenly you realize it is Thursday! Wow, like how did this happen, it came at me right out of the blue.
Like the seasons, was it just yesterday I sat and watched the birds fly by on the horizon, couldn’t have been, when I look out side now, the world is white, we’ve had snow. Lots of it, although, it was so mild yesterday, temperatures went up to 40 degrees F. Today is going to be another mild day.
I had thought of going to New York city for the Perfect Liberty Thanksgiving service this month. The thought of seeing NY again, I’ve been away from some time, actually a LONG time, so close to the Chinese New Year, a side trip down to Chinatown would have been a real treat.
If you saw my blog the other day on Chinese New Year, and took the time to watch the video on the foods prepared for the special celebration, you would have seen a lot of colour, especially reds.
It was not to be. In the Japanese Church of Perfect Liberty, we use a word, Kamuwaza, it basically means, “God’s Act” or through no other reason, but that “something” just doesn’t happen, due to many different circumstances. In this case, all the signs were not pointing towards a good productive trip, my pushing the envelope to go anyway, would mean that, my desire, my wishes, were “mine” and not necessarily were they going to happen.
The TAO. also addresses this, there are times when we simply need to listen to the “signs” around us, and STOP pushing forward. It is time to STOP, reflect, and regroup.
Noooooo I’m not bummed about it, a tad disappointed maybe, but I have learned, that everything has a reason, (season) and by staying tuned in .. PL Precept # 11 Always be with God.
PL Precept #17 Grasp what is essential AND
PL Precept # 20 Live maintaining Equilibrium between Mind and Matter.. Things will progress and develop (PL Precept # 16)
Life is beautiful when you live the PL WAY … every day, in every way.
Oyashikiri
There is something to be said about a cold sunny day, when you can see the shimmering bling of the icicles as they hang from the roof edge. I have been trying to listen to the good advice from friends, “stay in, stay out of the cold, REST”, I think I’m soon going to be able to say, its been 4 weeks now! cough, cough, splutter, sneeze, wheeze and darn I’m tired.
This is a much better shot of the beautiful sculptured ice. The sky was the beckoning blue that makes me want to be outside. I don’t care it is cold, I’m happy outside, I layer up and I’m toasty warm.. the air is so fresh, crisp and deliciously brisk.
Thanks for the great feedback on the Sludge project, thought I’d show you a sneak peek.
.
This is a piece of a cover that I was very taken with. I liked it so much I kept the magazine for ages. Doing these “Art” journals has given me a new way to display and keep the pictures I like, without keeping a whole magazine. Eventually some time in the future, I will add to the pages.. this is the fun of it all.. there is no rush, no deadlines, just a great way to have quality time with myself doing “stuff” I like.
PL Precept #1 Life is Art
PL Precept # 18 Each Moment is a Turning Point
Make each moment count, enjoy being alive, be grateful, and appreciate that God is in your life…
PL Precept #11 Always be with God
When we live with love in our hearts…it is so much easier to express ourselves.
PL Precept #2 To live is to Express One’s Self.
Oyashikiri
Black gesso is messy.
Black gesso really works, and using the brand that works for you, helps a lot.
When working with black gesso.. wear gloves, it really is black
practice, practice, practice…..
So far I’ve tried it on different papers, waiting for it to dry, then I’ll press the papers over night. I had tried using white gesso with a black paint, but the results were not the same.
Learning to work with a new product, and to get results that please you, for your own personal style of expression, takes patience and the willingness to experiment. Taking chances, it is through mistakes that we learn, what we want.
This philosophy applies to our experiences in life. Sometimes we have to try something a few times, in a number of different ways to get what we “think” we want at the time. Each new steps, leads us to further discoveries. We need only be open to “change”
Oyashikiri
Ompah is in Ontario, a little out-of-the-way, but not so far one can’t get to it. The seasons change, right now I’m sure it doesn’t look like this. It will be snow-covered, and likely there will be a chill in the air.
My body has a cold right now. Notice I’ve disengaged myself from the body that is wanting to sneeze, wheeze and be a total drain on my energy.
I envision this wonderful location, patiently waiting for the cold to have its day and disappear.
Such is life, sometimes, Nature has its own agenda, time for me to settle down, find a cave and hibernate for a while. =^_^=
I’ll do that after Hubby takes me out for our anniversary dinner…..International Buffet.. yum.. what is it, you feed a cold or starve a cold?? later, I’ll dwell on it later… =^_^=
Oyashikiri
I know… I will own my decision to go out, when I should be tucked in bed… I will not complain if/when my body does not take kindly to my actions.
Pl Principle #2 the last part….. ” I will always be creative and will look for shortcomings in my OWN thinking and ACTIONS”
it happens, you are trying to get somewhere and up ahead, the flashing lights and sirens give advance warning, that just ahead, someone is having not so good a day. I knew I had to have the truck home in time for Hubby to get to the vet… I checked the dashboard, and saw if the delay wasn’t too long, I’d make it on time.
Turning on the radio, I was immediately surrounded with the drive home news, the traffic delays and the accidents, roads to avoid etc. Didn’t seem to matter which station, they were all about the snarled traffic, and the bumper to bumper drive home for those stuck on what is supposed to be a freeway. Even the express lanes it seems were not moving, except at a snails pace.
Other cars, and a big school bus were trying to maneuver their vehicles to take side streets. With cars/trucks at a standstill, and no where to move to it made their task very difficult. Fortunately for me I had my ice coffee to sip on, and enough for a second refill in my extra container. I decided to turn off the busy nattering, and just sit in the truck pondering the days events.
I had actually had a wonderful visit with a dear friend who after almost 10 years of visiting back and forth via the internet, had met over lunch a couple of months back. She is like a breath of fresh air, we share a lot of interests, so we had a show and tell luncheon, and I admit to being rather chuffed about it. To share with someone else who knows the excitement of a “blank page” or what one can do with a rubber stamp or wafer thin die, is rather exhilarating. I had even taken my experiments (work in progress) to show her. How cool is that…. To be able to present your “babies” and bask in the glow of having another “artist/crafter” understand why you think a typeset page, turned into a blank page with bumps and creases is so great. It had been a fantastic lunch… so being stuck in traffic was not going to spoil my mood.
There are choices we make in life, we can grumble and complain about a negative inconvenience that we have no control over, or we can dwell on a positive. I always lean towards the positive. I find it so much more productive for me, and time passes, and I get to appreciate, all the more, the experience of sharing with a friend.
PL Precept #4 Being Annoyed Limits Your Expression
PL Principle # 5 I will not get angry at anyone or anything.
This Wednesday, December 21st. is when the church of Perfect Liberty, celebrates Thanksgiving, Service is at 7 PM. Being stuck in the traffic gave me much time to reflect on the many blessings in my life. Someone else (the reason for the flashing lights) was not as blessed. While I give thanks for my day, I pray that something positive will balance out the negative that happened to someone else.
Oyashikiri
we begin with an idea…
PL Precept # 19 Begin Once you Perceive
PL Precept #17 Grasp what is most essential
In this case, my sister lovingly sought out and found this material and presented it to me. I loved it.. I wanted it to be something that would be used, and appreciated every day. I don’t get to see my sister every day, she lives in California, but I appreciate her every day. This pillow graces our bed, so every day, she is part of my daily life. A sister is a precious gift, I am lucky and have two =^_^=
PL Precept # 7 Everything Exists in Relativity
In PL we have a Thanksgiving service every month on the 21st. It is the most important service of the month, held at 7 pm. Members humbly express appreciation to God for all the blessings of the past month, and sincerely renew our determination to follow and practice the PL “Way”
Our 2017 Perfect Liberty Calendars are here and ready for those interested in obtaining one or having them for gifts to friends and family for the coming year. They are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and of course Japanese. A reminder if you need them mailed to you, there would be a cost for the shipping.
YOU are a blessing in my life
Oyashikiri
Getting around wasn’t easy for some today, the snow started last night, and kept falling well into the day. City crews did their best to ensure that the main highways were cleared, but it was made clear, side streets would not be cleared till after the afternoon drive home rush hours.
On the six o’clock news they showed one enterprising young man, Xross-country skiing into work. I recall one year when I snow- shoed in =^_^= I didn’t have to go out today, but I wanted to take advantage of the weather and attend a sale, that is usually impossible to get close to, especially if you want to park your vehicle, in my case, a big truck.
I was right, traffic was light, it was mid morning, and I had plenty of room to park. My day went very well, I found some great “deals” and enjoyed being out in the brisk snow filled air. Sure one had to drive slowly and with care, but we should be doing that at all time anyway. I was able to get some shopping in without a lot of fuss, and get home at a decent hour.
The PL philosophy is that if you start your day with a positive attitude, and a sincere appreciation for the weather and the world around you, your chances of having a full and productive day are very good.
PL Precept #15 all is a mirror
PL Principle # 2 I will not have complaints about others, matters, nor the weather. Rather I will always be creative and will for shortcomings in my own thinking and actions.
PL Principle # 3 I will live with a mind of appreciation towards others and things.
There is a wonderland around us. We walk through it every day. There are magical people that pass us by on the street every day. People with dreams and imaginations just like ours, who from looking at them we would never know that they were actors in their own theatres and plays. Yet at night they could be transforming the world of others with their creativity and talents. You need only walk though a museum, see a window display, every where and especially at this time of year, you will see the creative expressions decorating homes and whole streets…. We love to delight.
PL Precept # 2 To live is to Express One’s Self.
There is an expression when you do something, do it right. Well this was not my intent, but, hey, life happens.
PL Precept # 1 Life is Art
The congee did cool down and was transferred to another bowl, my wonderful husband, who I appreciate every day, cleaned it up .. he says I’m the best “mess maker” he has ever ever known =^_^=
PL Principle #21 I will live in true harmony with my spouse
Enjoy the sunshine, dress up .. it is on the cool side, but remember.. LIFE IS GOOD!
Oyashikiri
dymoonblog 