the enchantment of the night
the desire to be free
my spirit soars into the beyond
knowing that out in the Universe
the calm and serenity of the night
would make my world alright.
landscapes so blue… so true
the moonlight colouring the land a gentle blue
a mesmerizing hue of all that is real
when in a dreamscape I am with YOU.
Q
written by Q (aka me)
photography, Q
Location, Pacifique, SL (virtual)
Bom Dia, Good Morning, For those of you who do not live in the area, the 417 is the highway that takes one from Ottawa, to Montreal. It is a divided highway, two lanes going east, and two lanes going west . The landscape between here and Montreal yesterday was beyond spectacular.
The weather forecast was rain and more rain. Ottawa was predicted to have heavy rains most of the day. Montreal less so. When we left, we were not expecting a great sun-filled or colourful day. There was no sun, not even a glimmer or hint of sun. BUT the colours were out of this world. Brilliant, rich, full of drama, it was often gasping wow moments. It truly was mesmerizing, I couldn’t get enough of it. Never have I been so enthralled with a rainy, misty foggy day.
My co-pilot was just as blown away as I was, our conversations were constantly being interrupted with our reaction to the scenery we were driving through. Sorry no pictures it was raining too hard, this is an extremely busy, highway. Suffice to say, it was often surreal. The rain was so heavy that it drenched the barks of the trees, so that they stood out, like inked ebony sculptures dripping with leaves of wet glistening golds, and often fiery burnished copper would stand out majestically against a stand of evergreens.
We don’t go out expecting to be presented with endless miles of Natural wonders…. but when it happens, friends, you feel truly blessed. The ride home was foggy and we had the rush hour traffic for part of it, but the ride to our destination, was gift. A picture would not do it justice, we had to live it. Live it we did. What a day, it was glorious, yeah, really… that great. Neither one of us expected such a 3D high-definition all out mind-blowing show…but the heavens provided and we reaped the rewards.
Life can be exhausting, but it can also be simply divine, when you least expect it to.
Oyashikiri
Norm and fellow door chasers, there is a door in one of these pictures, with activity happening in the room beyond, You can see through the windows.. Actually there is more than one ..
Till next time… you are loved!!!!
Something funny has started to happen, at the end of each day, I pull down a canvas or another form of painting platform, and I recap my day. Nothing in mind, just a glance over my inventory of tools, and my hands and “unconscious” thought take over.
I’ve always said, “I can’t do a journal” when asked if I have a journal, oh, I have lots of potential journals. I love collecting them, but somehow, I don’t seem to be interested in writing in them. OR drawing in them. I did start doing “art” journals, remember that, I got books and was keen on recycling the pages into artistic “expression” I still like the idea, but that “action” evolved, I began to recycle canvas I’d find in Thrift shops, but as my husband has patiently explained, we only have so much wall space
In fairness to myself, I don’t really want to put up all the canvas that I paint. But it does have to dry, AND some I do like to revisit. BUT once I do them, express that one “emotion/thought” I let it go. Working on Acrylic board, canvas sheets, or water-colour pages works far better, I can then once they are dry, store them till I decide to cut one up to use part or parts of it for a background for something else.
And why pray tell am I sharing this with you. In PL, our first precept is #1 Life is Art.
Think about it, many of you I know read my blogs, and you relate, maybe not to all of what I go on about, but some of it definitely resonates with you. With me, my daily lessons come from my “art” my writing, painting, how I deal with a “challenge/opportunity” sometimes, I am a wiz, it works out just fine, other times, like putting paint to paper it really pops, just not the “harmony” you’d hoped or thought would reflect back at you…. PL Precept # 15 All is a Mirror
In PL we don’t do “sermons” we talk about the precepts, and how they are useful to us in our daily lives. Much like you read here in my blogs. I mention this because, over the years, I have been blessed with new friends through this blog who are not PL members but who share with me, their thoughts and comments, I LOVE IT.
Sometimes we begin a project thinking we know just how and what we will do. Over time I have grown, listened, and learned from you, my delight in the world has expanded through the growth of my online, virtual friends.
How does my “garden” grow….. YOU make it blossom, YOU bring your thoughts and energy into my world, and I THANK YOU.
Oyashikiri
In PL Oyashikiri is a blessing.
It all started out innocently enough. I heard about a place where there was a possibility I could run into, or meet up with the Mad Hatter, and if really lucky maybe Alice herself. had to crawl through a door to do that, and fall down a big hole, but I was game.
Once there what had started out easy enough, was proving to be a big confusing, there were no road signs, in fact, there had been a note earlier in the game saying I should follow the path. And it would be more fun if I had my settings at night.. but you can see, I wasn’t that brave.. I kept to travel in the daylight.
I went in to explore the first building I found, it was empty, but fully furnished I was able to warm myself by a roaring fire. I wasn’t tempted to rest on the bed.. but I did sit a spell on a chair in what appeared to be a bedroom with a lot of books.
When I found my way out of the big spooky house, I sat for awhile hoping that I would be given a sign, or someone would come by… no one came. I did meet a guard at the entrance to the red queen’s palace, but she was no where to be seen. I dared sit on her throne.
I made my way over hills, and through a huge valley of coloured mushrooms, I could hear activity, but didn’t see anyone. When I came across the tea party, no one was there, all the desserts were out, and the tea still hot, but not a soul in sight.
The windmill was beckoning with its welcoming lights at the door, before calling it a night, I thought I go explore. Sigh.. a woman’s work is never done.. I had to mend and sew without any proper light before I could go to bed.
Meanwhile, while I was out exploring, Little Q was at home enjoying a night by the fire, with not a thought in her head to leave her cosy home
No two people use “time” in the same way. The trick is to find what is “right for you, and make time to do it. Every day we get to create our own “chapter and verse”, it was a grand week-end. Now, we have a whole week ahead. Happy start of the week everyone.
I am little Ms Q. and I luv YOU… from my virtual home, I bid you a good night.
avatar (Siamese) is a Dinky (found in Second Life) designer Etheria Parrott Tiny Inc -Dinky shop
Alice In Wonderland sim is also in SL Alice in Wonderland.dsyphoria
model for the human avatar -Dentelle Noir
Q is Qyhat Harbour (pronounced Quiet) friends call me Q =^_^=
Right. If only life were that simple..
Oophs sorry, wrong door, and you can simply close it and go to the next one. It happens more often than we would like to acknowledge. Another project, another impossible discussion with ?, a deadline looming and we’ve not come to a decision.
If we landed in a bit of a pickle, chances are, we by our own actions had a hand in lading us there. Time to stand back and really examine the “door/issue/challenge”. See it as an opportunity.
Don’t be deterred by how it looks, if you want inside, or to know what is behind the doors, then you will need to creatively find a way to do just that.
A door big or small, any shape at all, has always fascinated me, I doubt that will change anytime soon. Even when I know what is behind the door. I want to open the door and go inside. Unless of course it is housework, and dirty dishes waiting on the other side.
green door by Jim Gove on flickr
plain on the outside maybe, but inside…comforts of home in a land far far away
Where would you like to be today?
Come on, come outside and play..
we can each take a turn
at having our own way…
hahahaha
do you believe me?
sure you do
after all
I am after all
an another version
of
YOU
Oyashikiri
OH my, look at you
what on earth have you gotten into
certainly the month of October
brings out the devilish urge
to prance and dance
in outlandish attire
in full view
but really, do you remember
the hippo you?
that was years ago.
when all you knew was being a Tiny
in a world of fantasy and creativity
oh dear… oh dear
where are your clothes
a fine witches brew
you’ve gotten into
it isn’t even Hallow’s Eve
quick into the pumpkin
hide behind the pumpkin’s silly grin
what are we to do
when the full moon
comes into view
dear oh dear
I do believe we have a case
of October-itice
there are times
we can be anything we want to be
October is the month to play
to dabble
in a witches brew
come join Q
we wait for YOU
hahahaha
coming to a store near you..
Q
PL Precept #1 Life is Art
have fun, explore allow your creativity to flow
if you visit virtual worlds, you have lots of room to play.
where ever you are. be present in the moment
and enjoy being YOU
Thank you all for your wonderful messages of love and friendship… I was overwhelmed when I got back at the birthday greetings and kind words. The road weariness evaporated under a blanket of amazing heartfelt gratitude. Many of you I have only met and interacted via social media and the virtual world, I really truly love and appreciate each and every one of you.
It was a wonderful birthday journey, filled with sunshine and balmy weather. We got to explore, visit and rest, my husband once again shone with his thoughtfulness at ensuring that everything went well and that we were safe at all times. To my fellow vintage buffs, this was the find of all finds, 100% silk, pure vintage, with beads that appear to be all hand sewn ..=^_^=
Friendships are God’s gift to treasure for all time
Thank you again for taking time to share this special time with me.
Namaste -Oyashikiri
In Perfect Liberty (Church PL) we say ” Life is Art” that is the #1 Precept of our 21 Precepts.
# 2 is To Live Is to Express One’s Self,
#7 Everything Exists in Relativity.
#18 Each Moment is a Turning Point
I have mentioned before that I visit Second Life which is a virtual world. To some it is a game and to others it is not. To know what Second Life is all about, you have to experience it. Much like if I am eating a peach and you see me with a big smile and peach juice at the corners of my mouth, you note the peach is fuzzy and looks moist and inviting, this will give you some information about what I’m eating, but if you ask me, what does it taste like, my answer will really not tell you anything. Why, because you are not tasting it for yourself, and my taste buds and yours might be on totally different planets.
Why am I talking about SL today, mainly because I just finished doing the blog for this virtual reality world http://virtualluna.blogspot.ca/ and I was totally blown away by the creativity and artist way of life many of the creators in SL lead. The builders (artists/designers) recreate what they see, like and enjoy in our day to day world, which in SL speak is called RL (real life) These people from all over the world, SL is played by people from all over the world if there is internet there is SL. The SL currency can be exchanged in most major markets. ie. we can trade SL currency for US dollars. (LOL if you have enough of it)
Many of the artists/designers make their living through sales in this virtual marketplace. They use their skills to design and build for the inhabitants of this world, and they make enough to pay their” whatever” in real life. In PL we recognize that each individual is a unique being, and we all have ways to express who we are.
One of the valuable lessons of this virtual world is that we have to look beyond the avatar we are speaking with, because behind each avatar is a real live breathing person. So in life.. we meet someone and we see their outer shell. How often do we forget that inside that body we are looking at, there is a person, with a heart and feelings. We look at their appearance, the clothes they wear, how they stand, speak, and without knowing it, or even thinking about it, we form an opinion. It is hard not to do.
I ask you today, to think of the PL Precepts I’ve mentioned above, and to put your Makoto into doing your best to value those Precepts and apply them to your daily living. The truth revealed in their words applies universally to all humankind.
PL Precept 20 – Live Maintaining Equilibrium Between Mind and Matter.
Aerospatiale AS-350BA Squirrel (Tom Meyer)
Service dogs are an amazing part of the armed forces (Jonathan Schout)(Alfonso Irene Jimenez)
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE! It is Friday!!!
Drolma Lhakhang, http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wakeley/41/69/146
>A Green Tara Tibetan Temple and former refuge of Atisha, one of Tibet’s greatest teachers. Founded in 1055. Sponsored in Second Life by Free Tibet. Free meditation zafus, thankgas and other Dharma items are available on the 2nd floor gallery.<
As we travel the roads of life, and encounter the challenges that come our way, it is important that we maintain a spiritual balance. Our “spirit” includes emotions, energy, hope, courage, , it embraces our individual choices regarding ethics, morals, values and integrity. How you live your life, what you take from and give to life is an integral part of your spirit.
Let us choose to put our whole heart into whatever we do. Let us practice being mindful towards achieving a better balance in our daily living. Keep prayer a daily practice, stay connected.
You are always in my prayers, now tomorrow and always… Oyashikiri
