{"id":1251,"date":"2015-07-30T14:01:15","date_gmt":"2015-07-30T14:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/?p=1251"},"modified":"2015-07-31T22:28:24","modified_gmt":"2015-07-31T22:28:24","slug":"put-your-stake-in-the-ground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/put-your-stake-in-the-ground\/","title":{"rendered":"Put Your Stake in the Ground"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Super<\/a>Super Volute, Drozda, Acrylic\/board, 12 x 12″ 1998<\/span><\/h5>\n

Last week<\/a> I shared touchstones that I enlist to support my relationship with a natural and rhythmic flow of time. \u00a0It’s July 31 and we’re experiencing a\u00a0phenomenon of ‘once in a Blue Moon’ which happens every couple of years. I invite us to\u00a0celebrate by\u00a0going a bit deeper into the time topic<\/em>.<\/span><\/h4>\n

I’ve trained myself to stop trying to<\/span>\u00a0differentiate life from art. For years I kept tripping myself up by dividing myself into two different camps…the art camp<\/em> and the rest of life camp<\/em>. Then one day I woke up with a dream echo that left me boggled. The echo bounced off the walls of my brain resounding with this message: ‘the inertia of trying.’ <\/span><\/h4>\n

The inertia of trying. <\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Did you ever get caught in the loop of ‘I think I’ll try.’ or ‘I might try that.’?<\/span><\/h4>\n

I was struck and stunned and a bit confused when I woke up with that ‘inertia of trying’ phrase stuck in my head. I sought counsel and dug deep and eventually I vowed to STOP trying. In fact I decided to throw the word try out of my vocabulary.<\/strong> I would either take on the idea, goal, relationship, project and go the distance\u00a0or I wouldn’t start…no more dancing around the edges of things…and no more falling back on the muck and mire of, “I tried.” Remember that horse<\/a>?<\/span><\/h4>\n

I felt my energy level\u00a0rise. I got excited to engage in a more focused and committed way. In fact I am now a ‘recovering try-er’ and have become completely jazzed by creating my art\/life every breath of the way…both in and out of the studio<\/strong>. Below is the re-post of one of my primary focus lists. I identify qualities that support my Growth\u00a0and that are open to interpretation depending upon situations, circumstances, relationships and challenges…ever changing.<\/span><\/h4>\n

What words would you discover to fit for your walk round your\u00a0yearly wheel? You might start the Growth process by asking: <\/span><\/h4>\n

What would be good here? <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

What do I stand for?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. \n

    January \u2013 Clear<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  2. \n

    February \u2013 Renew<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  3. \n

    March \u2013 Purify<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  4. \n

    April \u2013 Clarity<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  5. \n

    May \u2013 Wisdom<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  6. \n

    June \u2013 Illuminate<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  7. \n

    July \u2013 Growth<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  8. \n

    August \u2013 Trust<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  9. \n

    September \u2013 Love<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  10. \n

    October \u2013 Experience<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  11. \n

    November \u2013 Introspect<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  12. \n

    December \u2013 Strength<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Let\u2019s Talk About Growth<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Any of us who have a garden know well what can happen in a 30 day period if we\u2019re not paying attention\u2026especially when we aren\u2019t home to weed and tend pathways. Having been in the garden for over forty years I have developed the habit of pulling a bucket of weeds each day, minimum, and as I toss each of the unwanted into the old red pail I simultaneously use the action to consider thoughts and emotions lurking in consciousness that may well be ready to be pulled out by their roots. I have fun with this practice\u2026and since its daily\u2026there\u2019s a rhythm.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    I also appreciate reminding myself of how much I can accomplish in one short hour<\/u><\/em><\/strong>. For this practice a digital timer is my best buddy. No matter what the time period\u2026I respect that, for me, it\u2019s my thoughts and emotions that create my\u00a0evolutionary creativity<\/em>. <\/span><\/h4>\n

    Evolutionary creativity is a term I heard years ago that supports the evolution of the creative process…which is a different experience from \u2018making stuff\u2019. <\/span><\/h3>\n

    I\u2019m intrigued and enthused to engage time in this sort of way. For me it\u2019s similar to being a good gardener and pounding a stake into the ground to support a sapling. Young trees need protection from strong winds that can easily snap them in half before they\u2019ve gained enough root strength to sway with the air currents. <\/span><\/h4>\n

    I find that I need structure and support so that my inspired parts have a strong\u00a0connection to my inner soul\/ground making it safe for me to stretch and Grow.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    I freely admit that I don’t automatically relish a \u2018next growth spurt\/edge\u2019 place. I\u2019m not necessarily gun-ho and eager to see what the next piece of evolution will require of my creative engagement.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Sometimes I feel like I could snap! <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

    I notice how instinctively parts of me pull back. <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Fight or flight!! Run away!!!<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Those scared parts constrict, contract, resist. \u00a0Those frightened parts kick and scream and attempt to tell me that “I DON”T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!”<\/span> Those parts insist that it be very dramatic<\/em>. Everything begins to feel quite icky, clammy and uncomfortable.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    In due time I realize that I have to<\/span> STOP IT<\/a>!<\/span> (Do click through and watch this riot of a Bob Newhart classic<\/a>\u2026a matter of minutes will bring sweet relief).<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

    Eventually I realize that I’m moving in a direction that doesn’t serve me well. I grab my red pail\u2026\u2018pull the weeds\u2019 and readjust my thinking.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Remember Hair on Fire<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Hair on fire<\/em> motivation is like creative Miracle Grow for ideas and inspirations. This level of commitment and incentive reminds me that we, and our art\/life, will not be tamed. <\/span><\/h4>\n

    Hair on fire<\/em> demands that ideas, inspirations, inclinations and motivations be brought into the world. Heard, seen, danced, pranced, poemed, played, acted, sang, puzzled into being.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    The Growth that comes as a result of this level of commitment invigorates and dazzles\u2026adding to the enrichment and up-liftment of Self, Others and Life itself. I am<\/em> fortunate to know many evolutionary creatives\u2026you reading this know who you are. I value highly that you populate this gorgeous earth demonstrating the present possibility, AND the limitless potential before us.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Meditate on the Growth that is currently pushing you to reach for the sky. <\/span><\/h4>\n

    <\/h4>\n

    \"002\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    Estivation, Drozda, Mixed media on canvas, 72 x 54 ” 2012<\/span><\/h5>\n

    Frame your quality of Growth in the way that you choose… and see if you can lean into hair on fire<\/em> commitment.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    In this week\u2019s exploration imagine that you\u2019re going to expand your ability to respond<\/em><\/strong> to your art\/life in consistent and generative ways\u2026I\u2019ve set the scene:<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Before Anything Can Happen You Have to Decide<\/strong>:<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Prepare for Growth<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Put everything to one side. Take a deep breath and allow the energy of midsummer to draw you into our metaphoric sweat lodge.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    \"sweatlodge1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    The sweat lodge creates a space for journeying and releasing. Let\u2019s imagine that we\u2019re journeying to a place of personal power by releasing weed-thought patterns. These are any thoughts that attempt to prevent us from being rooted in our true nature<\/em>. We\u2019ll use the concept of being true in nature<\/em> to stand in and support the idea of authentic self-care: stake in the ground.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    The Stage is Set<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    We make traditional prayer bundles\u2026containing tobacco and special herbs symbolizing energy for focused healing of dis-ease\u2026physical, emotional and\/or spiritual\u2026prayer bundles are strung among the surrounding trees and attached to the lodge ceiling.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    \u00a0\"sweatlodge3\"<\/h4>\n

    WARNING<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

    Protocol is scripted so that those taking part are given due warning…<\/span><\/h4>\n

    This is what to expect: darkness, tight quarters, roiling moisture. \u00a0Enter and be seated. Stay put. The door will close after every one has found their place inside. Water will be poured onto the red hot stones. Steam will rise. The air will quickly feel used up. Don\u2019t fight the environment. As conditions intensify they will drive you closer and closer to the earth, soon you will find yourself lying cheek to dirt\u2026the inner waters running from your pores soaking the surrounding soil.<\/span><\/h4>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"SweatLodgeHermit\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    The Hermit:Tarot, Drozda, 6 x 4″ 1993<\/span><\/p>\n

    You will not be able to breathe in the same way as before. You will need to discover a new way.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Inhale<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Exhale<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    You will gasp for air. You will be tempted to grope for the edge of the canvas that forms the walls separating you from the sweet freshness of the outside air.<\/span><\/h4>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Stay put<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Keep your hands off the side walls<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Endure<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    You may hear a story being told. There may be chanting.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    \u00a0You may leave your body<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    You may hallucinate<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Stay put<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    The Person Who Pours will add water to the poker-hot stone well in the center of the tight, closed oven. Steam will explode bringing the next wave of opportunity.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

    STOP IT!<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Drop the walls built up over time. You use them as some kind of protection that actually creates a barrier to your evolving creative rhythm.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Flatten out against the earth and listen to your heart drum.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Heart beat the rhythm:<\/span><\/h4>\n

    I am here<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    I am here<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    I am still. Here<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    These are a semblance of the\u00a0instructions you’ll receive before entry. NOW…<\/span><\/h4>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong>Time to Grow in New and Different Ways<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

    \"sweatlodge2\"<\/p>\n

    Bow as you move through the low rounded doorway entering into the closed space. Settle into the darkness. The others are inside. The door flap is pulled across the entrance. Two ‘door keepers’ stand outside. You may not leave. Red-hot stones are stacked in the dug out well in the center of the space. Quiet down. Feel the anticipation. Take a deep breath as the water is ladled\u00a0onto the cobbles. Steam explodes with an electric sizzle. The billowing alchemical blend of fire and water ignites and\u00a0rises…\u00a0steam engulfing the cave. Heat erupts\u00a0internally. Senses are altered; perspiration pops, toxins are released. Boldness emerges.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    This cycle suggests that releasing poisons from thinking and feeling opens the door to triumphing over the obstacles that life throws onto your path. Now you and I can stop trying and realize that it’s…<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Time to Open the Door to New Perspectives<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"Temple<\/a><\/p>\n

    The Temple Door, Drozda, Acrylic on board, 25 x 25″ 1998<\/span><\/p>\n

    This is a cycle for meditation practice. Each day sit quietly. Fifteen minutes will do. Your digital timer is your buddy. No thinking. Visualize a ‘meet-up’ with the True Nature of your evolutionary creative power. Ask your True Nature to show you how to Produce, Author, Direct and take Action on your life stage in the direction of your Destiny Path and Life Purpose.<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

    Time to Grow<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Regroup. Take ten steps back and open another door…<\/span><\/h4>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>Conduplicate, Drozda, Acrylic\/ board, 12 x 12″ \u00a01998<\/span><\/p>\n

    A different door\u2026this is a door inward leading to ways in which you might triumph over obstacles by doing a new thing in a different way<\/strong>. It feels odd and we resist yet something prompts…taking a deep breath and pushing on. \u00a0Yes…It’s that time of year.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Here’s a power word to apply as we move out of July under the light of the Blue Moon\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

    sophrosyne \/ so-frO-sU-nA …Greek<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    (noun) a healthy state of mind, characterized by self-control, moderation, and a deep awareness of one’s true self, and resulting true happiness.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

    Imagine that you made a vow to yourself to cultivate evolutionary creativity\u2026your sophrosyne state results in true happiness. <\/span><\/h4>\n
    \"Bodhisattva\"
    \n<\/a>The Bodhisattva, Drozda, Acrylic\/canvas, 48 x 54″ 2001<\/span><\/h5>\n

    Consider putting a stake into that<\/strong> ground. Consider what is most meaningful in that regard.\u00a0Consider your hair on fire<\/em>. Consider this as a time to clear the weeds and grow.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    We\u2019re exploring Growth and we’re\u00a0back in the blogging saddle\u2026we\u2019ve emerged from the sweat lodge\u2026changed\u2026making different decisions\u2026we aren’t trying…we’re actively engaging time with a natural rhythm of our own design\u2026we\u2019re trail riding together\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

    I\u2019m so glad that you are here, that I am here, that we are the Here-O\u2019s creatively evolving the beauty and the goodness of the art\/life one breath at a time.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Please do leave your comment about your relationship with Growth, your history of trying, how your feel about aligning with natural time and your evolving creativity. <\/span><\/h4>\n

    I invite you to subscribe to our Thursday posts exploring the Art\/Life…share with a friend…keep the conversation going…<\/span><\/h4>\n

    \"lunar<\/a>Phases of the Moon, Drozda, ,Acrylic\/board, detail, 2001<\/span><\/p>\n

    I am a working He<\/em>artist <\/em>with more than thirty years of practice in supporting the creative best in each of us to come forth and shine.
    \n<\/em><\/span>I invite\u00a0you to connect with\u00a0the uplift of \u2018Luna See\u2019 and     Lifecycle<\/a>; <\/span>time <\/span>management tools for aligning with natural creative rhythms.
    \n<\/span>Travel with me into a realm of calm and\u00a0renewed heart-centered emphasis.     \"Droz_Pups_2013\"<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n

    Through our shared journey with my monthly newsletter\u2018Luna See\u2019 and my creative consult \u2018Lifecycle\u2019 you will discover and expand your ability to experience,
    \nexpress, create and contribute your deepest and wisest<\/em> <\/strong>most\u00a0authentic gifts to this unspeakably beautiful world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Super Volute, Drozda, Acrylic\/board, 12 x 12″ 1998 Last week I shared touchstones that I enlist to support my relationship with a natural and rhythmic flow of time. \u00a0It’s July 31 and we’re experiencing a\u00a0phenomenon of ‘once in a Blue Moon’ which happens every couple of years. I invite us to\u00a0celebrate by\u00a0going a bit deeper […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[36,2,3,32,1],"tags":[27,37,21,22,40,10,38,30],"class_list":["post-1251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-artlife","category-natural-time-management","category-slow-time","category-starting-over","category-uncategorized","tag-art-life","tag-artlife","tag-artist","tag-donna-iona-drozda","tag-growth","tag-natural-time","tag-natural-time-management","tag-starting-over"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6htPT-kb","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1251"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1251\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1284,"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1251\/revisions\/1284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}