{"id":2054,"date":"2016-01-28T14:15:55","date_gmt":"2016-01-28T14:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/?p=2054"},"modified":"2016-01-28T14:37:36","modified_gmt":"2016-01-28T14:37:36","slug":"a-handy-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/a-handy-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"A Handy Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE ART OF CREATING THE FUTURE<\/span><\/h4>\n

\"GlacierNationalParkDeer_KevinLeFevre\"Glacier National Park Deer, Kevin LeFevre<\/a>, photographer<\/span><\/p>\n

Welcome to our fourth week on the January art\/life trail ride. This week\u00a0we make space for new creative vision.<\/span><\/h4>\n

To facilitate this we did a dismount at the beginning of the month taking time out of the saddle. January\u2019s keyword: \u2018Clearing\u2019 creates space for wandering and wondering in the metaphorical forest clearing.<\/strong><\/span> It\u2019s natural at this time of year to slow down a bit, to create a wandering space or if it\u2019s your choice to rest, simply rest…<\/span>opening space.\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Our values are changing, and our priorities too. For many of us, the choices we\u2019re making are the ones that we\u2019ll be living by for the remainder of our lives.<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Christian McEwen<\/span><\/h4>\n

\"PatternReflecting, Sara Wasserman, 2016<\/span><\/p>\n

This week let\u2019s consider the clearing of stress. Stress can be a killer.<\/span><\/h4>\n

A stress filled mind blocks the path into The Mystery<\/em><\/strong>. During this wintery part of the art\/life trail you want to make room to de-stress and create the future as you visualize and dream. This week dream about and picture what you are willing to create.<\/span><\/strong> Attempting to \u2018see into the future\u2019 can in itself be stressful\u2026and yet this is our chance to practice.<\/span><\/h4>\n

As we push into creative stress we actually identify the next step on the trail…we begin to see into the clearing with a sense of direction. We set a course.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Creative stress is actually very useful as a navigational tool. Creative Stress adds ump and motivation to either stay the course or change course.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Creative stress is different from negative, debilitating stress. <\/span><\/h4>\n

Think creative as in transformation<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Place yourself into the transformation process of egg, caterpillar, cocoon and the emerging winged one taking flight.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Locate where you are in these different stages of development.\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

\"'Bee\u2018Bee Tara\u2019, Drozda, mixed media\/canvas, 67 x 44\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n

Every blade of grass has a beautiful soul; courage consists of staying home and close to nature, nature who takes no account of our calamities.<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Joan Miro<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Creative space is a doorway…an edge place. Here we sense into the liminal. We feel the opportunity to make a commitment to meaningful, creative, courageous, compassionate action.<\/span><\/h4>\n

From now until the March 22 equinox there is\u00a0time to continue to create the clearing. Move into renewing and eventually \u2018steam clean\u2019 and purify your efforts.<\/span><\/h4>\n

In a couple of weeks\u00a0we will jump back into the saddle and get moving on the trail. We will be refreshed and ready to go. \u00a0We rest and regroup intuitively and instinctively.<\/span>\u00a0Most of us don\u2019t want to take this opportunity, We keep pushing or fall into inertia.<\/span><\/h4>\n

For fast-acting relief from stress, try slowing down.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Lily Tomlin<\/span><\/h4>\n

For the next few weeks I\u2019ll be including, each week,\u00a0The Lifecycle Forecast<\/a>: the 20th<\/sup> anniversary edition.<\/span> I hope that you will settle in with a cuppa tea and consider your year ahead compassion in action.<\/span><\/h4>\n

\"Natural<\/h4>\n

The 2016 Lifecycle Forecast<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n

Also make a note in your calendar to read the report at each quarter point of the natural wheel<\/strong>. Reviews will offer you renewed \u2018Compassion in Action\u2019 reminders.<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201cYour 2016 report is glorious.\u201d <\/span><\/h4>\n

R.G.<\/span><\/h4>\n

<\/h4>\n

Our Wise Woman companion on the art\/life trail this week is: Sara Wasserman…<\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"HarborHarbor View 1, Sara Wasserman. 2016<\/span><\/p>\n

Sara is a dedicated professional in her field as well as a wanderer and a wonderer currently in-between places on a silent retreat in Washington State.<\/span><\/h4>\n

\"Harbor\u00a0Harbor View 2, Sara Wasserman, 2016<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

<\/h4>\n

\"Bench,Washington Hike, Sara Wasserman, 2016<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u00a0I share her gentle observations of space and time as a reminder of January\u2019s gift to create a clearing.<\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"HarborHarbor View, Sara Wasserman, pencil, 2016<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

\"OysterOyster\u00a0Shell, Sara Wasserman, pencil, 2016<\/span><\/p>\n

Sara’s N<\/strong><\/span>otes from the Hood…Canal, Washington:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

These are two pictures from the same hike; the Lena Lake Trail.<\/span><\/h4>\n

To give a little context, I am staying in a small enclave of vacation homes near the little town of Lilliwaup. I just resigned from a regular corporate job of 3.5 years in Southern California and taking some time and space before returning to Cleveland.\u00a0 I am \u2018on the road\u2019 and on a pilgrimage. These are some of my favorite activities. I have the blessed opportunity to be in Mother Nature\u2019s playground.<\/span><\/h4>\n

\"Ancient<\/p>\n

Sara Wasserman, 2016<\/span><\/p>\n

Back to the pictures…The first one has a deep meaning for me. <\/span><\/h4>\n

I admit that I am a tree-hugger, the bigger and older the better. I have a particular fondness for the redwoods and cedars and pines. These trees are huge. Being alone on the trail, I was able to linger in the company of these standing ones. This one had wisdom to impart. It had obviously been in a fire and was scorched and one might say, scarred or disfigured. The possible message that I intuited was quite different.\u00a0 It was about the essence or spirit of the tree was deep inside, unseen.\u00a0 It was alive and thriving.\u00a0 It could not be seen with the naked eye. The outside appearance was insignificant. It was only a story and a memory. It was not what was happening now. What was happening, in the now, the aliveness, was visceral. I am able to relate to this. As I get older and my outside appearance is, in my opinion, less \u2018attractive\u2019, I know that my spiritual center is radiant and flourishing.\u00a0 It also speaks to the judgement held about other\u2019s which only increases a sense of separation and the resulting suffering that brings.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Indeed, that thick bark is necessary to protect the vulnerable center of this tree in the heat of a fire, but, I, also, experience the presence and strength and life that remains giving life energy to the planet with a sense of oneness, generosity, and mutuality.<\/span><\/h4>\n

The second image is from that same hike.\u00a0 I saw it on the way down. This is exactly how I found this leaf, smiling from its moist and mossy pedestal.\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

\"Smiling<\/h4>\n

\u00a0Reminding me to smile and to welcome the surprise and simplicity of life in the present moment.<\/span><\/h4>\n

So…I am so grateful to Donna for inviting me to contribute to her blog. Mostly, I am grateful to the abundance of the universe for sharing her bounty.<\/span><\/h4>\n

With much love,\u00a0 Sara L.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Even if you do not physically travel\u2026each year you can make room for the pause that truly clears and refreshes.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Compassion Action for this week\u2026<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Write it down. Take time to journal. Write about where you are. Write about\u00a0where you are passionate about going. Write yourself a list, in longhand, of your frustrations and fears about the future.\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Consider what you are ready to renew\u2026it might be a creative practice, a relationship, a habit that really works.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Feeling soothed after reading your post. Thank you \u00a0Donna.<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Robyn Gordon via Face Book<\/span><\/h4>\n

<\/h4>\n

\"The<\/h4>\n

TIME MASTERY IS SELF MASTERY<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

With Luna See<\/a><\/span><\/em> and Lifecycle<\/a><\/span><\/em> your ability to experience, express, create and contribute your deepest, wisest, gifts will naturally expand.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Donna Iona Drozda, All rights reserved. \u00a9 2016<\/span><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE ART OF CREATING THE FUTURE Glacier National Park Deer, Kevin LeFevre, photographer Welcome to our fourth week on the January art\/life trail ride. This week\u00a0we make space for new creative vision. To facilitate this we did a dismount at the beginning of the month taking time out of the saddle. January\u2019s keyword: \u2018Clearing\u2019 creates […]<\/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":[36,79,99,2,3,32],"tags":[132,37,26,129,22,131,130,43,49,133,10,38,58,134,128,16,30],"class_list":["post-2054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-artlife","category-buddhism","category-donna-iona-drozda","category-natural-time-management","category-slow-time","category-starting-over","tag-2016-lifecycle-forecast","tag-artlife","tag-artist-blog","tag-christian-mcewen","tag-donna-iona-drozda","tag-joan-miro","tag-lily-tomlin","tag-lunar-phases","tag-masculinefeminine-time","tag-mystery","tag-natural-time","tag-natural-time-management","tag-nature-art","tag-robyn-gordon","tag-sara-wasserman","tag-slow-time","tag-starting-over"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6htPT-x8","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2054","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=2054"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2054\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2078,"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2054\/revisions\/2078"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}