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Sacred Artist Interview: Laurie Mika

I first encountered Laurie Mika‘s work when I saw one of her mosaic classes offered.  While paper arts and photography are my primary art forms, I sometimes like to extend myself into the world of mosaics, where broken pieces are transformed into something of beauty.  Her class was full, as most of them are, but I visited her website and was entranced by her work of creating her own tiles out of polymer clay. This edition of the Sacred Artist Interview also serves as an edition of the Abbey Bookshelf, because Laurie has also published the wonderful Mixed Media Mosaics: Techniques and Projects

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Into the Wild

I am still living into the gifts of my 12-day trip down the East coast in March re-visiting family and friends, walking in familiar places with new eyes, tending to memories of formative times. In the last couple of days of my trip I watched the film Into the Wild from my hotel room one evening.  (Spoiler alert — if you do not know the ending of the film, I do give it away further down in the post).  It is the story of Christopher McCandless’ journey away from the dysfunction of his parents toward the solitary promise of Alaska. 

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Visual Meditation: Winged Delight

As Once the Winged Energy of Delight As once the winged energy of delight carried you over childhood’s dark abysses, now beyond your own life build the great arch of unimagined bridges. Wonders happen if we can succeed in passing through the harshest danger; but only in a bright and purely granted achievement can we realize the wonder. To work with Things in the indescribable relationship is not too hard for us; the pattern grows more intricate and subtle, and being swept along is not enough. Take your practiced powers and stretch them out until they span the chasm between

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Sacred Artist Interview: Marilyn Russell

I first encountered Marilyn Russell virtually when we were each asked to write an article on spirituality and artistic expression for the UCLA Spirituality in Higher Education Newsletter.  Marilyn’s article was on “The Empowering of Art & Spirituality.” Read her article to gain even more insight into her vision as an artist.  (you can read my article here). She is a member of the Ojibwe tribe, an artist, a scholar and the Library Director at Haskell Indian Nations University. In her article she shares this beautiful Ojibwa prayer: “Oh Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds and whose breath gives life to everyone,

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Returning: Some Highlights

I went on a journey for 12 days down the east coast which you can read more about.  I have lots to process, but here are some initial offerings of things for which I am grateful (both silly and sublime): renting the cheapest car level possible and ending up with a Ford Mustang convertible wandering through Edgell Grove cemetery where my mother is buried and sensing the peace of her resting visiting with my uncle’s ex-wife, the mother of one of my cousins who so graciously shared stories with me stopping in the town of Wiscasset, Maine on my drive up

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Invitation to Poetry: Book of Life

Our 15th Poetry Party! I select an image and suggest a title and invite you to respond with your poems, words, reflections, quotes, song lyrics, etc. Leave them in the comments or email me and I’ll add them to the body of the post as they come in along with a link back to your blog if you have one (not required to participate!) I’ll add your contributions all week and then I will draw a name at random on Saturday morning from everyone who participates and will send the winner a copy of my newest zine What is Blossoming

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Visual Meditation: Last Vestiges of Winter

“The Light Comes Brighter” The light comes brighter from the east; the caw Of restive crows is sharper on the ear. A walker at the river’s edge may hear A cannon crack announce an early thaw. The sun cuts deep into the heavy drift, Though still the guarded snow is winter sealed, At bridgeheads buckled ice begins to shift, The river overflows the level field. Once more the trees assume familiar shapes, As branches loose last vestiges of snow. The water stored in narrow pools escapes In rivulets; the cold roots stir below. Soon field and wood will wear an

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Visual Meditation: The Earth is Not a Dream

Hope Hope is with you when you believe The earth is not a dream but living flesh, That sight, touch, and hearing do not lie, That all things you have ever seen here Are like a garden looked at from a gate. You cannot enter. But you’re sure it’s there. Could we but look more clearly and wisely We might discover somewhere in the garden A strange new flower and an unnamed star. Some people say we should not trust our eyes, That there is nothing, just a seeming, These are the ones who have no hope. They think that

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Sacred Artist Interview: Kate Iredale

I first met Kate Iredale virtually when she joined the Sacred Arts Ring and I have really enjoyed her work and the way she works with images and digital manipulation.  I find her combination of words and images very evocative.  One of her images will be in an upcoming issue of Presence journal, for which I have the privilege of being the art editor.  She lives on Vancouver Island, one of my favorite places in the Pacific Northwest. Kate graciously agreed to be featured for one of my Sacred Artist Interviews and I am grateful to her for taking time to share

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Abbey Bookshelf: Family Systems

I didn’t end up finishing a post for yesterday because I have been getting ready for a two-week trip I am leaving on this Saturday.  For several months now I have been studying and working with Bowen Theory and some genealogical work as well.  I first started seeing a Jungian analyst for spiritual direction about a year ago, mainly to move more deeply into dream work.  The unexpected gift of our work together has been exploring family systems theory and then having an opportunity to participate in a workshop on it where I was able to go even deeper into the

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