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Saturday, June 14, 2008

SACRED ART SUNDAY - DARING

dare mandalaDare - (Circle of Light series) - © Sue O'Kieffe 2008
source image - allium blossom


True life is lived when tiny changes occur ~ Tolstoy
Even God lends a hand to honest boldness ~ Menander
First ponder, then dare ~ Helmuth von Moltke


When I first created this mandala I was struck by the liveliness of the colors. I thought, I would love to wear all of those colors at the same time; but geez, did I dare? When I was a younger girl I loved being vibrant, showing off, all peacocky-like, in stripes and polka dots all at once. What happened to her? Would I dare to be so bold again?

This got me thinking about breaking out of my comfort zone. This isn't dare like "I double dog dare you;" this isn't a peer pressure kind of dare, but a stepping up to the plate of greater authenticity, of truth to Self.

The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~ Carl Rogers
Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is. ~Bhagavad Gita
Don't worry. Be happy ~ Bobby McFerrin


What holds you back? H'come?
Can you challenge those voices? Fear, self doubt, lack of confidence? Embrace self love and self acceptance?

Sue?
Yes, I'm talking to you, girl!



8 comments:

Chris Flynn said...

oohhh...aahhhh....you get right to the heart of it! I invite the inner girl to burst out and wear everything she loves... plus maybe get a couple of pink and green extensions for her hair!

Thanks for the fabulous insights! My granddaughter, 16, wears two different patterned socks, often over striped leggings, and skirts on top of jeans with strips and polka dots, and as many colors at a time as she is willing to wear clothes, lots of layers! Oh to be that free!

So, maybe we can start with a pink and green ribbons in our hair? Dare we??

Thanks again Sue, for the wonderful light you bring the Oasis!!

hugs from Chris

Deb Kirkeeide said...

when I first saw this mandala I of course thought "ooohh look at these colors" and I thought of beautiful Indian Saris swirling about in a wonderful Bollywood extravaganza.
Go for it Sue! Let that inner peacock shine! We'll all be here to cheer you on.

The Artful Eye said...

WoWza... this is a wonderful departure or should I say "side trip" from your recent repetoire. Quite lively and magnificently bold. Exciting and refreshing.

I love that you are talking to yourself here in this post. I'm always talking to myself, it's at these times we have the best conversations.

Most important of all message of all 'Don't worry, be happy'

Here's to more self-talk and self-realization.

xo

Doe Grozs Art said...

Isn't it funny how we get so comfortable in our "style". While in Peru with my friend, I ended up trying on, and buying :-) things that I wouldn't have thought of...I too intend to break out of that comfort zone and be more daring with what I wear!
Here's to color!
We should BE works of art :-)
Doreen
By the way, I am loooving your mandalas............

Anonymous said...

I like the dance here and especially the subtle slow dance in the yellow corners.

Thank you for the dare - I will stop comparising myself with all the other men in nan.tucket.

Wisp.teria

Anonymous said...

Sue,
This is awesome! Yeah..."Dare to be me" - an echo for many a soul. Thank you! Love the colors, pink and green have childhood memories for me. My mom used to use those colors in decorating my birthday cake! A light green background incing with gorgeous soft pink flowers.. thank for the memory jog.

Anonymous said...

P.S. Thanks for the quotes!

Laura said...

Hi Sue,
I know exactly what you mean about the daring part of us that can go into hiding as we get comfortable in our "adultness"-but is it really comfort? Or more like complacency. I think for me, it's even tinged with some fear-so this is an edge for me that I am working/learning through.

Ahhh Joy-it's so much about trusting our inner being to shine exactly the way it should!
Laura (orli)