KEEPING THE FAITH

Grounded in the Light - (Mandalas for Peace ) - © Sue O'Kieffe 2009
source image: Northern California beach sand

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
~William Blake

I was asked by another artist over on Twitter how I got into mandala making. My reply was that it was more like mandala making got into me.

My first experience with the holy circle was in the late '90s when I had the opportunity to take a mandala workshop facilitated by a woman who was certified by Judith Cornell. If you have never seen examples of Judith Cornell's style, take a look at Caterina Martinico's work. I became fascinated working with in the confines of completeness in other art work I did, but it wasn't until I got my first computer and discovered the Earth Mandalas website that I knew I had to learn how to use Photoshop.

Fast forward a few years to 2005.

I went back to school for training in digital media and desktop publishing after a series of work layoffs had left me feeling ready for learning something new. After the end of my first semester in Photoshop, I remembered the Earth Mandala website and decided to spend some time learning how to make these mandalas. While developing this skill I began envisioning possibilities of getting my art out into the world. I took a second semester in Photoshop to further develop my skills and used blogging on Xanga as a way of developing confidence in my art.

It wasn't until I was diagnosed with a benign tumor on my carotid artery in 2006 that I began to feel like mandala making was a true calling. I turned my will and my care over to my faith in the Universe and did what I needed to do to have the surgery I needed. It was a demonstration in how we are taken care of if we allow it to happen. The allowing is the hardest and not without those dark moments of the soul. I am still learning to travel within the Unknown, and today I would say I do it with a bit more grace and strength than I did five years ago.

I am coming upon the 3rd anniversary of the diagnosis of my tumor and I am once again unemployed.My employer's decision was totally unexpected, and I find I am not fighting against the decision. There are moments of anger, but mostly I feel steady and optimistic that still more doors are waiting to open. My new printer will arrive any day now along with paper and packing supplies. I am looking towards selling more of my art. I am excited you get to share my developments with me here.

The message I have today is to keep the faith and follow those dreams.

Never ever give up! ~ Winston Churchill

~Sue O'Kieffe
Sacred Circle Mandalas

EVOLUTION OF DREAMS

Blue Dream Mandalas 1-4 (Dream Circle Series) - © Sue O'Kieffe 2009
source image - ornamental kale

Pre sleep imagery and those visions that appear behind your eyelids during meditation inspired this series of mandalas.
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I am taking an online class at Digital Art Academy learning how to paint in Photoshop. I love learning new Photoshop skills. On a spiritual level I have been blessed with information on how to take my art to a deeper level which I have been seeking. Now it is a matter of creating that spiritual practice for myself and my art.

I have been away from my blog for a while because of a greater need to regroup. Like this series of mandalas, I too am evolving. Sometimes I feel lost for words. I just feel. My dream state has been vivid lately. I don't know if it's the full moon in Virgo or just because I am asking for answers in my dreams, but they have been wild. Elephants and shimmering discs and messages to wear more turquoise and aqua....this is the stuff my night life is made of!

Leah's theme for the month of March at Creative Every Day is dreams. She comes up wit some great creativity prompts. If you have never visited her blog, be sure to wander that way (or astral project in your dreams, if you are in to that kind of thing).

I hope everyone is witnessing first signs of spring. May you be blessed with new growth, in more ways than one!

~Sue O'Kieffe
Sacred Circle Mandalas

THE PROCESS OF DREAMS

Green Dreams - (Mandalas for Peace Project) - © Sue O'Kieffe 2009


Dreams in Focus - (Mandalas for Peace Project) - © Sue O'Kieffe 2009
source image - rosemary

What distinguishes us one from another is our dreams . . . and what we do to make them come about ~ Joseph Epstein

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I watched the movie The Pursuit of Happyness the other night . (I'm catching up on all those great movies I've never seen before with the purchase of a new DVD player, but that's another story.) In that movie Will Smith's character pursued his dreams against unbelievable odds. I have been thinking about what it takes to make our dreams come true. Just how far would we go, would we risk, to make it happen?

When I was creating these mandalas I was unhappy with the initial results, so I removed a layer and softened another and created an image in a way I had never tried before. It was later in the evening and the soft dreamy quality appealed to me. When I woke in the morning I wondered what would happen if I gave it more definition. I liked the patterning, still soft yet glowy and filled with light, that I added back to the mandala. What was fascinating to me, during the time I was creating both of these images, was that I could swear I could smell the distinguishing aroma of rosemary in the room.

Rosemary can enhance memory, and it is also good for correcting apathy and mental fatigue. An exhilarating oil, it instills enthusiasm and bolsters self-confidence, restoring faith in our innate potential. As rosemary boosts the memory, it is a reminder of your true calling in life. ~ from Sanctuary Aromatherapy

Bringing dreams into focus is a process. The more we can define them with clarity, the more time we are willing to savor and then act, the more likely I believe we will be able to manifest our dreams.

I spent 2008 delving deeper into my art as well as going back to a 40 hour work week for the first time in five years. It was a strengthening year for me. In 2009 I want to work more towards getting my artistic dreams out in the world in a more concrete way. I will write more about that soon.

And stay tuned for post #250 too! It will involve winning a mandala created especially for you!