Fun. Art. Wine.

I believe as I have said before that we are all artist. When creating the life we want it takes imagination, connection, being a free spirit, being LOVE, and a willingness to take some risk. Looking at life from the perspective of a painter, our lives are the canvas and as artist we have the power to hold the tools.

I went to Reiko painting studio in Washington DC for art and wine. My friend sent me the invite and I said yes instantly! I remember the mood was set with great music picked by Reiko, also she had tasty snacks such as crackers and cheese! And the blush wine calmed us and allowed everyone to be in "create" mode. I learned about great creative artist named Jackson Pollock who took a risk and was the first to simply drip and let paint run on a canvas. I learned in my own life I can create a life that is original, inspirational, and innovative. Reiko had us sketch what we wanted to paint on piece of paper first. I instantly began to write words and give them life. As I began to create I felt more and more connected to my work. My deep passion for art came alive. I do not see my myself as a good artist such as a painter or someone who draws well. What I know for sure is that we must not limit our selves based on what is not our strengths and be ready for many lessons! Like an artist I can be a little weird, difficult to understand at times, simple, yet complex. I have a LOVE for culture, people, Spirituality, and see beauty in everything! Let your life be your personal canvas! Create. Create. Create.

Below are some wonderful photos from Arts and Bubbles with me and my girlfriends. If you are in the DC area you have to check Reiko out. Her website address is: www.funartwine.com. She is a super young artist with a beatiful spirit! Hope you enjoy. Blessings!

Getting Rid Of The Boxes

Instead of thinking outside the box, get rid of the box. ~Deepak Chopra


Do you ever feel confined? Limited? At times I do, I feel trapped inside a box, only to realize I allowed it to happen. Since 9 years old I have had this saintly image. I remember playing "house" at a friend's home when I was about 9 years old. Of course all the girls were the moms and the boys were the dad. Well, I don't remember much, but I do remember me and my "boyfriend" rubbing up against each other. In the hood we called it "humping", too funny. Of course our clothes were on so no harm was done, but the sexual intentions were clear. My twin sister and I were popular kids and always well liked. Grateful for that. So of course my hump buddy would look cool if he went out and told everyone what happened. It took little to no time to get back to me. I heard "Leleroy (yes, that is his name, pronounced Leh-leroy) said he popped your cherry". I had no clue what that meant, but I knew it was not good for my image! So when asked was it true I immediately said NO! Of course I lied, but I had to protect my saint-like image. And guess who they believed? Me, the saint!

At 34, I still war with the saint vs. the sinner within. As my relationship with Christ grows, I judge myself unmercifully, expecting to live up to unattainable standards. Understanding I have the power to create the life I want, I take responsibility for what I project to the world. The Lord revealed to me that the limits that I felt were put on me by the world, I actually placed on myself. Yes, take it in! See, we play the victim and get upset when we are seen only one dimensional . What we all must understand is that if we are the creators of what we want, we are also the creators of its opposite. Every day you make a choice as what direction your life will go in good or bad. As creators, it is our energy and what we are sending into the universe. What we feel directly affects our reality. If I feel like no one likes me, that it is now my reality! I wasted so many years putting my energy into what I don't want instead of what I do. If it is not creating the reality I want, I will not give it any energy!! Stop wasting your energy, be in constant state of awareness. Being aware of what limits you are placing on your life.


Watching Mary Mary's new TV show stirred emotions inside of me. Erica decided to have pole workout lessons for her girls retreat while her sister Tina feared criticism from the public. Tina's fear was if the general public saw the gospel group Mary Mary on a "stripper" pole they would appear to be unfit Christians. Although I am not in a platinum selling gospel group, as a Christian the fear is real about judgment from others. What GOD has allowed me to understand is that it's okay to be a complex person. I do not have to live inside a safe simple box that gives others comfort to control who I AM. My inner vixen and inner saint can reside within me without comprise one for the other. I like Erica had to say I can be Christian and sensual. Instead of me judging myself or other women without mercy, I now show the same grace I ask for.

We are all spiritual beings having a human experience. Understanding this principle I have begun to create the inner life I long for. I am creating a life that will align me with the Holy Spirit every day. Whatever I need to learn I pray that the Holy Spirit will show me. Creating for me means actively participating in a life that you envision and doing what is in your power to make it happen. I learned that in order to stop allowing others to put me in a box I had to stop doing it to myself. I understand whatever I want people to see, I have the power to make that my reality. One day at a time stripping back the layers of low self-esteem, people pleasing, guilt, and feeling of alienation. Tapping into the LOVE source I recognize the divine goddess within. I no longer suppress my sexual desires. Although I am a virgin, I find creative ways to release sexual energy. Law of Attraction draws to us the very thing we feel, think and do. If you do not like the life you're in right now, start a new! It's your life, create it as you feel led. Know that the way people see you is how you projected your image to the world. No one is a 24/7 saint, scholar, activist, painter, educator or whatever other label we identify with to give our ego comfort. We are human beings trying to figure this thing called life out.

Music Monday: India.Arie & Idan Raichel - Open Door

"No expecting just accepting"~India.Arie

Several weeks ago I received India.Aries’s video on my facebook page. Instantly I received chills because I have been studying what it means to "create" for a few months now. I knew it was spirit that allowed this video to cross my path. I have always expected great things and while I believe it is okay to have expectations, it could lead to many disappointments. In the video India explains her journey to allowing her to live in the flow and just create! To become creative means to release what we think we ought to be and allow Spirit to move within. What do we do when we are stopping the flow of creativity? When we block what we feel, our own personal truth for others? India was in this space and she said one day "I woke up and realized this doesn't feel good, I don't have to do it". In order for you and I to create we have to understand what it is we are feeling and accepting that no matter how uncomfortable that is! Go to your center, your Spiritual foundation. In Christ I know I am healed. I seek his face daily and ask that he reveals his truth often so I can continually be in a space of growth, awareness and freedom! India said her creative process is "Pray, listen, and then write". How do you create? What process will you seek to gain the life your soul desires, your life purpose?

Here is a 23 min video of India.Arie explaining her creative process and a beautiful song she created with Idan Raichel. Enjoy!

Creating.

The Victim or the creator~Deepak Chopra

Watching Deepak Chopra on Oprah I was taken back by the quote "be the victim or the creator". That one line set me free, I instant received what GOD was telling me. You can allow the disappointments of life to depress you, taking you to your lowest point. You know the place of bitterness, jealousy and not letting go of the past. Or become creative and be the author of your LOVE story. While it may seem difficult at times to create the life we want, it is our divine birth right to do so.

When I think of creating I instantly think of a painter. I see a lot of colors, nice size brushes, and a big mess! My vision of creating allows me to be free and to face the world with bright colors and big strokes of courage! As I write to you I am aligning myself with the life my heart desires, with what I believe is my GOD given purpose. I am creating a masterpiece that is who I AM. It is who you are too! Your life is a masterpiece, high priced, valuable, a beauty to behold.

Victimization is a disease. It is a sickness that we all must be healed from. You are not your past. Repeat to yourself "I AM not my past". Say this to yourself as many times as needed throughout the day. Allow these words to heal you. Free yourself of what happened when you were five. Forgive yourself for being in a relationship with a man you know wasn't the best choice for you. What ever is keeping you from your divine calling, face it! Address the issue (s). Go to counseling, talk with someone in your worship place, a friend, and write your feelings down in a journal. Find creative ways for you to heal by doing things you enjoy. GOD did not promise us a life free of pain, but the tools to navigate through it.

As creators we have authority over our lives. Our GOD in heaven grants us permission to heal ourselves, speak life into death situations, and simply have faith it will work out. I will blog about "creating" for the month of May because I have been studying this subject for a while now. The insight I gain I want to share with you. What I come to understand so far in my 34 years of living on this planet is as we FEEL we create. The cycle is what we feel then becomes a thought, and then a thought an action! Examine your heart. Look deep within. Are you creating the life you want or living the life others said was best for you? Are you enslaved by your fears and self inflicted wombs that you stubbornly refuse to get right within? Feel your pain, disappointments, joy, and peace. This will maximize your life and lead you in the direction you are longing to go. No longer living as a victim, free to create the life your heart truly desires.

Resurrection Of Christ

“Therefore, go make all the disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and The Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28-19-20 NLT

He is not dead he has risen! Amen. Happy Resurrection Sunday to you, to believers welcome and non believers I hope that changes after today. The life and death of Christ is an inspirational one. HE was perfect and human at the same time. Gentle and kind says the Bible and LOVED us all as we are. That alone should make you praise him! But there was more to Christ. He was a warrior for he fought the battle of sharing the word of GOD with non believers, which cost HIM his life. My Lord healed the sick and prayed with the poor. When Jesus the Christ walked the earth his mission was for others to know GOD and for their souls to be saved forever! After the Lord resurrected early Sunday morning, he left a message with the disciples before descending into heaven. The message was to continue the good fight! Go preach the good word so that others can be saved. On this resurrection Sunday I want to challenge us with the question, how have you allowed Christ LOVE to be seen in your life? Have you continued the good fight so that others may be saved?

In Matthew it chronicles for the first time up to the death of Christ and what we learn several things. One, Jesus death had been prophesied, so the Lord knew it was coming. When Jesus stands before his trial Roman governor Pilate asked Jesus “Are you the King of the Jews?” HE answered “Yes, it is as you say”! Matthew 27:11 NLT Although Christ knew his death would come from that statement alone he did not allow his fear keep him from his truth that ultimately cost him his life. At what cost will you tell your truth? It may not be a physical death, but one of the Spirit. Too often we go into the world afraid to say “Yes, I do believe in the Lord”. I myself have become so tolerant of other Faiths I forget to champion my own! No more! As Christ died and rose on the third day he did not come back as body but of the Holy Spirit. He had a rebirth! Let the LOVE of Christ push you to the next level of your ministry and purpose on earth.

What other lesson we learn from the death on the cross was that it was unjust. See, Barabbas was the criminal, not Jesus. There was so much hatred in the hearts of the people they still shouted “crucify him”! And the Lord did nothing wrong! How many times do you feel helpless, picked on or unjustly accused? It almost feels like a death. The LOVE of Christ can heal you. For his death is not just one of pain, but of his LOVE, forgiveness, and for our freedom to do both! Get to know him today and you too can experience this new freedom. No matter how much people crucify you, the LOVE of Christ can heal you and create in you a new clean heart!

Do not let the resurrection of Christ to be in vain. Go forward disciples and speak the good word. Encourage those who do not know him to have a relationship with him, for them to join with Christ through body and spirit with baptism. For Christ is alive through all of us who believe! The world needs to see Christ through his followers. Let the resurrection of Christ to rise up in us! Let the Lord our GOD rise up in our lives. The bible says, “Put into action GOD’s saving work in your lives.” ~Philippians 2:12 Jesus died and rose for us to be saved! The action for us is to allow his grace and mercy to be seen in our lives daily. And know that as you go forward on your journey the Lord is with you always, even to the end of the age.

Random

Happy 2012! My first blog entry this year, welcome back to my blogosphere. I have not updated my blog in awhile and for that I apologize. Can you believe it is already March? Wow, we are in the third month of this New Year, so we need to catch up.

As a kid I always made New Year resolutions religiously, didn’t you? I stopped making Resolutions years ago because I rarely kept them. Not sure why I never kept them, my guess was because they usually were superficial. Now I just make my goals for the entire year. I have small goals that are: studying, reading new books, spending more time with people who LOVE me, joining organizations, and learning to cook healthy foods. Then larger goals: Going back to school, take a vacation out of the country, take care of heath, and save more money. Having goals keeps me aligned with my purpose. Utilizing our time wisely on earth helps us feel better about
ourselves and that spirit blesses society as a whole.

The key to making goals is not to overwhelm, but to keep on task. This year I have enrolled in school. I am currently in my first semester and I have already had some tough lessons. One of my lessons has been to never take a fast track online class again. The reason I am back in school there are classes I need to fulfill my teacher certification requirement. My journey back to school will be tough but I am encouraged. I am on a mission!

The goal for my blog is to continue giving light and positivity. Everywhere we turn bad news haunts us from the news, magazines or drama at the job. At times it appears we can’t escape negativity. My mission in my life is no matter where I am I want to spread light in dark places. I will use the Holy Spirit to guide as I follow my heart and speak what I believe the Lord wants me to say and more importantly to do. My heart desire is for readers of my blog to feel a connection to GOD when they leave this space. GOD speaks in many ways and my goal is to share whatever I feel that is with you!

So what have you been up to so far? Any goals for the New Year or do you make New Year resolutions? Please connect with me and let me know how life has been for you so far in 2012. Blessings!

Music Mondays: Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B) Feat.Ledisi - Robert Glasper Experiment

You know the feeling, when you hear a good LOVE song as soon as the music begins to play you start smiling? That feeling is what happens to me as soon as “Gonna Be Alright” by The Robert Glasper Experience featuring Ledisi comes on! The band plays this drum kick and then the rest of the music plays for up to 32 seconds and then Ledisi begins to sing. Heaven!! I instantly connect to lyrics, experiencing what the songstress is expressing with words. The lyrics are simple and repeat “Just bring me the sunshine with your smile, and I’ll be okay”. As a hopeful romantic this song does everything for me! Hope you enjoy it the same.