august- tuning in

Painting brings me the opportunity to adjust and realign in creation. Opening the door to possibilities beyond imagination, painting reminds me that even the smallest brushstroke can make a huge impact. The smallest shift in thought, perception or attitude can send ripples into reality. I have been meditating my entire life, whether I knew it or not. I think we all intuitively seek that space to pull our selves together, or sit in peace, or run until we can’t think anymore… Yet I learned to consciously meditate or sit with myself, on purpose, about 10 years ago. It was a practice and now it seems to be the state I live in. It slowly took over as the lines began to blur on my paintings. As with my art, there is no separation any more. My life is my art… and my meditation. I think the analogy of tuning in works well for meditation, creating, and just living in general, because when something is tuned, it sounds or runs smoothly without static or friction. I have found the same is true for me. Time and time again, I am reminded of just how important it is to tune in, align and adjust so life can flow seamlessly.

Every painting starts with clarity, even though I have no idea how it will turn out. The clarity is the blank canvas and pure potential. Without that pure beginning, the light would not shine through the layers of color and movement. That clarity is at every painting’s core and is essential, or even mandatory, for me. The same is true with life when the issues, friction, and obstacles surface. When all that stuff comes up, I am so grateful that I have a blank canvas underneath. I know it is there, underneath all the stuff, shining clearly. I’ve learned to consciously come back to the blank canvas through meditation and other practices, yet I think what has helped me the most is simply knowing myself and recognizing when I’m sliding out of tune. The signs are all there, resistance, suffering, sadness, I have many colors and layers on the surface… and they all look horrible without the light of clarity. It is amazing what pure light can do; with the slightest adjustment, everything can look so different. The eclipse affirmed that for me.

August was a month of coming back to myself, checking in with my intentions and clearing the space for new experiences…Tuning in. In addition, I remembered the greatest choice I have in life: to live from the clear light of my blank canvas, or get lost in the external layers of circumstances, emotions, drama and ego… So Humm… easy choice (and easy mantra).

*this palette is dedicated to Josephine, a master tuner