life and death

The ceremony in the Vineyard

2011-12-20T09:09:00.001+11:00

The ceremony in the Vineyard
Originally uploaded by anselm_van rood

Here they are, the newly wed pair Rosie (my niece and her lovely husband, Nic; so beautiful, in front of the vines..

Rosie and Nick's wedding

2011-12-20T09:07:00.001+11:00

Jess, Tommy & Leroy
Originally uploaded by anselm_van rood

This little video taken by my brother Anselm van Rood captures the juicy-ness and warmth at this beautiful wedding..such a joy!

Love is what we are

2011-10-18T12:31:00.000+11:00

Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life. Meaning does not lie in things. Meaning lies in us. ~ Marianne Williamson

Lioness Man

2011-06-17T18:43:00.000+10:00

This is such a moving video of a man and a lioness, it reminds me of how through trust and love we can get on with anyone...enjoy

Llewellyn Vaughan Lee: A New Light

2011-05-25T09:21:00.000+10:00

May we be those who shall renew this existence – Zarathustra

At the core of creation something is changing, coming alive in a new way. A light at the center of the world that has for millennia been dormant has been rekindled. This is the light of life itself waking up, remembering its own real nature and divine purpose. And with this awakening, the living being that is our world is undergoing a transformation in its very essence. The awakening of the light at the center of the world carries the potential for a whole new revelation, the possibility of a new way of living and being and relating to one another and to life. At this moment, we stand on the edge of a new stage in the evolution of life and consciousness, a new paradigm for the world. Life is one, has always been one. It is a single, living, organic wholeness and everything in creation is a part of it, as vitally and inseparably related to the whole of life as an individual cell or organ is related to the larger organism of which it is a part.

The Chaos of our current time

2011-05-07T13:08:00.001+10:00

A Hathor Planetary Message
Through Tom Kenyon

Transition States of Consciousness

Definitions:

Chaotic Nodes are clusters of chaotic events. According to the Hathors, Earth has entered a Chaotic Node and, as a result, we can expect ever-increasing levels of chaos—including but not limited to earthquakes, volcanic activity, aberrant weather patterns, ecological distress, as well as economic, social and political turmoil.

Transition States of Consciousness are what the Hathors call the in-between places when a major loss has occurred and we find ourselves temporarily poised between an old reality that has passed away and a new reality that has not yet fully formed.

Perceptual markers are a term the Hathors use to describe how we make sense of our world and navigate through our lives using our five senses.

The Message

By their very nature Chaotic Nodes tend to generate transition states of consciousness. Transition states of consciousness emerge when perceptual markers disappear. And when this occurs you enter a null zone in which your old reality no longer exists, or has changed radically, while your new reality has not yet come into existence.

Due to the fact that you have entered an even more intense phase of the Chaotic Node, we wish to share with you our views regarding transition states, in the hopes that you will be able to utilize this knowledge for your own benefit.

For our purposes we can divide transition states into three primary categories: 1) personal transition states, 2) collective transition states and 3) physical death.

Personal Transition States

Let us turn our attention to personal transition states first, for your personal perception is the pivotal point around which your perceived reality operates.

Your perception of reality is fundamentally a personal creation. It is influenced by the collective perception of your culture, time, place and circumstance, but fundamentally your perception of what is real and not real is a creation—your creation.

Your perception of reality depends upon habits of perception, if you are like most persons. You are used to experiencing certain realities in your life and these tell you where you are, so to speak. You wake up in the morning and you look to the clock and the collective perception of time is immediately before you. Your choice to engage this illusion, or not, is a personal one. Indeed, one of the signs of spiritual mastery is the ability to navigate cultural illusions successfully while clearly understanding their nature.

When a situation in your personal life shifts dramatically there is a tendency for the perceptual markers to disappear or re-organize themselves.

Let us present one possible scenario. If you have worked at the same job for many years you have built your life around the demands of this position. You eat lunch at a certain time. You return home at a certain time. You interact with others in specific ways, tailored to fit the demands of your job.

If that job were suddenly removed, unexpectedly, those perceptual markers would disappear. There would be no need to get up at a certain time, eat at a certain time, return home at a certain time, and the people you interacted with for the bulk of your waking hours would no longer be available to you.

This situation is inherently disorienting for most people. Again, the perceptual markers have disappeared.

The same phenomenon occurs when any radical shift in your personal life takes place. If a relationship that is important to you suddenly ends the perceptual markers of that relationship disappear, and you enter the transition state of consciousness.

If you have a health crisis and your physical life is affected in radical ways the perceptual markers disappear, and this can be disorienting. You have entered a transition state of consciousness.

As the Chaotic Node increases in its intensity more and more persons will experience the shock waves of their old reality crumbling before them. What was certain in their lives is now uncertain. What was solid ground is seen to be no longer solid. We mean this both figuratively and literally.

There is another wave of transition states that is emerging from this Chaotic Node. It is already affecting many persons, but its affects will spread out in consciousness much like a tsunami.

This particular transition state has to do with the collapse of the collective lies of your culture. Increasingly more and more of you will see behind the shadow play; you will sense the puppet masters, and although their identities may elude you, you will see with increasing reality that aspects of your culture are a manipulation, a limitation, and in many cases, downright lies.

The lie that we are speaking to here is not the lie of economics, the lie of wars, or the lie of confining religions, but the lie of your identity—a lie that ensures your imprisonment. This lie is the belief and cultural assertion that you are nothing more than a physical human being and that there are, in fact, no other realms of being beyond your earthy experience.

The recognition of this lie is a harbinger of personal freedom, but in its beginning stages it can be quite disorienting. This is because multidimensional experiences are so different from your earthly day-to-day experiences. If you find yourself marooned between your earthly and multidimensional life, you have entered a transition state of consciousness.

Our purpose in sharing this information is to suggest a practical course of action during transition states of consciousness.

When you personally enter a powerful transition state you might, like many human beings, remain stuck in overwhelm. Many individuals find the shock of realizing that their perceptual markers have disappeared, along with the reality that they assumed to be real, deeply disturbing.

Due to the fact that time is accelerating—and by this we mean more events taking place in less time—remaining in a state of shock or overwhelm is a psychological indulgence which you cannot afford. The essential point we wish to convey here is that regardless of the nature of the transition state, whether it is personal in nature having to do with changes in your personal life, or due to recognizing your cultural manipulation—you are the creator of your reality.

You may have stories to explain why suddenly your life is bereft, but these are just stories. You may blame other persons, situations, or institutions for your problem, but this is misplaced responsibility. Your stories may be true and there may be other persons, situations or institutions to blame, but when you have entered a transition state of consciousness, you are at the central vortex of a powerful creative process. There is no reason or need to cry over “spilt milk” as one of your folk sayings goes. What is lost is lost. What is gone is gone.

Now the central question becomes, “What will you do?”

Will you remain stunned, in shock, in overwhelm, anger and sadness? Or will you step into your identity as a creator of your life?

To those of you who choose to remain in lower states of consciousness, we have no comment.

Our comments are for those of you courageous enough and bold enough to step into your identity as creators. If you are one of these, here is what we suggest.

When everything disappears, meaning the perceptual markers of your former reality, understand that you have entered into a void point.

A void point is a critical transition between an old reality and a new one. That which was, has ended. Instead of regretting the loss, you accept the void. This is, for many persons, a challenging undertaking, because in the void point there is nothing that can be done. You must simply be a witness to it, and to yourself, for in this no-man’s land there are no perceptual markers.

Be careful what new markers you put into place, for these ideas and beliefs will be the stars in the new sky of your mind, and you shall navigate your way into these new times by the stars (thoughts and beliefs) that you have placed in the heavens of your own consciousness. So be wise when you go about creating new stars, our fellow navigators of the Mystery.

Collective Transition States of Consciousness

The human collective, from our perspective, is currently like an immense cosmic serpent shedding its old skin, writhing and twisting, scraping off old encumbrances. Some of these take the form of economic turmoil. Some of them are political in nature. Some of them are the collapse and transformation of cultural institutions. And some of these writhings and twistings are related to earthquake and volcanic activity, as well as aberrant weather patterns.

As natural and manmade disasters increase, more and more of you will find yourselves entering transition states of consciousness. Obviously those who experience an earthquake, volcano or destructive weather directly are the most prone to enter transition states, but those of you who are empathic in nature can experience the brunt of a natural or manmade disaster as if you were physically present.

Indeed as the veil that separates human consciousnesses from one another dissolves, more and more of you will experience the changes taking place in the world at a visceral level.

We now wish to address the question of a new creation for those of you who may find yourself in the aftermath of a natural or manmade disaster, such as an earthquake, a volcanic eruption, or destructive weather patterns.

If the destructive force is strong enough, the perceptual markers of your former reality may no longer exist. Your home or place of business may no longer be there. You may find yourself dealing with shortages of food and water, and there are any number of variables that can come together to create a state of shock and overwhelm.

We wish to be very clear in what we are about to say. Shock and overwhelm in the face of disasters are a natural mammalian response, and if you are to transcend and transform the moment you must reach upward to higher dimensions of your own existence, your own being, to those realms of consciousness that are beyond time and space.

To the extent that you are able to incorporate the transcendent aspects of your being as part of the equation for your survival, you will be able to mitigate the shock and overwhelm.

The central feature that needs to be identified in the midst of chaos, any form of chaos, is the portal of opportunity.

This opportunity for survival or for a new life may present itself in ways you do not expect. This is because the perceptual markers are no longer in place and your consciousness may not recognize an opportunity when it presents itself.

There is a deep-seated human habit, or tendency, that wishes to conform new realities to those of the past. This would be an unfortunate habit to engage in these situations.

There is much we could say about the hyper-dimensional realities involved in choice making during chaotic events, but we wish to “cut to the chase” and give that which will be most practical. Perhaps some other time we can share with you our philosophical musings about your infinite nature and the infinite possibilities that reside within you. However, for now, let us be a little simplistic and give you a formula to recognize and create opportunities for new life and a new destiny when they present themselves to you.

Assuming that you have entered a transition state of consciousness and that you have befriended the void point and are more or less comfortable with the great uncertainty of your situation, this is what we suggest.

Be curious and expect miracles.

By entering a state of curiosity you engage an aspect of your mind that is free to move unfettered by expectation. It becomes very much like the mind of a child, and it is this innocence—which is not the same as childishness—that allows you to enter a vibratory state of consciousness, which greatly benefits you.

By holding the expectation of miracles you release the power of creation within you, and to the extent that you accomplish this you will find increasing incidences of serendipity, coincidences of benefit and unexpected treasures, whether they be physical in nature or mental and emotional.

This combination of curiosity about what will happen next joined with an expectation of miracles will move you rapidly from the void point to a new life, a new creation, regardless of what might be happening for those around you.

During collective transition states of consciousness it is helpful to remember that each person is the creator of his or her own reality, and in the midst of chaos people will make different choices and enter different personal realities.

Do not be swayed by those who enter lower vibratory realms. You cannot save them from themselves. Look upward and live upward with curiosity and an expectation of miracles, and even in the gravest of situations miracles can, and will, occur for you.

Physical Death

One of the greatest difficulties for embodied beings is the transition state of consciousness you call death. This is due to the fact that all perceptual markers, including the five senses, disappear. If a person identifies solely with his/her material existence, he or she will find this transition state to be most difficult. This is because what she or he identified with no longer exists.

Although the physical world continues on, there is no input into consciousness from the five senses. It is as if the world has vanished and the body along with it. The great I Am, the central feature of transcendent consciousness, no longer receives information from the body, the five senses, or the external world. This can be deeply disturbing and disorienting for someone who has not directly experienced the other realms of his or her being.

Metaphorically speaking, you are like a vast tree, a Tree of Life, with many branches and many, many leaves and blossoms, and your current physical existence is just one of these leaves and one of these blossoms.

When a person passes through the transition state of consciousness you call death there are several options. If you are in a spiritual tradition the central figure of which is a guru, avatar or savior, you can follow the path of this being into the vibratory realm of his/her consciousness. In some religions this is known as heaven.

If you follow the path of a guru, avatar or savior understand that you are entering into his/her heaven, her/his vibratory attainment, and by necessity you enter also into his/her limitations in consciousness.

From our perspective the universe is infinite in nature, and by this we refer not to external space but to the interdimensional realities of your universe, and there is no single being in existence, from our experience, who understands and embraces all that is.

If, however, you wish to join your guru/avatar/savior in the death realms we have a few suggestions. One is to mentally call upon his/her name. This is an ancient understanding encapsulated in the Egyptian term Ren, meaning name. When you call upon the name of a spiritual being an aspect of him/her is compelled to move toward you.

If, in that moment of encountering your guru/avatar/savior, he or she deems you worthy, you will be taken by him/her into his/her heavenly realm.

For those of you in eastern spiritual traditions there are mantras connected with specified deities. Chanting these mantras mentally during death, or in the death realms, has the same effect.

For those of you who are not part of a spiritual tradition that follows a guru, avatar or savior, then the transition state of consciousness called death offers other possibilities.

As with the other two transition states of consciousness, the death realm has a void point, and its dominant features are stillness (silence) and darkness. All possibilities exist within the Void, but no actuality is in existence. It is like the acorn of an oak tree. The oak, the giant tree itself, is potentially within the acorn, but it does not yet exist.

So when you find yourself in the Void, which you will recognize by the fact that you are utterly alone in darkness and utter stillness, know that you are in the central nexus of your creative powers.

What you choose to create next will determine the course of your destiny and what worlds you will inhabit or realms of existence you will reside in. This is a critical juncture.

Many persons frightened by the darkness move to the light prematurely. And what they do not realize is that in their yearning they create the light. A portal opens before them, like a tunnel, and they can move into this tunnel of light, encountering those they have known before, thereby entering back into embodiment or other vibratory realms of existence without having fully understood the consequences. This is certainly one option open to you, and one that is often taken.

Another option, however, is to remain at the void point, residing in the Void itself, becoming aware of your Self as pure consciousness—transcendent to all phenomena.

If you reside in this state of awareness long enough without the need to create something, you will discover your identity as the great I Am. And from this point of awareness you can choose the circumstances of your embodiment. You can choose the worlds you will inhabit or the realms of consciousness where you will reside.

This latter method gives you the greatest opportunities, though it is the most difficult for most people. And the reason for this difficulty has to do with the fact that most humans find it uncomfortable to not have a body. The yearning for a body and the experience of the material world often draws a person from the Void prematurely.

In summation, due to the intensifying phases of the Chaotic Node many of you will find yourselves in transitional states of consciousness. Regardless of what level you find yourself engaged in, whether it be your personal life, the collective experience, or the transition state you call death, know that you are the creator of your reality.

The Hathors

April 20, 2011

Tom's Thoughts and Observations

I personally find this message to be stunningly eloquent and a vast storehouse of information. I have read and re-read this message several times, and each time I discover something new. There is, indeed, much to be read between the lines in this communication.

I especially liked the Hathors’ statement…

“Be careful what new (perceptual) markers you put into place, for these ideas and beliefs will be the stars in the new sky of your mind, and you shall navigate your way into these new times by the stars (thoughts and beliefs) that you have placed in the heavens of your own consciousness. So be wise when you go about creating new stars, our fellow navigators of the mystery.”

At the level of our collective mind, I think our mythic realities are changing. The old stars, those thoughts, beliefs and presuppositions about reality that have guided us as a culture for millennia seem now to be dimming, not to mention that they have led us in directions many of us no longer wish to go.

The collective ship of our culture seems to be plying through the waters of the Great Mystery with little regard for the sacredness of this planet or life upon it. But even as our collective vessel sails through the Great Mystery, seemingly without awareness, it (the ship) and we owe our very existence to the Mystery itself. This very odd duality seems, to me, either amusing or tragic, depending upon what mood I am in, and how connected I am or disconnected I have become from the Mystery itself.

One of the ironies of our situation is that the crew of this vessel, those who make it sail, through an investment of their life-force, creativity and, in some cases, blood sweat and tears, are no less than you and me, and all the other nearly seven billion humans alive on this exquisite planet. We are—all of us—crewing this vessel, regardless of our personal situation, our life station or our beliefs.

There are those in the New Age community who say, and have been saying for years now, that we are near Unity, and that the Golden Age is just around the corner. I do not share this perception.

We are all in the same boat together, whether we like it or not, and it seems to me that our crew is polarized. There are many who insist that the paradigms of greed, arrogance and usurpation are the true reference points for our sextants.

Others of us, however, are sensing that we are headed in the wrong direction—that we can no longer ravage this planet and its life (both human and other-than-human). For us, there are new stars in the sky of our minds. And we are setting our sextants clearly upon these cosmic beacons.

How it will all turn out is anybody’s guess. But I am encouraged by a silent mutiny I see happening all around me.

Many of us crew members, and I suspect that if you have read this far you may be one of them, are silently taking action to turn our collective vessel (i.e. our cultural madness) around or at least slow it down.

Some of us are pulling out our sextants and are pointing out new stars to those around us. We do this by living the change we wish to see. We do this by having the courage to live by a new Earth-reality that we sense is possible. We do this by extending kindness to each other.

And when necessary, we do this by standing our ground. I am reminded in this of a grass roots movement in some of the world’s poorest countries to preserve the use of non-hybrid seeds—seeds that produce new seeds when crops are harvested—rather than succumb to international economic interests that would enslave the poorest of the Earth to buy new seeds whenever they wish to feed themselves and their families.

As I write this, I am nearly weeping at their courage to stand up against the Titans that have set the course for our collective vessel through greed, arrogance and an utter disregard for the sanctity of life.

As difficult and as challenging as these times are both for individuals and the collective, I think there is hope in the uncertainty that we are facing. I say this because the human spirit has sometimes risen to heights when faced with dire uncertain times.

If the Hathors are correct, all of us will face numerous transition states of consciousness before our time on Earth has ended. The perceptual markers of our old reality are being displaced. How we deal with the loss of our perceived reality and the old world will determine the next cycle of Earthly existence for humanity.

And for us individually, what we choose to create in the transition states of our lives will determine the realms of consciousness that are opened to us.

I wish you, my fellow crew members and those whom you love, safe passage through these turbulent times. But regardless of what happens, regardless of where and in what situations we find ourselves upon this perilous journey, let us remember that we are—above all else—creators of our own reality.

There are new stars in the sky and new worlds to discover. Be bold. And have a good journey.

You may make copies of this message and distribute in any media you wish as long as you change nothing, credit the author, and include this copyright notice and web address.

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The Path towards compassion

2011-05-05T14:02:00.000+10:00

"We become compassionate not from altruism which denies the self for the sake of the other, but from the insight that sees and feels one is the other.” ~Huston Smith

(quote found at this blog)

Today I had a meeting with an old friend who I don't see very often these days. Our twenty four year friendship has indeed been through many twists and turns on its rugged path of love. We shared a house at one time, bringing up our sons, as we kept the wolf of single motherhood at bay. We've shared our spiritual journey as well, holding each other through the mystery, growth pains/gains and elevated illuminations. We've both learnt a lot from each other about so much, and still do.

Today we talked about the 'shadow'.

The shadow is only there because of Light. The shadow of the self, so rich in its lessons of pain and suffering, and such a cornucopia of ripe pickings for the growth of the Soul. And on the ground, so little comfort and smooth running...

Today I felt deep compassion for each of us, as we reached into the void to access that place of Stillness and Heart in our search for the truth. I found myself opening my heart, for a moment as I drank in the Shadow.

It was a bit like Tonglen, the Buddhist way of transmuting pain and suffering into Light. (Pema Chodron teaches this so well..)

I am grateful to my old friend, even though on a cellular level I feel myself bracing for the acrid winds of karma. On a deeper level I am grateful for the momentary crack in the illusion which we busily hold together while going about our lives; forgetting about Love and all-that-is, and that we are all One.

“And can it be that in a world so full and busy, the loss of one
creature makes a void in any heart, so wide and deep that nothing but the width and depth of eternity can fill it up. -Charles Dickens

LOve, fear and the Light from a Rose

2011-02-09T15:26:00.000+11:00

"Everybody suffers from love, or the fear of it, or the lack of it. Why? Why is love so universally and inevitably heart-breaking, whether it be through the end of a love affair, the death of a loved one or being locked in with the habitual casualness or grim indifference of a partner? The answer is because we've been taught and conditioned by the world to believe that love is a feeling. Love is not a feeling; it's a sensation. Drinking water when you're thirsty is a sensation, not a feeling. Being in nature or swimming in the sea is a sensation, not a feeling. Lying down when you're tired is sensational, not a feeling, although you may say it feels good. Feeling is an emotional interpretation of experience and these sensations don't need interpretation; they are just good or right. Making physical love rightly is a sensation, not a feeling. So is the love of God. The same goes for joy and beauty; both are sensational." Barry Long

that Intelligence that beats the heart...

2011-01-25T09:06:00.000+11:00

What else is there, really, other than a very sensual world. Eyes which see, heart that feels, hands which touch, that intelligence that beats the heart, keeps the stars and planets hanging in the sky, and keeps the flowers growing. This effort to somehow get to this intelligence is the pain of separation, from the Beloved, when in reality who we are is only the Beloved, has only ever been, could only ever be. (from Sounds True)

A Peace Song for Women and those who love them

2011-01-12T09:44:00.000+11:00

A peace song for women and those who love them

Dear one, if you are a woman or you know one, please share these stunning words with her.

The Song of the Five Sisters
by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki

You are my sister, your skin black as night.
A princess of the Royal blood in the arms of Solomon the King.
Your beauty is different to mine but love is common to us both.
Yours is Saba, the Land of the South, rich in gold and spices,
Where the sun’s heat soaks into the parched earth.
Yes, you are my sister and together we shall live in peace.

You are my sister, with a body the colour of fine gold.
Your eyes follow the gentle curve of the almond, dark and mysterious.
In your veins flows the blood of the Seven Immortals, old as time itself.
The Dragon Throne was yours in that time and still awaits your return.
Cherry blossom floating on a still pool where golden fishes play.
Yes, you are my sister and together we shall live in peace.

You are my sister, your breasts are the colour of warm earth.
Soft as the voice of Rama, strong as the sword of Kali is your soul.
Generations of proud men, Kings and Warriors have sought your love.
The snow-capped mountains of the north have taught you endurance.
In the Art of Love you are without equal, daughter of Brahma.
Yes, you are my sister and together we shall live in peace.

You are my sister, your arms show the bronze of many Tribes.
In your hair shines the wing of the raven braided with quills and wampum.
Under your stilled fingers a weaver’s loom gives birth to beauty and colour.
Silver and turquoise are your marriage gifts, proud is your race and heritage.
Bitter have been your tears, and sorrow has been your companion.
Yes, you are my sister and together we shall live in peace.

Listen to my song, O my sisters, my face is white, pale as the moon.
Like you I live and love, bear children, grow old and will die,
yet I sing my song of hope for those that will follow us along the Path,
Throughout the Western Lands I sing the Song of Peace, of Peace between us.
Black and white, red and gold and brown, we are the women, the mothers.
Yes, you are my sisters, and together we shall live in peace.

For spiritual nourishment, please visit www.susancorso.com

Summer 1986-7

2011-01-03T18:19:00.002+11:00

It is quite strange that I have posted this old photograph of myself up here with all the ladies are no longer with us. But I think its OK, because this particular aspect of me, is probably no longer with us either. The death of youthful beauty, is now making way for the inner beauty and power of me as the 'crone' I am now.

Its the time of that of the year when one clears out all the old boxes and bits..I found this amongst some others of yours truly, probably taken around 1986-7. I think it was taken when I lived in Brunswick Street Fitzroy, at Maureen Fallons beautiful apartment. The lilies do look like her sort of accouterment. Its hard to believe I looked like that, and yet felt so unattractive! Just goes to show to not believe the stories you tell yourself..

Rita Bone (Uma)

2010-05-24T21:33:00.000+10:00

A very special woman, Rita Bone (aka Uma)

died yesterday at 3:50pm 23rd May 2010

She will leave a big gap for those who were touched by her and loved her, and yet blessedly her

love will stay in our hearts...

be free now beautiful Rita, be all that is, I sing a song of wonder for you
even though we only met a few times we've always known one another and
will always know each other in all that is

and I will miss you

Isabel Allende tells tales of passion | Video on TED.com

2010-04-28T12:56:00.000+10:00

Isabel Allende tells tales of passion | Video on TED.com

Jilly's wake

2010-04-27T21:21:00.000+10:00

At the Beach House in Elwood we said goodbye to Jilly Halliday. Her family spoke of her with so much love and humour. I was particularly moved by what her nephew said. They gave such an authentic and loving portrait of her. And they told us with candour and courage of their love for her. There wasn't a dry eye in the house, as they say. Her friend Carol had arranged hundreds of gas filled balloons, and after people had said their words, we were asked to write on them and then set them free into the dusk sky.
Elwood beach looked particularly moody and evocative, and it was such a moving scene seeing people in little groups letting their balloons go, and calling out her name. She would have loved it. She was there in everybody's hearts. You are leaving a quite a gap in our lives Jilly, you will deeply missed.

In memory of Jilly Halliday

2010-04-21T09:17:00.001+10:00

Jilly sent this to me, and called the photo: "I give you love!". (the photo was taken in her second home: Bali) This is so very typical of her I think. She had a wacky sense of humour and a great sense of fun, and most of all was so inclusive and heartful. She died this morning at six o'clock, after a long struggle with brain tumors. It took a year for them to take her out. And in that time she was so courageous and stayed so positive. I know it was very sad for her to lose her beloved dog Bingley in December, he was really her significant other, and had also developed a cancer, almost at the same time.
Rest in Peace my friend. God bless.

Ruby Hunter dies

2010-02-18T19:46:00.001+11:00

I nearly burst into tears today when I heard the very sad news that Ruby Hunter died. I first saw her singing on the beach in one of the earliest St Kilda festivals, next to her life partner Archie Roach. It was the first time I felt the deeper shared connection of living on this land together with these people who have been so displaced, marginalized and generally abused by the newer immigrants (namely Europeans). I could sense the Soul of her people, and their culture and suffereing. She was an amazing artist, and it is a devastating loss for our ongoing understanding and empathy of her people through her love and her work.

Durga-the Tiger riding Goddess

2010-02-13T12:34:00.003+11:00

I've been thinking about Durga quite a lot lately, the difference between her and Kali, for example. I get the feeling that Kali is more 'raw' (as my friend Madhuma put it), and that Durga comes more from the 'Source' ie 'Love'. Check out the link above, to see the Awakening Women's blog, Chameli's words about her. I like the way she says: "Durga comes from Love, and is moving always towards Love...and in that stream, she is unbeatable.."

2010-02-09T12:09:00.001+11:00

Michael's terrine!

2010-01-19T09:20:00.003+11:00

On Sunday we had lunch at one of the most beautiful places I've been to in Melbourne: the home of Tom Spender and Michael Pitcher. Everywhere you look, your eyes feast on some amazing beauty, quirky design, important work or exquisite delight...it makes you feel like you're in one of Heaven's anti-rooms, a place where a slice of some of the most refined of European, North American and Indigenous of man and womankind's civilized creations got harvested. And then to top it all off, our stomachs got to feast on Michael's (becoming) famous terrine, which he says only takes him 15 minutes to make. Ofcourse he didn't count the volume of Love, Tenderness and Care he puts in, which has taken him his lifetime to accrue.

ecstacy through dance

2010-01-10T17:44:00.003+11:00

See my other blog 'inbetween art & design' to get where I'm at with this picture....

Being Grateful to Yourself

2009-12-02T15:54:00.003+11:00

A friend just sent me this, and although in the US Thanksgiving has finished, I think this applies equally to our impending Xmas season with all its accompanying ambiguities and anxieties...enjoy

Being Grateful for Yourself

Some of you may be celebrating this Thanksgiving with warmth, laughter, hugs, turkey and pumpkin pie. Some of you may feel stranded, like the marble that rolled away from the group, stuck with the dust bunnies in outer space, abandoned under some old furniture. And some of you may feel stranded in broad daylight, surrounded by people, feeling invisible, or worse yet, as visible and broken as a car wreck on the side of the road, strangers gathering to gawk at the shattered glass.

For many, the holidays can bring up discomfort. They can be some weird checkpoint in life--where you find yourself comparing your entire life to the fantasies you have in your head of how your cousin, neighbor, or sister-in-law is pulling it off. Let me tell you something, no one is pulling this off. No one is spared challenge or confusion in this life. Everyone, consciously or not, is seeking to find peace, comfort and communion with their own soul.

Anyway, I don't know about you, but in holidays past, I've had the feeling of standing in some bad, funky, psychodrama, and feeling as though my head is a big pink balloon floating away from my neck and onto the ceiling. And that's before I touched the alcohol. There are those easy breezy questions people ask, stuffing celery sticks and chips into their mouth. "So what you doing these days?" they ask, and you stand there paralyzed, thinking to yourself, "Well, if I knew what I was doing, do you really think I'd have 200 self-help books, a coach, a therapist, a Vedic astrologer, and a medium?" Sometimes, I find myself itching to answer these questions with, "Could you be more specific? When you say, what are you doing these days, do you mean on the astral planes or do you mean in physical time?" Of course if you're lucky, some celebrity may have died recently and you can pick apart their lives and spare your own.

So whatever your holiday experience might be, this Thanksgiving Day, I'm inviting you to my table. It's a table of soul, and it's big. It includes all of us, even those of you around the world, who don't celebrate this tradition. Thanksgiving is about gratitude, and realizing the bounty all around you. If you're reading this newsletter, you're part of my harvest. I am so grateful for you, and everyone around this amazing globe who is walking a new path in the world, consciously exploring what life means to them, and choosing to live with more love and intention than they did before. It's a big table, I tell you, and there's a party going on.

Here's what goes on at the table of soul. You suspend self-judgment for a day, and take in everything wonderful about you. You bask in gratitude for your absolutely gorgeous self. It's not easy to be creating a joyful, passionate, and inspired life. And it's even harder to be making choices that lead to an uninspired one. So wherever you find yourself on that spectrum, please take a moment, if not many, to muster up some gratitude for your choices, lessons, and strength this year. Let's face it, it hasn't always been easy living in your own skin and daring to honor your instincts, but you're still trying. And that's everything.

Let me tell you, just a tiny bit of why I'm grateful for you.

I'm grateful to you for all those times you gave yourself another chance at new life, showed up at a workshop, a network meeting, a party, a blind date, or even another day, when the gray one inside mumbled or hissed, "I don't feel like it." I'm grateful for the times you chose kindness over defensiveness, and the times you couldn't do it, but you wanted to. I'm grateful to you for exploring how to live your dreams, even when you're not sure what they are on some days-- or if you will ever find your own true place in the world. I am grateful to the part of you that knows you have a throne, garden, or a stadium in the world, and knows you are here to make a difference, and that you embody a light like no other-- because you do.

I am grateful to you for the dignity it takes to own your values when you live in a culture that advertises the leg room of the interior of an SUV as freedom, and at the same time makes fun of meditation and personal growth.

I am grateful to you for not giving up on your dreams even when they seem fragile or bruised, silly, or far-fetched, because everything that has ever changed the nature of the world began with something that was sideways and unpredictable. I am grateful to you for siding with the part of yourself that knows you have love and excellence and still believes, even if you haven't sold your novel yet, or filled your coaching practice, because "the one who believes" is a conscious steward of your gifts, and is connected to the bigger truth which is still emerging.

I am most grateful to you, for every time you've put an arm around your own shoulders and said "Hey, it's going to be okay. You have aces in your hand you don't know about. You have another day. You have a loving God that loves you through and through and through, and you have me, and I'm going to try harder than ever before to be on your side more often."
I could go on...but you get the idea.

Remember to be grateful for other people, too. They are making the best choices they know how, and sometimes they are frightened and covering it up with shopping or alcohol or bragging about their daughter. Use your ex-ray loving eyes, if you can, and look past their clever camouflage and beam some love into their tiny frightened hearts. You don't need them to respond. Just silently invite them to our table, because everybody is welcome here. Pass the peas please. And pass the peace.

With my love and blessings,

Tama

©Copyright 2009 Tama J. Kieves. All rights reserved.

Feel free to forward this copy to anyone you think might enjoy it.
Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.
Thank you.
This message is from Tama's monthly email newsletter: www.AwakeningArtistry.com

Desert tree

2009-11-10T21:11:00.008+11:00

I had a most important and transformational healing session today with my acupuncturist. With the needles in me, my inner consciousness went into a desert. There was a river. I released a whole lineage of grief, regret, sadness and pain. As I floated out into the ocean of Oneness, so did generations of my ancestors and children of children get released. I am filled with gratitude. I can feel that energy will flow more easily in my life and those of my family...

The Mask…amidst nature

2009-10-28T18:26:00.003+11:00

The Mask… Art at Scheveningen!!
Originally uploaded by B'Rob

I saw this sculpture when I was in Scheveningen (Holland) some years ago. It had a powerful effect on me. There was something apocalyptic about it even then. I found many layers in my psyche it resonated with.
The mask amidst field of wild blown grass: the mask we wear in the midst our raw nature; the breaking down and dissolving of constructs of the ego amidst the elements..

The breaking down of a civilization...a broken concrete mask..just fallen out of the sky..

dark thoughts

2009-10-01T08:21:00.002+10:00

Ok, so I'm smiling here. This photo is a school photo taken in 1961, in Curacao. I was 10.
Over the last few days my mind has been so negative and self defeating. Everything just feels a bit too hard, the chaos of my studio, the dreams of a better life...
Feels like I need to shrink away the screaming thoughts and let in the light again..

Sisters: Peta & Candy '05

2009-09-28T08:43:00.005+10:00

This photo was taken in Adelaide in 2005. We weren't actually getting on so well at that time, although things were better than they'd been. The sorting of our parents estate between 1998-2004 wreaked havoc on what was already quite a tenuous relationship between us. But there were always times when, even though we didn't like each other, we loved each other: a particular kind of love, which is exclusive to sisters I think. Somehow you can see it in the rhythm of our steps here.

Ode to my sister, Peta van Rood

2009-08-02T17:49:00.005+10:00

Here she is, my beautiful sister Peta, who died on July 12th 2009. She was only 62. Her death was her release. She'd had some very hard challenges, yet lately she seemed so well and happy in her wonderful 35 year old partnership with Stephen George. She has left behind a son, Sam van Rood, who lives in London with his partner Jane. (he has just suffered a serious stroke earlier this year..) And a daughter, Rosie. The shock of Peta's sudden and unexpected death will take perhaps years to real-ize.

I love this picture of her, this was her at her finest, (happy always when with Nature). A great Spirit, Peta has touched many many people with her unconditional love and inclusive humanitarian nature. Bless you my sister, you will be missed.....

the shadow and the white cat

2009-05-26T09:28:00.003+10:00

Just near where I live on sunny days two white cats lie together on the street. This is the younger of the two, the elder and obviously the parent is battle scarred and street wise. I guess their owner sends them outside to get some relief from the layer of white fur on every surface of their home!

you've got a friend

2009-05-18T19:15:00.003+10:00

This is such a beautiful and moving little video, it touches your heart,
and is so creative as well. Enjoy

Bo and his roses

2009-04-22T13:40:00.003+10:00

I met this adorable young man on the tram yesterday. I was on my way to look after my grandson for the afternoon. I was busy sending emails, updating facebook, headphones on, oblivious to the outside world, the ins and outs of the tram. Then I smelled this delicious and overwhelming scent of roses. Opposite me, was this boy with a huge bunch of roses. I couldn't help but ask him who the lucky person was going to be to receive these beauties. He said: "my grandmother". I found myself projecting into the future, and hoping that one day my grandson would be carrying a big bunch of sweet scented red roses for me..I felt so priveleged to be sharing this moment with him as we chatted about our iPhones, and Uni, and my grandson, the baby Leroy...

The Awakening

2009-03-15T22:26:00.001+11:00

THE AWAKENING

A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when, in the midst of
all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the
voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH!

Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child
quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder
once or twice, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world
through new eyes.

This is your awakening.

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to
change...or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the
next horizon.

You come to terms with the fact that neither of you is Prince Charming or
Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings
(or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever
after" must begin with you...and in the process a sense of serenity is born
of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will
always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are ... and that's OK.

They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself...and in the
process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.

You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you
(or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really
count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say
and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always
about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself...and in the
process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they
are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties..and in the
process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around
you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been
ingrained into your psyche.

And you begin to sift through all the junk you've been fed about how you
should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what you
should wear, what you should do for a living, how much money you should
make, what you should drive, how and where you should live, who you should
marry, the importance of having and raising children, and what you owe your
parents, family, and friends.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view.

And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really
stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to
discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have
bought into to begin with ... and in the process you learn to go with your
instincts.

You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive.

And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop
maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated
ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation
upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the
world and that you can't teach a pig to sing.

You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance
of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.

You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and
that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love.

How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk
away.

You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would
have them be.

You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes.

And you learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing
things over and ignoring your needs.

You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK....and that it is
your right to want things and to ask for the things you want ... and that
sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love,
kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less.

And you learn that your body really is your temple.

And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect.

You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to
exercise.

You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you
take more time to rest.

And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul.

So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you
deserve...and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that
wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it
happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need
direction, discipline and perseverance.

You also learn that no one can do it all alone...and that it's OK to risk
asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest robber baron of
all: FEAR itself.

You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that
whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away
the right to live life on your own terms.

And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a
cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think
you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good
people.

On these occasions you learn not to personalize things.

You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers.

It's just life happening.

And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be
understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and
poison the universe that surrounds you.

You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we
take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only
dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a
long hot shower.

Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you
make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle
for less than your heart's desire.

And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.

And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open
to every wonderful possibility.

Finally, with courage in your heart and God by your side you take a stand,
you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as
best you can.

-- Author Unknown

Rosalie Gascoigne

2009-03-12T12:53:00.002+11:00

I have just seen this remarkable woman's exhibition at the Ian Potter Gallery here in Melbourne. I have been so inspired by her work, and the clear evidence of her own evolution as an artist and person. The refinement and minimalism which belies her later works shows how as we become more mature with our works, we can say the same things with less.

Andrew Cohen's view of the creative impulse and where it comes from

2009-03-05T09:59:00.001+11:00

The Creative Impulse

When spirit took the leap from formlessness to form, from nothing to something, from being to becoming, it emerged from emptiness as the creative impulse—the urge to become, the desire to exist. This creative impulse expresses itself at all levels of the human experience. Any human being can locate it at the lowest level of their being—at the gross physical level—as the sexual impulse, which is really the presence or movement of the big bang as a biological imperative. But at higher levels of being, humans are the only life forms we know of that are compelled to innovate and to create. We can see this especially in individuals who are pioneers in their fields, whether they are great philosophers, musicians, artists, politicians, or poets. Most individuals who are deeply talented are driven by a sense of urgency, an ecstatically urgent sense that “I must bring into life this potential that I see and experience in the depths of my own being. This must come through me.” If we get to know them, we will usually find that truly great human beings are driven by a passion that transcends their separate self-sense. And in the way I understand it, the highest expression of this creative impulse is the urge to evolve at the level of consciousness itself.

Andrew Cohen
The Creative Impulse
313

Prophetic Karl

2009-03-01T08:22:00.000+11:00

“Owners of capital will stimulate the working class to buy more and more

expensive goods, houses and technology, pushing them to take more and
more expensive credits, until their debt becomes unbearable. The unpaid
debt will lead to bankruptcy of banks, which will have to be nationalized,
and the State will have to take the road which will eventually lead to
communism”

Karl Marx, Das Kapital, 1867

Facebook, passwords et al

2009-02-22T22:08:00.005+11:00

I have just spent the last two hours sorting out all the password variations required for facebook and twitter. I have to say I am putting energy into these things to get traffic to my website. It is one of the most frustrating and annoying things about the web, and doesn't seem to stop determined hackers anyway. Facebook is a scary thing though. I had a profile there when it first started up, well it was in that first year anyway, and then read an article (which I haven't been able to find since...umm, I think it was in the Washington Post...)about how sinister facebook actually is, and informed all my friends that I was leaving, with a link to this article. No one seemed to notice. Anyway, when I went to sign up the other day, under my maiden name: Candida van Rood, it knew my birthday. So it is not a few students putting together their yearbook, as it was made out to be in the beginning. And now once they have your data, they have it forever, yes forever...brrrr.
And why then, have I 'sold-out' like this? hmmmm..something to ponder..

Oneness

2009-02-09T22:16:00.001+11:00

this mood altering piece is absolutely wonderful..enjoy!

2009-02-03T21:05:00.002+11:00

this is hilarious...enjoy..

never under-estimate an old gal

2009-02-02T19:22:00.004+11:00

This is surely inspiration for all of over 23!!
enjoy, its worth every minute..
what a gal...

the internet

2009-01-15T22:12:00.005+11:00

So, yes, the internet - that web through which we are joined and can link-up! (isn't there something somewhere, about us all being ONE...) I love it, except that it makes my body ache. I sit for hours in front of my screen tapping away, sliding my mouse to express it all.
I took this photo last week, it looks like a strange creature doing a dance. Actually we were sitting in a cafe when we saw these figures preparing for their baby parade at Fed Square. Quite surrealistic.

a scare

2008-10-25T22:56:00.004+11:00

sometimes this is how thoughts seem..

Tom leaving for Paris

2008-10-22T09:07:00.005+11:00

father and son spend their last few hours together before Tom's departure to Paris for a month for the expansion of his career. See his blog at: spender.com.au

Kali - in memoriam

2008-10-16T08:54:00.004+11:00

My beloved little companion of twenty years died yesterday just after noon.
Released from her old-age suffering and limitation.
Blessed in existance...with love

Her coat like a shiny seal, her beautiful face and powerful glance,
her call like a screeching baboon (at times..), intelligence like a clairvoyant.
In her youth like an acrobat, and always playful.

We travelled through much together..

I will miss her

the heart

2008-10-14T11:22:00.004+11:00

Your Heart is Blue and Green

Your heart is open and dynamic.

You are flexible, optimistic, and expressive.

You bring honesty and intimacy to relationships.

You're good at expressing your needs to your partner.

What Are the Colors of Your Heart?

my blue-eyed son

2008-10-12T18:15:00.005+11:00

I am blessed with this man as my son..

todays entry

2008-10-10T08:09:00.002+11:00

Leroy

2008-07-29T21:48:00.004+10:00

My first grandchild was born on July 6th, 2008 at 19:21 at Monash Hospital. His mum and dad are Jesse and Tom. His name is Leroy Thomas Spender. We are all so thrilled to have him in our lives.
He is a Cancer with Aquarius rising and a Leo moon.
What a boy!!

preparing for 'Sentience'

2008-03-11T21:37:00.005+11:00

Sunday March 2nd, 2008. Here I am putting the final touches on 'Cruella', my 'old-faithful' mannequin who has modeled many many pieces over the years. She had to look at her shining best for the Sentience show, as she was wearing a very special ensemble. Here she is as photographed by Michael Blamey at the opening. And below that one of the pictures he took at the opening. Which was on March 4th, 2008 at fortyfivedownstairs.

Spring Fever at the Salon of Jewels!

2007-10-27T13:35:00.001+10:00

We had such a wonderfully feverish night, as we sparkled away on Friday: Spring Fever night at the Salon of Jewels. My hands are aching from all the twisting and turning of wires and beads all week, but the Salon is ablaze with new pieces...lotsa colour and light! Also my new little range: 'Diamonds and Rust'..a little bit of darkness in amongst it all, but I'm told 'enchanting'. I'm sure you will be able to find more pics of the night at Michael Blamey's blog: St Kilda today.

23rd October 2007 - the 'Devi' jewels

2007-10-23T13:26:00.002+10:00

Opening blog day!
Its overcast and slightly windy in South Melbourne, as I continue with the making of the latest edition of this range which I think I'll end up calling the 'devi' range.

From the wikipedia:
Devi is the Sanskrit word for Goddess. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents consciousness or discrimination, remains impotent and void.

I think of this word because of how important it is in my own development.
This range has been evolving for the last year, and is taking many forms. It is detailed and 'bead-ie'. I love the long subtle 'fronds', with the occasional interruption of fresh water pearls, or sparkling crystal, or multi-coloured semi-precious or ceramic seed beads. The energy is like Shakti: a little unpredictable and yet as even as the the Goddess herself, in her calm presence.