Spiritual Art Blog - *Ed P

God’s Gardens

At this point I’ve settled on a composition for God’s Garden. Now it is time to add the details and shadows.

Life is real when we are here, dreams are real when we are there.

Thought for the Week
When we wake up in the morning we may have a slight recall of a dream we had during the night. As soon as we get out of bed the dream vanishes. If we’ve had a nightmare during the night and woken up from it, that memory may last a bit longer. When we are in the nightmare, it would be pretty hard to convince us that it isn’t real but when we wake up we are relieved to find it is not ‘real’.

So how does this work? How come it is real one moment and not real the next? We are dealing with two realities or two worlds, our physical world and our dream world. When we are in our physical world we have our attention on all things physical. This is necessary to ensure we can get by in life and survive here. When we are asleep and in our dream worlds, our attention is there in those worlds. We have moved our focus of attention from the physical to our dreams. Where we focus our attentions is where our reality is. 

We can see this in action when we are thinking about someone or someplace other than where we are. When we daydream we wander off to somewhere else which can affect our emotions and thinking. For example, if we think about the last holiday we were on. We can enjoy the surroundings, recall the atmosphere, remember the people and friends there, and taste the food and drink. If we close our eyes and remember all this we can get closer to it and begin to feel it all. At this point our holiday is more real than our current physical location. Our dreams work in a similar way and because our body is asleep we are now totally focused on our dream worlds so they become our reality.

Dream Questions
Recently I received an email from Melody, with a number of questions on dreams. They are pretty good questions and I think they may help us all get a better understanding of the dream process.

"What is left behind in your body to move it and react to things while you are dreaming? And how is it that some people sometimes act out their dreams, physically when they are in them?"

The way I see it, we are still connected to our physical body while we are asleep. We need a connection to be able to return. Also our body has a lot of automatic functions which we, its inhabitants, do not have any control over. For example, our heart beats automatically, our stomach processes food and liquid without any direction from us, our hair, nails, and skin grow at a rate that suits them. Sometimes our hair grows where we don't want it and other times it won't grow where we do want it.

The physical reactions of a person dreaming are determined by how close to the physical level the dream is. If we are fighting a battle in close combat, we would automatically use our arms and fists. The closer we are to being awake, the more likely we will react in a physical manner. While in this sleeping state our physical actions can mirror our dream actions.

"Why do you do things out of character in your dreams?" 

We can do things 'out of character' in our dreams because we are now in a different world, a different culture, and a different time. We can be revisiting a time from a past life. We could even sometimes be a different sex in a dream. It is like you have moved from one stage, your physical world, to another stage, your dream world. Very much like an actor who cycles to work and then spends his day in a futuristic flying machine, because he is acting in a futuristic film.

"And why do you find things warped and weird in your dreams sometimes?"

During the night while we sleep we can visit many places and have many dreams. On our return we may recall a little part of each of them and our mind tries to put them into one story. It is like taking a few pieces from several different jigsaws and trying to make a single picture with them. It will end up as a weird picture.

"And nightmares, if we are not going to hell why do we go there, per sae, in our nightmares? I have been one to believe and hope that Heaven is a better place than earth. My dreams are no better than earth in most cases, worse sometimes."

Nightmares are fears in the raw. Nightmares generally take place on the emotional or Astral level. At that level, our fears can take the shape of a variety of monsters or things, that cause us to feel fear. You are remembering your nightmares because they make a strong impression on your mind. Your dreams on the other hand will be pleasant and natural while you are there. If there is nothing out of the ordinary in your dream, there is nothing significant to impress your mind. 

If you get a number of nightmares you should try and face the fear, challenge the monster and deal with it. Of course that is easier said than done. One method I've used, that has worked, is to remember to sing HU while in the nightmare. This will help bring a bit of calmness to you and give you an opportunity to decide on your next move. 

If you would like to remember your more pleasant and heavenly dreams, you should ask for the memory. Before you go to sleep, ask your spiritual guide, master or angel, to let you have a memory of one of your heavenly dreams. You may not get the memory the first time you ask but after a few weeks you should see some results.

If you have a few questions of a spiritual nature, please click ‘Comments’ below and write your question there. If you prefer you can email me at: ed@epd-art.com I’ll try and answer them as best I can.

Sweet dreams.

*Ed Parkinson

Inspirational Quotes

"Those who dream by day are cognisant of many things which escape those who dream only by night."

Edgar Allan Poe

"You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"

George Bernard Shaw

“Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you.”

Marsha Norman

God’s Gardens

Do you know of any significant spiritual stories which have happened in gardens? The ones that come to mind are, Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Are there any stories of Buddha or Mohammad in gardens? I’d like to add them into this picture as I’d like to cover most spiritual traditions if possible. If you know of a garden story please click on Comments below and let me know.

Below is a render from the 3D program which I’m using to build God’s Garden.

Thanks, *Ed Parkinson 

Spring Clean our Mental Programmes

Thought for the Week
Sometimes we need to reset the mental programme we use to run our lives. Sometimes we build up habits and routines which are no longer useful to us. It can be a bit like a Spring clean. The trouble with the mental junk we have, is that it all seems to be important. Our mind likes its processes and is not fond of change. Our opinions and attitudes are often behind these mental programmes.

Automatic opinions
This is something I find hard to control. When I see a person on the street, my automatic opinion generator kicks into action. Depending on if they are young, old, big, small, male, female, heavy, light, well dressed, ragged, etc., an opinion will automatically appear. This opinion will be my reality of this person, until I actually meet or communicate with them and discover the real person.

Automatic attitudes
Automatic attitudes is another thing to watch for. For example when we have a task we dislike our automatic attitudes often kick in. If it is a task we dislikes, the attitude it throws up is usually a negative one.

Can we approach it with the possibility of changing it a little so that it makes the task more interesting. If we can look at the task with the idea that it is an adventure and there will probably be something new about it this time around, we will develop a more positive attitude towards it.

Check our thought against our goals
So how do we select the good from the bad? One way of checking what is good and what is bad in our mental programmes is to see if they are consistent with our goals in life. If we have a goal to be happy, is our thinking inline with that? If we set about doing the task we dislike with a grumpy attitude, that is not consistent with our goal of being happy. If we approach the task with the expectation that we can somehow make it a happier and better experience for ourselves, we will at least have a chance of being happier.

Gordian Knot

Our mind and the knots our opinions and attitudes tie us up with can sometimes make us feel like we are lost in the middle of a Gordian knot. The Gordian knot was a legendary puzzle which promised that the person who loosened the knot would become king of Asia. When Alexander the Great tried to loosen it with his hands he failed, he stood back and said "What does it matter how I loose it?" With that, he drew his sword, and in one powerful stroke severed the knot. He then went on to conquer the entire known world.

HU Song

We have a tool which can act like Alexander’s sword and cut through our knotted attitudes and opinions and that is the HU song. It is a simple spiritual exercise which, with practice will reconnect us with Soul, our true self. From the viewpoint of Soul we will be above the mind and all its logical knots which often keep us tied to our physical world. Click here for more about the HU song.

From the viewpoint of Soul we see what parts of our mental programme we need to adjust. Take your time, clean out one opinion or attitude at a time. Some of them just need a bit of polish to remove the negative dirt that has built up over time. Some of them may need to be dumped altogether. If they don’t help you get to where you want to be, then change them.

Enjoy your Spring cleaning, it’ll help you live a happier life.

*Ed Parkinson

News

Rathmines Festival 2009
Thursday, 23 April – Sunday, 26 April

Rathmines Festival is a dynamic series of arts, sports and cultural events that aims to provide a quality and vibrant experience to Rathmines and its environs. Their organising committee want to create a diverse programme with something for everyone. This year the aim has certainly been achieved. 

I will have some work exhibited at “Intonations” an art exhibition by prominent local, national and new artists will take place in Swan Centre. Rathmines Library will host, amongst other events, with a distinctive presentation, Castles in the Air, to celebrate the prolific poet and broadcaster Louis MacNeice. Rathmines & Rathgar Active Retirement Association will also have an exhibition of their works.

Inspirational Quotes

“Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different. Life would undergo a change of appearance because we ourselves had undergone a change in attitude.”
Katherine Mansfield

“Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinions at all.”
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742 - 1799)

“In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.” 
Mahatma Gandhi

God’s Gardens

This week I started a picture titled God’s Gardens. A friend was telling me of a visit to some gardens near Naples in Italy. They started in one garden which was beautiful and from there they went into another garden which was even more beautiful and beyond that there was a better garden again. He said it was like going through God’s Gardens. Below is an initial rough sketch.

How to recognise our intuition

Thought for the week

Intuition is a regular part of our lives but often something we are unaware of. We often have trouble finding ways to recognise our intuition. Intuition comes to us through our subconscious. It is how Soul, our true selves, our spiritual side, tries to get messages through to our mind and physical being. Intuition can come to us in several different ways. Some of us are more sensitive to one method than others. Below is a list of some of the common ways.

Changing Directions -

Have you ever found yourself heading off on a trip with the intention to go a particular route but circumstances along the way send you in a different direction? Is Soul and Spirit, the Life-force or Higher Power, sending us a particular way and changing our direction for a reason?

Unable to travel -

Have you ever had plans to go somewhere but events and circumstances conspire to prevent you? Could it be that something is arranging things in a way that is for our benefit? While we may be unable to travel we gain a gift or blessing by being where life needs us.

These diversions come to us via subconscious messages from Soul and the arrangement of circumstances by the Life-force or Holy Spirit. Soul has a much better view of the overall direction of our lives and when given the chance will steer us in the direction that is best for us and those around us.

Call a friend -

The urge to call a friend is often a message from Soul to Soul. On the Soul level we can communicate effortlessly. When someone we are close to needs to talk to us we can get a nudge from Soul to contact them. The Soul sending the message may not be aware that they have communicated on a higher level but they are usually pleasantly surprised by your contact.

Unusual solution -

Occasionally we get an idea which seems strange but feels right. Soul, from its high perspective can see solutions which our mental level is blind to. It doesn't make mental sense but feels right. Convincing the mind that these solutions are the right way to go is often difficult to do, but once we get into the habit of doing it, we very quickly see the benefits. Life runs smoother, things happen easier and situations work themselves out.

A feeling to move -

Have you ever had a feeling of unease come over you suddenly? If you ignored it, what happened? If you heeded it and moved what happened? These feelings can often be like a premonition that something unpleasant or significant is about to happen. It just feels right to move, even if it is only a few feet. Some of us do it without thinking, some of us go through mental torture before we allow our feelings have their way.

Feelings about a place -

Many people love different places and many others dislike and are uncomfortable in certain places. This could be because we can feel the energy of a place and what has gone on there previously. Those who have visited Auswich can feel the tragedy of the area before they see the horrific exhibits. Those who have visited the Taj Mahal are struck by its beauty and the love that built it. The same kinds of feelings are present in a lot of places but on a more subtle level. Are there places which affect your feelings?

Plans are delayed -

Have you noticed that sometimes our plans just won't work out? I wanted to get a small gift for a friend for Easter and while on a few errands I looked in several shops, but to no avail. It then struck me that something would reveal itself when I'd meet her later. On Easter morning I still hadn’t got a gift for her. I was a little unsure about how things would fair out, but I let it go with the flow. As it turned out, my friend hadn’t got a gift for me either. The Life-force had kept things balanced, I just needed to be aware of it so that I could go along with the flow.

Happy for no apparent reason -

Often we wake up after a good nights sleep in a happy mood. This is often because we have been on the Soul level and return with the contented aura of that level. This can also happen when we daydream and while away from ourselves, we discover a solution or get a higher viewpoint of a situation. This can often be a relief and source of joy which we bring back to our physical world.

Synchronicity -

Have you noticed a time when you felt that life was synchronised with everything you did? You meet the people you need to exactly at the right time and place. Everything around you flows so that you can get your tasks done with ease. The traffic lights are all green for you, nothing blocks your way. This is a time where your different inner elements are all lined up and synchronised together. We are going with the flow of life.

Go with the flow

These are all different ways Soul, our true inner selves, communicate with us as we go about our physical life. Soul’s love brings wisdom through its soft voice into our lives. By being aware of these subtle messages and directions we begin to link up with the wiser and happier part of our selves.

With a better understanding of our intuition we can learn to be happy in whatever situation we find ourselves. Then we begin to have more control over our own lives. By being happy within ourselves we reflect this to the world and people around us. They pick up on this in a subtle way and become a little happier too.

 

Enjoy your intuition and enjoy your life.

 

*Ed Parkinson

News

Dawn celebration on Lough Corrib

There is a tradition of celebrating a Catholic Mass on the shores of Lough Corrib in Galway, on Easter Sunday, at dawn. This meant we were up at 5.00 am to be position for the celebration at 6 am. There was a huge bonfire blazing to one side. The moon sank into the West as the sun rose in the East. The darkness slowly gave way to dark orange colours, then blues as the sun brightened the world around us, where we stood by the edge of the still lake. There were islands appearing out of the mist along with the occasional boat arriving with more of the congregation.

There were parts of the Mass which brought back memories of ancient days in previous cultures. At one point the congregation were asked to face North, then East, then South and then West. It seemed like we were turning back to part of an old Druid ritual.

 

Following the Mass tea, coffee, buns and sausages were distributed to the crowd. There was a wonderful atmosphere of community and appreciation for the gifts we have here and now in our lives. It was a blessing to be there.

 

The Approach

 

 

The bonfire

 

 

Easter Dawn Mass on Lough Corrib

 

 

Easter dawn on Lough Corrib

Inspirational Quote

“The only real valuable thing is intuition.”
Albert Einstein 

“You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself.”
Alan Alda 
 

“Intuition is the supra-logic that cuts out all the routine processes of thought and leaps straight from the problem to the answer.”
Robert Graves

Cloud Angel

Cloud Angel is just about finished. I just need to print it out and check for any flaws or errors. If you’d like to see it larger, just click on the image and a new window will open with a bigger picture.

Spiritual Jewels

Thought for the Week
To get a better understanding of ourselves we need to look at the different parts within us, our spiritual make up or anatomy. With a clearer idea of how we work we can begin to find jewels of wisdom and insight which can help us become a happier person.

If you are sitting down reading this, you will be using the eyes of your physical body. Your emotions are listening for ideas that will be pleasant or upsetting. Your memories are watching for words and concepts it has come across in the past, so it can compare them to what you are now reading. Your mind is reading the words to make sense, so that you can understand them. Your subconscious is making suggestions as to how you should react. Soul, the real you, is observing the whole process and giving our subconscious ideas, possibilities and creative ways to use what you are reading.

Having a physical body requires us to look after it and ensure it survives. Our mind is a major player in ensuring our survival. It analyses situations around us and provides systematic solutions and options for what to do next. If we get into the habit of relying on this system to run our lives, the mind can hide gems of wisdom from Soul in the earth it turns over looking for hard logical solutions.

The Art of Training the Mind
Our mind is a great tool for handling the regular tasks and situations we meet everyday. It is good for working out logical problems but it tends to make a mess of messages from Soul, unless we train it correctly. The mind is the thing most of us have trouble getting past, so that we can use the inspiration coming from Soul.

Training the mind to allow Soul’s messages come through is more of an art than a mental technique. The messages come as hunches, intuition and a sense of knowing. They are not logical which means the mind can't put them in a box and process them like it does with messages we receive from our physical world. We have to turn up our awareness so that we can catch them on arrival into our consciousness. Our awareness needs to catch them before our mind gets them. When the mind gets them, it will immediately start to analyse and break them into bits, put them into a framework and present a number of logical options. The trouble with our Soul messages is that they often don't make logical sense, but they feel right. In our heart we know they are the right thing to do. The challenge for us is to get our mind to accept something that isn't logical.

Non-logical Decisions
All we have to do is get the mind into the habit of accepting our non-logical decisions. Next time you get the feeling that you should call a friend, do it. Don't let the mind's logical reasons put you off. It may say things like "They won't be home, it's the wrong time to call and I’ve no real reason to call". The mind will try to convince you it is not the thing to do. You will have to give your mind a reason why you are doing something illogical. You could say to yourself, “I know this doesn't make sense but I'm going to try it anyway". This type of argument should quieten the mind for a while, although you may need to repeat it a few times until you've completed the task.

A New Treasure
As Soul is the happy, contented and spiritual part of our selves, it is our source of happiness. The mind can come up with solutions which will make us happy for a while but they never last long. Soul is happy and if we can dig a way through the mind to Soul, we will be rewarded with gems of wisdom, pearls of happiness and jewels of insight.

The next time you see the sparkle of an insight, intuition or a hunch, which feels right, catch it and make the most of it. Act on it or use the insight. It will be the beginning of a new treasure in your life.

*Ed Parkinson

Inspirational Quote

“In order to experience everyday spirituality, we need to remember that we are spiritual beings spending some time in a human body.”

 Barbara De Angelis