Spiritual Art Blog - *Ed P

Inspirational Quote

“There is nourishment like bread that feeds one part of your life, Nourishment like light for another.

“There are many rules about restraint with the former, But only one rule for the latter, Never be satisfied.

“Eat and drink the soul substance as a wick does with the oil it soaks in. Give light to the company.”

Rumi

Not so Inspirational Quotes

The video below was posted on Alison Stanfield’s blog last week. It’s from a TV show in the States where they ask the public a question. They then add animation to the interview sound track. The question asked was “What is art?” It’s worth a watch, there’s some very funny stuff in it.

If you’re an artist I’d recommend Alison’s blog and web site. She gives some excellent advice on marketing your art and I’d recommend her new book ‘I’d rather be in the studio’. It’s got lots of good advice on selling your art.

Art Auction A-comin’

There’s an Art Auction in the Expose Yourself Gallery next Thursday 13th March in aid of the Peter Bradley Foundation. The Foundation looks after people who have acquired brain damage. I think that means if you get a bang on the head which damages your brain the Foundation have ways of looking after you so you live a pleasant and fulfilling life.

It seems like a worthy cause so I donated a large framed River of God (below) print to the auction. I believe there is a very entertaining auctioneer going to do the business on the night. It should be a bit of craic where you can pick up some nice art and help a good cause as well. See you there.

Write down your problems

Thought for the week-
Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like you’re in a corner surrounded by problems? Here’s an idea I’ve used a number of times and have found it very useful for getting myself out of such a situation.

Take some time to write a letter. Write it to your inner guide or Jesus, Muhammad, the Dali Lama or who ever you look up to on a spiritual basis. Write how ever you feel, what ever you feel. Put down all the situations, difficulties and problems. Add details and explanations to clarify things if necessary.

Now put it away and let your higher power take it from there. By doing this I’ve found that my general situation begins to become clearer and not as hopeless as I first thought. The action of writing the difficulties down gets them into some kind of order so you have a better over view of them They are now separated and I can now see little things I can do to sort of the problems out.

This is not a miracle cure but I have found it great help in bringing me out a swirling river of problems onto a little place of refuge. From that point I have often found a path to safer ground. Hope this works for you too.

News:

Now that River Sanctuary is finished I’ve put it in the Spiritual Art Gallery on the web site here. There’s some background info about the picture there which you may find interesting.

Mind Body Spirit Festival
I still have a few passes available for the Mind Body Spirit Festival next weekend (Paddy’s Weekend) if you are interested just let me know by putting a note in the comments section of this post. The entrance price is probably €7 to €10 but with these passes you get in free.

Inspirational Quote:

In a short conversation with Milarepa he said “Everything is one, everything is God, we are all one, we can but love everything and thereby love God. You show your gratitude and love by living your life to the full.”

Light in your contemplation

Picture
The art of living spiritually. That’s the title of the seminar I created this piece for and now it’s the title of this piece. I tried to illustrate growth as we progress towards the light. We become more illuminated as we grow.

Thought for the week-
While we are on the subject of seminars, I was at one titled ‘Exploring the Spiritual Frontier’ presented by Eckankar in the UK, over the weekend. It was very enjoyable with lots of good talks and insights from the speakers. One of the speakers, Phil Morimitsu, gave an excellent demonstration of what to do when you see the light during your contemplation or meditation.

He had made a large sheet out of black plastic bags. Through a hole in the centre of this vast blackness he shone a torch light. “This is something like what you might see as you sit with your eyes closed” he said. It’s true, I’ve often seen little lights or glows during contemplation. He went on to say something like “The idea of this light is not just to sit there and observe it but to go towards it or somehow bring it closer to you.”

Phil then went behind the black sheet of plastic and explained “We are on this side of the blackness and the light seems to be blinding but if we go to the light we discover that it is bright because where we are viewing it from is so dark. When we get to the light we enter a whole new enlightened world.” Then from behind the black sheet he broke through the little black hole and entered into a “new enlightened world” leaving the darkness, the black plastic sheet, behind.

It was a very practical demonstration of what can be a difficult concept to convey. So now you know what to do the next time you see the light in your contemplation or meditation exercises.

Mind Body Spirit Festival

News:
I’ll be exhibiting at the 16th Irish Mind Body Spirit International Festival in the RDS in Dublin over Paddy’s weekend, 15th to 17th March, 2008. There are a number of speakers including Paddy McMahon, Chrissie Astell, Dr. Donn Brennan, Emma Tamplin and Wa Na Nee Che. From the blurb I’ve read they will cover the subjects; Exploring Consciousness, Working with Angels, Ayuraveda, Spiritual Life Coach and North American Indian spirituality.

10 tickets to give away.
As an exhibitor I’ve received some tickets which give free admission to the Mind Body Spirit festival. So if you are interested in coming along add a note in the comments section or on the web site or email me. I’ve only 10 to give away so the first 10 to ask will get them.

Inspirational Quote:

“Render a love song every morning,
Sing with the crickets in the evening,
Then go to sleep, expect sweet dreaming.

“The white Light of God lights the way,
The piercing Sound of God leads the way;
How could a pilgrim-soul go astray?”

Gabriel Ezutah, Pebbles of Sound.