Art, Inspiration, Creation

Calming the Storm

2/26/2020 9:25:16 AM

It is 2 days before I leave for Haridwar, India, for my art residency at AZIVTHM Ashram. I have had many people asking me what an Ashram is. Here is a good link ASHRAMS.  

One part of Wikipedia says of Ashrams "Sometimes, the goal of a pilgrimage to the ashram was not tranquility, but instruction in some art, especially warfare. In the Ramayana, the princes of ancient Ayodhya, Rama and Lakshmana, go to Vishvamitra's ashram to protect his yajnas from being defiled by emissary-demons of Ravana. After they prove their mettle, the princes receive martial instruction from the sage, especially in the use of divine weapons. In the Mahabharata, Krishna, in his youth, goes to the ashram of Sandipani to gain knowledge of both intellectual and spiritual matters."

That is what I am talking about!!! I will come back with my body as a lethal weapon possibly. Maybe like Arya Stark from the Game of Thrones. I love an adventure. 

On a more serious note, since I have not experienced one yet, it is a place to evolve and grow spiritually while pursuing a discipline (for me painting, and maybe my writing). I will be doing Yoga, helping at the home I am staying at, and meditating, and I have plenty of things to paint. 

But as Riots develop in New Delhi, and the threat of the Coronavirus, and my dearest friends telling me not to go- it reminds me of a bible story I have heard since I was a child. I resonated so much with Jesus in this story. 

How Jesus and the disciples boarded a boat to cross the river and great storm came. The disciples were very fearful and could not understand their master, who was asleep in the bowels of the boat. With fear, they woke him and with assuredness, Jesus calmed the storm. 

My image of this, which has been tainted by movies, was that Jesus had no fear, and knew they would make the trip, whether he calmed the storm or not. But to appease his fearful disciples, he probably shrugged his shoulders, smiled and chuckled, and said "Quiet! Be still" and he went back to bed. There was no  arguing, pausing, begging...just three words. The funny part was the disciples were in more fear AFTER the storms were calmed...now they feared Jesus. ( i always thought...WHAT? why are these guys disciples? I'd be like...This is my dude!!!) 

I believe in Divine Order, and synchronicity. When I was looking for a residency in the states last year, the India Ashram kept coming up in my searches, I thought...Ok...I will apply, actually thinking I would be rejected. In my experience, God shouldn't have to beg me to move or do things...it is a gentle nudge, always. So I applied and as I pressed send, I said outloud...If it is meant to be, it is meant to be. 

If you and I appropriately and calmly, look for the signs that God puts in front of us, instead of stepping over them or fearing them...embrace them! Life can be so much easier. And whether we walk through or calm the storms-we should get stronger on the other side. 

One blessed thing Meditation has taught me is to center myself, drop inside, and remain calm. Am I always 100% calm?...no, I am still human and not Jesus yet. But I feel as though his examples of calmness, in every situation (except  in the church on tax day-which taxes completely unnerve me too), keeps me sane. And using simple words such as "Quiet! Be Still" . instead of all the words that come flying through your brain at any given second, is the best way to live. 

I listen to my body, which resonates with our external world...and it doesn't have any reserve about my trip to India. There is a pull there, I must go. I will say outloud, and with you all as my witnesses: "If I need to go I will go, If I need to stay, I will stay". I have faith, protection, and the continual guidance of my inner self, connected to God. 

I am distinctly on a mission to be this way in every area of my life, calm, connected and guided. God feels the testing should begin....

So I have cried, laughed, complained, oh my gosh, tons of complaining-about all of my situations going on right now, and about the seemingly overwhelming issues arising. On my walk the other day...it occurred to me, or God Spoke, 'Let GO of all those other personalities that are appearing...you are NOT those people.' What a RELIEF...I thought..

I am not a religious person anymore, I do not claim a doctrine, but I have been trained by God and Jesus and many others in this life, and Jesus said, "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, my yoke is easy and my burden is light". We, I believe, need to help others, but NOT carry their burdens.  God confirmed that with me. I bought a candle for my daughter for Christmas that said "Let that shit go". Honestly it is a little note for all of us.

So amidst these storms...just say to them "QUIET! BE STILL." It will not only help you...but everyone around you. 

Love to all,

Happy Painting and creating,

Jennifer 

The Wholeness of Gratitude

2/14/2020 10:08:29 AM

"Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and give thanks continuously. And because ALL things have contributed to your advancement (good and bad -), you should include ALL things in your  gratitude." Ralph Waldo Emerson (revised by Jennifer Taylor)

I walked out into my dad's manufacturing company yesterday, and I saw a young man looking unhappy. I asked "what is wrong", "nothing" he said. I replied, "Your face doesn't indicate that. " then he said .."It's my finances.I am trying to figure out what to pay for first, and What gets left out". 

My reply..."What keeps your lights on is the first thing to pay".  He agreed. Then I changed the subject to his menagerie of animals I knew he kept. He told a silly story about his Cockatiel, and we laughed. Mood changed. 

I was reminded too, today, of what is important in life, as I walked around my farm, which can be a financial burden on occasions, like now, seeing the aftermath of high winds tearing down trees and fences. Feeling pity I asked to the air..."why have I burdened myself with this and animals that depend on me?" Then a vision came to me. A past vision of a time when I was training horses, and that moment when the eyes of the horse became understanding, curious and respectful, and his muscles were calm.  Together we were standing still, connected by our eyes, the space, and ground beneath us. The whisper from the horse that said, 'ok...you can touch me now...but gently, slowly...'. It is really the horse that whispers....not the trainer. 

I closed my eyes and reflected on this experience. Then I put money in its place to see how I felt. Not the same. The horse, all the horses, the gifts of the earth, the quietness of nature, the ability to walk when I want to, tame and ride a wild horse-these experiences grew me; Placed in front of me by my wild desires as a child. God laid the carpet down in front of me fulfilling my wants...and now I am older, maybe less inclined to be childlike, having suffered, and seen change. 

I then realized as Emerson said, be grateful for ALL that comes to you. ALL experiences in life. 

I wouldn't be the person or artist I am today without the bad as well as the good. Bad art, bad experiences, bad advice, bad decisions....turned me to good art, good experiences, good advice and good decisions. 

These words came to me after I reflected on the past....the eyes you meet, are your life's experiences....money is just a mode of living-don't put so much of your soul in it.

hmm....so true.

I just need to relook at my current situation. Remembering, I am here for the eyes that I meet. 

And that makes a good delivery on Valentine's day, where the love of your life should be....well YOU. Love to yourself.

Keep being grateful for your life, and what experiences brought you here. If you are in the thick of it, find gratitude in something, a flower, a friend, the roof, water from your sink...something. All things are only temporary. 

Art-should be the doorway for your soul to meet itself. Keep Painting.

Yours, Always! Happy Valentine's Day.