Kara Walker - artist

FaceBook can be fun at times.  Yesterday, a friend posted this on her FB status, which I didn't read until this morning:

This is a game apparently designed to keep art alive. Comment on this status and I will assign you an artist. It doesn't matter if you don't know them, just google him/her and post one of your favorite works that you find by them.  My artist friend will have to help me assign artists. She gave me Gustav Klimt.

I played along unwittingly because I responded immediately with "I <3 Gustav Klimt" - his name jumped out at me before even reading her status.

Well, today I was assigned Kara Walker, someone I had never heard of.  That was a good thing because I learned something new on this first day of the New Year and the New Moon!  I spent about a half hour looking at the images that Google has and then commented on my friend's status:

I just spent 1/2 hour looking at work done by Kara Walker. It was very disturbing, but that's one of the "jobs" of art, I think - to stun you in a variety of ways. I will post one of her works later - I had to take a break from them.

I couldn't pick any one picture, so I've chosen this video to display her work and hear her words.  The two really cannot be separated in my opinion.

I've decided to do a weekly post about artists for my own education - I know so little about art and I am so moved by much of it.  I'm hoping that the friend of a friend will toss me some names so that I can learn about them.  Feel free to join in!

Life finds a way....always

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year, everyone!!

May 2014 bring you all that you desire!

Today's Happy is a day that isn't as cold as predicted ~ how blissfully quiet it is outside ~ and the fragrance of the chai tea that I'm drinking.

Artwork by Jackie Morris.

Cosmic News - M. Kelley Hunter

NEW YEAR NEW MOON M. Kelley Hunter

SEE BELOW for: New Year New Moon Cosmic Daily Weather 2014-coming to Amazon. 2 Astro-Specials: YOU in 2014 & Capricorn Astro-Special Winter Webinars via the Theosophical Society NEW YEAR NEW MOON Image: detail from Chihully glass exhibit in Montreal. NEW MOON at 11 CAPRICORN 6:14am EST, 3:14am PST, 11:14am GMT A New Moon on New Year's Eve ushers in an intensely globe-changing year. Such a rare New Year New Moon is a pretty clear indication that this is a year of new developments. We are in a major transformation, including both immense opportunity and chaos. We live in "interesting times," whether we like it or not. As current global systems show increasing dysfunction on so many levels, new scenarios are necessarily called for. We are each involved in the process of letting of what isn't working, to restructure and redesign our lives. This can be an exciting time, but also one of stress and pressure. We need to find our own way to "go with the flow," taking care of ourselves and each other along the way. Remember what they say on the airplanes: put your oxygen mask on first. Otherwise you are in no shape to be helpful. This is a year for people to gather together, creating mutually supportive communities, making big and small choices that have long-term consequences. This inaugural New Moon of 2014 is smack-dab in the throes of the ongoing and overarching Pluto-Uranus Square, accompanying major global change-ups in economic-political systems, public awareness and consciousness shifts, along with obvious geo-cosmic activity. With the New Moon closely conjunct Pluto and Mercury, the news will be full of major, possibly shocking revelations as well as power broker negotiations behind the scenes especially during the first week of 2014. New ways of thinking and of operating on daily level, new systems and technologies are sprouting up everywhere, along with increasing exposure of the underbelly of corporate control—and its dismantling. We get right down to the serious business carried on from the last few years as the wheel of life turns a big corner. It is obvious there is no going back to any "normal." Things are clearly not working the old way. Jupiter and now Mars add their expansive and energetic influences to this major pattern for the first half of the year, significantly raising the stakes another notch. Weigh your options and discuss them with others. A variety of viewpoints bring new insights. Differing opinions may incite arguments, yet help clarify where we stand. Finding the balance between caution, indecision and initiative may be tricky. Don't be too hasty to act, but don't hold back when you feel truly ready to move forward. There is no need for premature decisions. Decisions are not easily made, as we may not have all the information needed. Much is being decided behind closed doors in a shift of power. Various players push their agendas. Don't believe everything you hear. Follow the money. Look for the rewards. Stay tuned. See where you can offer help to others without compromising what feels right for you and what you need. Re-evaluate and rework your life plan with sincere New Year's resolutions that you intend to follow. There's an advertisement on U.S. TV with a young boy talking about making New Year's "revolutions"? He's got it right! Venus is retrograde all of January, the biggest planetary theme of the month. We will be constantly reevaluating plans and taking into account the continuing global economic-political restructuring. Many businesses are likely to close their doors or prepare to do so; others, tuning into the trends of the time, begin a successful run. Cooperative ventures seeking the mutual win-win are in order. In Capricorn along with Pluto, Venus seriously suggests that we conserve resources and carefully consider any necessary purchases, seeking long-term value. Watch any tendency to buy things as a reward, a habit that is not emotionally or economically rewarding. Shopaholics beware. Consumerism is clearly going out of fashion, being redefined by educated buyers who vote with their dollars for those businesses who address the global agenda rather than define success by the bottom line alone. This doesn't mean restricting your pleasure or being miserly. We want to keep the money flowing, but in a way that adds richness to our lives, not superficiality. There is a unique and interesting aspect to the Venus retrograde cycles I want to note. Venus has a highly aesthetic cycle, with five repeating retrograde periods every eight years. The five locations of these retrogrades trace a five-pointed star, a pentagram, around the Zodiac. This means that every eight years, Venus turns retrograde in these same places in our charts, encouraging a life-long improvement in certain areas of our lives. In reference to the current retrograde, look back to December-January 2005-6, 1998-9, 2000-2001, etc. to review what these preceding cycles have meant to you. Perhaps you may perceive repeating themes. Each of the five cycles begins on the same day as the previous time, minus two days and, therefore, minus two degrees in the Zodiac position. It takes 120 years for a particular Venus retrograde cycle to move through a sign of the Zodiac. This is the first one that has started retrograde in Capricorn for over a thousand years, I figure, giving us another highly qualitative factor to make this a NEW New Year. When retrograde, Venus brings up the question: How can you improve your life and how you feel about it all? This period also suggests emotional withdrawal and inner questioning, as we evaluate how we are feeling about our life situations. Several extended Void of Course Moon periods add more space to this process. This is not an easy time for relationships, as we each need to take stock of what is right for us without accommodating partners in a way that compromises self integrity, self esteem, effective action and growth of both partners. This fosters emotional maturity, yet with a potential edge of depression. Don't let it get you down. The lesson is that you are responsible for your own feelings, so work with that. Don't waste emotional energy on worrying. Recalibrate into a more uplifted feeling by appreciating the good things in life. Then you're in right alignment to take care of the business at hand. A New Moon on New Year augurs powerful new beginnings. As we reconsider the long-term potential in our situations, we see there is room for qualitative improvement in relation to the larger living Earth awakening in which we are participating. Let's be worthy of these times. Let's come together make 2014 a key year in this great Renaissance. Let's make our New Year's revolutions full of harmony, love, beauty, quality, sacredness, holiness......You add to this list! TO ALL COSMIC NEWS READERS: old and new friends and clients, some I've met and some not, cherished colleagues, and so many I do not know all around our world— I warmly wish you all the very best in this New Year rebirth time. **************** Click here for the entire article.

Bye Bye, 2013!

Inviting change to stay is allowing our selves to be truly transformed. The evolution of change is a sincere living, breathing transformation of you. 

So, perhaps it’s not true — a New Year’s Resolution can transform your life, but given the odds it will more likely change your life for a short period of time unless you, we and I keep going to create, allow and become a walking, breathing act of transformation. 

Here are some tips for building sustainable change: 

#1 Practice moment-to-moment being. Presence is true freedom, true wealth and a true sense of being. You can choose to live in the experiences of the past or in the fictitious worries of the future. Or, you can choose to live in a rhythm of ease and response within the present moment allowing yourself to be fully available for what is needed within each breath. 

Refuse to become a slave to the perceived time-space continuum and instead, live this practice of freedom, moment by glorious moment – right now. 

#2 How will you grow if you are never challenged? It is possible to dream and live big, while still having time to meditate, to patiently nourish your body with nutritious meals, to get the laundry done and spend time with beloved family and friends. Truly live your purpose and life will wrap its arms around you. Challenging ourselves to live our truths may not always seem easy, but it can become one of the best anti-depressants, and inspire the life around you to do the same.

Living truthfully also creates a mastery of focus — and, where focus goes, love, creativity and transformation grows. 

#3 Allow your goals to unfold. They will evolve, blossom, expand, shift and revolutionize as you continue to transform. Your goals, if held delicately without gripping, will become your biggest sponsor, your most congenial cheerleader, and if allowed, they’ll continue to invite you into a space of non-attached growth and abundance beyond what you ever thought possible. 

And, don’t forget to acknowledge the fruits of your effort. Life is always speaking to us, holding us and acknowledging our presence. Feel the effects of your efforts, even in the slightest. Nothing is in vain. 

#4 Invite consistency and commitment. Consistency and commitment invites strength and positive forces into our lives. They are the initiation of change and eventually open the flood gates for transformation. These two elements can help us to create and divulge clarity and vision. A healthy structured life that contains a consistent and committed source of nourishment — one that nourishes us deeply without rigidity – can help us to allow our dreams to come to life. What makes up a consistent, committed structured life? The stuff we know we should be doing…everyday. 

You are the creator, the alchemist, the explorer and the artistic expression of you. 

#5 Use your body. It’s the best instrument you could ever have to experience this life. Your body is waiting for you to explore and sculpt it. It’s waiting for you to reveal its wisdom. Use it to lift the world and to express your authentic self. Seek a loving connection and embrace, shine and flourish in your perceived imperfection…and, not as the body you had yesterday or ten years ago…the one you have right now. 

Don’t wait for the last song to move, cherish and feel the sensations — the deep creative wisdom of your body. 

#6 Workout your Gratitude Muscle. Gratitude for the little things. Gratitude for the big things. Gratitude for the experiences we have yet to find words for. 

Gratitude for what is yet to be revealed. 

Gratitude for being here. 

#7 Rest—Recover—Rejuvenate. Allow yourself to experience ease, to regroup and to relish within periods of doing less, not more. Get enough rest, enough greens, enough hydration. Get enough you time, enough nature, enough art, enough movement. Allow yourself to step away from technology, work, your to-do list and your schedule. A matter of fact, allow yourself to break all your rules. 

Listen intuitively and although there is much to be done and life seems to call us to action in so many ways, don’t forget to be. 

Return to #1.

Read the rest of the article here.

Art work by the incredible Jackie Morris!

Natural Beauty - Kea Parrot of New Zealand

The kea is an unusual parrot. It is the only truly alpine parrot in the world, and gained early notoriety among settler farmers for attacks on their sheep. Innately curious, kea are attracted to people wherever they enter its mountain domain, and are a feature at South Island ski-fields and mountain huts. Their attraction to people and their paraphernalia is a two-edged sword, providing both new threats and new opportunities.

Identification                                                   

The kea is a large, strong-flying, olive-green parrot with scarlet underwings and a slender grey-black bill. Sexually dimorphic, female body mass is about 20% less than males and the bill is shorter. Juveniles have yellow ceres and eyelids, which fade to grey as the bird matures.

The commonest call is a long, loud, high-pitched descending cry which may be broken “kee-ee-aa-aa”, or unbroken “keeeeeaaaa”. Many quiet contact calls are given. Juvenile calls are less stable in tone, being more of a loud uncontrolled whooping or squealing.

Kea are unlikely to be confused with other species. Kaka are smaller, olive-brown and very rarely seen above the timberline. They excavate the wood of live trees, whereas keas do not. Kaka have more varied calls, including fluting whistles and harsh grating ‘skraaarks’. The extremely rare and localised kakapo is larger, flightless and nocturnal. It is yellow-green rather than olive-green and lacks a scarlet underwing.

Distribution and habitat

Kea range over about four million hectares along the axial ranges of the South Island, from Farewell Spit to Waitutu, plus the Kaikoura Ranges. They can be found from coastal dunes to high alpine peaks, but are most common in montane forests and adjacent subalpine and alpine zones. They are absent from the Marlborough Sounds, Catlins, Blue Mountains and both the North Island and Stewart Island.

Kea mainly nest within native forest. Their foraging habitat includes all types of native forest, sub-alpine scrub, tussock and herb-field. They socialise on prominent rocky outcrops and windy saddles above or below the timberline, and are frequently reported in pine forests adjacent to native forest.

You can read the rest of the article here.

Image via Biology 101 FB page.

I'll be waiting....

Betrayal from Blue Sphere Media on Vimeo.