Category Archives: An Artist Reflects

Reflections on Democracy

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Version 2

When I reflect on the man we call ‘president’ of the United States, I am very disillusioned and wonder what is happening to the United States’s democracy. The man talks, sounds and seems to think like an autocrat. After the election, an acquaintance, I see when taking a walk on the boulevard by the harbor, was thrilled and began a rant ~ my response ~ ‘Well, I hope he doesn’t ‘sell us down the river’. Hmm ~ now feel,  in less than 1oo days, that just might be happening.

Have done what I can ~ contacting senators, state representatives, sent letters ~ next is a post card ~ yet I feel alone floating on top of an iceberg and constantly feeling the ‘need to know’ and then flipping to ‘I can not stand any more of this man’s inept behavior.’ The latest being barring certain medias from one of his conferences and allowing in others. This is America? Land of the Free? Home of the Brave? Can this be happening here. Yes, ‘Dorothy’ it IS happening. 

I want a new President one I can respect, believe, to guide us down a healthy democratic path. What do you want? What do you think will happen? Could happen? The ‘Emperor has no worthwhile clothes on.’ Even little children are reflecting and asking questions. What will be the answer? I am still reflecting.

‘Sometimes, carrying on, just carrying on is the superhuman achievement.’

~ Albert Camus

 

 

 

 

Reflections on Mother Nature

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Feb 1st Storm – Version 2

I sit here in the midst of a Winter storm about to arrive and am reflecting on experiencing the power going out for 10 secs and then returning. I do have a generator, gratefully, as I am not fond of being in the darkness alone with my Yorkie and with a major pending snowstorm due to arrive tonight. Amazing how storms can be a ‘great awakener.’

I rather enjoy my solitude most of the time. Especially, when I have been out socializing. I once read in a book entitled IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW that ‘idleness is only good when it is stolen.’ How true, as I am not a hermit and don’t want to be. Yet, life has ‘dealt the cards’ and I must work them and continue to make a life of my own. Fortunately, gratefully, I have arrived in my later years having had 3 major loves in my life and a son  as a product of one of those relationships and much else to treasure. All three are in the ‘nether world’ and yet their memories warm my heart. Now, I am enjoying the peaceful life I have. I choose what I want to do, with whom I spend my time and where that time is spent.

Yet, when the power went out it gave a jolt of ‘oh, no’ not this and then generator kicked in or power came on itself ~ Relief. It is one thing to choose to meditate with eyes closed and let the thoughts come and go; quite another to have it forced upon one for hours and have to sit in darkness, read by candlelight or find others things to do.  So hopefully, that generator is working properly. How spoiled we have become with all the ‘toys’ we can entertain ourselves if we have electricity? Don’t you think we might need the Environmental Protection Agency to protect our electricity and natural resources?

‘Change is the one constant in life.’ You can count on it. With the USA election results, I do believe as Betty Davis said in her movie NOW VOYAGER’ ~ ‘Fasten your seat belts, we are in for a rough ride. Enough major change for now, thanks.

‘The happiness of all lives is a busy solitude.’ ~ Voltaire

 

 

Reflection on Boundaries

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Version 2We all need individual boundaries for our mind, body and spirit. Healthy boundaries give one a strong sense of self and safety and ability to interact with others. Most people have good boundaries and are comfortable interacting socially.  There are those who for whatever reason are more isolated and choose not to interact much socially.  Where is the balance? Only an individual can choose provided they are of sound mind and not suffering from some pathology. 

There are many life situations and differences in personalities that elicit a need for excessive boundaries. It is a way to protect one from being hurt or threatened because of insecurity. So too are there ways to heal from life’s ‘curve balls ‘that we all deal with at sometime in journeying on our path.Yet, most of us don’t build a moat around ourselves or our castle.

Thus, my reflection is on wondering why our country would need to build ‘walls,’ ‘boundaries to keep out other  people? Have travel bans on special groups of people to keep them out? Yes, monitor closely those coming in and out of the country. Isolate? I think not. Our Statue of Liberty is an icon welcoming others from other cultures. They bring new ideas and expand our country. We are all immigrants, except for Native Americans, who have suffered needlessly and continue to be treated abusively. When does bigotry stop and where does it end? No pipelines, please, you can’t drink oil. No walls, the people are taxed enough ~ Billionaires have no financial concerns~ they have so much money they could end poverty if it wasn’t for their own greed. Walls? Use them appropriately to keep the ocean from consuming the earth, to keep people safe but not because one wants to isolate us from the rest of the world. Yes, good , healthy boundaries,  make good neighbors ~ not a prison.

I WONDER,  AS I WANDER ~ WHO ARE WE BECOMING?????

AMERICA the BEAUTIFUL

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LAND OF THE FREE

America has been beautiful, not perfect, but a wonderful country. I want it to stay as amazing as it has been as well as increase the quality we have had a history of being. We have progressed led by our democratic leadership and beliefs. Now, it is changing, not for the better. 

I watched the Inauguration so that I might hear first hand the Presidential speech. It was a speech of an  aging hippie repeating his campaign rhetoric and speaking not presidentially but more like a twelve year old would. At the risk of sounding myself like that ‘twelve year old’ ~ I was disgusted. I am appalled that my fellow Americans would choose such an individual for President. Yes, perhaps, Clinton would have been more of the ‘same old’  and many people seemed to want a change. Well, they certainly have it coming. Change is the one constant in life.   Sometimes, though, that ‘old shoe’ may not be good for the foot but a radical ‘new shoe’ may be even worse for the foot. Don’t think Trump is going to bring healthy changes.

Yes, we have one hundred days to see what comes of this new President. It will be a long one hundred days and I fear it may be the start of the  downfall of our country. What more does he need to do before people and his fellow politicians see this Trump person for what he is? 

I could ‘rant’ on and on ~ Suffice it to say ~ I don’t think ‘there is any meat under those feathers.’

Or maybe his daughter will show her father the way and do well for us.??????

Beyond Reflections

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archwaywp‘Through the Glass Darkly’

Beyond reflecting for sure ~ It is now a given ~ We now have a leader that is ‘beyond belief’ and ‘the people’ chose him. I am concerned that it is the ‘dumbing down’ of America. I want to believe that this situation will take care of itself in some strange manner. 

We are still very much a patriarchal society and the powers that be chose to put this man in rather than a woman. Women did not even ban together to put a woman in the White House. Is this country so focused on ‘material things’ that they lost a sense of ethics, values and a united front for freedom and what this country originally stood for? Or am I seeing through a ‘glass darkly’ and fooling myself that we stood for something unique.

It would appear that greed and power is what the politicians and their cohorts are going to be allowed to focus on more and more; in fact, lose the strength of this country by ‘selling us out.’ I truly want to hope for the best; yet, there is little right now I can hold onto given the political situation. I don’t trust the ‘Commander in Chief’. I have read his resume and  I am not impressed. 

It definitely remains to be see what the end results will be. 

Reflections

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wrd1116

Mother Nature’s Creation

MORE REFLECTIONS:  A new day dawning with bright sunshine lighting the way.

After last week and the many days ‘crowded with incidences’ , much like anyone’s life, today with its sunshine and crisp air is welcomed with great grace. Along with only a birthday event to attend later today, I have enjoyed the serenity of just being in the morning and afternoon.

I am in the autumn/winter of my life. I am tired and weary wondering what and where I belong, other than to myself and my dog. Yes, I have a small family and a small group of friends along with my creative abilities and yet, I experience these vague ‘veils’ washing over me now and again. What are these ‘veils?’ Hmm ~ It is it seems I see and feel the brilliant light of the day, the autumn colors decorating the land, my sweet yorkie being so loving and yet ….. I am weary as I sway with the plants in this photo ~ I want Walt Whitman to ‘rock me gently’ while I go gently into the night.Those are the veils that ‘wash over me, now and again.I can’t go ‘gently into the night, it is not time  you see’, the little Yorkie is here to remind me I am needed. I am ‘one with myself’ so I will let the world dance on by today. Live in the moment and do the simple tasks of the day with a smile and warmth in my heart. Avoid the ‘dust’ settling over this country and hope for the best.

She, my little yorkie and I will go to the birthday party and marvel at the extraordinary in the ordinary. Wish the birthday woman a Happy Birthday, that one day that is her’s alone’ ~ special. We will return to home and I will organize my other blog for the week then relax and read. Then go gently into the bedroom to read, then sleep and dream and be thankful for the life I have and have had ~ I have been blessed and am blessed. That should be enough, shouldn’t it???? 

Let the ‘veils’ wash over me and down into the ocean ~ namaste. ❤

REFLECTING

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Reflecting ~ shadwp

 

Me, Myself and I 

 

Wondering ~ I am one with myself ~ need few people in my life. I am not anti-social as I do socialize with groups, friends, family. My main companions, though, are myself and my Yorkie. I wonder, I wander, I create yet, detaching more and more at times from society’s shoulds and invitations. I rely more on Tao and trusting in what nature offers. Society is that ‘normal curve’ to me where clusters or wolf packs of people gather and behave more like times of ‘high school’ than ‘adult hood’ ~ offering me little in depth of relationships. I have had 3 significant long term male relationships that I experienced love and learning from each time. They are deceased now and it is difficult to find the sophistication of those relationships. Have also reached a point in my life that I have ‘been there, done that’ ~ fulfillment at its best. Not sure that I need another ‘significant’ one.

So I wonder ~ what is next? Well what is next is ‘Now’ ~ moment by moment.’ Being and doing and always keeping in mind ‘simplicity’ ~ Essence of anything is simplicity and it is beautiful. 

 

 

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Essence of Simplicity

Haiku 

I see you there

Our world is no different

mother nature rules.

© carol l mckenna

Again, I choose ‘simplicity’ of the moment whether in words, poetry, painting or living.

I wonder what do you choose, friend?

 

Reflection on Strength

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Reflecting on strength brings to mind this tree below ~ Trees are rooted and grounded and whatever the weather brings to it ~ it maintains strength and flexibility. Taoists write about the need to be one with nature and to be  aware each moment and be still within despite the chaos around. Nature offers  many examples of how to be ‘one with your self’  and nature ~ as society is not the only answer ~ being your own best friend, yes having friends as well, yet to be truly comfortable within your own body, mind and spirit. My strength comes from my life experience with nature, life’s issues, family, friends and my little Yorkshire Terrier. Like the tree I love to take time to be out in nature in all seasons; although autumn is my favorite ~ Hope you are enjoying the golden, orange and red leaves surrounding us these days as the wind whips them around us. Embracing us with the universal energy of nature. Standing tall like the tree ~ strong and one with nature. Till next time; savoring the moments in nature.

lonerwp

I have known this tree since  a young child and it still speaks to me.

More Reflections from an artist

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aarsky

Calm before the Storm ~ Cape Ann MA harbor

Reflecting on nature’s messages when one is aware ~

 

I have learned to watch the sky and the ocean and find that they are great predictors of what weather is to come soon. Now, wouldn’t it be great if I could be so aware of my mind, body and spirit and be able to predict what is happening and about to happen soon.

Sometimes I am able to do this ~ As Taoism indicates with the ‘wheel of life’ concept, one can usually expect to experience a low after a high ~ maybe not immediately. As life consists of cycles ~ Ever changing moments ~ Key is to prevent the highs and lows from being too dramatic ~ detaching and just being and doing. All coming back to ‘balance’. Sometimes, I feel I am ‘right on’ and then suddenly I get into an old habit of ‘negative’ thinking with my ‘monkey mind’ taking over. At that point, I have learned to take a deep breath and be grateful for where I am and that I have all I need or want. I am where I am suppose to be ~ Not in yesterday, not in ‘missing something’ and feeling inadequate ~ but feeling ‘good enough’ ~ accepting me for me. Ah, yes, it is good to be me. Grateful for all ~ the yin and of it all. Life is good. I exist ~ I am ~ I am wise, love and peace. Let it be.