The Spiral of Life: Insights from the Morning Glory

When I’m wrestling with something, God rarely whispers. He speaks through the world around me, and today, it was the Morning Glory.

Whenever I'm grappling with something, God usually uses my environment to grab my attention so that we can have a little sit down.

So, the Morning Glory opens at dawn and closes at dusk...hmm...I'm sensing circadian rhythm is at play here.

The Morning Glory is a spiraling vine. I use the spiral in my work as a jewelry designer all of the time. It's personally meaningful to me, because I've noticed that the rhythm of my life is more of a spiral than a circle.

My creative life goes round and round but with a difference--when I complete one circle, I'm able to reflect upon where I've been with a little more elevation, hence the spiral.

And then I usually repeat the lesson or understanding again, only with a little more perspective as I spiral up or down depending on where I am in my process.

I've had a stressful week, and right now, I'm revisiting some life lessons I thought I'd understood and moved on from.

Turns out I haven't.

I've also gotten off track with my normal circadian rhythm. I'm usually up at dawn and in bed pretty early.

When I started this blog a couple of months ago, I decided to try and establish the habit of writing in the morning.

Because of the week I've had, I've spent more time up at night than usual, sleeping in and haven't written my posts on the schedule I started.

The Morning Glory shows us that we also bloom at dawn and fade by dusk. I've been writing at night and my way of expressing myself is...fading; as it should, because I'm not in alignment energetically right now.

And today, I've had a pretty bad histamine flair associated with psoriasis because I'm not eating as healthy as I normally do.

My rhythm is totally off and I've been struggling with needing naps during the day and generally feeling mentally like my own light is dimmer.

As I look back over the last few days of my posts here, and what I've shared (which is just the tip of the iceberg) about my general life circumstances, I can see why the Morning Glory is showing up as much as it is.

And as for giving me some more insight as to why I am experiencing psoriasis the way that I am, I also see that over the last few years, I've not allowed that natural rhythm of life to express itself as illustrated by the Morning Glory.

I'm not in sync and my body is talking to me, big time.

I've approached my own healing from more of a physical, what can I do approach, instead of a get in touch with my feelings approach.

I think the Morning Glory is showing me the way to healing myself is to honor the fleeting bloom of light at dawn, as well as the closing of the bloom at dusk.

I can't live with just output...I need an equal amount of time with input, too.

I've gone up a rung, I can see where I've been, but I get to have another go with more perspective.

And so it goes.

Random fact about me: I was a Homecoming Queen in Junior High School.

Fanning the Flame: Keeping Your Inner Light Alive

One of my favorite things to do is walk on a trail near my house while listening to a podcast. Today’s was a doozy.

Today, I went for a 3-mile walk and was listening to Tetragrammaton, a podcast hosted by Rick Rubin. He was interviewing Bernard MacMahon, a filmmaker who made the documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin that's on Netflix right now.

I'm going to admit something here, that I find bizarre and somewhat embarrassing --but I discovered the genius of Led Zeppelin about 10 years ago.

How is it possible that even though I'd heard Led Zeppelin on the radio many times as a kid, that I'd never really HEARD them until I was in my 40's?!?

When I discovered Robert Plant, again, in my 40's, I watched every YouTube video about Led Zeppelin that was available, over and over again.

I discovered Robert Plant for myself when he made the album Rising Sand with Allison Krauss.

I loved the song Gone, Gone, Gone.

And that started me down the rabbit hole that is Robert Plant which led me to Led Zeppelin and the amazing music they produced when they found each other so young.

While I was listening to Rick and Bernard talk about the documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin, I had to watch it, and it's really, really good.

The thing that stuck with me from today's interview though, was the discussion they had regarding the light that we all have when we are children, and how important it is to not have the world extinguish it as we get older.

And that got me to thinking about my own light.

It's funny. As I was thinking about all the things I've been interested in over the course of my life, they have all come together in my work as an artist in some form or fashion.

I was a drummer as a kid. I use drumming in a way when I hammer metal now. I hold my hammer the same way I held my drumsticks.

I loved to write as a kid. I write here, and on my website, and in my marketing materials and the various magazine articles I've written over the years teaching others how to make jewelry.

I loved to draw as a kid. I rediscovered my love of drawing and painting when my parents died, which led to the greeting card line I have now.

I loved spending time by myself as a kid, exploring my world creatively, daydreaming and playing. I do that everyday in my studio and on my walks through the woods.

After my foul mood yesterday, today I realized just how incredibly blessed I am that I didn't let the world extinguish my light.

I've won in so many areas of my life, but being able to still see my inner light is the biggest win of all.

And I will continue to fan that flame, daily, hourly and by the minute for as long as I am able.

I hope that you still see your own inner light, and that you fan that flame even if it's just an ember right now.

That's what we are here to do...spread our light that God gifted us with and don't let the bastards blow it out.

Cheers.

Random fact about me: My favorite dessert is Carrot cake, because of that icing.

Foul Mood, Happy Video

I woke up in a foul mood today, and when I do, I like to find a peaceful video on YouTube to regulate my mood.

Here's a channel that I like to get me out of my funk, and just watch a beautiful life happen in Ukraine as this couple goes about their daily chores.

This couple is a balm for a foul mood. Julia is so happy, and a great cook! She cooks on outdoor grills, and we get a glimpse of their life on a farm in Ukraine.

I don’t understand anything they say, but you don’t need words..just watch. You’ll see what I mean!

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Random fact about me: I love fresh figs and have a fig tree on my property. I ate some tonight with my dinner.

The Art of Asking Questions: Reviving Genuine Curiosity

Asking a question is a skill that creates space for exploring, understanding, and reflecting on the true nature of something.

Once digested, there is energy for movement.

Something that I've noticed recently is that the art of the question is becoming something of a lost art...simply because we've become so used to asking our questions not so much to other humans, but to our computers.

What I'm talking about is about how we communicate with each other, in person, not on a screen with emails or texts.

So much is lost in translation when we just use words.

Tone of voice, body language and context matters as much as the question asked!

Open Ended Questions

When an open ended question is asked, the process of discovery begins.

"What might we be missing here?" is a great question to ask when in a group setting, like a team at work or when in a planning committee.

Often, in the initial stages of something, setting the scene of inquiry means opening up for discussion some different ways of seeing a potential solution or even identifying the real problem.

Another opener is, "How else could this look?" This opens up further exploration when trying to find the answer to an approach to solving a problem or figuring something out.

In the beginning of a discussion, opening up the field of inquiry with provocative, open ended questions is a great way to gain insight rather than just getting to the 'right' answer.

Get Clear on Your Intention

Sometimes, many of us ask a question because we have a particular motive. Are you asking someone a question just to confirm what you already believe? Or are you really interested in discovering something new for yourself?

Something that I've noticed is the lost art of genuine curiosity, especially with younger people.

How you ask your question while considering your intention will frame how you get a response.

Do you want to learn something new or prove what you think you already know?

When to Cut to the Chase

Once the discovery phase is over, then it's time to bring out the knives.

Questions that are simple and sharp, like a knife, gets to the essence of issue.

Many times, we can get lost in the weeds and a sharply worded question can cut the weeds and get to the heart of the issue.

It's helpful to frame your questions with the intention, "If I only need to know one thing about this issue, what is it and who can give me an answer so we can get moving on a solution?"

Looking for Resonance

A good question should cause some pauses. Sometimes it might make others uncomfortable because it lingers, unanswered without reflection first. It opens up a discussion that maybe no one thought was even relevant, but now it is.

A good question can make energy move and strikes a chord with those that are on the receiving end of it.

Who knows where that chord, once struck, may lead to in the discussion?

Discovery is a marvelous thing.

Curiosity is the secret sauce to asking good questions.

Concerning ourselves with the"right" answer in the beginning stage can sometimes lead to the wrong destination.

Asking good questions, especially these days, is one of the most important things we can master if we want to go someplace new.

Random fact about me: I can cut hair.

Back to the Studio: Reviving My Jewelry and Art Creations

I”m excited to go back to work tomorrow morning. Who says that after a vacation?

I do. I love my work!

I've already got an order after opening up my shop yesterday, and I'm so grateful I'm still making jewelry that people enjoy wearing after 20 years.

I'm ready to get back to experimenting with porcelain jewelry, and I have some new glazes that arrived while I was in Colorado to try and see how they fire.

I took a few pictures while in Colorado that I want to try and paint into Christmas cards, and I'm hoping to sit down at my painting desk and see what happens. If I can get a couple of new designs for the holidays and get them printed, I'll be satisfied!

I was so enamored of the Aspen trees of Colorado with evergreen's scattered in the Aspen forests we came across. This photo will be the inspiration for the cards I want to add to my collection.

I want to start offering my cards to purchase online. Right now, they are only available at Black Dog Salvage in Roanoke, VA and Words Matter Gift shop in Staunton, VA.

I still have to work out how to package them up so that they arrive safely.

Something else on the agenda is loading up my jewelry designs and offering them for sale on my new website this week, too.

I want to offer some one-of-a-kind designs on my website, separate from Etsy, and beginning the transition off of Etsy to my own site.

In October, it will be a year since I moved my studio out of the basement of my home and I'm loving it more and more every day.

Having a dedicated space to create and dream is wonderful, and so fulfilling.

Ok, not much to report on today as I was getting ready for this week, grocery shopping and clothes washing, along with some house cleaning.

Vacation is over, but my work is so fulfilling that I must admit I'm ready to get back to it.

Random fact about me: I make sure and pet every dog I meet on the walking trail so that I can get some free probiotics when they lick me in the face since I no longer have a dog.