There is A Way Through Every Block

Things have been rather tough lately. Everyday seems like a roller coaster ride. However, it is amazing that I can still look at all my current challenges and road blocks with a calm mind and heart. I owe it all to my Kundalini Yoga practice.

I have been keeping up with my daily sadhana (spiritual yogic practice) for a few years now. I do one set of kriya (a set of yoga exercises) and four meditations every day. Life always seem better and more manageable after my sadhana practice.

I also love chanting.Chanting meditation plays a big role in Kundalini Yoga, it's kind of like sound therapy. It resets the systems in our body and lifts our spirits instantly. One of the best kind of self-healing if you ask me. 

When I feel there's a blockage somewhere in my life, or when I need a flow of creativity, I like to chant Har Haray Hari Wahe Guru, a mantra often used in prosperity meditation. This mantra expresses the three qualities of Har (the Creative Infinity): seed, flow, and completion unto the Infinite (from The Aquarian Teacher). 

This mantra is amazing! (Actually, ALL mantras in Kundalini Yoga are amazing!) Even by just listening to this mantra, it helps me to get my work accomplished a lot easier! Sometimes ideas or solutions to a problem just pop up, and my day would flow with ease. 

Mantras are effective because it works in such a way that it alters the way we use our mind. Instead of focusing on the negative side, this mantra helps me tune in to all the possible solutions and ideas in the Universe. 

I'm glad I have these yogic knowledge and wisdom to help me whenever I need it! 

 

Lost In Dreams

I had a nice Friday afternoon. Spent my time sketching, listening to music. 

This one is a quick work, playing with texture and lines.

Art and yoga are very similar in many ways. You should be aware of your posture when making art, don't hurt your back. Also, the most important thing is, remember to breathe.

True Beauty

Here is another quick sketch of mine. I have been wanting to make a series of work like this, about radiant women, based on Yogi Bhajan's teachings. What he said about strength and inner beauty are so true and all women should know this. 

Ladies, drop all your insecurities and embrace the true beauty in you! Shine your light! Just shine! Yeah! 

Here's another good quote from Yogi Bhajan:

“You do not understand your features. Your features are not your beautiful nose, your beautiful cheeks, beautiful lips, and so on. These are not your features. Your features are your beautiful behavior, your beautiful character, your beautiful health, your beautiful spirit, your beautiful advice, your beautiful wisdom, your beautiful inspiration.”

Ancient Cave Art

Today, at my husband's request, I sat in front of my computer and copied this piece of ancient cave art from Europe. 

I am amazed by how beautiful this piece of ancient art really is. The lines are so expressive! As I was copying, I couldn't help but to imagine the person who did this cave art. What could have gone through his or her mind? Was he/she trying to capture the spirit of the animal with these simple and yet elegant lines? Was he/she praying for a good hunt? 

Whatever the reason is for this cave art, one thing is clear to me: it is our nature to want to express ourselves. Yes! We all have this desire and the ability to do so! Find your means to express yourself! Sing, dance, write, sculpt, draw...anything! Dare to be you, the one and only true you through your expression!

Work In Progress: My Art Apron

Last year I decided that I want something beautiful and uplifting to wear when I make art. So I bought a blank canvas apron from craft store. I started sketching and painting a while back. Yesterday I finally went back to work more on it. It's getting really close to be a finish piece. The problem is now it looks so good I don't think I have the heart to wear it when I sculpt and get mud all over it! 

That's my goddess of light, of inspiration on the apron. And she agrees that no mud should get on her!

Make Art Part of Your Life

I realized that I don't make enough art in my life. And I am very inspired by Neil Gaiman's commencement speech, so now I'm making a conscious effort to try to include art in my everyday life.

This last weekend was a good art experience. On Saturday morning I had enough time to do my sadhana (daily yoga practice), and I had a pretty good meditation at the end. I was feeling good. I sat down and started doodling with my daughter. We had a great time. She drew animals. And I drew a picture of the owl and the pussycat, going out to sea in a boat. It's only after I was done with the picture then I remember that they went out to sea in a beautiful pea green boat. Oopsie. Oh well.

The owl and the pussycat have been on my mind for quite some time now. Have been meaning to make a sculpture out of it. I will probably explore the idea for a while in drawing before I finally decide on a design. That's the lady of the sea in the picture, and she's keeping an eye on the couple.

  

We recently adopted a puppy. She's a very delightful little creature. I've never really had a dog in my life before, and I am loving this experience right now. Still can't quite believe that I'm a dog person now, and I even drew a picture of me and the pup. 

 

 

  

Yesterday I managed to sneak in two more sketches. I am sketching on anything I can find now. Trying to break the habit of thinking that art making has to be executed "properly": must have a perfectly clean table, pencils must be perfectly sharpen, must have perfectly smooth paper, planetary alignment must be perfect....etc. No. I'm allowing art to happen anytime, anywhere, with any medium. 

So I was going through some things on my bookshelf, and I pulled out a notebook that I used to write down all my wishes. I opened to one of the blank pages and drew this picture. It's another thing that I want to remind myself, to always be kind to other people and myself. I wrote down the three laws of prosperity by Yogi Bhajan:

1. Be kind to others. 

2. Never speak ill of others. 

3. Never speak ill of yourself. 

Very good advice.

 

And here's another idea that I want to work on. A picture of a woman holding to her heart tenderly, being kind to herself. Maybe this will become a series of print. That would be nice.