The Candle Sculpture

I decided to resurrect my candle sculpture today.  I was putting Christmas decorations away,

went to move the sculpture, and decided that it not

only deserved to be lit up on a more regular basis, but needed 

a little TLC as well.

The candle sculpture has to be at least 15 years old, if not older.

I was in a coffee bar long ago and saw the coolest

candle sculpture perched on the side of the bar.

Wax had dripped down everywhere.  Down the books, down the

side of the bar and on to the floor.  It was totally inspiring!

Over the years when people have seen the candle sculpture in our home,

their responses vary and are often pretty amusing.

The creative/art people will simply say its really cool and 

look at the sculpture as a sculpture...taking mental notes

on how it was structured and balanced.
The more spiritually inclined usually comment 
that it would make a fabulous alter piece...which it definitely would.
 The less creative, more literal crowd always do the same thing.

They say it's pretty cool, then squat down low to

try and read what book titles are.

That kind of diminishes the magic and point of the

piece, in my opinion, but whatever.

I guess that's how some people process art.
Literally.

It you're going to make a candle sculpture...a few tips.

You will want to build in something metal to use as a

base for the candles so the books don't catch on fire.

Also, the type of candles you use really does matter. 

I found that the cheap package of IKEA tapers

 work the best.  The wax isn't great quality,

so the candles burn faster and the wax runs farther then

the more expensive tapers.

Since I'm planning a burn-a-thon to refresh and

replenish some of the dripped wax on the piece,

I also set it on top of a big piece of wood so the wax

won't run all over my table. 

You should definitely try to make one of your own!
The sculpture will take time, finesse and patience but
the results are well worth it.
The magic and enchantment it generates will
definitely warm your heart, expand your
imagination,  lift your spirits during the
log cold winter months!

You can follow the Mind Body Spirit Marketplace 

on Facebook

Pinterest

and 

Twitter 

Healthy Winter Meals - Busy Day Chicken

To warm your spirit on a cold winter's day!

l.  Spray the bottom of the baking dish with a non stick spray...whatever size dish you have on hand.

2. Layer as many sliced potatoes as will fit in the bottom of the pan.

3.  Layer chicken pieces on top.  Whatever you happen to have.  I had thighs.

4.  Sprinkle with liberally salt, pepper, paprika.  I threw some thyme on top because I happened to have it growing in the kitchen.  You could use rosemary or leave it plain.

5. Cover with foil. (put NO liquid in it)

6.  Bake 350 for around l.5 hours.

Enjoy!

*I wouldn't not recommend chicken breasts for this dish.
They are not juicy enough.  If you do use them, add some water
to the bottom of the potatoes before baking and reduce the cooking time by at
least a half hour...or more.

Your Facebook Feed - You Are What You Read

Yellow Crabapple Autumn Print

It's been awhile since I posted in this blog, but like most artists who are fortunate enough to be able to express themselves through multiple platforms, I write when I'm inspired to write.
When the words fill my head, I write.
I paint, draw and take photographs when I'm visually inspired.
The last few months, the visual has definitely taken a front seat in my life.

This morning I read something on my Facebook page that has come up several times.
That I've actually posted about it on our Mind Body Spirit Marketplace page in the past.

A friend had requested that her friends post photos of baby animals to counteract all the hateful comments and negativity that she was seeing in her Facebook feed.
  

I had to ask myself...why?
 My Facebook feed doesn't look like that, and neither does the MBS page.

So I commented:

"I honestly don't see much hatred in my feed. In fact mine is usually full of artwork, nature and people posting positive, inspiring quotes. My 'FB friends' don't tend to post negative things or hateful, political spew. The one thing about FB that a lot of people overlook, is that what you see is totally within your own control. So people need to ask themselves....who 'do' you friend with that would post such negative things to begin with?? If I don't like what I see...I just block or unfriend...
I mean, why not?"

We become what we choose to feed ourselves.  
Not just food, but what we choose to ingest visually and auditorily too.  
What we read, what we watch, who we talk to...what we listed to and choose to focus on.  
Who DO we talk to?  
Who DO we choose to spend our time socializing with?  
Both online and off.
Does it make us more intelligent and informed?
Do we feel better or angry after we read it?
Does it bring us up, or dumb us down?

We make our own choices everyday that either uplift our soul or compel us to dive down and 
swim with the bottom feeders.
  
What do you think about in your spare time? 
And -
How do you think about it?
In positive or negative terms?

  Are you thinking about how much you dislike someone or how angry they make you?
Or do or you move your thought process on to more 
positive  thoughts?

It's all within your own control, you know.

  Good example:  
This morning I was talking with a friend in his yard.  
Yes, it would have been almost too easy to focus my attention on all the work he 
needed to catch up on around his house... but when I looked in his yard, his wonderful 
 little trees, the trees that he loves so much and has patiently cultivated and 
nursed over the years, 
stood out like little golden jewels. 
Their fall colors vibrated wildly in the sunlight.
They were simply stunning.  
(I'm obviously still thinking about them)

Next time you wake up in the morning and and find yourself mindlessly scrolling through 
your Facebook feed, ask yourself -

"Why do I choose to allow myself to ingest the things I do?
And - how does that not only effect my own well being, but the well being of others?
(especially when I choose to re-post)"

Don't become a Facebook drone.  
Disconnect from the things that do not bring you to a good place and move on.

Enjoy your day!

diane fergurson

Yellow Crabapple Tree Autumn Print courtesy of Jude McConkey Photography

You can follow the Mind Body Spirit Marketplace 

on Facebook

Pinterest

and

Twitter 

Crystal Jewelry? Not Such a New Thing.

There's always something new and interesting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
This morning as we hurried through the galleries to a talk on 'Magic Rituals in Ancient Egyptian Art', which was excellent by the way, I glanced over into a small alcove and the most beautiful crystal necklace with a carved crystal cross caught my eye.  The crystal cross portion of the piece really intrigued me, and as I walked over to look it over and snap a few photos I couldn't help but think - 'Yes, people really have been making and wearing crystal necklaces for hundreds and hundreds of years.'  I couldn't help but wonder if they were aware of all the energetic properties they possess  (probably more aware then we are) or, was it just the clerics or shaman who held that knowledge?  I suppose it really depended on the civilization or culture.  Was the crystal jewelry part of their symbolic folklore, or was it only used specifically for ritualistic purposes? Whatever the history of this particular necklace, it was definitely very beautiful, and something quite unique and special.
I really glad it called me over to say hello ~   

This stunning crystal necklace and pendant cross is from the Byzantine period, from Medinet Habu
(near Thebes), Egypt.  Carved 500-700

You can follow the Mind Body Spirit Marketplace 

on Facebook

Pinterest

and

Twitter 

Gemstones of the Zodiac - Part 3 - Amethyst

Welcome to Part 3 of our “Gemstones of the Zodiac” series.  

The third sign of the Zodiac is Gemini (May 21 -June 20).  The Mystical Zodiac stone for Gemini is Amethyst.


                                                                                                                       ~ Giani

Origins



The word amethyst is derived from the Greek word “amethystus”, which means “sober”.  Ancient Romans actually crushed amethyst as a way to ward off intoxication.  Ancient Greeks believed that drinking from a goblet carved out of amethyst would prevent you from getting intoxicated.





Both Greek and Roman lore have a similar story of how amethyst got its name.  According to Roman legend, Bacchus, the god of wine, had been insulted by a mortal, and vowed that he would unleash his sacred tigers on the next mortal he passed.  That mortal was a maiden named Amethysta. In order to protect her from Bacchus’ tigers, the  goddess Diana turned her into a quartz statue.  Upon seeing this, Bacchus was so remorseful that he wept tears of wine over the maiden. The grapes from the wine turned the statue of Amethysta purple.  And thus was amethyst born.




Historical Beliefs/Uses



The Egyptians used amethyst as a talisman.  Soldiers wore it into battle to help them stay calm during battle.

In ancient times, amethyst was often used in rosaries. It was thought to have a soothing presence, and bring calm to the person, as they prayed on the rosary in hard times.  

St.Valentine was said to have always worn amethyst.  In the Middle Ages, if a knight presented his lady with an amethyst, then the pair would be blessed with good fortune and earthly happiness for the rest of their lives.



Formation



Amethyst is a quartz, and its color comes from trace amounts of iron.  A tiny trace of iron, as small as the head of a pin, or smaller, can color an entire cubic foot of amethyst.   Its natural color runs from a pale lilac to a vibrant purple.





The color can change, however, if exposed to too much heat.  If heated too intensely, amethyst will turn yellow.  This yellowed amethyst is what we know as Citrine.



On those occasions when there are deposits of the amethyst and citrine banded together, we get the stone known as Ametrine.





Healing Properties



Emotionally, amethyst is a very calming, peaceful, meditative stone.  It helps provide calm, balance and peace.  It can also help with grief and other personal losses.  As a result, it can be used to help rid the body of addictions and compulsions, returning it to a more balanced, peaceful state.

Spiritually, amethyst can help increase intuition and psychic powers.  It does this by creating a calm, balanced center, which can then attune itself to other planes.  This makes it a good stone for meditation and lucid dreaming. 

While it assists you in reaching into other realms, it will also protect you from others trying to do psychic harm while you are doing this meditative, psychic work.

Physically, amethyst can help with headaches, as it helps cleanse the mind. It is also used to help with arthritic, insomnia, pain relief, and phobias.  Some also believe it can used during pregnancy to help prevent miscarriages.




Cleanse and Purify Your Stones

Amethyst needs to be cleansed every 15 days, together with rock crystal and sapphires.



For information on how to cleanse your stones, see this wonderful article by Diane Fergurson, published recently  on Mind Body Spirit Odyssey:  

http://www.mindbodyspiritodyssey.com/2012/03/cleansing-your-healing-stones-crystals.html

You can also read Giani's Tarot reviews in the Review section of this blog.

This is the third article in this wonderful series, and I am definitely looking forward to more of

 in the upcoming months.  I thank Giani

 for his wonderful continued contributions to Mind Body Spirit Odyssey.

                                                                                   ~ diane

 

Series Article Part 1 - Opals 

Series Article Part 2 - Sapphire

Series Article 4 - Moonstone

Series Article 6 - Agate

 

          Follow the daily updates of the Mind Body Spirit Marketplace 
on Facebook
and 
Pinterest

Mind Body Spirit Artist Series: Julie Magers Soulen

If the name Julie Magers Soulen and her gorgeous Colorado Photography seem familiar to you, it may be because her wonderful nature based photos have served both as an inspiration and as illustration for some of the articles we have published on our blog.  Her captivating sunsets, succulent flowers images, magnificent mountain shots not only help bring us closer to the wonders that nature has to hold, but also allows us a brief glimpse into the divine order of life.  Thank you Julie!
                                                                
                                                                                                            ~ diane fergurson

Colorado Mountain Goat Photo

MBS: Can you tell us a little bit about your background. How you got started in photography?

Julie:  I have always had an interest in "taking pictures."  My first experiences were through the viewfinder of my dad’s Kodak Brownie when I was around eight.  My aunt soon picked up on my interest and bought me a little Kodak Hawkeye Flashfun camera of my own.  Oh, was I proud!  I started my very own family photo albums which I still have.  It remained a hobby until 1999 when I began publishing regularly online at denverpost.com with my husband, Ric Soulen.  His down to earth writing and my nature photography was an ongoing chronicle to our life living off grid in the Colorado Rockies.  It was featured for seven years, in our groundbreaking "blog style" column, A Colorado Journal.

MBS: Wow!  That "is" pretty groundbreaking if you stop and think about it.
Living off of the grid must have provided you with all kinds of interesting photographic
opportunities.  What are some of the shots that you remember the most?

Julie:  My home was perched on the side of a mountain with a view of the eastern horizon.  This gave me a unique opportunity to capture sunrises and foggy mornings.  I loved shooting both of these natural events.  On the high plains of Colorado it is common during certain times of the year for the plains to be blanketed with fog.  Our home was higher than the fog giving us a unique view of an "ocean" of fog below us.  (example below)

Sunrise Sunset Photo

MBS:  When you photograph something, such as a natural fog event like you described, what is it that
you want your photograph to convey to the viewer?  The event itself or is there something more?

Julie:  When I "see" a photo of nature in all her beautiful colors and forms it has the ability to put me in the present moment where time does not exist.  At times it is hard to take the shot because I just want to gape at whatever I'm looking at in that beautiful moment.  But then the urge to share overcomes my stasis.  It is the desire to share that beautiful moment with my viewer that invigorates me.


MBS:  What kind of photographic equipment do you like to use?

Julie:  I shoot with a Nikon D80 for my landscapes and most other shots.  My lens is a Sigma 28-300mm.  I also have a small Canon Powershot pocket camera that I carry around everywhere.  It has become somewhat obsolete because of my mobile phone camera.  They are pretty amazing.   However I believe that it is not the camera, but the photographer's eye that is the most important piece of equipment.

Blue Jay Photo

MBS:  "However I believe that it is not the camera, but the photographer's eye that is the most important piece of equipment."  How so?

Julie:  That is hard to explain in a couple sentences.  An analogy might help to make my point though.  A driver is not going to improve his driving skills by buying a more expensive car.  Or a cook is not going to be a better cook with a fancy set of cookware.  Both need to develop their skills to be better at what they do and the equipment is really just a tool to help them accomplish their goal.  Now I'm not saying that nice tools are not nice, just not mandatory.  I would love to buy the new Nikon D800!  Haha!

MBS:  Is there anyone or anything in particular that has has a big impact or influence on you and
on your work?

Julie:  Living off grid for twelve years has probably impacted my photography the most.  It allowed me to immerse myself in nature.  We lived in a remote mountain home powered by solar energy and surrounded by acres of pine forest.  Living so close to nature's rhythms becomes a way of life.  If it is cloudy I might postpone doing the laundry.   When it is cold and snowy we stayed inside by the woodstove burning wood that we harvested from our forest.  

I have always felt at home with nature, poking around being curious about the natural world.   As a child I was outside more than inside, exploring the leafy deciduous woods of Ohio near my home.  It was much the same living in the Colorado mountains.  There were miles of surrounding pine forest to explore.  I had mountain lion and bear encounters and learned they are not as afraid of us as we like to think.  I learned to read animal tracks that told stories of what happened the night before.   Every day was an adventure of discovery.  Nature has a way of teaching you if you simply pay attention to the details.   I suppose that is why I enjoy landscape and nature photography so much.

Colorado Winter Landscape

MBS:  Do you have a particular season you like to photograph more then others?  If so, what is
it and why?

Julie:  I do not have a favorite season for shooting.  I love all of them!  They all have so much to offer a photographer; minimalist snowscapes, spring flowers, mountain summers, and autumn trees.  The only difference for me is that it is slightly easier during warmer months when you don't have to wear gloves.  If it's really cold in the middle of winter it's a bit harder on me and the equipment.

MBS:  What is a typical work day like for you?

Julie:  My typical work day follows a bit of a routine.  I try to do all of my online work early when I'm fresh.  Some of it can be a bit technical.  So while still in my pajamas with a cup of coffee in hand, I go through my email, do Etsy shop maintenance, answer Facebook comments, and other online tasks.   And there seems to be a lot of them with online selling!  Then I take a late morning break with my dogs and we go for a long walk.  That helps me to clear my mind and shift gears to a more creative mode.   Afternoons are for creative work mostly.  I'll either go out on a shoot or work in the studio on photography.  I pretty much work all day, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter, depending on life's demands.

Flower Note Card Set

MBS:  What are you currently working on?

Julie:  I am always working on several different things at once.  It really has to do with what moves me on a particular day.  My work table is currently hosting four nature photos in various states of progress.  I also recently shot some dog photography that I'm planning on posting on my blog in a light hearted story telling mode.  Then there is always my creative "to do list" where I keep ideas I'd like to do.

MBS:  Is your work available other then online?  Do you do shows?

Julie:  Besides my online Etsy shop, my work is also currently being offered at The Fine Art and Frame Company in Fort Collins, Colorado.  I do not currently have any future plans for any shows.

Home on the Range

MBS: What advice do you have to anyone who wishes to (seriously) pursue an 
artistic path?

Julie:  The best advice I can give anyone is to follow your heart.  If you do not have a passion for your artistic path, then do something else.  That passion will focus your direction and buoy you up when stagnation threatens.  We all have so much to offer the world; be it art or science or anything else.  Nothing is ever accomplished if your heart isn't in it. 


Thanks Julie!

You can find out more about Julie and where to purchase her wonderful work at:

http://juliemagerssoulen.etsy.com
http://www.facebook.com/JulieMagersSoulen
http://www.juliemagerssoulen.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/juliemsoulen
http://about.me/JulieMagersSoulen

Follow our daily updates for the Mind Body Spirit Marketplace on Facebook.

  You can read additional interviews from our artist series here.