Gemstones of the Zodiac Part 6: Agate

Welcome to Part 6 of our “Gemstones of the Zodiac” series.

The sixth sign of the Zodiac is Virgo (August 22 - September 21).  The Mystical Zodiac stone for Virgo is Agate.

Agate is a member of the chalcedony family.  Most chalcedony is one color, but agates are banded or layered.  These layers are formed by ground waters carrying sediment and depositing them on top of existing layers.

The name “agate” is derived from the Greek word for the river Achates in Sicily, the first place that agate was found in large amounts.

Early History/Mythology

The Sumerians held agate in the highest regard.  They used the stone in signet rings, seals, and in jewelry.  Legend has it that Mithridates, the King of Pontus, has a collection of over two thousand bowls made of agate (some legends have the number as high as four thousand). 

The Byzantine Empire and European royalty during the Renaissance were also huge collectors, as museum exhibits in Europe can attest.  Persians and Arabs often used the stones for rings, and would carve their names into the stone, as well as verses from the Koran.

Physical Properties

In terms of physical properties, agate is primarily used for strength, wellness and balance. 

For strength, it was used on the breastplate of armor for soldiers to help protect them during battle. 

For wellness, in ancient times, it was boiled in water, and then the water was consumed, to help relieve symptoms of illness. 

For balance, agates help keep your yin and yang in harmony.  This is also why agates are believed to be good for strengthening relationships, because they can balance the yin/yang in your relationships as well.  It is also looked to for improving your ability to sleep and have pleasant dreams.  As such, it would be a great stone for using in dreamcatchers or keeping on your nightstand.

Emotional Properties

Agate is said to be a strong emotional healer, allowing on to discern truths and accept circumstances.   It is believed to improve your memory and concentration, as well as encourage honesty.

It’s a wonderfully grounding stone, allowing you to see inside, boost your self-confidence, allay your fears and give you a stronger center from which to operate.

As part of its ability to balance and harmonize, you can use it to cleanse your aura and release negative energy.

Agate is a great stone for artists because it is also used for strengthening ones intellect as well as enhancing creativity.

If using for chakra work, agates can work on any of the chakras.  If you want to focus your chakra work more, you can choose a colored agate that matches the color of the chakra you are dealing with.

Types of Agate

The photo at the top of this article shows you but a few of the many types of agate.  So you can know them all by name, here is identifying information

1 - Madagascar Agate
2 - Asia Agate
3 - Moss Agate
4 - India Black Skin
5 - Plume Agate
6 - Blue Lace Agate
7 - Banded Agate
8 - Plume Agate
9 - Montana Agate
10 - Red Agate
11 - Crazy Lace Agate
12 - Crazy Lace Agate
13 - Argentina Agate
14 - Montana Agate
15 - Dry Head Agate
16 - Mexican Lace Agate
17 - Laguna Agate
18 - Banded Agate
19 - Graveyard Point Agate



Agate Jewelry

Agate has so many types, in so many colors, that it can make a wide variety of wonderful jewelry.  Some examples are:


 Tiger Agate

Orange Agate

Crackle Agate

This is where agate is heated to the point where banding forms inside.  Although it is called crackle agate, it is still just as sturdy as any regular agate.  The crackle effect does not affect the durability or strength at all 
  

 
Cleanse and Purify Your Stones

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



~  ~  ~

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

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

 in the upcoming months!  I thank Giani

 for his wonderful continued contributions to Mind Body Spirit Odyssey. 

The beautiful jewelry pictured above can be found in Giani's shop on CraftStar.

                                                                                  

 ~ diane

 

Series Article Part 1 - Opals 

Series Article Part 2 - Sapphire

Series Article 3 - Amethyst

Series Article 4 - Moonstone

Series Article 5 - Diamonds

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The Lovingkindness Blessing

Lovingkindness (metta) is an ancient practice, though it's as valuable today as ever. More love in your own life, and the lives of others, will always have positive effects. Not only will you benefit from this practice, so will all recipients of the blessing, and yes, even the world. 

Lovingkindness Blessing by Karen Casey-Smith

The Lovingkindness Blessing presented here is only one version of this beautiful traditional blessing. It's to be said with feeling, from your heart, and very importantly, without expectation. It has to come from a sincere desire for the well-being and happiness of others.

Begin to practice lovingkindness, and directly experience the benefits. Observe how things shift in positive ways with this powerful practice. They cannot help but shift. As you offer peace, love, and good wishes, your feeling toward others changes. Without your doing anything other than offering blessings, those around you will also change in how they relate to you. Don’t attempt to send a blessing in order to get someone to change though. That won't work. The blessing must come from your heart, with no expectations, only a sincere wish for their happiness.

Peace on the outside begins with peace on the inside. This is why it's important that you begin your practice by saying this blessing for yourself. As the Dalai Lama says, “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.” 

You can’t do blessings for yourself, and not have your life change for the better, and you cannot send a blessing to another being and maintain any unkind feeling toward them, or about them. As you are filled with a deep peace, and love that asks nothing in return, you begin to notice that everyone around you is more comfortable, and happier. How you are is that important. 

Next, you can send blessings for those close to you. After that you can begin to send them for neutral people, which would be someone you’re often in contact with, but you don’t have strong feelings about. When you're comfortable with this, you can move on to difficult people, blessing all of the above equally. Now you’re ready to send blessings to the entire universe.

It wouldn't be unusual to find yourself resistant to sending blessings to difficult people. Give yourself time. Remember, you aren't blessing their behavior, or their actions. These blessings are not about being deserving. All beings wish to be happy, healed, and free from pain. Don't you imagine these difficult people would have very different actions if they were at peace, had open hearts, had realized the beauty of their true nature, were healed, and a source of healing? In time, I believe, this is something you could sincerely wish for everyone.

 

Lovingkindness Blessing 

May my heart remain open.

May I realize the beauty of my own true nature.

May I be healed.

May I be a source of healing for this world.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May you be at peace.

May your heart remain open.

May you realize the beauty of your own true nature.

May you be healed.

May you be a source of healing for this world.

Some benefits of practicing Lovingkindness include: 

• peace of mind and sense of well-being
• sleeping easily and waking happily
• not suffering from bad dreams
• good health
• easy concentration
• radiant complexion
• antidote to ill will
• people around you are more comfortable and happy
• you contribute to a world of love, peace, and happiness
• dear to humans and non-humans (affection and good will of all)
• devas protect
• one dies unperturbed

Long ago appreciated by the ancients, the benefits of this practice are increasingly being recognized by present day researchers.

Using one of my photographs of the sweetest fern “heart,” I’ve designed prints with the Lovingkindness Blessing on them. It's a nice reminder for me to say it each day, and I thought that others might enjoy them too. There’s a 5×7 version, and a 12×9 version. Keep one near as a reminder, or they can be given as gifts.

Best of all, simply offer this blessing from your heart, and know that you too are blessed.

  Karen Casey-Smith



I'd like to thank Karen Casey-Smith for sharing her beautiful Lovingkindness Blessing with the Mind Body Spirit Odyssey.  I recently purchased a copy of this beautiful, gentle loving reminder for my studio.  It's definitely something we should all keep in mind.
                                                                                                                     ~ diane




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Mind Body Spirit DVD Review : Qi Gong-Discover The Ancient Art and Tai Chi-Discover the Ancient Art, Featuring Master Jian Liu Jun

The Mind Body Spirit Odyssey is very pleased to have the opportunity to review two excellent new DVD's that True Mind is releasing this month from Master Jian Liu Jun, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Professor of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Guangzhou University.  Master Jain's career is long and highly respected.  His credentials are extensive.  Master Jain is the Vice President of the Guangzhou Shaolin Qi Gong Association  and represents the Center of Chen style Tai Chi Chuan at Chenjiagou in Europe.  In addition, he is also the Head of the European branch of the International Da Cheng Quan Association.

Qigong - Discover the Ancient Art is a two disc guide to learning and understanding the basic techniques associated with the 4,000 year old Chinese practice of breath alignment, movement and energy awareness that is used for healing and meditation.  Qi Gong is also practiced as a form of preventative medicine and is an effective method for self discovery and understanding. Rooted in Taoist philosophy, it is not only widely practiced in China but worldwide.  It has, however, only recently started to gain any kind of momentum and popularity within the United States.

As explained in the DVD's there are five different types of Qi Gong practices and studies.  Taoist, Buddhist, Confucianist, Martial Art and Medical.  This DVD covers Taoist style, with some Buddhist practices included. Besides an outstanding introduction to the Qi Gong practice tradition, it's historical roots and philosophy in Traditional Chinese Medicine; the DVD gives a very detailed explanation and demonstration of the 18 Tai Chi Qi Gong Exercises, the 8 Pieces of the Brocade and the 5 Animals. 

In Tai Chi - Discover the Ancient Art, Master Jain focuses on Spiral Movements, which form the basis of all Tai Chi Chuan. He focuses on these movements as he teaches and fully explains the Yin Ying, Yin and Yang, the Five Elements and the Eight Trigrams.  He also demonstrates Spiral Movements and the Figure 8.  Although Tai Chi and Qigong developed from from the root and Tai Chi is often referred to as a form of 'meditation in motion' by it's deceptively soft style, the primary difference between the two practices is Tai Chi is a martial art.  This is very evident if you watch both DVD's and note the similarities and differences between the two.

Both the Tai Chi and Qi Gong DVDs were filmed at the Garden of the Bronzes at the Coubertin Foundation in Saint-Remy les Chevreuse, France.  The setting is just stunning.

I have viewed numerous Qi Gong DVD's over the years, both out of curiosity and also as an addendum to my own continuing studies.  I can honestly say that I found Master Jian's detailed instruction and presentation of the information relating to Qigong, it's philosophy, roots and connection to Traditional Chinese Medicine to stand head and shoulders above the rest.  The presentation of the information is easy to understand, but the content is also very thorough and it does not cut corners.  I also appreciated some of the more subtle aspects of the production.  As a true "master" would, Master Jian is not glamorized or presented as the "star" of the production, but rather in a more background role.  The DVD is edited so that the shots rotate between Master Jian and an additional instructor, Akli Hammadi, a well seasoned instructor who serves as a federal monitor for the Tai Chi Chuan and Qi Gong Federation.  There are also beautiful shots of Hammadi's class being conducted at the Sculpture Park in France, and visual references to illustrations of the anatomy and meridians as each movement is demonstrated.  A British woman with a very pleasant, lovely voice is the narrator for the DVD, which provides the perfect balancing Yin energy to balance the presentation.

The Tai Chi DVD follows a similar format, although there is one disc instead of two.  The narration is provided by different British female whose speaking voice, although more intense and sharp, once again complements the martial energy which is inherent to the Tai Chi tradition.  The instruction of the movements is once again very detailed, but easy to understand and follow.

Although Qi Gong is slowly becoming more widely practiced and studied within the United States, in most locations proper instruction and traditional education is still very difficult to find.  To a lesser extent, this is true of Tai Chi Chaun too.  Both of these DVD's provide a very much needed, more thorough education and instruction to both traditions.  Whether you are currently practicing and studying Qi Gong and/or Tai Chi Chaun, or have an interest in just learning more about them, I would highly recommend obtaining a copy of these DVDs.  They will both be available on Amazon beginning August 14.


~ diane fergurson, Editor



DVD links:
Tai Chi - Discover the Ancient Art 

Qi Gong - Discover the Ancient Art

You may also enjoy reading some of the articles and interviews that we have conducted about Qi Qigong and healing over the last few years -

Qi Gong:  An Interview With Joanne Kronoelje

From Jing to Qi to Shen:  An Interview With Healer Darren Orr 

The Importance of Being

Shedding our Acquired Life Roles and Medical Qigong 




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The Importance of Being

Black Eyed Susan Photo by Karen Casey-Smith

The Importance of Being
By Miriam Moran Shankman


I spoke in class today about the importance of being. We call ourselves Human Being, yet, looking around (and within) I mostly notice Doing.

I spoke about the three forms of meditation we practice in Chi Kung:

1. Moving meditation
2. Standing Meditation
3. Sitting Meditation

Moving meditation, why?

Because the opposite of movement is death. Living things have a movement flow within them. In death the flow within the body stops. We move to create, encourage, assist, direct and regulate movement and flow within our body. That flow nourishes and maintains the cells in our body. The flow also establishes our body as a whole. All parts, all cells are connecting, relating, exchanging, supporting and by doing so being one.

Standing meditation, why?

A long, strong, and some say, the most powerful tradition of standing meditation is in the practice of Chi Kung, Standing Meditation enhances us with strength by breaking the illusion of separation and allowing a connection to our surrounding, to nature, to the universe, and to its flow. Standing meditation is the cultivation of being one with all (or, being the one.)

Sitting meditation, why?

Sitting meditation so we can Be. In sitting meditation we do nothing. Nothing at all.

Think of a cup: What is required of a cup? To hold water. What does a cup need in order to hold water?

Two things:
1. Shaped material. That is the material world. That is the Doing.
2. Empty space. That is the non material. That is the being.

As the cup so am I. Needing the material. Needing the open space. Needing a good balance between the two. In daily practice of sitting meditation. I gently settle and quiet the material. I sit in the emptiness.

As we are now experiencing the heat of summer, sitting meditation makes good sense. A short gentle moving Chi Kung followed by sitting in emptiness. Conserving energy, and not over doing.





Miriam Moran Shankman  is a practitioner and instructor of Tai Chi and Chi Kung in the New York, Tri-State area.
If you would like to contact her, you can visit her website at:  http://www.mir-yam.com
or drop her an email at:  miriam@mir-yam.com


Black Eyed Susan Photo courtesy of photographer Karen Casey-Smith.  Prints are available through her shop on Etsy.




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Mind Body Spirit Artist Series - Cosima Lukashevich

Although she currently resides in Egypt, it's safe to say that with all the different places that Cosima Lukashevich has lived and studied, she truly is an artist of the world - inspired by life and the cultural heritage and ancient spirituality that is all around her. A very lively and inspiring interview!   I hope you enjoy learning about this very creative and accomplished artist as much as I did!

                                                                                                      ~ diane fergurson

Quan Yin

MBS:  Can you tell us a little about yourself?  How did you get started in art?

Cosima:  I was drawing making pictures from early on my mother tells me, before I have memory of it. Imaginative play, drawing and creative projects was where I got my most fun! I was good at drawing and painting at school age, it was something that came easily to me. I could see what I was doing in comparison to my classmates…but that wasn’t the important thing! What was most compelling to me was what was happening in the creative zone, times of making things.

In creativity I felt an expansion. The world telescoped out exponentially made life feel greater, magical; and at the same time produced a sense of astonishing one-ness and deeply connected unity. I felt it brought with it a sense of being plugged-in, excited by lively possibilities! Creativity opened doors of what the world was, the ordinary mundane and regular took on qualities of the magical and sacred. It changed perceptions made everything open up accordion wide and get deeper and broader. An excitement! Realms stretched out, and yet I felt embraced tightly. Simultaneously it gave me wings to soar about… it felt divine.

Yes, in happiness but also I must say in an inner sense. One experiences the depth of soul in Art and Imagination; an acquaintance with a deep source inwardly. At the time I could not verbalize any of this, of course, I was too young I did not have the emotional sophistication or vocabulary.  Kids from the neighborhood knew what I could do and would knock on the door wanting me cook up some play adventure for us all to join in.

I see now that I was in expanded states of awareness in a lot of time spent alone. I had stumbled onto intuitive meditation, as I believe children do more readily than later in life. I was an only child and needed assistance in our new life in America, having immigrated at four years old. I turned to spirit instinctually. And to art.

Woven into the roots of DNA, my family tree from both sides brought about innate artistic abilities. My mother told a haunting story of a great lithograph of our family tree printed by my great uncle Ludwig, who was a lithographer for a publishing house in Innsbruck. My grandfather Reinhold Gergen, trying to preserve and protect it took it out of its frame, rolled it up wanting to send it to his brother Ludwig since all was about to break loose in Germany at that time. My mother was telling me the story in America, where I was growing up. (How life takes us places!)
Oh, how that story worked on me! I could see the scene of my mother and my aunts as children, my worried grandparents. The lithograph was lost never to be seen by my mother and her sisters again.

The Three Graces

My high school art teacher Adelaide Tunnel gave me a long white cardboard to do with whatever I wanted. I felt compelled, driven really; I could not resist the need to draw a very long tree; a complex root network underground passing through striations of geology. A cave of stalactites and stalagmites appeared dissecting the underground scene of roots, which in its hollow held a pot of gold. I must say I was not rationally putting the family story and the need to create a tree together; it was not so direct and intentional. Please understand.

Although, eventually it did turn out to be a fantastic revelation! I even won a community prize. What I hadn’t planned for is what it told me, more than what I could have ever expected.
The picture spoke back to me.
“Look, there is a valuable thing you hold in your roots…it is not lost since it is a part of you inextricably. Draw up what is inside of you, your heritage; what is most valuable can never be lost. DRAW!”
 And so I did. This drawing became my pointer to the next steps to be taken and I had the great good fortune and privilege to be able to continue on to study art in university.

Transformation

MBS:  It sounds like you must have the ability to visualize and see very clearly in your mind's eye.  How has that ability guided and influenced your your artwork over the years?

Cosima:  I came to Egypt discovering something about creativity through my experiences here…and the mind’s eye!
As I said in answer to your first question I went on to university art school in Philadelphia and I studied later at the New York Academy of Art. I trained as a designer and painter/draughtsman. What I was taught in these institutions was one side of creativity. The nuts and bolts of processes and materials first of all then the basics of 2D aesthetics; composition, forms in space perspective, light and cast shadow, design of the picture plane, color theory while gaining experience and practice along the way.

Life conspires to make you grow, extend beyond who you were, teach you things you never could never imagine you would to move you beyond previous boundaries, borders and limitations.

There came a point here in Cairo when I faced personal circumstances in my life that pressed me emotionally right to the edge. A crisis. At the time I had the feeling of being on overload, much like a toaster that has been zapped with a power surge, so much electricity flooding the circuits not able to conduct another extra volt through it. At the time I couldn’t think another thought or other deal with another emotion, there was simply too much to handle. Full tilt.

This occurrence served to break the container, bring down the walls of limitation. I see now that is exactly what needed to happen for me to get beyond my former existence on so many levels to become a more whole artist beyond technical ability or facility and I knew I had to paint my way out.

By accident, on an internal signal I began to apply paint without intention, pouring paint on a canvas there came to my utter astonishment, an image. I acted without preconceived ideas of an outcome. I let go of control creatively allowing “accident” and flow to take place on the format. Later on this then this lead to collage the same process with paper. Ripping of papers letting them fall where they may and seeing what would come, then making out with my mind’s eye what there was.

I see that creativity is a force, energy active universally, a living power. Creativity it is nothing that we need manufacture, we don’t have to it exists already everywhere; we are born from it and into it. We rather allow it in to move through us, we usher it in if we open that doorway. It becomes an issue of how we conduct this creative force. Do we use this power externally as we would a tool or do we open our own channels through which it emanates through us? It is to act as a medium directing or funneling it in the creative process and onto the paper or canvas, or whatever may be.

I read the suggestions of image in the chaos of the materials there on the paper or canvas that result from this open method of making marks. I suppose it to be much like a Rorschach psychological test where one interprets inkblots. Except the artist is the originator of the blot and the decipher. This way of letting go enables a route beyond the limitations of the mind’s need to plan or devise; to reach further down to where the artist is originally and authentically the core self, and therefore producing artwork that is original and authentic to the artist. This has always been a search for me, what is intrinsically my own personal mark, my own vision.

I Love You Fish

MBS:  Are there common themes or threads that run through your work?

Cosima:  The unifying thread in my work is spirit. I say all creativity is spiritual work.
Art is Spirit in motion. To find that source has been a life long mission. Education could not find it for me, only the school of life teaches that lesson.

So being in Egypt has been a mother load location since its past is built on the foundation of spirit united with matter. I have drawn upon its energies still alive in the land through archetype and mythology indicators of where it exists in an inner world and in the greater world.

 Egypt has been a predominant theme in my work, ancient Egyptian mythological stories from dynastic times and Arabian motifs and patterns keep reoccurring. What I particularly enjoy in a certain series of my work, the collage that are painted upon, this confluence of pharonic image with Arabian pattern. I really like seeing it layer upon layer as if looking through a lens penetrating through all periods of time. As though time doesn’t exist, visually it’s all happening now. I get a kick out of it when that happens in the composition, that’s when the magic is really alive!

I must also say that angels, guides and mentors keep popping up throughout many compositions. The Egyptian creation stories are quite significant; Isis, Osiris, Set, Horus, Sekhmet and Hathor. They bring me messages of hope and strength whenever they appear.

 Mythology is a fascination of mine. I think archetypal images are important; patterns that run through history from our deep past are a part of us. Stories that are emerging and re-emerging, being retold culturally has so much to reveal about us. The dream dreamt by the collective, these primordial images that are built into the human psyche for me are key and wildly interesting to me. I absolutely love them, I find them amazing-spell binding! The stories that have never happened but are unfolding all the time. The DNA of the psyche!
I think it’s important for us to keep them present in our consciousness today, to retell them in new ways to keep them alive in our awareness. They hold so much power; they are maps that give us keys to our future potential.

My ears prick up whenever I hear the call of mythology and archetypal stories. You get an inkling of other side of life, the mystery of your nature, the magic of the universe.  A sense that there is a deep river that runs through you and goes down deep and back through all time. It feels instinctive. They are so moving and exciting to me, to know they move through you as well brings awareness you are part of the human story through them, a unity of all things. Just like drawing a great big tree that you know you are part of.

Flying of the Desert Wind

MBS:  What are some of your favorite materials to work with?

Cosima:  I had attended a few workshops lead by my Egyptian colleagues in collage and silkscreen printing, both being popular media here.  I incorporated them into my own work making a series which is still one of my favorites; I used silkscreened Arabic calligraphy, found papers, old book pages and arabesque graphic designs, transfer printed photos of landscapes (symbols of her essence) This then formed a surface on which I painted further on in acrylics and oil pastel. All these indigenous remnants were used to induce Egypt to speak about herself in the pictures that resulted!

I have made all kinds of things, from furniture, to lamps and containers, boxes, toys, books and these are tributaries I enjoy traveling down from time to time, but really the main river is painting and drawing.

I love gouache for its velvet intense color and its ability to be manipulated, diluted or rubbed out whenever I want. Combined with pastels I think it’s a natural pair, these two. Oil pastels with turpentine wash or applied thickly, I love. I use acrylic just a little bit. But gold and silver powders in varnish I use a lot. Gold is an important color for me, silver to some extent too. However I can get it—in gauche or acrylic, gold varnish, gold is an elemental substance (even if I am not using actual gold) I think it has an effect in the room where the piece hangs.
I love cotton printmakers paper; Arches BFK. It holds pastel in its fibers, takes a lot of wear and tear in erasing and repeated water applications. It’s more like felt fabric than a paper. I love it.

Pond of the Oracle

MBS:  You stated, "All creativity is spiritual work".  How so?

Cosima:  I ask the Divine to partner with me, releasing the ego’s insistence of control allowing for the unintentional mark to step in surrendering to what happens on the paper or canvas. In this way I become a receptacle able to receive the gifts of Spirit, a vessel for creation.

 I am not the one in total command, I seek to be a co-creator in releasing my dominance in decision making artistically. This creative force is more flexible, expansive and original than my own limited ideas or abilities. In fact, I have to say I do my best work when I don’t know what I’m doing! Things appear that I myself could never have imagined when I am a partner to this. I am many times amazed at what transpires never expecting such results, messages and answers far beyond what I am able to do. What does that have to say for my own supposed “talent”. 

That is the greatest joy in being an artist. To feel the vibration of creative energy buzzing through you, to feel that god force resonating in you as it passes through and onto the paper. To feel that you are an instrument of something bigger than yourself is a gift and a wonder. Not only that, its where the magic is truly alive!

MBS:  What is a typical workday like for you?  Do you work on your artwork everyday?

Cosima:  What I have found is that creative work comes in cycles, dry parched periods and flows of inundation. Times where I think I will never make another thing, paint another dot.  It’s interesting for me to observe this in myself, there is this inner voice to it too, and its belligerent! Hell NO!  I am not working today and maybe never will again! Leave me alone! I a going to sit on this couch and not do a damned thing.
 I do become anxious and nervous in these times; it does not feel exactly carefree and happy.  Believe me it’s not easy to be this way. All those imperatives to “paint everyday!” from people in authority go through the head. But this is what’s going on. I can push myself to “just do it” what comes from that is forced bland and uninteresting work in the end.

But as I mature and accept myself for what I am, the woman I am, I see there are necessary times of dormancy, times of year actually that go quiet at now accustomed regularity; deep winter in particular.  And when I least expect it the drive reawakens, the tides turn, what was in the off position has now gone into hyper gear.
You think nothing is happening but in reality those dark nights of quietude are fields that must be fallow for a season laying in wait to sprout healthfully later on.
The inactivity becomes suddenly; don’t stand in my way. Up till all hours and then the first thing I want to see in the morning besides a cup of coffee is what has transpired the night before and then I cant keep my hands off it. The passion is back and I’m deep in it, the labor of bringing it through is in motion.

The feminine aspect must be recognized, seen and known for what it is in us and respected.  I am not a man. Stop trying to make me act like one. Particularly in creativity! In the basement of my soul, at the fountainhead of my being, where I become the individual that I am- myself, where I spring into existence; at that ground zero I am a feminine creative human being.  I cannot box and package one aspect of self from the other in separation. Creator and feminine exist in me together they are not separable. I work as a woman does in full acknowledgment of the sacred feminine alive in me, working with me and through me; this thing has cycles and rhythms and is birthed through me. I am what I am.

The Illumination of Liberty

MBS: Do you sell your work online?  What has your online experience been like?

Cosima:  I am interested in reaching an audience on the other side of the world where I presently am. I would like to gain more access and visibility in real terms to America not only selling through the Internet. There is so much online that I think its not always easy to discern for the interested what is what. The up side is that Internet selling has given me the ability to make forays before I physically arrive.

Seated Quan Yin

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

Cosima:  You see if you had asked me what advise would I give to those who pursue an artistic path I would answer a long the lines of get as much education and experience as possible. Do it because you love it. Have faith and determination. Consider that you may have to take other jobs to support yourself.

But you stipulated the word, seriously.
“…Seriously pursue an artistic path.”

Sirius-ly be led by a guiding star along a path of Art.

The profession of Art is a responsibility not accomplished or undertaken without consideration; because of its consequences to the Artist. It is a pursuit of the hand, the head and the heart, mostly heart. It is an activity that unites the entire person, a pulling together of all one’s faculties. It requires the entire being in it. You do it whole-heartedly.

There is power in Art.

 Done where one is the threshold of the new moving into existence from the un-manifest unseen energies of what is waiting to materialize ushering it into matter with sincerity, the world moves forward.  One follows that star because you know, to acknowledge its dictates is what has to be done, there’s no other way because it’s the right way, the true path forward. Under such auspices the creative arrives here not only transforming what exists in the present world, but the artist herself. She is changed for having done the work. The work transforms the maker.


~ thank you Cosima!




Cosima's artwork can be found on ImageKind.
You can also find her work at http://www.lukashevich.comhttp://www.lukashevich.com

Links to other interviews in the Mind Body Spirit Artist Series.

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Gemstones of the Zodiac - Part 5 - Diamonds

Welcome to Part 5 of our “Gemstones of the Zodiac” series.

The fifth sign of the Zodiac is Leo (July 22 - Aug 21st).  The Mystical Zodiac stone for Leo is Diamond.

Formation

Diamonds are formed from carbon, which is one of the most abundant elements on Earth.  The carbon molecules undergo tremendous heat and pressure to form a diamond.

It is believed that diamonds are most likely discovered someplace other than their original source.  Volcanic activity would carry the diamond crystals inside it.  As surfaces eroded and stream beds formed, discharged diamond crystals would be moved with it, sometimes carrying them all the way to the sea.  Considering their existence has been known for around 3,000 years, diamonds were most likely found in this manner as opposed to mines being excavated.

 

Ancient Greeks named the diamond “adamas” which means invincible and indestructible.  Due to the way it holds and refracts light, famous Persian poet Hafiz once commented that “the rainbow is confined in it forever.”

History

The earliest recorded mention of diamonds is in India around 3,000 years ago.  Then they were mostly prized for their ability to refract light.  This made the diamond sought after for it's decorative purposes.  Their durability was also a symbol of strength, and diamonds were worn as a talisman for soldiers/warriors going into battle.

No less than Julius Caesar, Napoleon and Louis IV all considered diamonds their personal talisman.

In medieval times, people would have a diamond sewn into their clothes to offer protection from the evil eye or spells.  Mary Stuart always carried one, as she believed it would help her identify poisons.
In the Far East, diamonds were thought to be good for the heart.  They would place a diamond in a glass of water and let it sit overnight.  The next day, they would remove the diamond and drink the water.



Healing Properties - White Diamonds

Because its white form is perfectly clear, diamonds are believed to be about purity and bringing things to a whole.  This is why they are the traditional stone for wedding rings.  They are also a sign of fidelity and commitment.

In addition, diamonds are believed to amplify energy - and as result of this, it is important that you be careful what stones you wear with it.  A diamond will intensify the properties of the other stones around it, as well as the energies of those around you (including yourself!).



From a healing perspective diamonds are believed to bring fearlessness, strength and fortitude.  They are thought to dissipate emotional and mental pain, and bring about new possibilities and beginnings.  Obviously, due to their clarity, they are thought to bring enlightenment allowing your inner soul to shine.


Diamonds are also thought to purify and detox your entire body, balance metabolism, help build stamina and treat dizziness and vertigo.




Healing Properties - Colored Diamonds

In addition to clear/white diamonds, there are also multiple colors of diamonds.  These colors have their own properties associated with them.


Yellow - increases thoughtfulness and consideration.

Blue - good for building our willpower and as an inspiration for taking better care of ourselves.

Pink - great for your creative expression.

Black - perfect for increasing your ability to truly look inside yourself, without any preconceptions or illusions.

Cleansing

Diamonds are the one stone that are always pure, and do not need any cleansing of any kind.  

However, as a reminder for your other stones:

For additional information on how to cleanse your stones, refer to the article "Cleansing Your Healing Stones, Crystals and Gemstones Using Selenite" by Diane Fergurson on the Mind Body Spirit Odyssey.

~ Giani

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

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

 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 3 - Amethyst

Series Article 4 - Moonstone

Series Article 6 - Agate

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Mind Body Spirit Odyssey Book Review - Calm Focus Joy: The Power of Breath Awareness

Calm Focus Joy: The Power of Breath Awareness
by Heidi Thompson
Coldstream Books

One of the hardest things for many people to do is to bring themselves to a place of 'calm'.  To be able to focus on what they are doing.  In her new book Calm Focus Joy: The Power of Breath Awareness, author Heidi Thompson outlines a program that she has designed to teach children how to use breath awareness as a technique to help transform themselves into a more calm, focused, happy person.

Thompson's Mind Mastery Program developed out of years of working with children as a public education innovator in Canada, combined her 28 years of experience studying and teaching meditation techniques.  In the book she outlines and explains ten breath awareness lessons that act as a "concentration strengthening exercises" that help develop mental facilities including memory, attention, perception, intuition, and intellect.  As she explains breath awareness  promotes brain development, physical health, and provides immediate and long-term relief from unhappy physiological, emotional, and psychological states.  Thompson also points out that breath awareness is fundamental to just about every stress-reduction therapy and method, and it's value has been proven over and over by scientific research.

I wanted to review this book after I read it because I felt that it is a very important, worthwhile book not only for parents of children who need to learn to focus and de-stress, but also for anyone who teaches or is in the helping professions.  Unlike many books about various programs and methods, Calm Focus Joy was written in such a genuine and positive manner, it was a true pleasure to read.

I found the factual information Thompson presents in Calm Focus Joy to be very interesting and she delivers it in a very non evasive, casual way. There are also several things in this book that sets it apart from other self help books that lay out various programs and methods.  For example, I really liked the Teacher's Tips that Thompson included at the end of every step.  Teacher's tips themselves are nothing new, but I enjoyed and appreciated Thompson's fresh and honest approach.  I also found it wise that she included a short story within each step that could be read to the student to further illustrate the step's core essence.  The approach Thompson used to provide basic information about child development and special needs issues is also woven throughout the book in a very low key, understandable way.

All that said, what really struck me about Calm Focus Joy is that it goes one step further.  As part of it's curricula Thompson's program encourages and teaches children to grow into wholesome human beings.  Teaching kids basic core qualities such as 'I promise to Refrain from Hurtful Speech' and "I Promise to Speak Truthfully and to Act Honestly", build a strong basic foundation within an individual child from which awareness, growth, clarity and calm can then take root and grow.  These basic principals of wholesomeness no doubt stem from Thompson's own years of Buddhist practice. They are very worthwhile principals to live by and are needed by not only children growing up in today's world, but adults too. 

Anyone who works with children in any capacity or has children of their own would benefit from reading this book.  Calm Focus Joy: The Power of Breath Awareness is available through Amazon.


~ diane fergurson

 Make sure to also check out our artist interview with Heidi Thompson.

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Spiritual Warrior - Conversations With Healer Darren Orr

Nature Forest Print by Jude McConkey

"Spirituality not practiced under fire, stress and duress is worthless and pointless.

If you practice in the hopes of attaining everlasting peace--you're deluded and

in stasis. Its easy for anyone to be happy, calm, peaceful when everything seems

perfect. Can you still remain centered, balanced, happy and peaceful when your

life falls apart?? ---that's the true test of a spiritual warrior   ~DO~

MBS:  I was reading a quote you had on your FaceBook page the other day (above)

and it referred to a person being or developing into a "spiritual warrior".

I know that the term "spiritual warrior" gets thrown thrown around pretty loosely sometimes to describe all kinds of situations and issues pertaining to spiritual attainment.

So I my question is, what is it to be a spiritual warrior?

 Darren:  My definition of a spiritual warrior would be: One who can face and embrace the

 fears within their own minds.  Having the discipline to delve deep within ones

 own darkness on a daily basis. As Lao Tzu states in the Dao darkness within

 darkness the gateway to all understanding. It takes courage to be a spiritual

 warrior and look at oneself truthfully openly and fearlessly, accepting oneself

 in its totality, the light and the dark, bringing harmony to your own duality. 

 Many believe a warrior to be one who kills or destroys, especially from

 an external perspective of soldiers, the military and war. This is not what

 I'm talking about. A spiritual warrior does not kill or destroy they transform

 and transmute. This is what the Daoists were really referring to when you read

 about alchemy. It's a transformation process where you transmute the base elements

 of yourself (fear, anger, negativity) and use them as compost to grow new life

--unconditional love, health and healing. This is also what the resurrection means

 in a broader symbolic form. You die or let go of the old and use it so new life can

 be born. This is why to train as a spiritual warrior no matter the system, they use

 the breath. As you inhale you take in new life and as you exhale you release all

 that is unwanted. To become conscious of that exchange and interchange between the 2

 on a moment to moment basis allows you to fully experience the grandeur,

 beauty and majesty of life and fulfill your destiny in this lifetime. 

It's so easy in spiritual circles to literally get caught up in spiritual samsara--

thinking everything is all light. They use the teachings as way to distract themselves

from themselves keeping it superficial so they don't have to face their darkness,

pain, fear and negative habitual patterns. The other common misconception is many

mistakenly think a teacher, guru or sifu is going to save you. No one can save you.

You are the only one that can save you. That realization that this path of the spirit

is in it's essence a solitary journey and you must trek within the uncharted internal

terrain of your deepest darkest fears alone and face them alone is the path of the

spiritual warrior. Each persons life is unique unto themselves, no can live your life

for you or give you some magical pill or key to health, healing, enlightenment or any

other desire. The teacher can only point the way back to your spirit. The warrior must

walk the path and navigate the dangers along the way. The more the teachers words are

aligned with their actions and life experiences, the more powerful and profound the

example will be. 

I have two living examples of a spiritual warrior that I get to witness, learn from and

love. My father Donald Orr and my teacher pointing the way for me by how he has and

continues to live, Ted Cibik.

Both have endured, faced and embraced hardships that would cripple most people yet

they choose to live, thrive and survive daily. The true test of spiritual warrior is

when everything is gone, and your life is on the line, how do you respond?



Darren Orr is a Doctor of Classical Chinese Medicine in Medical QiGong Therapy with a specialization in Dao-yin. He is currently training in ShenGong to be a Formless Daoist Priest. He is a Medical QiGong Master, nationally certified massage, bodywork and somatic therapist, Reiki Master, sound healer, Dao yoga, Dao Yin and meditation teacher. Darren is an A-Z practitioner specializing in life-altering illness, palliative care for the terminally ill, bereavement services for family, cancer, PTSD, fibromyalgia, addiction, mental/emotional imbalances, chronic pain and stress management as well as preventative medicine. CEU courses, lectures, workshops, seminars, classes, qi parties, and corporate wellness programs also available. Serving the tri-state area in a triangle from Philadelphia to NYC to Atlantic City Nj. Long Distance therapy also available.

You can contact Darren at:  d.orr333@gmail.com

You may also be interested in reading our interview with Darren about healing and the practice of Qigong.

Also his article - "Shedding Our Acquired Life Roles and Medical Qigong"

 

Nature Forest Print is courtesy of photographer Jude McConkey.  Prints are available through her

shop on Etsy.

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Mind Body Spirit Odyssey Book Review: Journey Into Oneness

Journey Into Oneness
by Paul Goldman
O Books

I read so many glowing comments about Paul Goldman's Journey Into Oneness, I requested a copy to review for the Mind Body Spirit Odyssey - and I was not disappointed. 

Journey Into Oneness is book of beautiful poetry that takes the reader on a journey of passage.  Finding out who you are, being grateful for all you are, awakening to love, and experiencing the clarity of connecting to the Universal Oneness and divinity that binds us all together.

The world is full of problems.  Everyday we read or see on television the immense pain and suffering around us.  To counterbalance, we need to bring as many positive things into our lives as we can.  You should consider adding this beautiful book of poetry as one of those positive things to your life and bookshelf.  A very uplifting and beautiful read!

From Paul Goldman's Journey Into Oneness:

This Big

Heart wide open,

I soar past moons,

suns, stars, even

galaxies to once again

find you,

right in the midst

of where

you have

always

been.

 Available through Amazon.



~ diane fergurson

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