Waking Up To Consciousness

Published in Rebelle Society

 © Susan Marie 

You know those moments when you thought, “Wow, I almost died!”

Right now, I can feel a scar on the side of my neck left by an innocent bee that stung me in September, and once again, I almost died.

Yet, I am alive.

I look at such times as windows. Portholes in life where one small instance, a millisecond, saved our lives.

Each instance causes me to question my path, purpose, every fiber of my being and those connected to me and this immense human family I belong to — all of us swirling around in a globe, wondering why we are here.

There are times that you simply must capture, just for a moment. The start of each day before it begins, when birds trill selflessly against a beyond cerulean sky.

Listen, do you hear that?  
Shh. Go ahead, open the window, walk outside. 
Take a look around you and do not forget to look UP. 

Harness that every day, right now, bring that into yourself, the woods and forests, the turns and paths, the leaves and trees and Earth. Take a walk, work in your garden, play with your children, create art, write, sing, dance, whatever it is that you do that brings you to life — that feeling — harness that.

Catch first morning rays breaking through limbs when the dew kisses the leaves, ever so loving.

Stand with your back against the spine of Mother Nature, tilt your head upwards, maniacal, and be happy planted pure, in her face, the dirt, her blood, the bones, her roots, your feet, and feel complete because my dear soul, you are home.

Walking out of nature, energy shoots right out of my back between my shoulder blades. A celestial shotgun to the sternum — shazam!

The entire front of me guarded, preparing me for stepping back into society. In those moments, I am weightless and able to fly, and I spread my wings — glorious and majestic — and thank Dear Earth for unblocking what keeps me chained to myself. I realize then the extent of the power of consciousness.

It is a blessing to walk into this. Everybody is in a rush, caught up in whatever. 

I am mesmerized by the sun, the way she dances and dapples, illuminating leaves with paprika and turmeric. The veil is with me always, where I am able to move my hand, lucid and glass-like, lifting silken skirts of varied states of existence.

I blankly stare at people walking and kids riding bikes, and somehow, I don’t belong; somehow, I’m somewhere else; somehow, my spirit is screaming to be let free; somehow, I’m here, yet somehow no one notices me.

Two worlds within one: illusion, reality.

Traffic traffic, traffic… there’s got to be more to life than waiting. How do we live like this? Look at this! Look at us all, turning and waiting and going, and everybody is suddenly addicted to being busy. What are you busy with?

What is your purpose?

Why are you here?

Where did you come from?”

I am a bastard child of the new world.

Video link 

Write for Rights: Write a Letter/Change a Life

Hashtag: #Write4Rights

Let's get ready to Write for Rights! 

December 10th, you can make a difference alongside other human rights supporters in homes, workplaces, schools, and public spaces around the world.

---> 10 Ways to Write for Rights

Meanwhile, here are a few tips and resources to help you get started!
 
Letter-writing cases: Take action on one or all of this year's important human rights cases. 

  
Letter-writing tips: Make your letters as effective as possible.
 
Get together with friends and family! Check out the Activism guide for fun and simple ways to gather with others.
 
Follow and share Write for Rights news on Facebook and Twitter

Encourage others to write!

​Send an email to friends and family about why you're writing and invite them to sign up at writeathon.ca
 

Let us know if you have questions or comments:  writeathon@amnesty.ca or 1-800-AMNESTY (1-800-266-3789)

The lone late rose

Published on Mogul

The lone late rose cut -
from thorns and bramble,
uprooted from limbs as legs,
and burnt sienna skied roots.

The lone late rose,
a most holy November
one of Indian summers,
of love lost,
re-birthed
and blessed.

The lone late rose
upon Italian marble,
stoic and bold,
beauteous and courageous,
sits. 

The lone late rose cut
as cheeks blushed,
as sweet cherry bitters,
slender and heavenly,
like Madonna and child,
like daVinci sketching
a divine revelation
on canvas.

The lone late rose was cut,
and the wind howled,
and the heavens cried,
and the lone late rose
not once complained,
yet wept, in silence.


The lone late rose
sent supplications
to the dirt and silt,
eve after eve,
grateful to be alive,
yet oh, ever so lonely.

And the lone late rose woke
to a most Vesuviant dawn,
one of mythology and magic,
one of precious hands
as angels wings,
embracing her existence,
pure.

And the late rose
was no longer lone,
and blooming beside her
was another lone late rose. 


And together
they adorn one another,
on Italian marble,
with cheeks blushed,
as sweet cherry bitters,
slender and elegant,
like Madonna and child,
like daVinci sketching,
a divine revelation. 

Phrase "The lone late rose cut" and photo © Edmund Cardoni
*This poem was inspired by photos posted by Mr. Cardoni when a single rose was cut in November during winter and after it was brought into the house, a pure white rose bloomed beside it.

someday

Published on Mogul

someday,
i want to hold your hand
introduce you
to the sunrise
as we watch
the Earth awaken
for us both,
the hues of heaven
a palette,
an artist’s canvas,
like birth.

someday,
i want to see your face light up
discovering wonder
on trails and peaks,
on craggy hills, in forests
in the majestic bark
of an old oak tree,
wavering in the breeze
the leaves rustling,
like music,
peace.

someday,
i want to tell you
to stand beneath a waterfall,
and witness your rebirth
by Mother Nature herself.

someday,
i want to drive with you
on seaways and trails,
and find meadows
untouched by the hand of man,
and lay down deep
in leaves of grass
both of us
together,
saying nothing at all,
silence.

one day,
we will experience
one another,
in all our majestic glories
side by side.

one day,
i simply wish
to see your smile,
the corners of your mouth rise,
as your eyes
show spirit
to me.

one day,
i will hear you bellow with laughter,
deep from your abdomen
at the silliest things,
as we are drenched in rainfall.
running for cover
from this mad, mad world,
beneath starshine
and constellations,
the entire universe
lit up,
for us,
only.

one day,
we will awaken
to the hues of heaven,
a palette,
an artist’s canvas,
and this most holy Earth
shall kiss us,
divine,
one day.

Penguin Random House Book Review: Classic Human Anatomy in Motion

Published on Blogging for Books/Penguin Random House
The Writers Inkwell 

Valerie L. Winslow, fine award winning artist, Pixar Studios animation educator, as well as over thirty years teaching figurative art and artistic anatomy, published a profound 304 page hardcover illustrated volume, Classic Human Anatomy in Motion: The Artists Guide to the Dynamics of Figure Drawing.

This volume speaks to the creative and medical aspects of human anatomy. The book is sectioned, allowing the reader to digest the authentic mechanics of the human body. In each section and nearly all pages, there are distinct illustrations of the body part, ranging from bones to ligaments to muscle to tendons to skin to facial structures. Such elements are crucial to understand when creating a piece of art intended to be realistic and anatomically correct.

Browsing through the pages, the reader is able to stop wherever they please, not following a designed study pattern, more so, a creative one. One can start at the beginning or open any page and begin. This is only one important aspect of this book when speaking of creativity.

The chapters are easy to read, not scientific or medical in nature, and a student of anatomy as well as art will find this volume most useful. Valerie's understanding of the human body and all structures and movements involved is quite astounding.

The chapters are as follows:

• Bones and Surface Landmarks
• Joints and Joint Movement
• Muscle and Tendon Characteristics
• Facial Muscles and Expressions
• Muscles of the Neck and Torso
• Muscles of the Arm and Hand
• Muscles of the Leg and Foot
• Body Types, Soft Tissue Characteristics 
• Planes of the Body
• Gesture and Action Drawing
• Movement and Stationary Figures
• Rhythmic Movement

Within each chapter, are sub-chapters that delve into each segment. For example, if one wishes to draw a perfect anatomical skull, it is here. If one wishes to draw the naked figure, any body type, it is here. If one wishes to create all facial structures, it is here and if one wishes to be able to create motion and realistic muscles beneath skin that is also in this artistically designed book from front to back covers.

As an artist and a student of medicine, this volume bewilders me. It is not only a book every artist needs to own, but a book ripe with extensive medical knowledge of the entire human body and all it encompasses. The illustrations range from a simple charcoal sketch of a woman standing to an extensive anatomical medical model of the same figure.

To test the practicality of this book, I began sketching with pencil and simply opened to a chapter on muscles. In less than 10 minutes, I already drew the upper body of a male figure outlined, half of it sketched, muscles showing, with basic curves of the body outlined in accurate depth and volume. 

I have never done that in my life. 

Below is what I started creating from reading only one page of this book:

This is an artist’s dream. I cannot imagine being without this volume. 

Click below for: 

Authors Bio

Penguin Random House

Purchase Book

I am thankful to have received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. 

Canalside Buffalo Grain Elevator Light Display

Video Link HERE 

 
Buffalo was once the world’s largest grain port. Now it’s home to one of the world’s most unique and dynamic permanent lighting installations. One that helps restore Buffalo’s Inner and Outer Harbor — all while celebrating the city’s industrial heritage.

The canvas for this modern-day work of art is the Connecting Terminal Grain Elevator, easily seen from Canalside, the Buffalo River, and Lake Erie. This unique structure has been transformed into a light sculpture, a light beacon for the city and surrounding areas. 

This project, part of the visual master plan developed in 2012, will contribute to the enhancement of the Buffalo nightscape as well as its Waterfront and Downtown.


* * * 
 

Video © Susan Marie
Text © Canalside Buffalo
Music © Vulgaret by Continental Drift