To experience the wonder of great mysteries

One of the things I most wanted to experience when going to Kauai was to see the Hindu Monastery. Mostly I to see the very large crystal that inhabits the temple. I am a rock hound after all! Ken and I found we were a little ill-prepared and under-dressed on our arrival as I will never claim to be well versed in Hinduism. Thankfully a kindly elder took care to see us properly fit to enter the temple. I had absolutely no idea we would be able to participate in the puja. But we were welcomed and gently instructed on what to do.



The temple is a fire temple thought to break up old patterns and help seekers begin anew. It was an incredible experience. One I am still searching for words to describe. I was so awestruck that I struggled to stay in the moment during meditation. I literally kept saying to myself: "This is amazing!" As we re-entered the grounds after the ritual I realized it had started pouring rain while we were inside. I thought it to be a fitting way to start anew.

I walked away with a new appreciation for all the mysteries of life and was so incredibly happy I got to experience this in my lifetime. The bindi on my forehead? To those of Hindu faith it represents the third eye of spiritual insight. Something this past year has been a huge focus on for me.

~Namaste

Art Print Giveaway

 
I'm feeling the call for another giveaway! There has been so much goodness over here and I want to spread that joy with you. In celebration of my previous two canvases being released into the world I want to offer a signed and matted print of The Raven's Flight to one lucky commenter. All you need to do to enter is leave a comment below. I will draw a winner on Friday, May 11. I will happily ship anywhere in the world.

Also I wanted to share that both of my prints are now available on Society 6 as framed art, cards and iPhone cases. I hope you will hop on by to check them out. More coming soon!

Also, there are some new goodies in the Etsy shop! Thanks so much for all your support!

Polaroids From Hawaii

Glass Beach

 

Last week my husband and I escaped happily away to Kauai, Hawaii for a vacation to celebrate our upcoming 10 year anniversary. It was incredible! I am never disappointed with Hawaii, ever. This was our first time to the Garden Island and probably my most memorable trip to the islands yet. I have so much I want to share about our time but will break up the posts as to not overwhelm you all with too many photos.

First, I have a confession. I am an obsessive beach comber. If I get started it is very hard to stop! So when I did a preliminary search on the web for sea glass beaches on Kauai I was so ecstatic to learn there was in fact one. Most of the stock photos I saw were taken years ago so I didn't' allow my hopes to get too high but still was going to check it out no matter what.

I didn't let a local shop owner deter me when she said that she had heard there was no longer any sea glass at the beach (later we wondered if she was trying to deter tourists from the area). When we set out to find the beach in an old industrial area it looked rather unimpressive from afar. We opted to leave the rental car on paved road and walk the very gnarly dirt road to the beach.

This is what we found:

Yes, this mama was very happy! We hadn't expected to find much so we came only with an empty water bottle to fill. Local courtesy is to take only a gallon of glass a day. I had no idea that it would be possible to even get that much. To say this was a very happy place for me was a huge understatement. We were able to take home enough to mostly fill my collection jar at home. Which means I get to check this one off on the Life List!

I also feel the need to mention the WHY here. Why is this beach such a hot spot for glass? Litter. Plain and simple. The industrial area surrounding this area is full of factories and this beautiful black sand beach was previously used as a dump. It hurts to think about how much trash was dumped into our beautiful mother ocean to create this much glass washing up on the beach year after year. The truth of the matter is that yes, it is an absolutely beautiful and fun hobby to hunt for sea glass but we must remember why it is there in the first place. We haven't always nor still do respect our Mother Earth but she is resilient. She grinds down our trash and spits it right back up for us as a reminder that time is stronger than anything we can do to her. She will survive but we may not if we keep doing this to our planet.

11 Questions

The lovely Elizabeth Grant Thomas has tagged me in a blogging meme of eleven questions. Its perfect timing since my posts have been a bit sparse lately. I fear my writing muse is in waiting as I work on paintings. So here we go! The rules are:

Answer 11 questions the tagger posted for you

Create 11 new questions to ask the people you tag

Tag 11 people

Let them know you’ve tagged them

Elizabeth's questions:

1. What book has moved you the most in recent history?
Oh goodness. I've been blowing through books lately both fiction and non. I thoroughly enjoyed Jamie Sam's Dancing the Dream.  If you are a little woo-woo like me I would highly recommend it.

2. What’s your favorite way to spend idle time?
My guilty pleasure is actually video gaming. Something I was sort of in in the closet about until a few years ago. Now I'm pretty much ok with declaring myself as a geek and I think for the record that gamer chicks rock! Right now my current time suck is Skyrim.

3. Share a silly photo of yourself.  What’s the story?

This was one of my earliest Photoshop attempts. Back when I was just starting to learn photography. The theme for the photo was Grimm's Fairy Tales and this was my silly attempt at Red Riding Hood.

4. What astrological sign are you? Do you believe in astrology, or think it’s a bunch of hooey?
I'm Cancer and I think that if you looked up the description it would describe me very accurately. I love change, can be a wee bit touchy, live in my protective shell and am very much a homebody. My experience is that most people are true to their sign. Do I plan my day around my horoscope though? Not so much.

5. What is the most memorable meal you’ve ever had?
Dinner at the Seattle Space Needle with my husband. I remember the view was incredible as we rotated around and the food was well worth the price. Close second would be breakfast in Hawaii. There is something so incredible about eating fresh fruit outside with the birds first thing in the morning.

6. Do you believe in fate, or that we’re the masters of our own destinies?
Can I believe in a little of both? I think the Universe sets opportunities in front of us but we need to actually act on them to set them in motion. I've experienced quite a few incredible events in my life too often for them to all be pure coincidences.

7. What is one of your favorite memories from childhood?
Visiting my Grandfather in Wisconsin and getting to spend my birthday on his boat, cake and all!

8. If you know it, what is your Myers-Briggs type?  If you don’t know it, would you characterize yourself as an extrovert or an introvert?
I have not taken the test but am fairly certain I fit the Introvert, Sensing, Feeling, Judging descriptions.

9. What is your favorite flower?
Daisies. Simple and white. They are so beautiful. 

10. No one can ever believe that I’ve never seen The Princess Bride.  What movie have you never seen that everyone else seemingly has?
I'm pretty sure there are LOTS that could make this list but one would be The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. 

11. What quote or motto best describes how you endeavor to live your life?

"Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense.
This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

My questions:

1. Describe your favorite scent.
2. I adore animals but for whatever reason cannot bring myself to get a dog. Are you a cat person or a dog person?
3. What is your biggest fear? Could you overcome it by facing it head on?
4. What song currently lights up your life?
5. What is one personality trait you feel others overlook when describing you?
6. If you could have one super power, what would it be? Why?
7. One food that you would never consume would be:
8. What movie would define your teenage years?
9. Post your favorite photo. One catch: you must be in it!
10. Do you keep a journal? Why or why not?
11. What is the craziest most out of character thing you have ever done?

Tag you're it!
Rather than trying to figure out who has and has not already been tagged, consider yourself tagged if you are reading this!

The Goodness

Earlier this month I got to play around with some test film from Impossible USA as part of their Pioneer program, but could not share any of the shots until the official release of the film. When I learned that I was selected as one of five winners this week and featured on their blog I felt so completely honored. I am a relative late comer to the Polaroid craze because when I started shooting with vintage cameras Impossible was already doing their thing. Believe me though, I am so happy they are. Which is a good reminder that it is never to late to start!

As if this week has not been incredible enough I also experienced a moment so powerful that it literally burst my heart wide open. I was invited to the elementary school to talk about my art to each of the classrooms. The questions I received from the students were all brilliant. There were lots of  questions about how I created this area and that or how long it took me to paint it but one little girl asked me if I "felt feelings when I painted." I was so struck by the fact that she really got it. 

The next day after school as I was picking up my daughter a little girl ran up to me and dug into her backpack saying she had something to show me. She pulled out a large stack of paintings. All colorfully and brilliantly put together. I soon realized that she had created them all that night after hearing me talk to her class. She proudly showed me one that had circles just like mine and how her initials were in the corner just like mine too! It took awhile to sink in but after I got home I realized that is why I do what I do. I will continue to explore, to shoot photos, to make jewelry and to paint because it just may inspire someone to do something that makes their heart sing too. 

I've been celebrating all the little and big moments this week.  I hope you are celebrating yours too!

Happy One Year

 One year ago I packed up my previous blog and created this space. One year of blogging as Altered Muse. I'm still in love with the name and happy that it still fits too. I've journeyed from photography to jewelry and now to painting. A little known fact about me (or well known if you are my husband) is I get bored easily and need to change things up sometimes to keep moving along. Which is why I have moved blogs in the past...a lot. So one year is justifiable for a grand celebration in my book.

I found it serendipitous that today my prints were ready from the art shop to be shared with the world. They came out beautiful! I don't think they could possibly look any closer to the originals. As a thank you to you all for cheering me on my painting journey I am offering 15% off in the shop until the end of the month. Use the code: ARTHEALS at checkout to get your discount!

Thank you all for being here. I've been pretty quiet lately but know I visit and check up on all of your blogs as often as possible. I'm so humbled to be a part of such a rich and supportive blogging community.

~Namaste