Interaction with Nature

There are many times when I'm out in nature and I have an urge to get closer to a particular tree, plant, or flower.  One of my five senses are activated as I smell a sweet scent; I heard a soft sound; I see a different colour or object; I feel a tingling sensation on my skin; or I taste a sugary flavour in the air.  All of these things guides me to something wonderful.  There are even times, when I feel a flutter in my heart that excites my inner child.  When I allow my inner child to get closer to an object I feel excited and more inquisitive.  As I follow my impulses, I ended up finding some amazing things.

Here are a two examples of my interaction with nature.

I filmed this video back in May of 2015, where I noticed the light green needles on the tree. As I looked that them I felt guided to touch the soft needles. After watching the video, I realized that I sang to the tree unconsciously, which is something that always delights me.  In addition, I watched the film a few more times and I noticed that there were 3 different little lights moving quickly away from the needles before I touched them. Oh... I wonder what they can be.  Maybe nature spirits?

This past November, I was visiting a friend's home and I noticed some orange and white berries on a plant outside her house. I had an urge to take some pictures but I did not do it at the time.  Once I got home I asked my friend to text a photo of the orange and white berries outside front door.  At first she had no idea what I was talking about. She only noticed purple berries at the front of her walkway.  She lived there for many years and it was the first time she noticed them. 

Once she found them, I asked her to post a picture of the berries on my Facebook wall. This is what she wrote: "Berries on my porch that I did not see. What other treasures are there to discover? Thanks Naomi Benoist for bringing them to my attention!"

Although I loved the photo my friend sent me, I had an urge to return to take a few pictures myself.  I couldn't get the berries out of my mind.  I felt called to them. After a few days, I found myself outside her home again and I took the pictures below.  I enjoyed the colours so I've kept them on my cellphone for months. Just recently, I showed these photos to another friend and I noticed a blue coloured orb.  HA!  Now look at that!

In the first photo there is one light blue orb above the berries. If you look closer you can see another light blue orb hiding behind the stem of one of the berries.  The more you look at the photo you might noticed there were blue, green, and white orbs around the plant.  HA!

  

Although this second photo is a bit off focus I decided not to delete it. In this photo there is an arch of little lights over the second set of berries. Of course one could say that the lights are just coming from the sunlight but it's nice to think that they could be fairies dancing in the background.  

Oh how nature spirits love to play!

Exploring Life Through Art

I haven't posted for a while.  My life seems to keep shifting and changing which is a good thing.
I am writing privately about my mother's death but I'm not ready to share openly my feelings or thoughts about it.

However, I do want to share some art that I created since last summer.  I continued to work with pencil crayons and created these two pieces.

Embryo

Cultivation

Over the months, I found working with soft pastel to be quite fun.  I allowed the colours to flow and I created this.

Dancing

I decided to try using darker colours.  I moved quickly with this piece and it formed into something I did not expect.

Couples Dance

After creating the two piece above, I try to consciously create flames.  I had no idea how it would work.  I added layers of orange, red, and yellow.  Once I stared into the flames, I saw a pair of kind eyes coming out of them.  That's why I drew eyes in the picture.  When I stared at the piece after it was done, I felt overwhelmed with emotions.  I could not look at it for the longest time.  It was too surreal.  I realized later that it was about passion with compassion, life force and love. 

Compassionate Eyes

Weeks went by and I focused on studying Life Skills Coaching. After a week of intense learning, I took time to do more art.  This was created.

Removing the Clutter

During the Fall of 2014, I attended a college program and had no time to do any personal writing or art work.  I focused on the studies where most of my writing was geared to assignments or presentations.  Of course I wrote in my journal but that's for me. 

On January 11th, 2015, my mother passed away.  At my mother's funeral, I sang a song I wrote back in 2014, "Watching Over You". (Again, this is all I want to share about mom's death at this time.)

Weeks after my mom's death, I pulled out the art supplies and went to work.  This piece took time to create.  At first, I thought I was creating a peacock yet something else emerged.

Eyes on You

At the end of the January, I was debating continuing my classes. I was not sure if it was the right direction for me.  I decided to stay on course.  I wrote in my journal during that time.  I wanted to make a tree that shown my roots and new directions.  I found that my art decided to morph into something else.  Whenever I create art, morphing art normally happens.

Untitled Piece

I have more art pieces that I created during that time but they are not completed or do I want to share them at this time.

In July, I started to do art work again, which I want to share.  I found that nature really calls out to me.  I had some amazing experiences with dragonflies and wanted to draw one.  This is what was created instead.

Rebalancing

Recently, I visited the Petroglyphs Provincial Park where I saw two feminine symbols that inspired me. This piece below is my most recent creation.

Taking Root

I'm sure there will be more to come, until time next.  Much love! 

Sensing the Environment

The scent of fertile earth,
wanting to plant seeds for a beautiful garden.
A garden of my spiritual world.

The texture of ground,

gives way to the turning and sowing of my soul.
Events where I can expand.

The sight of moist soil,

knowing the environment is ripe for change.
And bathing in the sun.

The sound of wind blowing

gently asking me to move and sway.
The life of my party today.

The taste of nut like air,

reminding me of the crunchy walnuts
and stories of old holy lands.

The emotions of noble consciousness,

awakens joy and pain equally 
from inner and outer realms.

The Experience of Touch

Our skin is our largest organ, well, that’s what I was told.  It helps us interact and experience our environment.  Why wouldn’t we welcome touch?  I’m no expert on physiology or psychology but I know that touch is essential for my development.  I feel things with my skin be it on my leg, belly, lips or fingertips each area sends messages to my heart, mind, and spirit. 

I love sitting in the grass and feeling the green blades against my legs.  They are delicate and gentle even as my weight presses down upon them.  The blades move ever so softly with the wind and caresses my skin.  I enjoy combing the grass with my hands and sensing the different levels that peek out between my fingers.  Sometimes, ants roam across me like a bridge to the other side.  If I stay still, they come and go without any distress and those experiences are captured with my skin.

I have a cat that is a soft, fluffy, and a dark black-brown beauty.  Holding her is a treat.  Her calm and mellow being has a major affect on me.  Through her coat, I trace her bone structure with my hands.  She then decides to bury her head into my neck and up to my lips for kisses, such a sensory delight.  These moments of interacting with her are precious.

As a child, I loved when my parents would stroke my hair.  Each time my curls would spring back as they lifted their hand to start again.  My scalp would sing like a wind chime ringed.  I would settled in and fall asleep.  No wonder why my children loved it too.

Imagine a hug, surely a simple thing, isn’t it?  BUT, embracing someone fully is ... unexplainable at times.  When I wrapped my arms around my children, the sensation of my heart becomes engaged.  Even though they are larger than me and my head rests on their shoulders a feeling of peace arise.  We are all blessed with this type of joy.