Tangled

Jan3


Tangled in my zentangles

And there is no way out 

It’s an obsession

It’s hard to stop

So much variety

So many possibilities 

All leading to beauty

Unexpected, a surprise

If I write poems

I try to write everyday

If I make collage cups

I keep making them and collecting them

Now that I draw zentsngles

It has becomes a daily affair

Something in the repetition 

Is soothing, reassuring 

It’s all about art

And art is uplifting

And there is the element of surprise

My work is never planned ahead 

So it is that my zentangles 

Have tangled me in their web 

Dec 30, 2023

In conversation

Dec18

In the company of fellow artists

I enjoy my conversations with them

“Oh, yes that’s exactly how I feel”

“That is a great point!”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself!”

These conversations bring me joy

Expand my knowledge

Touch my soul

To talk to an artist is healing

Because art is healing

And helps us connect 

“Art is a window to the spiritual world”

We need to connect to the spiritual world

Draw on its power

But uplifted by it 

Be enveloped in its warmth 

“We are spiritual beings having a human experience”

Thank you to my fellow artist for accompanying me

On my path of exploring my creativity

I’m grateful for their input

I would talk to an artist anytime, anywhere

It’s like talking to my brother or sister

Dec 18, 2023

Continue reading →

My hand

Dec14

As I hold my phone
My hand trembles a little
I know the reason
I don’t necessarily like the reason
Most people don’t notice it
It doesn’t happen all the time
Like when I write
Or hold other things
Maybe this is a message
That I’m on my phone too much
But this trembling is caused by the medication I take
Medication that helps me stay healthy, happy and productive
Is this a big price to pay?
Perhaps not
But it does bother me sometimes
After all, I have feelings too
I’m not a machine
My goal though is to be grateful always

December 14, 2023

My heart aches

Dec6

My heart aches for the Baha’is of Iran
A people who want nothing except serving their country and countrymen
And how are they rewarded?
With jail time
With raids on and theft from their homes
With the closing of their business
With them being unable to go to university
With being disrespected and counted as unclean
My heart aches for the Baha’is of Iran
Those who want to help their fellow man
Those who obey their government despite its injustices
Those who don’t lash out despite the cruelty they endure
We have been silent too long
What do we fear?
When a few minorities are discriminated against
Eventually many other groups will be as well
Because injustice like a virus spreads
It’s only antidote is the love and support of others
And speaking up for them
We are all one family
And our story is one

Dec 6th, 2023

Earthquakes and mountains

Dec3

There are no mountains without earthquakes

Tell me about your earthquake

Tell me what caused you to become a majestic mountain

Holding your head high

Yet as humble as the earth of which you are made of

The challenges of our lives 

Like earthquakes

Disrupt the normal state of affairs

They reshape the landscape of our spirit 

With a thunderous roar

They destroy the structures present

But in their wake

Arise magnificent mountains

A testament to the pain of destruction

And the rise of new formations 

Dec 3, 2024 

Sassy

Nov29

“Wait, wait, wait, don’t go

I need to tell you something

Just let me answer this call”

Said the receptionist at my Dr’s office 

…

“Your hair looks amazing

It’s sassy, it’s classy

It shows off your beautiful face

It looks amazing

Keep it like this”

I’ve heard this from many people 

They want me to keep my hair very short

This would not have happened had I not lost my hair due to chemo

I’ve always had hair to below my shoulders

Or up to my shoulders

So this is a big change 

But a welcome change 

No more blow drying and very low maintenance 

All challenges have a silver lining 

Nov 29, 2023

Native spirituality

Nov29

@fennellcheryl on instagram 

Tell me about native spirituality I asked

It’s all about living in harmony with each other, animals and plants and the natural world 

We are all one family

Here, we grow spiritually by being kind, serving others and working for peace and unity 

In the other worlds of God we continue to grow 

Life and death are on the same continuum 

The spirit is constant in both

We need to thank the creator for his bounties

We need to keep our oceans and rivers clean

We need to hunt sustainably 

And we need to heal from the wrongs done to us in the past

Art can play an important role in this healing

Art can bring people together and increase understanding 

Art can build a bridge between cultures

These are all aspects of living spiritually

Nov 29th, 2023

In conversation with Cheryl Fennell, artist and designer @fennellcheryl

Morning thoughts

Nov24

In the quiet of the morning

No sounds is heard but the faint tick tock of the clock on the wall 

It’s still dark outside

It’s me and a cup of Earl Grey tea in my red mug

And dried fruit in the beautiful blue Japanese bowl we got as a gift years ago

Both are on the silver tray my mother brought from Bosnia when she was there 

This tray has designs on it and reminds me of Persian copper trays

And their beautiful engravings

I feel content

But my mind is also busy with all the projects I have on the go

My volunteer work for the Baha’i community

My work for the Persian Art and Culture magazine

Both of which come with monthly deadlines

My writing and publishing

The work of running a house

And now, back to teaching Daphne English

After a year that I didn’t do so due to my treatments

My to-do list is always full

I cross a few items off and add a few more

But that’s life

And life needs to be full of worthwhile activities

I’m grateful and content

As I finish writing, I hear the clock go tick tock, tick tock

Nov 24, 2023

Resistance

Nov21

You insist on taking our rights away

Our right to wear what we want

Our right to dance in public 

Our right to voice our opinions without fear of reprisal

Our right to be the voice of other women 

Our right to be free

And yet we resist

There is no truing back

You lash out with the hijab police

We continue to walk without our headscarves

You imprison those who speak out

They continue their work in prison and win awards

You pass laws to increase the restrictions on us

We continue to do what we want

Women’s resistance may be quieter than that of men

But women are strong 

They don’t back down

Even if they are not demonstrating in the streets

They are still furthering their cause

And if you ask me 

Women will win this fight

Nov. 21, 2023

magical alphabet

Nov20

They look like writing

Beautiful, soulful, intricate strokes

But this alphabet was created by Lorraine Prichard

Inspired by the Tablets written in the hand writing of the Bab

A Holy soul in the East has influenced a receptive soul in the West

And the result is mesmerizing 

Never say, “They are easy to be reproduced”

There is a lot of precise moment, and astonishing artistry involved 

And Lorraine does this effortlessly 

Black strokes on a large, striking, yellow upside down triangle

White lines on a black rectangular background

And the list goes on

These creations come from a magical place

That we don’t often consider or think about

Nov. 19, 2023

After Lorraine’s studio exhibition