Maddie's Magic Rocks!

 It has been brought to my attention that their is another Rock Star from Kansas City who loves to collect rocks. Madison Lang has a condition known as Rhabdomyosarcoma ( a form of stomach cancer ).To help her cope with the news, family and friends began painting rocks and adding them to her garden.

“Everybody really wanted to chime in and send Maddie some rocks as she’s navigating this journey,” her father Zach said. The rocks feature words of hope, encouragement, and things that make Madison happy. Madison's mother, Lauren Lang, said the small, colorful rocks put a smile on her face. 

 She now has a rock garden that has grown since May, and as of August she has over three hundred hand-painted rocks in her collection! 

If you'd like to send a painted rock for her Rock Garden mail it to:

 7500 W. 151st Street, P.O. Box 23335, Overland Park, Kansas 66283

Below is The Magic Spinner rock sent her way. I hope she keeps this one by her bed at night.

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More, better or different?

     Today is August 28th, and the weather is finally cooling down a bit here in Calistoga. Later today, I will be seeing an art collector who has become a patron of my work for some time now. She lives in a community of warm-hearted people, otherwise known as a senior citizens.Her place is liveable, and somewhat aesthetically pleasing.

     Now that I've been seeking other horizons, my art work has evolved from small canvases (like the size of gift rocks, for instance) to actual canvases that would be somewhat larger. My goal is to eventually showcase work in a darkend gallery.The task of putting together a show or body of work that may be dubbed signature pieces, takes time.

Here is a link to a fellow artist who does what I think want to do for myself.

     His work is otherworldly. The painting he does reflects a lot of what i've wanted to achieve too, but I'm a long ways off even if the directon of optical illumination and the discovery of luminescent/fluorescent paint happens to be the medium of choice.

    I don't regret all the experiences I've had getting to where I am today. I've been able to acquire valuable skills in a quest for recognition and compensation.

    Personally, despite a long circuitous route involving addiction(s) and the life of a wannabe playboy, I doubt that anyone else would choose the pinball type of game my working life has been.

    The best employment salary I was able to secure rendered not more than thirteen dollars an hour, and those were the hospitality jobs that kept me motivated to stay long after I shoud have left.

 Pursuing the career of a serious artist is not all that it is cracked up to be. Keeping a roof over one's head, and staying fed is what every aspirant must focus on when beginning a journey of this type. Mine has been no exception.

Here is a sample of some work from the past:

A Debt of Gratitude

 It has come time for me to move on. Like I mentioned before, I've been participating in the Farmer's Market continuously, year-round for the past sixteen years. The dues have been paid, both figuratively and literally.The friends I've made there will always be in my heart. For starters, Karen Versosa, may she rest in peace. People like her have shown me the value of being patient, open-minded and respectful. All our townspeople have been blessed by the integrity of our market manager(s) and crew. Groundskeeper Ramon has been more dependable than an Olympic stopwatch every Saturday, rain or shine. Ed has filled the gap nicely as our new market manager, with a friendly smile and gracious attitude to match.There are far too many vendors to acknowledge individually, but they have all been kind and generous to a fault. 

    "But what about the rocks!?" you might say. Well, they are still available, and the one you recall may still be ready to ship.

     If you are reading this, chances are that you have received one of my business cards. If this is the case, just call or text me and i can get one out to you.The pricing is determined not by the size of the rock but the time spent in composition.Online payments are acceptable and within reason.

    Every one of these rocks are hand-selected in nature.These one-of-a-kind, hand-painted, glow-in-the-dark gift rocks are placed in a lovely draw-string bag which includes a UV keychain blacklight and an affirmation sheet which is useful during times of quiet reflection. The rocks are all clear coated in resin to where they are even safe to have in an aquarium, or outside in the garden.They are not really safe for young children without adult supervision.

Remember, these are not tchotchke items. They are heirloom place holders that can be passed on to the next person. Or even still... returned to the source where they emerged.These physical objects serve to ground you and assist you in focusing your attention on matters that matter.

Above under a UV light, and below under regular light

Spinning Rocks

    You often hear, "When one door closes another one opens". This phrase is intended to give me hope. Trusting this process can be a bit aggravating though. What if you find yourself between these two transition points? Sitting in the hallway can be a pretty curious motivational factor. Asking for assistance in finding what my next move is to be,is essential in moving my ass forward. 

    This is where i am at presently. I came up with an idea awhile ago that proved to be a lot of fun for people who came up to my booth at the Farmer's Market both in Calistoga and Sebastopol. It was kind of like a roulette wheel; insofar as it was a hand-spinning rock that if you were lucky, would point to an arrow on a plate where marked indicators would line up. If this occurred, you would win a rock! Many of the painted rocks were won this way by both adults and children.

    Needless to say, I've been at this rock business for quite awhile, and a whole assortment of ideas about what to do with painted rocks have come and gone. This one, however is sticking.This is also why I am taking a break from my weekly appearance at the farmer's market.

  Not long ago, a friend of mine gave me two powerful USB chargeable blacklights that included three distinctive features. It activated the phosphors and fluorescent paints on the rock so that it not only features colors that turn super bright when the light is shining, but also an array of glowing colors in the dark when the light is switched off. These features will display the rock under three seperate color perspectives.Many people over the years have already seen me showcase their Spirit Rocks with a device built with which people would look into,to see how their rock would appear in the pitch darkness 

    The new thing I've discovered was using the black light's strobe effect to produce a mesmerizing optical vortex from a design that was paint/drawn on the top of the rock.

To view this in pitch darkness is the best way to showcase the rock. I have a veiwer that looks like a bong, but in fact is the UV flashlight positioned on an angle at the top, and the hole next to it to observe the covered rock without any ambient light showing through.

This glowing, spinning rock experience can be fairly easy to reproduce

    First you must find a perfectly round and flat rock with no dimples or lopsidedness. Tough call, but entirely possible.Basalt rocks like these can be found on beaches if you take the time looking for them. Finding one you can hold in the small of your hand is preferable. 

    What you do now is to go find a small glass bobble like the kind you get at a garden supply shop. You know, the kind that fill containers that hold flowers. Using an industrial strength glue like a clear E6000™ will hold the bobble in place as you let it dry ( the tricky part is finding the exact center of gravity so that the rock will spin like a top ). 

    Once dry, you've got yourself a spinner. The glue by the way, can be obtained at most hardware or craft stores like Michaels™.

To get a USB-Ultra Violet strobe light, the best bet would be Amazon. 

    To paint mesmerizing dots and stripes on top I would recommend Citrine and Burnt Orange UV reactive paint,made by a company called Jacquard™. The best phosphorescent, glow in the dark paint is made by Technoglow™. A company called Tulip™ makes a user friendly glow in the dark puff paint. Now for the best quick drying clear coats there are Triplethick™, Krylon™ UV Resistant Clear Spray, or even Modge Podge™. All these products are great for decorating your rock and making it look professional.

    Below is spinner rock, others have appeared on this blog in the past. The reason I am sharing the process of making one for yourself, is that I welcome like-minded artists who like to fuel their fire with cool ideas and expanded art forms.Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or would like to show me one that you've made.

as always, may YOUR SPIRIT ROCK!

The rock below actually spins for about a minute. Enjoy! 

 

 

Be thee to whom

 Your Spirit Rocks began over 16 years ago this October. I've learned through the years that people have given me such great ideas and opportunities to serve the community in ways I would not have thought possible. 

    Painting rocks that glow in the dark has been a blast from the beginning. Initially, this little business took me to markets from Napa to Healdsburg, Occidental, Lake County, Sebastopol, St. Helena,Treasure Island, Shoreline Ampitheater even Hawaii !

    Suggestions people have made about what I might consider doing with the painted rocks has always intrigued me. This creative pursuit has helped me render everything from bottle stoppers, pendants, keychains, elf garden mushrooms, spinner rocks and mobiles. No two items are the same, and they are all hand-made in my studio where I live in Calistoga.

    People have given me rocks, and have even gone with me to different areas to collect rocks. Granted, the rocks preferred are usually flat, completely round or oval, no dimples and completely smooth. The rocks seem to choose me, and this happens after scouring over many a bag full at the end of the day. Truth be told, "I don't need any more rocks !"

    Lately, the classes I've taught has broadened my perspective. Although technically, what I do is considered a craft. The business card says, " Artist" which is put on my tax forms as my occupation. You can be the judge of that title.

    Every week is a new adventure which I look forward to, even if I look half-asleep when you stop by. It's always an honor to have patrons return to the source. Your Spirit Rocks ( my world ).

Below is this week's "Rock of the Week"

    

Creating from Nothing

 Imagining an experience and having an actual experience cannot be differentiated within the activity of the mind. If you really think that there is someone hiding behind your closet door and learn in fact, that it was just your imagination, your body and mind will generate the same response.If we are so inclined, your mind may tell you that it is just a child playing peek-a-boo, or perhaps even a burgular wanting to steal your valuables.Whatever the case, we will be in the process of making a continuing narrative out of the whole situation.

Our imagination is a powerful tool.Even when looking at an object and taking a pencil and trying to draw what we see;This is still a product of our imagination.Drawing from life is re-creating what we see.Unfortunately, Many times I find myself conjuring instead of creating when and what I draw.

    Our stream of consciousness can be like a raging river, which we would need to eddy out of; in order to stay focused. Even as this is written, Trying to think about what it is that you want to read or hear about is the aim of creative expression.

Staying curious is how best to approach matters.Too many distractions will have us dividing our attention. In order to make sense of things, expanding our vision to incude others can be quite challenging.That is why paying attention, and staying in the moment can generate more reasoable results.

If we were to say, "Don't think of pink elephants" you will probably get some idea of a pink elephant or Donald Trump in your mind.Now even if these concepts pop up in your mind, it does not mean you are unconcious, It just means that you have included something that may have been subliminal addition. The trick then, is coming back into cognition which may or may not return accordingly, depending upon the importance you give it.

Ideas formulate when we are activated by their importance. Creativity evlolves from nothing, and will only manifest itself by the importance attributed.

Below is this weeks "Rock of the Month"

Taking their time

 It is always inspiring to watch people engage in a project that involves steps. Preparing a rock to paint for instance. It is natural to want to paint something on a rock that is pleasing to the eye. But for starters, where do I find a good rock to paint?

    Good question. My preference is to go to the beach, and like a beach-combing drifter, I puruse the shoreline until I spot a smooth, flat, round and symetrical shaped rock with no dimples or blemishes... and I pick it up. I like to think that the rock chooses me in a sense.

    The next step is to add a base coat, be it black or white and then waiting for each side to dry which will usually occur if left out in the sun for about fifteen minutes. After this, many will take a pencil to sketch a little design on the rock... be it a flower, a dog or whatever. We have used a multitude  of mediums to transform these stones into beautiful keepsakes.

    Native Americans have a belief that rocks are our ancestors.The aboriginees of Australia also share in this belief. There is something to this in my opinion. Basalt rock is what you will usually find on the shores of the Pacific. People say they make nice "skipping" rocks. I'm careful when picking up rocks, especially if they happen to be my grandmother. 

Never mind.

    If you have been following this blog for awhile, you will see that I have been posting now for over sixteen years on a regular basis.So much has evolved since I first took a few rocks home to paint back in 2010 and I haven't looked back. They have served to be my "little canvases" over the years.

    Anyway, I now find myself wanting to pass this adventure along to others in the hopes that they too will come to enjoy an activity that serves to bring a lot of inner peace.

    Below are a few of the Rock Stars from the latest class I gave at the Calistoga Art Center on Thursday. 

Rock Painting 2.0

 Hi there! Another Rock Painting workshop will be taking place at the Calistoga Art Center.

https://calistogaartcenter.org/

If you are a local you can attend this class  for free, However, this is for anyone over 50.

Space is limited so jump in if you are interested. 

MUST REGISTER to attend by calling Parks & Rec: 707 942 2838 or use link below:

https://cityofcalistoga.perfectmind.com/24305/Clients/BookMe4BookingPages/BookingCoursesPage?calendarId=ca1df1a4-fc53-4370-9266-f55ff446fbfb&widgetId=0f96be40-850d-452e-8477-77a6e828ae8d&embed=False

In this class I will be exploring other methods and materials for creating a keepsake jewel of a rock. I will be using materials such as:

Tulip™ Puff Paints ( from Amazon or Michael's Craft Stores )

Jacquard™ Luminaire Metallic Acrylic

Modge Podge™ gloss lustre acrylic sealer

Triple Thick™ clear coat for the finish gloss

You are welcome to bring your own supplies, rocks, brushes, etc.

This will be a more thorough class, insofar as we will be using materials that were not shown in the Rock Painting 1.0 group. So we look forward to seeing what you can do with these new items and methods.

This or something better

  "This or something better is now manifesting for me in my life, in totally satisfying ways for the highest good of all concerned."

~Shakti Gawain~

                                                    This affirmation has served me well throughout the years, and continues to do so. Whenever I am falling into survival mode, it is time to pause and reflect on those times where people that have been there for me. These events haven't always been positive experiences, that is for certain. Most of my personal growth, both emotionally and psychologically have come slowly. Several oppurtunities and lessons that my Higher Power had in store for me, were easily overlooked and missed as a result of my own self-centered behavior. However, things can turn around.

    The Spirit Rocks that I sell have been an example of this. Being out of a job and having no foreseeable future, I found myself looking out over the Pacific Ocean from a remote beach. Perhaps I will end up as a drifter, skipping rocks along the shore. Or perhaps an artist living in my own pad like a bohemian. Then it occured to me looking at these smooth shaped rocks. That's it ! I can paint on these small little canvases and maybe generate an income doing this!

    Today I have a life I've hoped for, living in a town that is equivalent to Mayberry, and countless friends who have always been there for me. I have everything I need, and need everything I have. Materially, settling for less has served a better purpose, although it hasn't been without a bigger price to pay. I just wanted to grow up to be hip, and to be loved.

    Having achieved this dubious and yet illusive goal, it is obvious to me now, that change is the rule and not the exception in life.Whether to go forth willingly or unwillingly is always the question to be addressed. Just for today, I won't hold back.Thy will, not mine, be done.

    Below is a sample of what has been called "The Rock of the Week" even if this hasn't always been the case.I have been a bit lazy as I've grown older. 

         Enjoy!

Not a goner

 Last week at the Market, a local Latina lady came by the booth with a friend. She showed me this glass sun ornament with a dark blue color. She expressed that she wanted to have a nylon chord attached to the item so that it could be hung from a kitchen window. I figured that to be an easy enough challenge, so I said that I would have it done in a matter of minutes. All this while she and her friend went on to purchase some vegetables.

    During their absence, I clumsily dropped this pretty sun ornament and it broke into pieces. Luckily, it was a clean break, but still, it was going to be hard to explain this accident to her and her friend Carmen.When both returned to see if the chord I supposedly and successfully had attached to the glass piece was not ready, it was going to be painful to explain how it just fell out of my hands and crashed on the ground.

    To my surprise, she graciously forgave me and said that I shouldn't worry about it. This response was not anticipated,nor was it how I wanted the story to end. 

    After some profuse apologies, She was told that it would be repaired as best as it could be, and to come back the next Saturday to pick it up.Naturally, I began to envision the possible difficulties that could occur when putting a project like this back together.

    It turned out to be a lot easier than first expected. I used a quick, one-step resin to bind the pieces together, and it worked! Then the next step got my creative juices pumping, so the decorating began to evolve. The pictures below show the finished project and the glowing face for what would then come to be another satisfied Rock Star.

Fun Stuff

 Okay, I was spending too much time on the internet ( as usual ) and discovered this cool site that will take your name and transpose it into images taken from space to form it's spelling. Just go to this site and enter a name...

https://science.nasa.gov/specials/your-name-in-landsat/

For fun, I tried the name, "Your Spirit Rocks" and this is what came on the screen.It never ceases to amaze me what is possible to create and have appear online nowadays. In fact, the word "Amazing" as descriptive adjective is perhaps wearing a little thin . Let's just say it's... uh, "Interesting". Nevertheless, I like to be the first kid on the block to discover this sort of thing 😁

Staying true to the purpose of this blog, I am committed to showcasing the "Rock of the Week" which in all honesty, does not always appear fifty-two times a year. Maybe at most, twenty. Anyway, here is this week's rock of the week. It's my little, glow in the dark alien rock. Ain't he cute?

Pursuing Beauty

    This idea of pursuing beauty takes into account many views and perspectives. Suffice to say that in our experience one may find some object or idea particularly beautiful, while another may find the exact same point of view particularly repulsive or even grotesque.Is the concept of beauty a shared belief or is it even measurable? If one is behelden to beauty does that diminish it's value? What exactly do i mean when I say that something is beautiful? Perhaps it can be argued that just get's gotten.

    Many have seen the movie a few years back, called "American Beauty" ( appropriately named ) where during the film a young man is showing a friend a video he has made of a plastic bag gyrating in the wind in what could be described as a dance . The character is so taken by this visual display that he begins to tear up.It was a very moving scene in which this character who was initially thought of to be a voyeur until, the girl he's been watching begins to befriend him. 

    The effect of beauty can both be attractive and revealing in it's ability to expose and mesmerize.This feeling of beauty speaks volumes. When I hear someone say, "That's beautiful" I try not to question their observation. Just to say "Thank you" will say it all

Drawing from the past

     Even though these rocks were recently painted, when they got finished they become past. We always draw from our past experiences in order to create what is to come.This idea begs to question,"What value is it ,when we attempt to maintain and control our future by relying on our past experiences?" Must synapsis be formed and left to die without any hope of reformation? Things live on, or they don't.Without getting too philosophical, suffice to say that things will transform but the Spirit lives on.That's what I love about painting rocks.History will repeat itself, until it doesn't.

    Trips to the beach to collect rocks that are carefully chosen to be decorated or adorned,are a natural high. The ocean tumbles most rocks into smooth,mostly symetrical shapes.Every rock seems to have it's own personality after having been around for ions. Occasional dimples or sharp edges get worn down over time,and what remains of the basalt ( which are the main type of rock I use to paint ) is a quasi-absorbent surface that acrylic paint takes to very easily.

    The designs come from ideas about what will fit the rock. Base colors of black or white, then metallics, puff paint, sparkles, crackles, resin and invisible ink will follow. Occasionally, the dots of a fluorescent gel pen will be used to add little flourishes. No two rocks are the same, although designs have been repeated that have been proven to be successful.

Fun making Mobiles

 Everyone gathered at the Calistoga Art Center of the second workshop sponsored by the Park and Rec. Dept. this one was how to make a mobile using old CD's , Plexiglass pieces and glass bobbles with metallic vinyl flourishes. The tricky part was the drilling of holes and inserting the fishing spinners along with the hooks to hang them with. Decorating the CD's was pretty self explanatory, but the glue and puff paint had to dry which presented a bit of a snafu. All in all, things went pretty well and all the participants seemed happy with what they produced. Below is a picture of some of the ladies that came by.

Something a little different

Thursday, March 5th. This is a workshop that will ony last a couple of hours but hopefully it will turn out to be an enjoyable time spent making wind mobiles. The fun thing about this is that we will be using old CD's and pieces of plexiglas. Naturally, you will get the bling during the day and the glow factor at night ( but then again, only with a UV blacklight which most of you know is a favorite device of mine ). The event is being held at our local art center which provides lots of space for all our creative endeavors.Anna Johannsen is a gifted and conscientous director and she always seems to have her hands full. I hope that the people that attend will find the experience to their liking. Below are samples of what one might expect as a finished piece.

Hearts a Plenty

 Having Friday the 13th coming before Valentine's day is a curious thing. Trying not to be superstitious, it still can be said that I was a bit hypervigilant that day. There was so much to be done and timing was essential in having things run smoothly.Two things were demanding my attention. One was the rock painting class to be held in St. Helena beginning at five p.m. The other was a Mardi Gras/Birthday party beginning at six (which was an invitation I was not going to decline ). So, what the heck... Just be fashionably late which turned out to be okay, because others were too.

    The rock painting class went smoothly and the participants included two young people who had their parents joining them in a creative activity. After an introduction and presenting a basic methods and materials overview, we got started. Some were ready to jump ahead in using whatever materials were available.Having brought a set of Posca™ Pens proved to be helpful for myself and others in drawing something representational on the rock. Hearts were a popular motif, given the upcoming sweetfest.

    Halfway through the two hour class, one of the young art novices had the misfortune of having her rock painting smudged when mom reached over to retrieve something on the table to facilitate her own creation.Suddenly, it became clear that hurt feelings and a sense of frustration overtook a project that had begun on such an enthusiastic note.

She ended up going outside to regroup, and my attempts to bring her back in weren't helping.Time takes time. 

    Eventually, she did come back in but remained quiet.Others attempted to redecorate the rock or at least bring it back to some semblance of cohesiveness. A Nice try but... No. This project was destined to be abandoned.Mom's attempts at reconciliation did not redeem the situation either, but things did turn around.

    One hope I had at having things end on a positive note was to offer her the rock that I had painted after requesting a straight across trade for her "former" rock. The deal was made, the class ended and most were pleased with their own personalized rock.

    Lastly, I did make it to the Mardi Gras party, and it turned out to be a fabulous feast. Our neighbors, Carmen and Tom turned their house into a New Orleans showcase along with several guests arriving in bedazzled attire.The Lobster, Shrimp and Crawdads were over the top delicious! These folks really know how to do it up.

Thanks to Amy, Alex,Elvie and all the "Rock Starrs" from the Art Collective.

Then...Having a Happy Mardi Gras/Birthday Celebration at Tom and Carmen's house

Episode 41

 The picture below is from a photo I saw about the Kiluea volcano that is currently erupting on the Big Island in Hawaii. My neice Elizabeth has had the residue floating down from the sky over her home for some time now. It is like fiberglass or so I am told. This has been quite an adventure that has been going on for some time now. January has witnessed several episodes that are now up in the 40's. Facebook has been keeping us updated on it's progress.

2026, Oh yea. Happy happy. I'm going to just write (or type) using a stream of conciousness in expressing stuff. Everything that pops into my head is in some way trying to formulate ideas that can be modified or made into something tangible. I can envision, manipulate or create from nothing. So can you. Recently the Calistoga Art Center has invited me to feature another workshop about creating mobiles. It sounds like fun, and I'm looking forward to it. It will be happening on March 5th, so there is still time to enroll through Park and Recs, if you are interested in attending.

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching, so I've taken some time making a few dazzlers for your sweetie. The flip side has hearts emblazzoned with another heart motif in invisible ink, just for that extra surprise.These will be on sale at this Saturday's Farmer's Market in Calistoga, so come on by and claim yours!

Kiluea was done with watercolor and Prismacolor pencils. So you can see that rock painting isn't my only passion. But hey, the rocks are still bringing home the bacon.

Below are the "Rocks of the Week"

More Rock Stars

Today the Calistoga Art Center featured another Rock Painting Class. The turn out was great ! There was even another male besides myself that helped round things out. The group showed up close to 10am and everyone got a name tag to make it easier to get acquainted. There were plenty of supplies on hand, and most everyone were given two rocks to paint.

When the class began I mentioned that we had a few who had attended a class I had before, and as some people raised their hands, we called the class "Rock Painting 101" for the newcomers, and the oldtimers were seasoned veterans to be considered as "Rock Painting 2.0" . When I said oldtimers, someone thought I had said Alzheimers, and wanted correction. This got a laugh and then a few others giggled and raised their hands. It was a fun group and we got started right on time.

No one was taking themselves too seriously. Everyone started with a rock which they painted with a base coat. The next step was tricky because the acrylic paint had to dry before adding the puff paint, which is also acrylic. Many of the participants were getting streaks in the paint after applying too much, or the rocks already painted were not dry enough. Thankfully, we found that one of the heaters in the room was blowing hot air onto a table.Then, after locating a hair dryer, we solved that problem.

The next step was applying dots to the rock without having the puff paint spit or blob out of the container.Mistakes were made but all in all, designs began to emerge. Some folks painted figures like trees flowers or birds. Others got into make mandala patterns. When this was completed, we took the rocks outside into the sunshine to spray coat the rock with a clear UV varnish. That was it.

Everyone remarked about how much fun it was and expressed interest in coming back to the next event.

Below are pictures of the participants...

Amy, Alex and Jen ~ The assistants and fellow Rock Stars

Susan and her two lovely creations

Rocks drying in the sun after receiving a clear coat of varnish

Everyone getting into the rock "Zone" 

      

Deborah's Fish, "Fiona" 

                                                                                                                                                                

                                            

Amy and Alex's glowing rocks 

An Inside Job

      If you were to ask me what is the most charged word in the English language, I would have to say self. It's been said that if we can find joy in another's joy, and that is the secret to happiness. The opposite can also be true. To seek joy in what we perceive to be our selves may hold the answer to some of life's most puzzling questions. What is this thing called joy, and is it a thing?

 Acceptance has been the key to having things be other than the way they seem to be, but it has to start with accepting things exactly the way that they are, and the way they are not. Otherwise, we will only sabotage attempts at getting to acceptance, and eventual growth.

Perhaps we are already in the state of ecstasy, and we suppress it to a level with which we are comfortable. Hmmmm...

Having outside appearances can fool ourselves and others, whether they be physical or psychological. Staying curious about these appearances will reveal more about our own perception.

    Begin by telling your self the truth about feelings (i.e. choose to experience the experience) Don't fool your self into thinking you don't have a choice in this regard. You do, even if you have convinced your self that you don't. 

Seeking will run you in circles until you find surcease, or until you find someone who shares your journey.

Ultimately, all things will pass, and you will probably grow more mature from having had an experienced experience . This "ah-ha" realisation has assisted me in finding stability and security where I would otherwise be trying to seek these states of being outside of my self. All the more reason to go within.

It is true that others will mirror back to us what we mostly don't like in ourselves, as well as what we do.

The truth contains it's opposite ( is this always a balancing act? )

Below is this week's "Rock of the Week" . It is a tribute to the Wolf Moon which is a super moon occurring during the first week of the new year.

More Rock Stars!

 It was a lot of fun getting together to paint rocks last Friday.Claire Elise Barton provided the ideal space for this holiday event. The workshop lasted for around two hours but a lot of information was packed in, along with a list of supplies that many of the artists found useful. Tea, candy and cookies were provided to sweeten the experience. Those that arrived were very much enthusiastic about getting started and were quick to jump into the process.

We began by painting the rocks with a base coat of black or white. Holding the rocks by the sides was tricky when trying to figure out a way to cover the whole rock without leaving fingerprints that had to be painted over when the first coat dried. Needless to say, this was a learning process.

The next stage, was applying the various colors and designs using a high quality metallic acrylic that really made these stones glisten. The next stage was the puff paint which came in the two varieties... flourescent  and phosphorescent . Do you know the difference? ( There will be a test later )

Lastly after extensive drying using heat guns, it was suggested that we use a selection of clear coat varnishes to complete the project. This step would be applied the next day when the stones would be bone dry ( hopefully). In any event, everyone carefully took their rocks home with them in the hopes of having a nice keepsake to pass on or have for themselves.

Merry Christmas to Alex, Chloe, Marrs, Kathy, Claire and the Starrs Art Collective for a joyous evening.