Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays to all “A Kiss Of Bliss” followers.
I want to redirect you to my Hearts That Care blog as that is where I am currently active. I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you will follow me over to Hearts That Care for my latest positive messages and expressions of my heart. Thank you so very much!! ♥ Dr. Angi
Too often we put limits on ourselves as we try to define who we are. In an era of branding ourselves, I believe we are putting limits on who we can become. Last month I focused on “New Beginnings” and did many art instructional videos…see link… as I explored various art techniques.
Although it was fun to make the videos, it was also confining and limited me. I became remiss in keeping up with my writing and other activities that I enjoy and wanted to do. This month I am going to break my mold, as I expand and spread my wings to see how magnificent I can become. I encourage each of my friends, family members and followers to do the same. Time to cut loose the ropes (brands/definitions) that bind us and test different waters.
As we kickoff a new school year in my hometown, I like to give myself a clean slate… A NEW BEGINNING. Starting Monday, September 1st, I am challenging myself to create consistently and regularly in many areas of my life. I will be expanding my imaginative spirit in art, writing and grate-full living. I plan on documenting my progress this year in writing, in expressive art, in photography and video.
The THEME I have chosen for SEPTEMBER is NEW BEGINNINGS; and the prompt for week 1 is: EXPLORING LINES.
As I embark on this creative journey, I will share my writing and grate-full living experiences here on A Kiss of Bliss; and, I will share my artwork and art techniques on Blissful Art.
You are invited to join me. You can share your progress in the comments here on my blog or join my Facebook group – Art, Buddies And Creativity: www.facebook.com/groups/ArtBuddiesAndCreativity. You can also subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/AKOrobko where I will be posting videos of my journey. Here is the link to the kickoff video of this challenge: http://youtu.be/YCODHqqsi-I?list=PLoCvvdbjmEyUfbBSUEXvqHU4v1uRSTGHm
When is the last time you let your soul out to play?
We know that as human beings, we are a mix of Mind, Body and Spirit; each of these aspects of self can be activated through fun experiences. When we follow our heart, passion becomes activation in remembering more of who we are and why we are here. Play is one of the best teachers ever because it is experiential and activates our inner passions.
When small children play; they are immersed in the moment, in full focus passion. Children are experts at play! People of all ages seek fun but too often, not often enough! Fun is something to be squeezed into our busy schedules. Typically, as adults, we schedule play in the form of vacations, organized sports, or some other ‘destination’.
SoulPlay is an invitation to another way of living in the flow of what our souls know. From this happy place, we are free to be more fully expressed and fulfilled in all areas of our lives.
My friend, Laurie Story Vela, has successfully woven aspects of play and passion in her literacy work found at Creative Spirit Families. Her latest endeavor is an amazing online summer camp that mixes the arts with Spirit play. SoulPlay is a groundbreaking, online experience that invites
all ages to flow their divine essence as Love expressed and PLAY! This 21 day event is chock full of inspirational, imaginational invitations from an awesome assortment of cultural and healing arts presented by an array of authors, artists, musicians, teachers, and soul reachers, aka Camp Counselors.
I am the camp heART counselor in the online SoulPlay TeleSummer Camp airing next Saturday, beginning August 9th, 2014. You will find me sprinkled throughout the 21 day Camp sharing my own passions with creativity, color, paint and inner treasure mapping. Find out more about the camp, meet the Camp Counselors, and register here for this free camp today.
http://creativespiritfamilies.com/SoulPlayCamp.html
Experience the joy & freedom that comes when you let your soul out to play!
Teachers come in many forms. You have your traditional classroom teachers and then you have people, situations and events in your life, which may teach you life lessons. These teachers in our lives are very important whether they be people, situations or events, because they help us to experience things and gain wisdom. I deeply appreciate all the different and unexpected teachers in my life.
Some came in the form of heart breaks, natural disasters and embarrassing situations; and, others came in the form of significant people in my life including traditional teachers. I am grateful for the bullies who taunted me, because they taught me resilience. I am grateful for the fears in my life, because they taught me courage. I am grateful for the wants and desires in my life, because they taught me patience. Every life lesson had a teacher for whom and which I value and appreciate.
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays of the year next to Christmas. I enjoy dressing up and all the spooky sights. I feel Halloween gives us permission to be a bit mischievous and a whole lot of playful.
I appreciate how Halloween comes at the end of October as the nights grow longer and the air a bit cooler, as it brings us closer to winter. We are going from a time of harvest and plenitude to a time of scarcity and reduction. Life is transitioning to death as we approach the end of another year. Of course, this is all geographically dependent to the northern hemisphere.
In the southern hemisphere, it is springtime transitioning to summer; and many of the Halloween traditions such as bonfires and Jack-o-Lanterns make no sense. However, I believe Halloween is also celebrated in various countries below the equator, where there is strong European and American influences. Halloween has quite a history…here is an excerpt from the History Channel:
Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. (http://www.history.com/topics/halloween)
I would encourage you to read more about it from the aforementioned website; it is fascinating. Halloween is a fun time often filled with mystery and superstition. And, I for one appreciate it for both the lighthearted fun as well as a reminder that winter is approaching (in my part of the world).
In the words of Andrew Jackson, “I will speak ill of no one, and speak all the good I know of everybody.”
Andrew Jackson knew the power of words, as did many great people in our history. Currently, more and more people are aware of the power of words. October 1st kicks off National Bullying Prevention Month, in which PACER – Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights has led the way ((http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/).
I am very passionate about overcoming bullying. Bullying is no longer about the big kid stealing the little kid’s lunch money. It is so much more involved and dynamic; furthermore, with the help of technology has crept into the realm of cyberspace aka cyberbullying.
Words indeed become quite powerful. The digital age makes it so very easy. It is my hope that we can use words to bring more love and kindness into our immediate environments. Let us use our power of words to heal, not hurt. Let us serve as an example to those who do not know any better, namely our children. Spread news that is good. Share words that is helpful. Let us put into practice T-H-I-N-K:
We also need to remember to be gentle with our own selves. I know I have bullied myself at times when I am feeling upset or sad, especially when I have felt like I could have done better, looked better, be better, etc. I need to remember that I am perfectly imperfect and wonderful just as I am. I do not need to berate myself with words, when I have made a mistake. I will ultimately grow and develop from the mistake, as long as I learn from it. Each of our experiences: good or bad, success or failure, happy or sad, will help us. Reflect and learn is a positive way to use these events in our lives. Remember, words have power!
Since today is Independence Day, I am re-posting an acrostic poem I composed last year; however, the artwork above is brand new. I just painted it a few hours ago…
It is a time for
Nationalism by honoring our
Democracy, Independence, Liberty and
Equal rights.
Patriotism bounds as we participate in parades,
Enjoy cookouts and watch fireworks.
Never letting go of the American
Dream, this
Awesome
Nation is able to
Celebrate and
Embrace freedom.
Daring to be…
Amazing and free…
You and me.
Happy Independence Day! I am proud and delighted to be a citizen of the United States of America. I appreciate where I live and feel blessed to be born here. In all my travels, I have seen wonderful cultures and countries; however, I have not found another that surpasses the United States. We are truly free to be whomever we wish to be; and, have access to so many opportunities! God Bless America!
As a creativity/ life coach and anti-bullying specialist, I have come across many who wish to liberate themselves from their self-doubt and fears, because they come to me for inspiration and guidance. Are you ready to be free and independent of doubt and fear? I am currently offering an amazing summer program, heART Splash, which will help you to splash into your creativity and delve into your inner treasures that will boost your confidence and liberate you from your insecurities. <www.HeartsThatCare.net>
“Ready to Create a Successful Life?”
“I’m excited to show you “Step by Step” how YOU can Focus on Your Dreams….Prioritize them….and ACHIEVE THEM!!!
Participants of HeART Splash will be invited to an EXCLUSIVE GROUP on a PRIVATE social site ran by Hearts That Care called Positively Empowered People. This program will run until Monday, September 2, 2013 (Labor Day); however, downloadable materials will be available until Monday September 1, 2014 (Labor Day)
Please e-mail: Dr. Angi (admin@heartsthatcare.net) to register.
What do Albert Einstein and Pi have in common? March 14 is both Albert Einstein’s birthday and it is Pi (π) Day!
Einstein was born March 14, 1879, which would make him 134 years old if he were still alive! And Pi is celebrated on March 14 because it is the first few digits in the number Pi (3.14).
Pi π -Number. The number π is a mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, and is approximately equal to 3.14159. Wikipedia
Ah, yes, we are in the Christmas season that kicked off yesterday, December 25 and continues until the evening of January 5 with the eve of Epiphany. It is unfortunate that the first day of Christmas ends the Christmas marketing season for merchants, as shown by the number of “after-Christmas sales” that launched today, December 26. The commercial calendar has encouraged an incorrect assumption that the Twelve Days end on Christmas Day and must begin on 14 December (Wikipedia).
I still celebrate the liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas accordingly. Many people who observe the Twelve Days may give gifts on each of them, with each day of the Twelve Days representing a wish for a corresponding month of the new year. They feast and otherwise celebrate the entire time through Epiphany morning. Other traditions include: lighting a candle for each day, burning a Yule Log on the first night (Christmas night) and let it burn some each of the twelve nights, and having traditional foods served each night (Wikipedia).
For me and my family, we enjoy our time together listening to Christmas Carols, sharing conversation and leftovers, and reminiscing over Christmases past. We also partake in the “after-Christmas” sales and plan for the New Year. For some, Twelfth Night (January 5th) remains the biggest night for parties and gift-giving. Some households exchange gifts on the first (25 December) and last (5 January) days of the season. As in olden days, Twelfth Night to Epiphany morning is then the traditional time to take down the Christmas tree and decorations (Wikipedia).
Truth be told, our Christmas tree often stayed up until my sister’s birthday, which is just before mid-January. And, since we use an artificial tree, we could theoretically have the tree up all year and simply change the decorations to reflect the changing seasons (Valentine tree, St. Patrick’s day tree, Spring tree, Easter tree, and so on). We can choose to celebrate Christmas, love and light anyway we wish; but, the best way to keep Christmas and love in our hearts, is to give a bit of ourselves to others everyday of the year with the gift of kindness and compassion, whenever the opportunity presents itself. Merry Christmas!
A Kiss Of Bliss 