Expression: Unfolding

Musing...

"When clutches of the "self" break away, they clap their hands and break into dance as their imperfections fade away. The musicians within strike the tambourine, and the seas burst into foam at their ecstasy." ~ Rumi

Charise’s Turn:

There are so many ways to release the "clutches of "self" " for expression. My friend and colleague Nina Sichel, author and editor of two books on third culture kids (Writing Out of Limbo and Unrooted Childhoods), teaches writing classes with a non-competitive, supportive approach. She is witnessing first hand the power of memoir writing. Memoir opens people up to self-discovery, she says. And Barbara Turner-Vesselago, author of Freefall: Writing Without a Parachute, advocates going "fearward" to write exactly what you fear to write because that has energy. These are ways of unfolding what we hold tight to ourselves -- sometimes a burden from the past, a weight or charge of emotion attached to events of our lives.

If you take SynergyYoga with me, or SynergyDance from Charmaine Lee, you will engage in an unfolding arm movement which isn't a stretch or a reach. It's moving through the joints, letting movement rise wave-like through shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, fingers. It allows for sequencing, receptivity, softness. It's the antithesis of grasping and lends a quality of release, trust, openness at a very intimate level with your own body based being-ness. You feel connected to a pulsation of life all the way through to the tips of your fingers.

“Do not live in the shadow of the masters for ever. Learn to live in the light of your soul. Life deserves full expression.” ~ Amit Ray

Get Fired Up:
Unfolding is a process but the beginning is a purposeful impulse or action. Lift your arm from your shoulder first; pick up the pen and paper or open the computer to write; sign up for a class that appeals to you and draws you into more full expression...hit the tambourine!

www.coachingmoves.com

Expression: Angels Unawares

Musing… 

"The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never have otherwise occurred… unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way." 
~ W.H. Murray

Expression implies action….taking your creative idea into form. And the moment you commit to move forward, the powers that be rally on your behalf, supporting your energy in ways greater than you ever imagined. You might find yourself saying “I never thought it would have turned out this way if it hadn’t been for…..” Releasing an attachment to a specific outcome creates space for these energies to expotentially expand your expression.

Kate’s Turn:   

These energies showing up in my creative process always seem like miracles to me, proof that I am being led by grace. My most recent occurrence was an invitation to do some work in an agency that works with immigrants from Somalia; this happened right after I had been saying “How can I have more culture in my life?” Another was when I was writing a speech on brain health, wanting to learn how to juggle in order to use this as an audio visual in the speech, and the home I visited shortly thereafter had a set of juggling balls for me to practice with. In watercolor painting, these moments are called “happy accidents” for the plan never included the actual way the piece evolved. Staying open as we honor the process allows for the larger energies to influence the final work. 

My friend, Carol Ann, who created the glass angel pictured here, began her glass fusion work creating earrings. Then she made glass dishes and plates, and she continues to get requests to create them for others. And in her expanding energies, she made a large glass mermaid for her garden, as well as this angel. It offers a lovely metaphor for the subtle, seemingly silent energies that are available to us, as we honor both our inner passion and the outer influences of our creative expression. These energies are like angels, in that they are always available to help us carry out our creative expression, if only we are open enough to entertain them in our process.

Get Fired Up:

When have you experienced being led by grace (angels)? How can you both follow your passion and remain open to Providence offering “more than you had ever imagined”? Be sure to take the steps of commitment… and then marvel at how Providence offers you Its gifts.

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:  for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." 

 –  Hebrews 13:2

www.kroskalifecoaching.com