Heaven & Earth Through An Artist's Eyes

Paintings by Roderick MacIver,

artist & founder of Heron Dance - a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

After a short visit to Heron Dance tonight, I learned a little bit about Rod's amazing and well documented artistic journey, his spiritual journey and was completely drawn in! I admire his life-long connection with the natural world as I, too, gain sustenance from it and have also been deeply touched by his generosity and faith! His company is unique, in that it serves through its donation to other nonprofits and direct support of wilderness protection!!

On his fascinating website, I learned that he's just published his 55th (or 56th) newsletter using a format which combines ::JOURNALING & MEDITATION:: Rod says that he has used the same technique to develop resourcefulness and survive cancer!! A must read!

He also developed The Heron Dance Journaling Project proposing that the reader write out the core beliefs by which he or she has tried to live life, and then suggested forty four questions or issues that could be considered in thinking carefully through the future course of one’s life.

You can also visit Heron Dance to sign up for a FREE weekly e-newsletter, called A Pause For Beauty, sent to 25,000 people "containing a new painting and either a short essay or a poem on the beauty and mystery of the natural world and of life itself. It is intended to be a reminder of things are often overlooked but that have the potential to add satisfaction and peace to a human life."

Lastly, I was stunned & thrilled to see this extensive list of ART DONATIONS to non-profits and wilderness protection efforts! Please take a few moments and follow the main link, above. RE-LAX & ENJOY the many talents of Rod MacIver!

~ Mr. MacIver, I salute you for not only sharing your journey but for being an example of how to live your BEST LIFE. And my most sincere wish for you is that you continue to find S.E.R.E.N.I.T.Y and I.N.N.E.R. P.E.A.C.E. along your journey "to the center!" ~

Pure Poetry

The following Artist Statement was taken from Maralena Howard's website.

"Painting so deeply the secret selves.
If found by another who claims one as their own - I am at peace.

Generally sexless, neither male nor female.
I strive for the pure connection.

That IS the ultimate goal.

I sit with empty space (canvas and non-intention).
Silence and emptiness takes its own direction.
Color finds its way in, out, over, under, through and through.
Sometimes staying until the end and other times a short visit before it leaves
or morphs into a new existence.

The works hold many layers.
Some perfect, others scratched and marred.
Harmony and discord build upon the other much like life itself.

Nothing is so simple that it loses its pure voice.
Truth presents itself without permission.
In the end, empty decides what fills it.

Now - is where this art will take us."

~Maralena Howard

... please take a moment to drop by this talented friend and artist's
website
blog
flickr

Faith, Family & Friends

Early this summer my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. We have had some good days, when we've been closer than ever and some really ROUGH ones, when we questioned everything! And, like anyone who has received a similar diagnosis for someone you love, it's been a roller-coaster ride ---- like nothing I've ever experienced!

It gets pretty frightening when someone you love, wakes you up one morning with a kiss before leaving for work, and says "Hun, I'm scared!"

Dan is my hero in many ways. Last month I learned that he (Mr. Private - Mr. I Leave My Personal Life At Home) decided to CALL A MEETING at work to tell his employees and his manager that he has cancer. He explained that he'd been given a great prognosis then asked that "no one leave the room with their head down because I need your positive thoughts and prayers." Afterwords, several people told him that by being so open, he would touch many lives. Already we know that one person, in particular, was delaying a blood test and scheduled one immediately! This was wonderful news & music to our ears. Dan's action demonstrated how quickly a support network grows when you're not afraid to speak what is in your heart!

After major open surgery for a Radical Prostatectomy on July 29th, 5 days in the hospital and 3 pretty hairy days at home this past week, we received the news that his patholgy report came back "organ confined." It was and is the best news we could've hoped for! Lots of (careful) celebrating here.... OUCH! in between naps (lol), delicious home-cooked meals,

BUNCHES of Tender Loving Care

and so many cards, phone calls, deliveries, good wishes, meals dropped off and several visits! We are ever-so-grateful for this AMAZING CIRCLE OF LOVE! We have no doubt that what got us to this point is all of the above plus our faith in god and our deep, abiding love for each other!
~
UPDATE: Being a lover of words, I purchased a set of Healing Word Magnets (or you can shop here). This is what I found spelled out this morning by my dear husband:

pure gratitude
disease free
feel relief
grow new love
rest and mend

I really, really love you Dan. With all of my heart!

P.S. No more hospital food.