~ NEW CREATIVITY FINDS ~

Creative Serendipities!

First, I found Zen Tangles which is what these pictures are about. The method is like Zen ~ keeping it simple. Four dots on 3x3 "tile" ~ (paper) ~ connect the dots creating a "frame" and with pencil create a string (design) then drawing with pen, creating shapes one pen stroke at a time. Voila.

There is another one on my other blog http://acreativeharbor.blogspot.com

Second ~ A Book entitled STANDING AT WATER'S EDGE by Anne Paris,Phd. ~ subtitle "Moving Past Fear, Blocks and Pitfalls to Discover the Power of Creative Immersion. ~ See this following blog: musings from the moonrom.typepad.com for more information or to join into a discussion about this book.

Hugs and namaste,

Carol ~ & "Boss Dogs"

~ HEART INSPIRED ~

~ HEART INSPIRED ~

This miniature painting was truly "heart inspired" by doing a method of "doodling" called Zentangles. The method of Zentangles provides me with meditative and creative energy that allows me to center and focus and "be in the moment" pen stroke by pen stroke.

Heart Inspired is approximately one and three quarter inches by one and three eighths. The frame itself is approximately 2 1/2 x 2 1/2" and (covered with paper and magnetized) and then painted. The artwork was created by drawing with pen and ink and painting with Derwent Inkintense Watercolored Pencils.

I painted 4 of these stylized hearts ~ I kept one and sold one and will probably use the other 2 for gifts. I will continue to draw and paint with simple images until my supply of these type frames are depleted. Whether I continue with more, I will rely on the "spirit" to guide me. Enjoy.

Hugs & namaste,

Carol & "Boss dogs"

CHAKRAS and CREATIVITY

~ CROWN CHAKRA~

This the last in a series of discussions about chakras and their relationship to creativity. Hope you have enjoyed this series along with the experiment in "encaustic art".

The Crown Chakra is the final one in the major chakra centers, also known by many other names, one of which is Sahasruna, is located the top of the head. Its energy color is violet or purple and this chakra symbolizes the balance of duality within us and our ability to experience super-consciousness, as well as the bliss of transcendental consciousness. Meditation, perhaps, is the best way to experience and understand these states of consciousness.

Physiologically, this chakra impacts the entire nervous system and the entire skeletal system of the body. If the Crown Center becomes imbalanced, either over or under active, behaviors that might be exhibited are as follows:

Overactive ~ intense erotic imagination, needing to feel popular, indispensable and needing sympathy.

Underactive ~ perhaps feeling misunderstood, feeling shame, self denial, negative self image and/or lacking tenderness. Underactive chakras is energy that becomes blocked. Once again, it is the degree or intensity to which these behaviors or feelings are affecting your life that is key.

An Overactive chakra is when too much energy is being present in a particular chakras. Color treatment for Overactive, use yellow with a small dab of violet, purple. Underactive use violet or purple.

Besides placing color swatches of material on the chakra area of the body, other treatments are healing with colored candles, color breathing, visualization of color to a particular chakra just to suggest a few methods.

If any of these behaviors or feelings become a major problem, seek out a professional psychotherapist and/or an alternative healing therapist who have experience with creative people.

Meditating and listening to your inner Self, may provide the means to assess what chakra needs attention at any given moment.

Be still. Listen. Hear your own creativity.

Hugs and namaste,

Carol

PS. Remember to check my other blog ~ It is the first one in blog that I follow: acreativeharbor.blogspot.com

~ THIRD EYE CHAKRA

~ BROW CHAKRA ~ THIRD EYE

The Brow Chakra, Anja and also known as the Third Eye, along with many other names located just between (slightly above) the level of the eye brow is the seventh chakra and its color is indigo or deep blue.

Physiologically, the brow chakra influences the pituitary gland and the entire endocrine system. Within the nervous system the chakra affects brain synapses; thus, influencing the balance of the hemispheres of the brain.

Emotionally, the Brow Chakra stimulates clarity and in the inspirational realm, through meditation, heightens the subconscious level of the brain involving perception, creative imagination and visualizations.

If the Brow Chakra energy is overactive, a person may exhibit or feel worry, fear, and oversensitivity. The color treatment would then be orange with a small dab of indigo.

If the Brow Chakra energy is underactive, behavior and feelings might be doubt, envy, forgetful or superstitious.. To treat use the color indigo.

In interpreting human behavior and related chakra energies, the key word is balance. Anyone might exhibit some or all of these behaviors at different times. The degree to which the energy centers become under or overactive is the concern or focus.

The body and mind, generally, are seeking its own level of balance ~ its homeostatic state. Meditating and listening to your body and higher Self will help in knowing what your body needs.

Listen. Be Still. The Body knows.

Hugs & Namaste,

Carol ~

~ THROAT CHAKRA ~ vishuddah

THROAT CHAKRA ~

The throat chakra, in a sense, is a "bridge" to the other side of our body, into the spiritual realms. This sixth chakra is physically located between the collar bone and larynx in the neck ~ more simply the throat area.

Problems may arise in the ear, nose, throat and respiratory system and would be treated with turquoise color energy. If the throat chakra is overactive the energy colors to use would be orange with a small dose of blue.

When the throat area comes into balance, we learn to feel truly that we are are "in our body". Thus we become more able to express the creative and life affirming aspects of ourselves.

Metaphysically, this chakra is associated with the right hemphispere of the brain and the creative functions of the mind. It would seem that this would impact "creatives" rather strongly and viscerally. Getting in touch with our bodies and behaving mindfully is more often than not the way to increase creativity.

Once, again, each chakra is explained separately and can get out of balance for a variety of reasons. The chakra energies are a well integrated unit one that can be treated with a variety of modalities in alternative healing domains. It is always best to check with your physician if you are having major problems or with an alternative healer.

Wishing you good health and happy creating.

Hugs and namaste,
Carol

~ FOURTH CHAKRA ~

FOURTH CHAKRA ~

The fourth chakra along with a total of nine chakras are interrelated and function as a whole. Each chakra is being separated for the purpose of explanation.

The Heart Chakra, the fourth chakra is located at the center of the chest on the sternum and its auric color is green. Key issues of this chakra is passion, tenderness, inner-child issues and rejection.

Physiologically, this chakra is part of the circulatory, lymphatic and the immune system. If chakra energy is underactive, the color used for balancing is green. If the chakra seems overactive then colors used would be green followed by pink and soft reds.

Once again all the chakras influence your physical, mental, emotional and metaphysical being. One might, then, reflect as an artist what colors you use for your palette?, what colors "speak to you" at times more than other? What colors motivate you to create a certain piece of work. You may be unconsciously using certain colors at times to heal yourself or even someone else. I wonder? Do you?

Hugs & namaste,
Carol ~

THIRD CHAKRA ~

~ THIRD CHAKRA ~

When a chakra is balanced or out of balance it will contribute to one's energy levels and in turn will affect one's creativity.

The third chakra, often known as the Solar Plexus chakra, is concerned with central issues such as power, fear, anxiety and introversion. Its color is yellow and its physical location is between the naval and the bottom of the sternum. Physiologically, it is also involved in the digestive system.

According to Ted Andrews in his book HOW TO HEAL WITH COLOR, if this chakra is underactive one would use the color yellow to bring the chakara back to equilibrium; if it overactive, one would used violet or purple with a small dose of yellow to bring balance to this area of the body.

These first three chakras are concerned with lower area of the physiologcal system. Keep this in mind as you are about create and explore your ideas whether in an artistic medium, work, or around the home. Our whole human system is a wonderful tool when it is working to its optium. Be gentle and respect your wonderful human temple of energy.

Hugs & namaste,
Carol ~

~ CHAKRA II ~

~ CHAKRA II ~ Chakra healing helps to disperse "blocked" energy and bring the body back to its equilibrium. This is the second chakra and the area of the body it is located is the spleen and liver area. Orange is the auric color of this chakra.

Metaphysically, the second chakra may effect sensation, emotion, pleasure, sexuality and creativity. Physically, this area of the spleen,liver,bladder,pancreas and kidneys has been called the prime centers for detoxifying the body

Symptoms that this area of the body is overactive might be arrogancy,lustful and emotional.(Color, use blue with a touch of orange) If underactive, the person might exhibit mistriust of others, antisocial behaviors or worry about acceptance by others.(Color, use orange)

We all have "out of sort times" ~ it when unhealthy behaviors become a way of life for the person that some treatment is needed. Consult a physician or alternative healer.

Hugs & namaste,
Carol and "boss dogs" lab & yorkie

PS ~ this chakra painting was done using pastel oil sticks on card stock, then primed and fused with encaustic paints ~ still experimenting and exploring this artistic medium ~ Check out http://acreativeharbor.blogspot.com for other encaustic exloratory paintings.

~ BASE CHAKRA ~

BASE CHAKRA ~ HEALING WITH COLOR ~

This is the first in a series of Healing with Color, namely in the ancient energy areas of the body called "chakras". The location of the root/base chakra is in the area of the base of the spine. Its physical function is related to the coccyx or "tail bone" and its effects on the circulatory system, the reproductive system and the lower extremities. It is the center of the basic life force energy. In turn this chakra influences the testicles, ovaries, legs, feet, and pelvic area.

It's metaphysical function activates the level of consciousness that controls "life promoting energies". According to professionals in this alternative health area, it is indicated that if stimulated properly, the chakra can awaken past life talents and ease fears.

In areas of the emotional/mental attitudes that may be contributing to dysfunction, one would focus on whether the chakra appears to be overactive or underactive. If overactive behaviors that might occur are physical aggression, impulsive, obsessively sexual or inability to recognize limits.

If the chakra appears to be underactive, one might exhibit manipulative behaviors, being overly cautious, needing approval, craving excitement and change, overly tired.

To bring about balance in this chakra center one might place a piece of red cloth on the area of the chakra for "overactive" and add green and a touch of red if "underactive. One might wear these colors to put your chakra in balance, or lie down and relax and place a patch of cloth over the chakra area, or even eating foods of this color is another possibility.

Historically, when treating a client with Reiki I would "open" and "close" the chakra centers for healing purposes. Color therapy is wonderful and even without focusing on the chakra centers, think about what colors you tend to wear and how you are feeling or even what color you paint your rooms in your home.Look around your environment, your home, school, health places, fun places and observe how color is used to create an ambiance.

Love your comments ~ looking forward to hear from you and what you are creating.

Hugs and namaste,
Carol & "the boss dogs"

PS ~ art work is an experiment in "encaustic painting"