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Thorns and Beauty

These are Peace roses, beautiful with killer thorns. Honestly the most lovely things are not without flaws.
 
That is why I created Breakthrough Yoga which functions perfectly a part of The Course of Wisdom.  Our beings need harmony.  In order to do this we must acknowledge the thorns, but see the roses.  All of us have beliefs, some support us and our journey, while others destroy any hope of dreams.  And as these are called Peace roses, peace cannot truly be known unless one has experienced the Pain.
 
When one can let go of internal beliefs like:
 
I’ll never be enough
I don’t have what it takes
If I change I’ll destroy my family
No one will love the real me
Nothing will ever change, why try
 
Then we dare to try something different, to be brave and think:
 
I was created to live my life
I have what it takes to fulfill my mission
I am somebody and I am successful
The real me is a star that’s already shining
Change is inevitable, and I choose the most beautiful changes for my life now
 
Then action follows.  We peel back the layers of years of self abuse, codependency, hate, and we see possibilities.
 
This leads to:
 
more kindness to ourselves and others
faith in something greater than us and the hell we have been through
love that is unconditional
bravery to leap into our dreams
hope that we can heal
 
I have seen miracles happen over and over, lives that had fallen apart, mended with more beauty than ever before.
 
Envision for yourself a simply stunning life, and make it happen.
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The Resurrection Exhibit

After seeing my son’s recovery after years of addiction, I knew I had to share the hope.  So many people have talked with me about their family and friends.  They just want to see happiness, and self worth in their loved one’s eyes again.   

Let Go and Let God” was the inspiration piece that started it all.  I knew that others needed to express their victories, and that my series combined with art work from those in recovery would be extremely powerful.  Not only for individuals in a program, but also for friends and family who have felt so helpless.

This exhibit is being hosted by the wonderful Cottonwood Heights Arts Council.  It will be held at the  City Building.  The exhibit will run May 1-31st.   The opening night will be held on May 5th 7:00-9:00 pm. 

(map and directions at end of post)

There is more to life than living in fear and numbness.  
 
Resurrection is possible.
 
Recovery from addiction is similar to dying and coming back a whole new person.  Let’s communicate this in the most authentic and hope filled way possible.
 
The purpose of this exhibit:
 
1. To encourage communication and connection.  (The opposite of addiction is connection.)
 
2. To empower individuals in their recovery program.
 
3. To educate about addiction recovery and programs that are available
 
How it comes together! 
 
1. Ten addiction recovery organizations will partner with the exhibit.  
 
2. Their advanced program participants and graduates will have the opportunity to participate. 
 
3. All recovery programs will gain heightened public awareness of their services and successful clients.  
 
* In addition the participants that exhibit and sell their art will receive a check for the full amount of their asking price.  They are encouraged to apply the funds toward their recovery program.
 
The Resurrection exhibit  benefits all involved.
 
 

Participants need to  . . . 

1) submit their artwork through the link below

(Artwork will need to be delivered to The City Building on May 1st.)

2) make sure their artwork fits the theme of the show
3) have family friendly images, as the venue is public
4) have artwork ready to hang or display
5) 2D or 3D
6) keep the art under 4′ (height, width, depth)  
7) images submitted in JPG, PNG, a website, or URL

Participants may also choose to submit artwork anonymously.  Profits will be processed through Paypal or Venmo.  The public will not have access to your name – just your work. 

               Submissions accepted:     Jan 15 – April 22nd at midnight. 

Organizations that wish to participate need . . . 

1) a recovery program – or a vested interest

2) graduates or clients that are committed to working their program – or personal experience – a reason for them wanting to be a part of the show

3) to select/support participants that have an interest in communicating through art.  An art background is not  a requirement.  Other businesses are welcomed to participate as well. 

The Resurrection Exhibit is an opportunity to serve in whatever way feels best for you or your organization. 

Service examples include

– Posting about this exhibit on social media.

– Helping a recovering teen artist to prepare art for the exhibit.

– Advertising The Resurrection Exhibit.

– Become an exhibit sponsor, donating toward the exhibit for teens who would be amazed to realize that they are of incalculable value. 

 

The greatest advocates of recovery have been through their own refiner’s fire, and want to help others who are currently feeling lost, alone, or hopeless.  They don’t judge, they don’t shame.  But they don’t enable either.  These are the warriors and healers that are needed for our youth.   

I invite you to  click on the link and explore how to give back, or pay it forward.

                                                        Feel free to share the love! 

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Spiritual Gardens

This image is from my garden.  It is in fact garlic blossoms that spring forth as the garlic goes to seed.  I find them fascinating.  It resembles a Dr. Seuss plant.  I love it so much that for three years I have not harvested the garlic because I want to see the stalks going to seed again. 

Gardens tend to be places where people are more able to connect to peace, calm, and even spiritual guidance. God made beauty on this earth because it was necessary.

He knew we would need to sync with the slower yet tenacious growth of the essence of life. Then when in nature the optimism that is true, not the hurried rush imitating “real life”, would be shown.  This contrast can possibly reset our perspective, and lead us to happiness.

Their are quite a few gardens and wilderness places in religious writ.  Just for fun, look it up!

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Course of Wisdom : The Beginning

It happened the day before the Freedom Festival.  In fact, and I was on the way to have my eyelashes filled.  All of this was so ordinary.  As usual when driving I assess my beliefs and emotional state.  Immediately I had a negative belief that popped up, quite forcefully. 
 
NB:  “I hate my stomach.”
 
What?  Where did that come from?  When I started doing the steps of Breakthrough Therapy I found that it originated from middle school pre-algebra.  I remember sitting so carefully trying to not be noticed, holding in my gut so tight.  I looked down at my stomach and thought, “I hate you.”
 
We talk to our body all the time.  Usually it is with hate and disgust.  There I was at most a size six, and I hated my own guts.  If I couldn’t love myself then, how could I through three 50 lb pregnancy weight gains, and any physical development past 40. 
 
I continued the breakthrough and learned:
 
1) Satan wanted to destroy my body
2) God designed me perfectly for what I needed to learn on Earth
3) That I have treated my core terribly
4) That I honestly love my stomach, gut, extra tire, or core
 
How did I go from hate to love?
 
I realized what our core really is:
 
1) It is a spiritual guidance system.  Have you ever heard someone say, “I felt it in my gut,” or “Something about it made me feel queasy.”  If you hate your gut, how can you trust your gut?
2) It is a filter system.  Everything passes through our core, it saves our lives daily sorting out all harmful elements and even providing fat to encapsulate the toxins.  A sure sign of love is cellulite that protects our organs, so we can continue to function no matter the mental and physical abuse that we dump on ourselves.
3) It is the source of energy for our entire life.  It processes all nutrients and gifts us with the ability to do everything we do.
4) It creates life:  Women and men both have the components to create life.  This amazing ability, at what ever state (age, malfunction, etc) especially needs love.  Our society is very twisted about this gift.
 
Essentially our gut is the core of our being.  Physically and Spiritually it is the center of each life.  How can we hate that?  And if we do, we end up stuffing our intuition with food instead of listening, or treating our core as disgusting or an object.  Revere your core, treat it’s powers with respect and care. 
 
From that very ordinary moment, driving, I have loved my core.  For the first time since pre-algebra, I loved the core of who I am.  This has led, to me listening to my core, taking care of my core, and talking to my core.
 
No longer do I think, “I hate you,” instead I say out loud, “I love you.  I am sorry for abusing you. What do you really want and need?” and “thank you for taking care of me.”
 
Three days after this experience I told my core, “I am listening to you now.”  The utterly relieved and sarcastic response I received back was, “Finally, it’s about time.”   
 
Isn’t it about time we listen?  Some say the core is the center of all medical and mental issues, I say if it is the problem it can also be the center of all healing.
 
 
Follow me on this journey.  I’ll be detailing how to listen, receive, and honor the core of who you are.