spirit-friends

sometimes, don't you just want to acknowledge and honor the people who have most influenced your life? those gals (or guys) who helped you to be more you than you ever were? i have 2 friends that came divinely into my life about 11 years ago and torqued my world forever. it was an instant and strong 3-way connection, as with a very thick chain, but with the beauty of a prism refraction. these women called out my most inner me - my creative, my passion, my spirit, my dance, my ornamentation, my beauty. simply their essence challenged, provoked and guided me. i found truth and light like never before. oh, and a way to play that was even beyond the capacity of the children i cared for. white boa guitar straps, giant platform shoes, watercolors, wire-sculpted kites, spirit songs, full-fledged giraffes, art parties, tears, laughs, and the most affirming response of all time: "are you kidding me?"
these are obviously "inside memories", but i want all readers who come upon this entry to be included in the sacredness of transforming friendship. when someone comes into your life who sees you, hears you and feels exceedingly safe, open to the love being offered. love in return. your path will be forever affected.
mary keith and ashley - eternal gratitude. love. devotion. upward rotation.

collage

i've always had a thing for collage. it probably started in preschool and never left me. i love how it's just a big, jumbled mess of representation, overlapping and peeking. the therapy is in the process - thumbing, finding, ripping, cutting, gluing and placing in just the right spot. or not. there's no right or wrong and lots of room for 'mistakes'.
a few years ago, i bought a condo in Nashville. the best part of ownership was that i got to create it up any way i wanted. so i decided to collage a wall. about 8 of my closest friends came over with magazines, scissors and Elmer's and we went to town on that wall, between chips and dips and sips of wine. it was the most beautiful wall i've ever seen.

i also decided to do a woodblock collage series for 4 children in my life, each significant to them as past, present and future. it's interesting to see how some of what i included for them is only now unfolding, many years later. the one pictured i made for my friend, jordan smallwood. he's now 20 years old and still has it displayed in his room (the little darling).
i was planning on writing about collage this week and then found out that we're going to be collaging in my art group this sunday. i love how things are always syncing up in the universe. it's going to be an exploration of the anima and animus - the true inner self vs. the outward persona. can't wait to see what happens with that.
so my final thoughts about collage - anyone can do it, everyone should try it and you'll be amazed at what you learn about yourself through the process. oh, and #1 - it's mad-fun!