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Wordless Wednesday – Meadow Magic

Karen Casey-Smith — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:40:16 +0000

Today, take a little walk with me and see some of the things I’ve seen in our meadow garden. I hope you enjoy it. Peace and Love. ♥

Every tree and plant in the meadow seemed to be dancing, those which average eyes would see as fixed and still ~Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Aspects

Karen Casey-Smith — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:13:28 +0000

Aspects - A mirror reflects two aspects of Nature, showing a swallowtail butterfly as an Echinacea flower. This creation is two of my photographs digitally combined.

The Law of Reflection is said to be one of the spiritual laws. Basically, it says that our outer world reflects our inner world. You’ll see outside yourself what is inside of you, your inner beliefs.

Have you ever noticed that if a friend tells you a sad story, or maybe you see one on the news, that you’ll begin to recall other sad stories like the one you just heard? They may be things may have happened to you, to someone you know, or even a friend of a friend. The longer you dwell there, the worse you feel, and the more sad stories that will come to mind. This is because like attracts like, and fortunately this works with positive stories, and feelings of gratitude as well.

When you’re sad you see sadness. When you’re irritated and rushed, thing seem to conspire to jump in your way to cause more irritation. When you’re very happy, or in love, you see happiness everywhere. All these potentials exist at all times; it’s what you’re tuned in to, what you’re looking for, that you experience. It all begins with how you predominately feel inside.

This is very good news. The only thing you really have control of is what you think, and where you place your attention. You can choose to tell a different story. You can choose different thoughts! If you really want happiness, begin to think of things that bring a smile to your face. This is one reason gratitude journals are so wonderful.

How you feel, what your life is like, is an inside job. Things aren’t happening to you. What you see is a reflection of your own inner self. If you wait for everything around you to please you, you’ll seldom be happy. Be happy first and there will be more things to be happy about, or as Buddha has wisely said, “there is no way to happiness, happiness is the way”.

Believe me, I’m working on this right alongside you, and there are times it takes some effort. It’s worthwhile work with great rewards. Actively look for things that make you smile, notice your blessings, and enjoy that wonderful feeling of appreciation for the good in your life. Begin here and now.

Today I’ll close with a few beautiful quotes on reflection. I hope you enjoy them.

Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it. ~ Ernest Holmes

Nature often holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly the ongoing processes of growth, renewal, and transformation in our lives. ~ Mary Ann Brussat

Like the fragrance which lingers in a flower, and like a reflection in the mirror, the Spirit dwells deep within the Self; search within your own heart. ~ Sikh parable

Since everything is a reflection of our minds, everything can be changed by our minds. ~ Buddha

Changes

Karen Casey-Smith — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:55:34 +0000

Changes - Flower Mandala

This feathery lavender and purple flower mandala speaks of change and joyous unfolding. While changes are in process they can look and feel absolutely chaotic; remain centered with trust and the knowledge that things are unfolding as they should, and you’re able to see that in reality there’s a beautiful pattern that emerges. I’m reminded of a quote by John Welwood, “Chaos is creativity seeking form.”

Feeling trust and confidence, or feeling fear, each allows for a different unfolding of events, and different outcomes. So, take a deep breath and breathe out slowly. If you’re not already there, find your way back to center. You may not be able to control events, but you can take charge of your own thoughts. Much of what you experience is really just your thoughts about what’s happening. That is truly empowering knowledge.

Embrace change for it’s the only constant. Remember the wise words of Mahatma Gandhi, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

I sincerely hope all of your changes are joyous in their unfolding.

Beloved

Karen Casey-Smith — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:14:26 +0000

Beloved

The fragrant Freesia is the symbol of sweetness, friendship, innocence, and trust. They’re so beautiful, and their scent has to be one of my most favorite. Freesias are one of the flowers that makes me wish I could just continue breathing in!

So far, I’ve never found a perfume or essential oil that captures the amazing fragrance the living blooms have. If anyone knows of one, please let me know!

The bulbs were planted in April, and checked daily in delightful anticipation of the time they would bloom. Here you see the first blooms that came in June. This image was captured outside, late in the day, in the hour before sunset. The warm light gives them a beautiful golden glow.

I’ll leave you today with a lovely quote that seems a perfect fit for these sweet flowers.

“To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat.” ~ Beverly Nichols

Wordless Wednesday – Swing Your Partner

Karen Casey-Smith — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:23:14 +0000

“He who does not dance does not know what is happening.” _ George Fowler (From a Gnostic text uncovered at Nag Hammadi, Egypt) Learning to Dance Inside

Swing Your Partner

Wordless Wednesday – Happier Blue

Karen Casey-Smith — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:07:57 +0000

Happier Blue

Breathing in, I calm my mind and body
Breathing out, I smile
Breathing in, I dwell in the moment
This is the only moment.
………………………_ Thich Nhat Hanh

Bold As Spring

Karen Casey-Smith — Sat, 29 May 2010 19:47:41 +0000

Bold As Spring

The Bold As Spring flower mandala radiates the energy of joyous becoming. It’s about creating for the sheer joy of creating, being in the flow and riding that wave in delight.

Spring is a powerfully expansive time. There’s a marvelous exhilaration in the air that comes with reborn activity. Spring’s nearly irresistible energy rises and expands. This is the energy used to manifest, to break bonds, to express creativity in all its forms, and create change.

Spring this year was absolutely amazing, the trees bursting with blooms! I don’t remember a more gorgeous spring. Often it’s only when the mandala is completed that the energy message is fully revealed. This time, as I worked on Bold As Spring, I was aware of, and filled with, the exhilarating energy I’m describing.

In this mandala you can see the soaring, singing birds, and how profusely the trees and plants were flowering. It was most definitely a joy to create.

To me Bold As Spring expresses being happy in this very moment, and joyful in the unfolding of your creation and what’s to come. This is the place to Be, and also the place to take action from.

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” – Rumi

I wish you many blessings, much joy, and creations that delight your soul.

Purple Pansy Photo Set

Karen Casey-Smith — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:16:49 +0000

Set of two photographs - Butterfly Pansy II & Pansy Glow II

Pansies have a timeless, classic beauty. I found this purple and white beauty at a local nursery, and brought the plant home to grace our garden – after making pictures of it of course.

The table they were on was filled with flats of pansies of all colors. Even among the masses of spring flowers, this particular flower captured my attention. It was the amazing glow, that you can see best in the second picture, that caught my eye.

The Pansy is always a favorite in the garden. The word pansy can be traced back to the French word pensée, meaning thought or remembrance. I’ve seen the meaning “loving thoughts” given to this little flower, and that’s one of my favorites.

There are some wonderful names given to pansies. Have you heard of “Jump Up and Kiss Me”, “Flame Flower”, or “Love in Idleness” for the lover who has little or no other employment than to think of his beloved one? “Heart’s Ease” is another favorite name given to the Viola Tricolor.

Many artists and lovers have been inspired by the pansy, including D. H. Lawrence and Georgia O’Keeffe . You may remember it was the juice of a pansy flower that was used as a love potion in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Pansies aren’t supposed to overwinter in Illinois, but they have come back a couple of times on their own to bloom for another season. That’s such a delightful surprise when they do! As long as the spent blooms are cleaned away, the plants will bloom prolifically. It can actually be enjoyable removing the spent flowers. You have a quiet time and really get to look at each little face individually. They are such charming flowers.

The images to the left are two views of the same flower, Butterfly Pansy II and Pansy Glow II. They’re listed together as a set in my 1000 Markets shop and my Etsy shop at a special lower price than if they were purchased separately.

Perhaps no flower (not excepting even the queenly rose) claims to be so universal a favorite, as the viola tricolor; none currently has been honored with so rich a variety of names, at once expressive of grace, delicacy and tenderness.

…………………………………………………………………… __ Dorothea Lynde Dix

Thanks so much for looking!

Wordless Wednesday – Black-Eyed Susan

Karen Casey-Smith — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:33:00 +0000

Here are some sunny yellow-orange Black-Eyed Susans from last autumn to brighten up your winter day!

Black-Eyed Susan

Winter Skies

Karen Casey-Smith — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:14:28 +0000

It’s been snowy and cold this winter, and that’s when you can see the most incredible blues in the sky. There are particular shades of blue that only seems to appear when the temperatures are very low. These are blues that can stop you in your tracks, so you can take them in and appreciate how amazing they are. The turquoise blue in this first image is one of my favorites.

Cerulean Intensive

I’ve heard that in photography, the worse the weather, the greater the opportunity. That definitely inspires me to get up and get out there when weather conditions are challenging – at least most of the time! As long as my camera stays dry, it’s all good. With so much variation in color rendering between computer monitors, I’m hoping you see the same blues on your screen as I do on mine. You’re fortunate if you have the chance to see these winter blue skies in person.

Both of these images were captured on the same day within a half an hour of each other. A storm was just passing and the sky was changing fast! The clouds were breaking up to reveal the stunning blue sky behind them. It was lovely walking in the snow. Everything was a special kind of quiet, especially with snow that was like powder. Even though you can spend an hour getting ready to go out to spend a couple of hours outside, it’s definitely worth doing.

Snowy Creek