the dreaming Press.

white rabbits, seabiscuits & planning trips {our bones as soul}

 

Mary Oliver has a poem called *bone* which gives me chills.  It speaks of soul, of longing, of oceans and of knowing the golden sand lays 'neath the gray sea waves (like the knowing of our soul existence 'neath this soft watery exterior).

You will find that poem in her collection titled "Why I Wake Early" and you won't stop there...no.  I'm certain you'll linger over this book for eternity. 

Notice the poet takes us to the details we oft times overlook?  That is the job of the poet-to point.  We need only to give our full attention and look to where she points.

Today I awoke (early) and exclaimed "White Rabbit!~" For last night before the fat rains and cracking thunder my eldest and I shared a dish of salted green pistachios & a girl movie & she regaled me with that of which she knows for sure.  Listening to her speak makes my heart burst with pride, (not knowing whatever small act of karma was responsible for the gift of her in my life or perhaps it was just sheer luck) and my mind open to the knowledge that only eleven year olds are privy too.

One thing she did share with me was the old English superstition of waking on the first day of the new month and saying "White rabbit," before saying anything else. This brings the sayer good luck for the whole month~!

She had us all in a tizzy making sure we remembered, the six year old mini version of her, her little sister, marking up a pink post-it note to stick on the closet door in front of the bed as a reminder! Well the funny thing was, it stormed so loudly and raged on for hours and the dog was panting and shaking and the eldest girl and I crept around the black house staring out the windows at the storm (fascinated with nature) and so when we finally went up to tuck her into bed with her fan on {to drown the noise of course...} the little one sat bolt upright in bed like a mini-Bella Lugosi and with zombie eyes and a squeaky cute little voice said at the top of her lungs "White rabbit!" then fell back asleep within seconds.  The eldest and I were in hysterics.

Whatever your superstitions, whatever your poetry, whatever brings you joy and love and good karma this August...I wish it all for you and more. xoxo

P.S. I'm going to Morocco in 2012.  Would you like to go too? Watch for more information in a post this week.

 

intoxicating expression and the art of *seeing*

 
Well, well, well.  I found a delightful little book!  Summer is my season to get down and dirty with a stack of books so...I went out in search of a few titles. Some came my way by chance also from my mother (love her SO!) and some just magically fell into my hands once I spied them on the shelf, as a magnet is drawn to steel. {pick me! pick me! they seem to whisper}

So delightful is the one book I chose in fact, that I read it nearly cover to cover yesterday and it was full of intoxicating goodness; words as wine upon the lips.  It is Photography and the Art of Seeing: A visual perception workshop for film and digital photography  by Freeman Patterson.  A must read for any creative person.  As this book wakes you up not only to the creative potential in your photography but would do the same for any avenue in your life as an artist or otherwise.  There is a zen about this book that I just drank up. This is but one of quite a few the author wrote so I plan to load up on them all.  'Cause it's a season to be intoxicated with wisdom, words, wine & spirit.

Speaking of intoxication; WOW to this photo (aptly named The Dreaming, coincidence I assure you...!).  I'm happy to have stumbled across this gentleman's flickr stream.  I always wonder what treasures lie in flickr, and this is such a gem.  Colin Vincent you are a genius.

Photography is expression, so when done with soul and passion that will shine through.  I believe that with everything that I am and over a plate of lime toast and coconut coffee this morning I perused another form of expression...that which I found in my friend Patty's blog-"inside the makeup case".  This woman has impeccable makeup everyday, she rocks the wildest colours and coolest ideas you've ever seen on a face and makes it look perfect.  She is "whiplashes" on Instagram so give her a follow.  She's not just a pretty face; she's a photographer too. (p.s. Patty and I met in esthetic school and she had a different colour of perfect polish on her nails everyday.)

Oh how could I leave out a crazy fun evening at the spa we have coming up? I almost forgot...Firefly Creative Writing is coming July 12 to Dance That Pen! This is a sweet little workshop for women who want a juicy date with their creative side. Together, we’ll create a fun, inspiring space to fill pages with words — tiny stories and micro-memories, rants and letters and questions. Come expecting to laugh, share, surprise yourself, and support others on their own unique creative paths! If you are in the Toronto area and wish to sign up for this event, simple click the above link and follow the trail of breadcrumbs.  We'll have a howling good time with Chris Kay Fraser she's a crazy gal! She'll help us get intoxicated with wicked words and wonderful stories...we all have them inside so let's get them out.

With so much intoxicating goodness from the buzzing bees outside my window to the carafe of wine decanting for tonight's supper, I'll leave you with a song that will surely lull you into a deep summer complacency. 

SEE with your eyes, express yourself through your life be that with a camera in your hand, a pen or a makeup brush.  Refuse to stop seeing and start expressing.

xoxo

*photo of my young daughter running taken by me yesterday afternoon during a game of Man on the Moon ;)