Freedom

 

 

 

Because of health restrictions, we are feeling that we have lost some sense of control.  Some want to blame.  Some want to make up big stories.  Some simply follow the rules.  None of us feels at ease.  How do we focus on what really counts – the peace of soul? 

We have always, in some way, resented having rules.  As we mature, we accept some rules because they make sense, because we know that life down here means there has to be rules.  Some are rooted in defiance and have done so all our lives.  Some have been non-rule followers.   Many have oppositional behaviors/disorders.  If there is some mental health issues before all this, the disorders have exacerbated.  It is of concern how far their oppositional behaviors will go.  When do such feel they have done enough?  If they continue, they live a life of constant chaos, constant anger, negative relationship behaviors, and becomes a kind of personal lock-down and it comes from a wound somewhere in the past where the trigger was flicked.  What is needed is tenderness, not mob-gathering with others who are also angry, harmful for others and ourselves, and a never-ending lack of freedom, itself, as we lock down our anger and defiance.  Such are to be pitied.

Finding a way to have tender moments with yourself.  Find some quiet moments, some quiet activities, and focus on the beauty of your life and what freedoms have brought you.  Find ways and people who help you deal with tensions; positive people, who have found ways to follow rules and have the peace knowing it is the best you can do, not the worst.

Yes, we have had times of rebellion and frustration and anger but we do not seek what is behind, below the feelings.  We have to seek, within, for our own freedoms we allow ourselves to have.  Being lovingly open, being filled with a sense of connection with all things, developing a sense of doing ‘the best’ for all things, people, places on earth, will help you become grounded in peace and hope and goodwill again.

We all have hate, fear, rebellion, anger at our fingertips.  These last two years are telling to each of us.  Yes, we will have our moments, but it is best not to dwell in the physical and intellectual, right now.  It is best to deal with the right side of the brain where emotion and spirit resides.  Nothing in creation has ever run smoothly.  We have both sides of the coin; the rebellious and the denier.  We can not deny there are plenty of reasons to feel negative.  Our goal should be to work hard to find the positives.  The angry wolf the loving wolf anecdote applies here; what you feed, you become. 

It is hard to not have others, even ones you love dearly, take the lesser road.  It is hard not to defend what you think is right.  It is hard to accept we all have opinions, some of them strong.  It is difficult to understand how on earth a loved one can believe conspiracy theories and theorists.  It takes a great deal of love to accept that they can feel as right as they want to.  It is not okay for us to give up our stance either.  Accepting tht we allow others their own beliefs is huge.  Then, when face to face with the rebellion, all we can do is acknowledge that they feel that way, try not to let it hurt us, make sure we do not cave.  Sometimes our very strength comes from allowing others to think totally differently than we do and not get into the battle of wits and bits with them.  Find love and love on the brink of war.  It is the only win win situation.  This will all end.  Rebellious ones will find something new to rebel over.  That’s life.  We have to maintain our soulful work of being peace, love, compassion, and care IN SPITE of differences.

I have difficulties with this when I am so convinced that they are wrong.  The are right according to their own beliefs and convictions and wounds.  We are right for ourselves and no one else.  Freedom is that state of staying calm and soulful in the midst of societal chaos.  We cannot ignore it.  It is in our face ever moment of every day through many many medias and fronts.  We need to say we agree or do not agree, but not get into their play to manipulate and sway you from your authentic beliefs and love them in spite of it all.  Do Know Harm!

©Carol Desjarlais 1.30.22

 When I need to calm my heart, nurture msyelf, be compassionate with self, I turn to my art.  These days, I so much more than ever before.  It is my space of succor and comfort amid this chaos.

The moment I put pencil to papr, I enter that spiritual space.

I decided on pastels since I get such satistfying results from using them.

I used a charcoal pencil to get an outlines.  I smudged it with a q-tip.

One of my favorite art tools is my pot of flesh-colored pastel.  I use it on its own or over top of other mediums to smoothen out the portrait face.  

I used my soft pastel sticks, as well.

It is all so soft and beautiful to me.

using the red ocher and the pot of flesh, I start to get some depth, some highlights, starting to show up better.

I hae a package of pastel chalk pencils.  I love using them.

playing with the hair, I use the pastel sticks/blocks to being fetting some color in the painting.

Blowing or using an art vaccum, getting the excess chalk dust off shows a delicate finish starting to come.

I use Mod Podge clear acylic sealant to set the chalk.  

I, carefully, cut her out and collaged her on to some beautiful background paper.