Ravens Nest Gifts

Today's spread recognizes that when we can find calm amidst chaos that it shifts our consciousness to living in joy.

This prayer altar is personalized for Lily and incorporates her love for Fall and a prayerful search for a place and person to be in her life that is rooted in love and that is by the ocean that feeds her soul.

To those who think they have reached their limits to their creativity - Erase and Rethink. We all hit those walls where we feel as if we can't get any better or all of our thoughts have run their course. This is actually not the case. We all have many more containers which are brimming with new thoughts, ideas and possibilities. What is holding us back is nothing more then stagnation and the regretable acceptance that you have hit your limit. Take a moment to yourself and listen to your muses. Are they guiding you to, perhaps, change the medium that you are using? Change of subject matter? Try out a different process? Don't ignore the hints and subtle messages that your muses are giving you and don't be afraid to try something new. Have a wonderfully creative day!

For those not sure if something is masculine or feminine - It's both. Yes things that we see can be more feminine or masculane then others but we must remind ourselves that over time, the collective perseption of things changes. Just like the color pink, high heeled shoes, hosery and make up were once considered masculine but have now switched to be feminine, it is a matter of the collective thought. However, there are qualities that both have which reflect the other. Feminen items and visuals have a surprising amount of strenght while masculine ones have gentleness and softness to them. So do not be too concerned with if your work is one or the other. Listen to the murmurings of your muses to help guide you as you work and simpley enjoy the process and end result. Have a wonderfully creative day!

To those who are making choices - There's more then 2 options. For all of us, we are have become so used to a mindset of that there is only 2 options for us to accept to create things. This causes us to ignore the murmurings of our muses who are telling us of other possibilities which are just as good, if not better then the limited range of options that are laid out before us. It takes time, but go ahead and take the opportunity to look at everything. Placement. Color scheme. Lighting. Materials. Messages. Don't allow yourself to think that there is only 2 ways to do anything. Be mindful to what your muses are suggesting and you will be surprised as to what paths open up. Have a wonderfully creative day!

This pretty much sums up what Raven's Nest tends to be about. :)

To those who feel that there is a dark cloud around them - Shine On. There are times when we feel that there's too much negativity around us. This dark energy may not be towards us directly but it still has an affect on our creativity, stifling what we're doing. Don't let yourself stop creating though because it is that sparkle that others are looking for to help pull themselves out of the darkness. Much like the shine of glitter when the light hits it just right, we as a creative collective help others refind their own sparkle so that they can resume their glow. Don't forget to listen to your muses as they guide you as you create pieces. Have a wonderfully creative day!

Today's fun, playing with reality. :)

To those who are frustrated by mistakes they've made in their work - Learn From It. We've all had those moments where you're halfway or almost done with a piece and suddenly it happens. Spilling something you shouldn't. A brush stroke in the wrong spot. Smearing something. It's infurating and most of the time it causes us to be angry at ourselves and even inanimate objects, blaming everything around us for it to happen. Stop. Take a moment and examin the situation. In most ca...ses, there is a simple solution. If it is to the point that you actually have to redo the piece, use the first one as a learning experience. See if you can make the redo better then the first. Can there be a section of the damaged project be saved and made into something smaller or incorporated into another project. Don't let mistakes snuff out your creativity. There is always a solution, though it may not be readidly visible. See more

To those who finding themselves needing a break from things - Rest. We have all had those days where we want to get projects done but find ourselves napping or just vegitating. It's alright. Even our muses need a small rest bit from time to time so don't get upset or discouraged with yourself if you end up relaxing instead of working. Go ahead and recharge. During this time, you will probably find yourself being able to find answers to problems you may have come across. Have a wonderfully creative day!

To those who are finding themselves overwhelmed with ideas - Write Them Down. If you have a lot of ideas and trying to sort them out for possible projects or even trying to come up with something when you've only had one or two thoughts, it's always a good idea to sort them out on paper. There are times when our muses need help organizing themselves, multiple ideas and thoughts overlaying and jumbling together causing us confusion. In the cases where we need just a little hel...p coming up with ideas, have a brain storm session with some close friends. If you have too many possibilities written down, that's alright. You can use other suggestions for later projects. Once you have your list of ideas, take a step back and relax to clear your mind before looking at the words again. Which idea are you drawn to more? The one you find drawn to more is usually the one that you should try first. Feel free to try this and see if it helps with sorting out your creative juices. Have a wonderfully creative day!

To those who wish to honor their ancestors - Make Them Proud. Do you find yourself drawn to the old ways of creating? Are you feeling that there is a bit of a disconnect between modern methods doing what our predecessors had done by hand? It's okay to feel this way but be sure not to judge those who prefer to use new methods. However if you feel drawn to using the skills of those before us, then go for it. Your muses have noticed something within you that they wish to encoura...ge. Writers, use words and terms that have been lost to the sands of time. Let them be spoken again. Musicians, be facinated and learn of the instruments and unique sounds of a by-gone era. Let people hear them again. Textile crafters, learn of the sewing and dyeing techniques that various regions became known for. Let them be seen again. Artisans and Craftsmen, learn the techniques and feel the tools of the old masters. Just because something is considered old and out dated due to the amount of time and effort that goes into it does not mean it should be forgotten. And if you are the type to use more modern methods, it is alright to do so. The creative community is a balance of old and new and is always learning from each other. Have a wonderfully creative day!

Wondering about the thought and care that goes on behind the creation of the 'Positive Thoughts to do Art By' album? Here is a peek into the mind of the creator of it, my good friend Dawn Star Wood Art! http://onepartpaint2partscoffee.blogspot.com//staying-crea