Being brave enough to walk your own path

(Image by Stephen Mooney - http://halfpastdanger.blogspot.com/2011/09/oh-heavens-no-it-has-to-be-terror-sweat.html)
Found this lovely link via a tweet today, and it really does resonate strongly with me. Even more so at this point in time, when I see so many unhappy people doing jobs they're not satisfied with. They have a yearning to do work that is true to their soul and that calls to them.
It isn't an easy call to answer, but those that do, despite the many, many challenges they face along the way (aside from the obvious financial challenge) find a sense of wholeness from it and find it deeply satisfying.
So to see a well established artist that I admire, being open and honest about the fears of freelancing after a great success rate in his career spanning over 10years so far, is heartening. It's heartening because feeling these fears is healthy, normal and felt by your peers. Healthy because anything that pushes you outside your comfort zone means you're growing and evolving. Normal because no matter what your journey or calling in this life, you are not alone in facing your gremlins.
This is after all, another great example of a personal gremlin...and they come in all shapes and sizes! It's good to know that despite it being there, overcoming resistance and conformity is possible.

Holistic and Craft Fair 25th Sept 2011

It isn't often that you get a mix of events that are relevant, so news of this event reached me and I'm interested!
It approaches therapy and craft as both expressions of holistic healing, and the aim is to promote them to assist with people finding answers to their life by their own means.
Definitely worth checking out and it is Family Friendly and FREE! :)

HOLISTIC & CRAFT SHOW
BRACKEN COURT HOTEL
25TH SEPTEMBER, 2011
12 NOON - 6PM
FREE ADMISSION TO PUBLIC
RAFFLE PROCEEDS TO LOCAL CHARITY

SPECIAL GUEST
PATRICIA BUCKLEY
AUTHOR "MY JOURNEY WITH THE ANGELS"
PATRICIA WILL BE SIGNING HER BOOK ON THE DAY!
AT THE EVENT PUBLIC WILL EXPERIENCE:
Complimentary Therapies at reduced rates
Handmade Crafts on sale
Wellbeing Products & Stands
FREE Information Talks on Therapies etc
FREE Kid's Craft Corner

Free Interactive Demonstrations with Tai Chi & Sacred Circle Dance!

ALL proceeds of Raffle will be donated to Charity
Balbriggan Cancer Support
St. Francis Hospice Raheny

If you are interested in being an exhibitor, you can download Application Form and pay for stand on www.spiritualrays.com.

Letting your Heart look after you

A small passage from a book I'm reading really got me recently so I had to share (taken from The Opening of the Way A practical guide to the wisdom teachings of Egypt, Isha Schwaller de Lubicz 1979):

The kingdom of the heart, including its channels of distribution in the blood vessels, covers the full extent of any living being both in time and space. The heart is engaged in the mysterious work of holding the whole organism in balance, which is more than a matter of blood vessels and changing pressures. To correct the effects of injury or disequilibrium it has remarkable methods of compensation justified by thousands of years of experience. This Wisdom of the Heart has come to us by heredity, as a quality of our species. The heart possesses an ability to repair damage affecting itself without for one moment interrupting the flow of energy it provides. Thus it is rightly a symbol of unfailing generosity. In the practice of cardiology we have had to recognize that the hearts power to maintain life is almost unlimited, so long as it is allowed to use its own methods and has unrestricted access to its natural resources. (Here the author makes a reservation regarding embolism of the pulmonary artery, when the heart fails because the task is practically impossible).
Only too frequently, however, the unfortunate interventions of the psyche, especially in the form of anxiety, turn the course of events into catastrophe. A strong heart, very little damaged, ahs often been known to fail in a few hours under the influence of acute anxiety.
One emotional storm can demolish completely the marvelous structure of homoestatic defenses which, with the Wisdom of the Heart, has come down to us from the depths of time.*

* Dr. Godel, L'Experience liberatrice (Paris: Gallimard, 1952)

Zen and what is it

Zen - by Tommie Kelly Visit: www.tommiekelly.com for more art
Tommie Kelly went all zen this week on the www.irishcomicnews.com website. It was in fact, an inspired moment of truth and clarity if I'm to be honest, and sums up the highs and lows of a journey in any creative field. It could be said that the last couple of years have sparked a 'knowing your own truth' journey for a lot of people on the planet. Connecting with your creative truth is a big part of that journey.
People often say that artistic skills are 'talent' and people are born with it. Well I firmly believe this isn't the case. It is something you can learn, and like other skills, sometimes there can be more of an affinity with a particular pursuit than another...but without applying time, energy and focus on it then it would simply cease to be a well honed skill.
It can be easy to become disheartened during the down times of the cycles that occur with creativity and any other part of your life for that matter. There is however, one truth that remains - this too shall pass. Not going to go all holy here, but this just about sums up any bad patch or low energy or uninspired spell you find yourself going through.
Everything has cycles, stick it out long enough and you might start to see patterns forming! When that happens it can be reassuring and also invaluable as a way to find the door out. :)

Gremlins

Hmmm...the word gremlin conjures up an image of soft fluffy 'Gizmo' type beings who tend to cause mischief but are all warm and fuzzy. The thing about gremlins, from a coaching perspective, is that they come in all shape,sizes and forms, and can either stand out in full monster form or work side by side with you pretending to be helpful.
Over the years clients have revealed so many types it can honestly be said they're completely unique to the person. What really helps though is being able to acknowledge that you have a gremlin, and that naming it can be the first step to helping you deal with it.
I'm not sure you can ever tame a gremlin, but you can sure keep it in check. Personally however, I've recently encountered a new form of gremlin. It's the one that knows you so well, that it isn't even visible to you most of the time. It's subtle, pretends to be friendly and helpful but has an extremely well thought out long range plan involving self sabbotage.
I didn't even know there was a gremlin at work until a long conversation with a friend revealed it! It was the subtle approach to this sabbotage plan that really shocked me and made me realise it was a gremlin in another disguise. It was working from a long distance range of about 4 weeks, allowing for unrealistic goals to be set so that the continuous fail would lead to just throwing the towel in and quitting under the guise that I had given it my best shot.
It woke me up, thats for sure, and it put me on alert as upping the game is the gremlins next form of subtle attack! I could at least take charge again, for now, until the next move could be made by the gremlin.
At this point I would like to make people aware that even though the gremlin is talked about as a separate entity, the reality is that you are simply fighting with an aspect of yourself. Externalising this into a form known as the gremlin can assist with removing the power attached to that aspect of you.

So how do you know when your gremlin is present, especially when it doesn't follow normal patterns?
Maybe keep some questions about to double check whether your gremlin is out of the bag. If you're doing something new, moving out of your comfort zone, taking a new approach to living or simply wanting to change, answer the questions when you find yourself encountering even a slight amount of resistance or indifference:
What type of tone of voice are you hearing?
What is important to you right now?
What is happening when you move to take action on that important thing in your life?
What phrases are recurring in your language to prevent you from taking action?

The tone of voice is a good one to note, simply because it can be a gently dismissive tone, one that makes little of what you are about to do or change. Getting focused on what is important to you, reconnects you to your higher self and the good energy in relation to what you are about to do. Distractions from that or changing the focus will have a different tone in comparison.
When you are about to take action to change, the resistance can become stronger, the questions beginning with 'why...' can come into play and all of a sudden your internal dialogue can switch in the most subtle of ways. Wake up to it, become more conscious of it. Finally, the phrases that revert to doubting your ability, your strengths and aim to get you to do nothing, are good little tell tale signs.

SO WHAT TO DO?...
If you click on the image you will see what appears to be a particularly ugly gremlin in the middle of a page! What is brilliant about this image however, is the mindmap on the process of how to notice the gremlin and how to explore ways of moving on from it. Becoming aware of it is the first step to making it take a back seat!
Go through the mindmap and then take out a sheet of paper and do your own. Map down everything, from the tell tale questions and doubts to the emotions that creep in and then write down what you'd like to do to move through it. It's an excellent exercise, worth taking the time out to do and as I mentioned, it really helps you to discover all the ugly faces your gremlin puts forward to set you up for a fall! Most importantly, accept that it's all part of the journey and avoid the harsh 'I should've known!!' statements on yourself. Just accept, adjust, learn and move on. :)

Irish Comic News website

Isn't it great when a gap in the market is filled with something relevant and much needed? Well I'm happy to say that this happened recently, and has been a long overdue task for someone to take on. In retrospect though, it is similar to the phenomenon that Malcolm Gladwell mentions in The Tipping Point. You get to a moment where the push for the need creates a service or provider.
In this case, it was a need for a one point of contact for information on creativity in comics in Ireland. The scene has been active for a long time, and although the community of comic creators, artists and writers would get together for the small festivals or conventions each year, it just wasn't enough. There are a variety of conventions, fairs and festivals on during the year, that just don't get talked about enough. They don't get on the radar of the general public, and most of the time the general public like to go to something alternative.
So now, there is a central site telling the world about comics...from Ireland. It gives details on events, the people in the industry who slavishly create wonderful independent comics and works of art, along with those who are currently carving out a career within big names such as Marvel.
So go visit http://www.irishcomicnews.com and find out something new about the country that isn't about the banks or recession! :)

Good vibes

It is always great to have an opportunity to meet new people, especially if they share the same interests and have gathered together for a festival on it. The 2D Festival in Derry, is always looked forward to for this very reason. It is possibly one of the most relaxed and well run events I've had the pleasure of attending, and the focus is very much on promoting creativity with children.
This was the 5th year of 2D, and each year it simply gets better. There are more workshops and panels and talks, all promoting comics and exploring artistic forms of expression. It is such a beautiful and nurturing environment for young adults and kids that it really is going to be a watch and see what talents emerge in years to come. Comics are celebrated, the process of creating is explored and the professionals give their time, view points and expertise on it all in the friendliest way possible.
I'm happy to say that every year I go, it is like a reset button for inspiration for me. This year is no exception. Last year was a wonderful chance to meet not only various artists excelling in their field, but editors with vast amounts of experience. This year I got to meet someone who exuded a zen like quality from being so comfortable in their craft. An energy like that stands out, and it stays with you.
Having had a chance to think on it, the reflection arrived at a simple conclusion. Master your craft, whatever it might be. Simply give it your attention, make the effort and commit to it fully. By connecting yourself in this way you give yourself the chance to begin to align with your true self...and the zen can only follow.