the love of Love

Here’s another from the “favorite quote” exercise from this past weekend’s workshop with Jamila Davies and Latifah Shay, “The Power of the Written (and Visual!) Word”.

If talking doesn’t work do something else to capture your emotions – create art.
 
When I create, when I make art, it goes past my ability to express myself verbally. Art goes to a deeper place within me – one born of energy and love, another place of existence, another dimension of reality.

I feel that this place is disputed by many as not being real. I am fiercely protective of this place, of this reality I call mine!

This place is real – my reality – and no one can take it from me. No one’s values and opinions and judgments and things they say are true can make this place not real, and transport me to other worlds within myself, worlds that are my truth.

I am fiercely protective of this place because of how I was raised like they were throwing dirt down a hole that was me. “There is nothing in there”, they would say. “You’re full of nothing.” “Nothing important is inside you.” “Nothing lives within.” What is this soul?” “You must be crazy crazy crazy.”

Pfiffle, poppycock, bullshit. Meanwhile I’m dying inside. Hogwash.

– Latifah Shay

The following are pictures drawn from inspiration led by Latifah Shay in the workshop “The Power of the Written and Visual Word” held this past weekend in Silver Spring, MD.

The Singing from My Heart

 
 
 
 

“This crayon drawing depicts the song that wants to burst from my heart through my being from the earth through the oceans, all wrapped in the arms of the One.”

 
 
 
 

Love in the Ocean

“From the Nothingness the heart swims in the Ocean of Light bubbling with Joy and delighted by angels.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Here’s another from the “favorite quote” exercise from this past weekend’s workshop with Jamila Davies and Latifah Shay, “The Power of the Written (and Visual!) Word”.

Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for You, my God. My soul is thirsting for the living God.
– Psalm 42

Oh my Lord, since childhood I have longed to know you, to become acquainted. As a child in the massive cathedral of our neighborhood church, Your Love and Beauty poured out to me. Praying the rosary, a beading practice of the Catholic religion, I have sought You.

Then as i grew into the agelessness of my life, I began to lose sight of You, only to find myself adrift and helpless without You, not knowing or understanding the very thing I’m missing is You, not knowing or understanding the why of difficulty.

But then I began to hear Your faint reply. “Be quite. Hear Me. Listen.” I began a torturous climb back into the mountain of Your being leaving behind all the disparities and pain and helplessness of life without You, finding You at last in the cathedral of my own heart, alive and well and always near. Allahu akbar.

My longing is fulfilled in my aching for You. The aching reveals the very doorway to Your magnificent garden of peace, perfection and beauty. Now it is time.
 
– Jamila Davies

This past weekend, Jamila Davies and Latifah Shay teamed up to deliver a powerful and fun healing workshop, “The Power of the Written (and Visual!) Word”. The group of us got together for meditation and creative writing and art from the heart.

One exercise was to each take a favorite quote and write about what it means to us. We had so much fun and felt so inspired, we want to share our works…

This is based on the quote, “No matter where you go, there you are.” I believe this came from “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.” I’ve never seen the movie, but heard the quote and recall it on many occasions.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE…
 
And the Creator said “Kun” [Be] and all that is came to be.
Kun – you are what you are and it is perfect in the design of the Creation.
You are a manifestation of God’s Love and Light. You are what is.
In the beauty and in the discomfort, you are. This will not change.
You cannot run from it. You are.
All that is is within you. Stop running and look inside. Seek Truth within.
If you don’t like what you see, seek a new vantage point, find a new perspective, ask a higher Source for help. But do not run. The Love is within.
The Peace is who you are – now.
No matter where you go, there you are.
Face yourself with the witnessing of Love and Compassion and Mercy.
Ask the Creator “Help me to see through Your eyes, to hear with Your ears and understand with Your heart.”
No matter where I go, here I am.
Perfect!
 
– Debra Graugnard