Metamorphosis Nature + Art- Part 2

Milkweed plant in our Monarch butterfly garden

MONARCH BUTTERFLY SERIES: STAGE 2

If you read the Part 1 post in my Blog you’ll know that we have created a temporary monarch butterfly sanctuary in my art studio. If you have not read that post, I highly encourage you to read it before you continue, for context.

Caterpillar (larvae) munching on milkweed in our garden

Since that first stage of having ten caterpillars (larvae) in our sanctuary, we saw seven of them complete the full cycle of metamorphosis from egg (laid on our garden milkweed) to full adult monarch butterfly who in turn, lay more eggs.

The chrysalis, the closest one is about to shed the shell and the monarch butterfly will be “born”. (this photo is taken through the net mesh)

From the stage of the chrysalis, we observed and waited to see what magical change would happen next. From the green with gold speckles cocoon, the next visible change was the darkening in color of the cocoon. In reality, the shell of the cocoon becomes clear, the “darkening” is the black, vibrant oranges and golds that is the iconic and unique color profile of the monarch butterfly.

Soon after the butterfly emerges from her cocoon shell, she rests and pauses before she begins to carefully “pump her wings” and prepare to fly

It was amazing to observe each chrysalis morph from green, to monarch colors, then emerge from the shell of the cocoon and simply to rest as a full butterfly. At first the butterflies pause without movement, lasting about 1-2 hours. Once their now long legs, antenna and wings started to move a bit, we knew that within a few hours, they would be ready to be set free to fly…

Bringing her outside to continue her adult life and the cycle of life.

Saying goodbye and thank you for the blessings to this beauty.

This journey of hosting a monarch butterfly garden and being a steward to the ecosystem continues, we continue to provide and cultivate the milkweed providing nourishment for the monarchs. The experience of providing a safe sanctuary for a small number of these amazing butterflies has been an honor and joyful inspiration. Wow. Amazed. Nature is amazing!

Monarch from my Flora & Fauna Collection, mixed media on canvas, 16 X 16 inches available to purchase on my website.

Thank you for reading and following along on this journey with me. Feel free to comment below and connect with me via social media or better yet, share and subscribe to this blog and my art newsletter to stay in touch and be the first to know about my art announcements, NFT drops and in real life events.

http://www.lorieneck.com

In love, gratitude and beauty…

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Metamorphosis Nature + Art- Part 1

Monarch, mixed media on canvas, 16X16 inches- Available for purchase

MONARCH BUTTERFLY SERIES: Part 1

As you know, I LOVE butterflies- monarch butterflies so so much! In our garden, we cultivate and provide a sanctuary for the monarchs to eat, rest and lay their eggs as they make their migration journey.

We have several milkweed plants- their preferred snack and have relished in the joy of their journey. Last season, we witnessed one of their new cocoons (green and metallic gold!) in it stage of creation. One day it was there, the immediate next, vanished. After some sharing and discussion about this with my young art students, we deducted that maybe a bird ate our little cocoon.

Flash forward to today, in an effort to support the full maturation of our beautiful monarchs, we have created a monarch sanctuary in my art studio. This safe space is simply some milkweed, coconut fiber as a base and a large net “container”. So far, we have 10 caterpillars in short-term residence. Six are in their green/gold cocoon stage, three in the cocoon pre-phase (hanging upside down and attached to the structure) and one is still munching on the milkweed, but slowing down.

More to come as I share in photos and art about this metamorphosis. In the meantime, this painting above is one of my butterfly tributes, entitled, Monarch from my Flora & Fauna Collection, it is available to purchase on my website.

Feel free to comment below and connect with me via social media or better yet, share and subscribe to this blog and my art newsletter to stay in touch and be the first to know about my art announcements, NFT drops and in real life events.

http://www.lorieneck.com

In love, gratitude and beauty…

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Happy Lunar New Year + New Collection

Find us online:  Lorien Eck Art & Design My Original Art Collection Now on VIDA! VIDA – Art-Inspired • Zero Waste • Global Impact Dear Friends, Happy Lunar New Year, Gong Hei Fat Choy! I am so excited about my new Vida Collection — a creative collaboration in design with makers around the world to create inspiring apparel and accessories! Truly a dream come true for me and I am having so much fun with this process! This is work that that I’m proud to say brings something truly positive to the world; taking care of the planet, and empowering the makers and their children through education! Thank you for reading and supporting women in business, like me! Blessings of health, prosperity and much love to you, My New Collection on VIDA   Click here to learn more about the Luggage tag, accent pillows, iPhone case and cashmere scarf above- all featured in my New VIDA collection online now! I invite you to browse and explore this new collection, at introductory prices, a super-fun variety of goods featuring my mixed-media paintings! By purchasing a unique Vida piece, you empower the makers of your product to build a better future for themselves and for generations to come. Press from Fashion Times — The VIDA shopper is someone who is well-traveled, she’s inquisitive, she’s thoughtful, [and] every product she brings into her life, she’s mindful of how it was made. MY ORIGINAL COLLECTION on ETSY Handmade •  Wearable Art • +Repurposed Decor Love yourself. Then forget it.  Then, love the world. — Mary Oliver  Copyright © 2019 Lorien Eck Art & Design, All rights reserved.

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Guest Blogger Liz Selva // Celebrating Life: Top 10 Things I Am Grateful For

Liz and I met when we both were in residence at Noniland Hawaiian Agricultural Research Center and Bee Sanctuary over New Year’s 2013.  Her role was as a vegan and raw chef for guests, mine was artist-in-residence… the bottom line is that I reconnected with a soul sister in Kauai, one of my heart homes.  It was magical!  What I love about Liz is her quiet yet fierce dedication to the earth and her gourmet preparations of whole foods with such love and reverence—truly inspirational.  One of the best cosmic giggles that we shared was learning that, unbeknownst to us, we were both at the same writers conference in Los Angeles in 2009 just “by chance”!  I love the Universe! and I am so excited that she contributed her beautiful words and wisdom to my blog.  Loving you Liz!

Liz’s Top 10 List:

1. I am grateful to my breath for sustaining my life. For being a function of my presence and the flow to which I return again and again when I require grounding calmness and peace.

2. I am grateful to my heart for being the space I connect to with my breath to feel deeply and express my true self. My heart is the place from which I most purely emanate my light.

3. I am grateful to my body for being the vehicle for which I traverse this existence. I give much care and nurturing to my body to ensure that my daily experience is smooth, comfortable and vibrant.

4. I am grateful to movement for helping me process my energy. Be it yoga, dance, walking, swimming etc giving my physical body the gift of flow supports my health, interactions, emotions, strength and clarity. It is one of my primary outlets for releasing unwanted feelings.

 5. I am grateful to food for being a source of absolute love. I receive so much nourishment and energy from what I put into my body but also great joy in the act of preparing, sharing and consuming it.

 6. I am grateful to pachamama for being an epic provider of life, to life and for life. Her beauty, resilience and abundance is unparalleled.

 7. I am grateful to my partner Dustin, family, friends and community for allowing me the experience of love, nurturing, support, togetherness, joy, laughter, happiness and expression. I am grateful to have people in my life to act as mirrors helping to show me so clearly what I need to see in myself.

8. I am grateful to my ancestors for being the protects of universal knowledge and wisdom. I pray that we as a species are able to remember the power and importance of these ancient peoples and collectively open ourselves to their sacred teachings.

 9. I am grateful to universal wisdom for being the force that surrounds all of existence. When I am feeling most clear, I feel the power of this force and the truth in its wisdom. I am in gratitude to universal wisdom for helping us all find our way home.

10. I am grateful to presence for the opportunity to live in the now. For the reminder that the past and future are creations of the mind and I have the opportunity in every moment, at every moment to create and experience the highest potential of and for my life.

For over 10 years, Liz has been in pursuit of health and happiness.  She was born and raised in Baltimore, MD where clean food and abundant living was an important part of her upbringing.  These themes continue to be the guiding force in her life.

Known to ‘dance to the beat of her own drum,’ Liz has spent much of her life traveling the world, exploring cultures, communities, cuisine and spirituality in search of what feeds the body, mind and soul. She went to University in Sydney and Florence, worked in children’s book publishing in Los Angeles, taught English in Thailand, studied yoga, meditation and Ayurveda in India and Nepal and sacred plant medicine in Peru. She is a certified yoga instructor and has most recently spent time as a chef for communities in Costa Rica, Colorado and Kauai. Liz lives with her partner Dustin on Maui.

       www.lizselvawellness.com

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Guest Blogger Paula Youmell // Being a Wise Woman Nurse: Top 10 Things I Am Grateful For

Paula Youmell is a holistic health nurse whom I met when I was living in Northern New York.  I had an opportunity to see Paula in action when she presented at the Holistic Health Fair that we organized in the town of Potsdam, she is an amazingly knowledgeable enthusiastic teacher of holistic health, whole foods and natural healing I must say!  Paula continues to inspire me with her blog Wise Women Red Tent blog posts which I read voraciously! Here’s Paula’s Top 10 list of what she is grateful for as a Wise Woman Nurse!  Thank you Paula!

#1. I can create my schedule to include hang out time with my two boys: Jake 16 and Eli 13. That’s me, Mom, in the middle.  I can see a client, take off into the woods for a walk or swim with my kids and dog (maybe both), and get back to clients again later!

#2. I get to do what I have a fiery passion for: inspire others to change their lifestyle and heal through nature. I grew up watching my grandfather make his own herbal medicines. These images of my grandpa-witch doctor (as my sisters and I called him) stuck with me. Right out of nursing school I started looking for natural ways to heal all the ills I encountered in my hospital RN duties.

#3. I work from my home saving gas and time from the stress of commuting to work. I can get up from my desk, do laps about the house (I have 2 sets of stairs which makes for interesting figure 8s and loops upstairs & down!), toss in a couple of yoga poses to stretch and expand, and get back into the work mode feeling refreshed!

 #4. I can whip up awesome, whole food meals for my kids using locally sourced fruits & veggies, meats, eggs, dairy, etc. This is much easier as I am at home. The time spent commuting can be spent cooking. I set my own hours and can be finished with wearing my Wise Woman Nurse’s hat by 4 or 4:30 to have an amazing and nourishing meal on the table by 5:30. As a heal by nature & whole foods kind of gal… this is very important to me. #5. I can work in my jammies! Yup, that’s correct: If I am working with phone clients or taking a day to work on my book projects (I have written two healing books so far!) I can stay in my jammies just as long as I want. It is always amusing for the UPS man to catch me in my jammies at 1 PM!  I can blast classic rock and jam in my jammies on my periodic romps through my home to loosen up and lighten up. Sitting all day is such a drag!  Yes, I am straight out of bed, pull my hair up, in this picture and the Garfield nighty… it is 31 years old!

#6. I’m my own grandma. Oops, wait, I meant boss. I am my own boss! This is an amazing gift to myself. I am totally in control of how my business is run and how the boss treats me.

#7. I can schedule time or days off for yoga classes, longer walks in the woods, field trips with my kids & their school, exciting alone day trips, and my continuing education. Sure I make up that time later, doing evening & weekend work, but I am the ultimate scheduler of my time.

#8: I meet, support, and create friendships with the most amazing people! This is deeply satisfying to draw positive energy and people into my life. Here I am with a group of local gals whipping up herbal medicines. This is what I mean about satisfying work and relationships!

#9: Little by little the work I do, and so many others too, we are creating a paradigm shift on this planet. We are teaching others to re-connect with nature (because we are nature) and how to care better for ourselves, this planet we live on, and all the other beings we share this planet with. This, my friends, is HUGE!

#10. I can live in rhythm with the cycles of nature: getting up when I wake up (which is usually 6 AM!) and tucking into bed when the sun says goodbye for the day and/or I am just plain beat. Not having an alarm clock setting off a stress response in my body, jarring me out of my sleep, is a perk of being my own boss (or was it my own grandma?).

For these reasons, and many more I could come up with, I am grateful I have listened to my inner wisdom and followed my path as a Wise Woman Nurse, here to support others on their paths to more vibrant health.

Namasté

Paula Youmell, RN, Wise Woman Nurse

Paula Youmell, RN is a Wise Woman Nurse,

Natural Health Educator, and Author in Potsdam, NY.

www.PaulaYoumellRN.com

 

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Furry Family Love

Shanti and Angel sunning!  ©LE Photo

 I have had the honor and privilege of loving, receiving unconditional love and caring for two animals that are to me, basically, people. 🙂  These two earth angels came into my life in about 11 and 8 years respectively.  Shanti is now 14 years old and the mother of Angel, who is now 8.  They were both born in Hollywood California, and the story is quite like a storybook fairy tale.  I adopted Shanti at the age of 3 and she has been my constant companion and my beloved soul mate, in the form of a fuzzy critter!  She is my love and has been with me through thick and thin!  We have climbed many hills in the LA canyons and enjoyed many sunsets together!   Angel was born into a litter of 3 and was adopted by my parents.  These two puppies have given me and my family such joy, laughs and comfort throughout the years.  The two of them are soul mates to each other as well!

Shanti and Angel going on a field trip to the beach! ©LE Photo

Furry animals of all breeds are truly givers of unconditional love and have much to teach us humans, in my humble opinion.  I am forever indebted to  Shanti and Angel for their sweet licks, happy faces, silly antics and adorable little behaviors that are unique to each of them.  I know that many of you reading this would agree with me about the JOY that animals bring us and how the love from a dear animal is so precious and priceless.  So many of us are animal lovers and honestly I would have to say that 99.99999999% of my friends, family and acquaintances are pet parents.  Are you?  🙂

I feel so lucky and am even more lucky to be able to support a wonderful animal rescue organization in Southern California called the Modjeska Ranch Rescue (MRR).  MRR is a non-profit rescue organization based in south Orange County, California and operates as an all-volunteer rescue dedicated to finding great homes for neglected and abandoned animals.

**Due to an overwhelming response so far, the location has been changed to:  The Modjeska Park 28891 Modjeska Road

The organization was founded by Russell and Teresa Taylor in 2001. They opened the door of their heart to helping the helpless and ended up opening up their home for abandoned animals. Since 2001 this couple, in tandem with community support, have placed more than 6500 animals into new homes. The success rate of this rescue is amazing.

I will be there with original paintings, limited edition fine art giclées, fine art gifts and more!  The event title is “Healing Hearts” and it’s true, adopting a pet heals their hearts and brings us lasting joy, comfort, peace and the unconditional love that we all desire.  We will   raising funds for this amazing non-profit under a canopy of oak trees surrounded by nature’s beauty.  All are welcome and I cordially invite you and your loved ones! Feel free to check out their website to learn more about the Modjeska Ranch Rescue.   See you there!

Shanti my love bug! ©LE Photo

Thank you for reading and I invite you to share your contributions via comments and connections and would love to hear from you via this blog, my face book page, or email lorien@lorieneck.com.

In love, gratitude and beauty…

 Recommended Resources

Modjeska Ranch Rescue
Dedicated to finding homes for neglected and abandoned animals.

Reiki

Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use

www.lorieneck.com

“Art has the power to heal.” ~ Lórien

 

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Who Made Your Clothes?- Original 2014 blog, Today still urgently relevant!

Hello!  I am revising this original blog entry from 2014 today, November 9, 2018.  Lots going on in the slow fashion, journey to sustainable fashion and a more environmentally aware textile and fashion industry.  I found this this article was published on the Mercola website.  I firmly believe that it’s really time to look at what we wear, what’s the cost and what changes we are personallywilling to make to lessen the  many health and environmental costs that fast fashion contributes to.  Time for change.

“Fashion is a force to be reckoned with. It celebrates, provokes, and entertains. And, from April 24th 2014, it’s going to do even more. Because we’re turning fashion into a force for good. On 24th April last year, 1133 people were killed and over 2500 were injured when the Rana Plaza factory complex collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Social and environmental catastrophes in our fashion supply chains continue.  Fashion Revolution Day says enough is enough.” I have been a fashion lover from a very young age.  I love fashion, textiles, color and style, always have always will.  I also am an Earth lover, a self-proclaimed nature freak and lifelong vegetarian.  Therefore, what I value, both the Earth and beauty through fashion converge in Eco fashion and sustainability in fashion, from what I wear to what I create as an artist/designer.  In one of my previous blog posts, My Manifesta ~ Part I, I muse about my desire to live more minimally, my quest to re-forest my lifestyle through examining what I already have and to commit to lowering my overall consumerism.  I took an inventory of what clothes I do have, where it was made, the manufacturer and the fabric.  I was not proud nor surprised to say the least.  In response,  I made some choices and I have maintained my commitment to cease buying clothes for the time being, and when I do, they will be sustainable fashion either created by me or by an eco fashion designer.  This feels really good. Did you know that fashion uses more water than any industry other than agriculture. At least 8,000 chemicals are used to turn raw materials into textiles. Americans throw away 68 pounds of clothes on average each year, and we only buy 10 pounds of recycled clothes annually. Clothing that ends up in landfills takes a very long time to decompose — about 6 months for a cotton sock, one year for a wool cap, 40-50 years for a leather belt and 50-80 years for a rubber boot.  According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 11.8 million tons of cloth, textiles and shoes are discarded in the United States each year, ending up in landfills or being incinerated.  It’s a very serious issue. And so, I found that like anything in life having to do with change and transformation, awareness is the first step. After the awakening process, then actions can take place and conscious choices can be made.  For me, it’s been practical to learn about what I already have, continue to wear it guilt free, but also to stop giving my money or buying into what I no longer value.  How we spend our money/resources is a tremendous power we have.  It’s a start and the journey is a lifelong one. On Thursday, April 24, there is a global movement happening in honor of the one-year anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh with the collapse of the building, and the ever-growing death toll, many articles appeared urging consumers to support ethical fashion as a way to improve working conditions throughout the supply chain. And, on 24th of April each year, Fashion Revolution Day will bring everyone in the fashion value chain together and help to raise awareness of the true cost of fashion, show the world that change is possible, and celebrate all those involved in creating a more sustainable future.  What can we do?

Get involved

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The first Fashion Revolution Day is based around the theme ‘Who Made Your Clothes?’

We have lost the connection with the clothes that we wear, so we thought it was important to make this first day about transparency and reconnecting the relationships in the fashion value chain. What is the connection to someone else through your clothes? The farmers do not know where their cotton goes; the producers no longer make entire garments, they are just line workers; and the end consumer rarely knows where their clothes were made.

Be Curious

We need to become more curious about how our clothes are made and who made them. 

• Look at the labels on your clothes. Where is it from? Who made it?

Find out

Get in contact with brands and ask them ‘Who Made Your Clothes‘, to discover the real people throughout the supply chain. 

• Send the brand a photo/video of your garment on Facebook/Twitter and ask Who Made Your Clothes? Let us know by tagging it with #InsideOut and @Fash_Rev
• Use the Fashion Revolution Day Trump Card Game to find out how ethical your garments are. Then play the game with your friends!
• Check out our Further Reading list for more information on ethical fashion
• Play the Fashion Revolution Day Quiz to test your knowledge!

Do Something

We want hundreds of thousands of people to take part! Together we can use the power of fashion to catalyse change and reconnect the broken links in the supply chain. In order to raise awareness within the fashion industry and beyond, we want to encourage them to continue to try and make things better. 

• WATCH The True Cost A Documentary and share the movie with others, now streaming on Netflix.  Spread the word!
• Stay up-to-date with local news and events through your country page and social media
• Get in touch with your Country Coordinator about holding your own event for Fashion Revolution Day!
• On Fashion Revolution Day 24 April, please Tweet: Today I’m wearing my (shirt/dress/T-shirt etc.) #InsideOut because I want to ask @(brand/retailer) Who Made Your Clothes?
• Tell your friends, family and colleagues about Fashion Revolution Day and get them to wear something inside out
• Change the way that we are consumers.  I personally have stopped voting with my $ through NOT shopping at many of the stores that are involved in the fast fashion trend.  And, like we talked about in the kitchen, I have warmed up to wearing pre-owned clothing- beyond vintage, but newer pieces that are from resale clothing stores- there are a few good ones in LA, where the clothes are fashionable, some basics, and in like-new conditions.  The buyers and the parameters for buying for resale are strict and the bar high.  This has been really fun.  I am excited to participate in the #30wears initiative, where I share that hashtag when in a photo with a piece or pieces of clothing have been worn over and over.
• Take care of your clothing, fix it and resell or donate it if you are not using it anymore.  Be an active consumer, own your clothing- not just buy it.
• Buy clothes that have a minimum impact on the environment.  If you can, buy organic cotton, buy less clothing and/or support companies who create textiles and clothing that are more sustainable.  Check out The Good Trade website for starters.
• Read this article from The Ground Up Project to learn more!
• Visit the new Sustainable fashion Museum in Amsterdam!  Just opened October 2018!  Read more about that here!

Wear it #insideout

Together we can use the power of fashion to catalyse change and reconnect the broken links in the supply chain. Wear your clothes inside-out to help start the beginning of an industry-wide transformation towards a more sustainable future. Show us your inside out clothes on Instagram by tagging it @Fash_Rev and #InsideOut

https://instagram.com/p/l9AQAJtwKg/

Thank you for reading and I invite you to share your contributions via comments and connections and would love to hear from you via this blog, my face book page, or email lorien@lorieneck.com.

In love, gratitude and beauty…

www.LorienEck.com

 

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Soul Cosmology

“Lórien” ~ Soul Cosmology™ Painting

In October 2012 I was inspired to combine my passion for painting with my other gifts.  I felt excited to see where this spark would take me and my artwork.   I began to experiment with a few of my friends and really enjoyed the results and shared their Soul Cosmology painting with them.  They really enjoyed the experience too!  Here’s what my friend Choury shared with me:

“I am delighted with my beautiful Soul Cosmology Painting by Lórien Eck. It’s hard to categorize this kind of art because Lórien actually interprets her subject’s energy with a kind of ‘Artistic Alchemy’ that goes beyond being beautiful. It’s peaceful and healing and energizes my room. It simply makes me feel good every time I look at it. I couldn’t be more pleased – Thank you Lórien!”
~ Choury DeVelle Bsc, CHt., NLP Quantum Meditation and Transformation

“Choury” ~ Soul Cosmology™ Painting

A soul’s essence cannot be contained in a word, or even a phrase. And so, using my spiritual insight and artistry, I interpret your unique soul qualities/gifts and express them through light, color, texture – from Spirit to matter.

“Cindy” ~ Soul Cosmology™ Painting

“Douglas” Soul Cosmology™ Painting

Soul Cosmology Painting is a one-of-a-kind painting that reflects your Soul’s unique beauty, essence and light.
Your Soul Cosmology is your essence of being or Spirit translated into a fine art painting- Matter-it is a potent reflection of you. It is a mirror and reminder of your bright inner light and Eternal beauty. As you engage with your painting, you awaken and are nourished. You begin to recognize “you” again, and open up to receive those most precious aspects of yourself: your true essence, harmony, beauty, personal power, strength, balance, and peace.Imagine commissioning a Soul Cosmology Painting to…

• Reflect and remind you of your Inner Beauty and Light

• Enhance feelings of inner peace, self-healing, self-empowerment and well-being

• Strengthen a deeper appreciation for your own wisdom, sovereignty and bliss

• Illuminate a more profound recognition of your unique genius and gifts, and of the light that is YOU!

• Validate a more grounded connection to your daily experience of Cosmic Consciousness or Oneness

• Beautify a space with art that translates the language of your Soul

“Kat” ~ Soul Cosmology™ Painting

“Lori” ~ Soul Cosmology™ Painting

All Soul Cosmology Paintings are fine art originals.  I create them with mixed media pigments, fairy dust, natural dyes and/or earth sourced minerals/crystals.

Soul Cosmology Paintings are created using 100% sustainable, raw materials from the earth for personal and global health. Your Soul Cosmology Painting can be created for your home/work space or to wear on your body as a shawl, wrap or sarong.

I am so happy to be able to bring through and offer this gift.   Please contact me directly to inquire about your Soul Cosmology Painting.  I would love to paint your beautiful Soul for you to admire… xo

“Christine” ~ Soul Cosmology™ Painting

I was thrilled to receive the painting yesterday morning! It’s beautiful. After hanging it up, it seemed to me as if it has an energetic consciousness of it’s own, gradually filling the space of my room. For me, seeing it daily is a reminder and a symbol of self-love and gratitude for who I am, my gifts, and uniqueness as a being . Thank you so much for the time and creativity that you’ve put into this. I appreciate very much that you’ve kept me up-to-date with every step of this process, which left me feeling very assured and cared for as a client.  ~ Christine N., CO

 

Thank you for reading and I invite you to share your contributions via comments and connections and would love to hear from you via this blog, my face book page, or email lorien@lorieneck.com.

In love, gratitude and beauty…

www.LorienEck.com

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Green Is Queen!

Succulents in Bloom ©LE Art & Design

I love the color green!  Why?  Green represents so much!  Green represents growth, the earth, fertility, growing grass and leaves, green emeralds, and the stone of jade.  Green is also the color representing the heart chakra.. Ahhhhh  Green is also associated now with the “green” movement, the greening of the earth and all that is “eco conscious”.

Today is St.Patrick’s day.  I celebrated by wearing an awesome bright green scarf and celebrating by spending time with my healing art! Here’s my “selfie” from Lang Fine Art in Laguna Beach with “Ciel/Mer XIV” ( 22″ x 30″ – Mixed media on paper).Selfie on Green Day ©LE Art & Design

I also spent some time walking along the pacific coast near the sea and window shopping, what fun!  Our last stop was a special visit to another one of my “happy places“, a gorgeous nursery where we saw those beautiful succulents and lots of beautiful garden toys, statues, plants, herbs, botanical trees and lots of amazing living things!

Fuzzy One ©LE Art & Design

And, let’s remember our beloved green drinks and smoothies!  My favorite green juice is a combo of organic kale, parsley, celery, cucumber, ginger and a little cilantro!

Fresh green juice-art studio breaktime ©LE Art & Design

What a wonderful day of beauty, fine art, the sea, plants galore and even The Green Man!

The Green Man ©LE Art & Design

“May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, May good luck pursue you each morning and night.” ~Irish blessing

Thank you for reading and I invite you to share your contributions via comments and connections and would love to hear from you via this blog, my face book page, or email lorien@lorieneck.com.

In love, gratitude and beauty…

www.LorienEck.com

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My Manifesta ~Part 1

Rooted Tree Branching Up ©LE Fine Art (photo) 2013

Happy February~ Happy V~Day!

Today I begin to slowly take on my personal “manifesta”.  It is in part inspired by the Mercury Retro Cycle, February 2014, as well as the turn of our annual cycle, and more I am sure!

And, while I am applying this astro cycle’s principles to my practice, (take any word and add the prefix RE) i.e. review, redo, remember, re, re, re…. this whole lifestyle re-vamp started to kick in consciously for me after the turn of the year, Jan. 2014 when I was camping in the jungle off the grid for 1 month…… 🙂  It wasn’t about quantity of time, but the quality~ time spent in reflection, and in forgiveness; a time of  healing the heart, the mind and the Spirit in nature.  It was a very cathartic transition time for me and now that I am back in my so-called “normal” existence (NOT!), I am in the sensitive integration leg of the journey.  This stage takes time, care, attention, love, patience, understanding… because the reality is that my life has changed, I have changed.

What exactly is my Manifesta?  It is one way that I am integrating and responding to my inner-world changes and how to interface with the outer world.  The overarching themes  are very “RE” oriented.  Reduce, reuse, recycle, reinvent… basically, less consumption and more creativity with what I already have.

Here’s #1 of my Manifesta:

1. Re-view aspects of lifestyle.
a. What I wear on my body.
-where it was made (country)
-what it is made from (textile)
-brand (that’s a whole other story!)

This is a big one for me.  Even to the point of my life’s passion/calling.  From an early early age, I have been obsessed with my clothing, with textiles and with putting outfits together!  I even won an award in high school for what else, “Clothing”.  Yes! So this topic runs deep!

So, one of my recent activities has been (without judgment) to examine at every piece of clothing I have and assess the following: textile, country of manufacture, and company of manufacture.  I am keeping a record and the stats are not that startling, yet conclusive to the fact that I am making HUGE changes.  1st choice that I have made is to cease buying any new clothing items. Period.  One could call this practice simplifying, yet it is and so much more.  It’s also what I like to call the “RE-forestation” of  a lifestyle that has lived in an urban region for some time.

My Manifesta envelopes all aspects of my life, from what I value, to how I spend my valuable time, my relationships, my living and “work” environment, and of course, my stuff.  We all have our stuff and even  after a home relocation in 2012, when I donated much of my stuff, there is still more!  The stuff I am referring to now, fits into the childhood, sentimental category.  And, at the end of the day, it is still stuff.  And, so the process of elimination goes on.  All is being put through this ‘RE’ process, the RE-zoning and RE-inventing myself in an ever-changing world stage.  One thing I have come to learn is that when the feeling of overwhelm settles in, that’s the sign to eliminate and to simplify, to let go as easily and gracefully as possible whatever is there and to create clean, fresh space.

My Manifesta is an ongoing process and contains many layers.  It is a slow, step-by-step, year-long project and focus that I know will yield results and allow me to manifest my dreams.

Thank you for reading and I invite you to share your contributions via comments and connections and would love to hear from you via this blog, my face book page, or email lorien@lorieneck.com.

In love, gratitude and beauty…

Personally Experienced and Recommended Resources

Mystic Mamma

This is a great resource for astro wisdom, cosmic consciousness and mamma-ness.  This link is especially illuminating in terms of

Mercury retrograde, February 6-28, 2014

The Power Path

The monthly forecast from these amazing folks is an invaluable tool.

Slow Fashioned Blog

Fabulous resource for the curious, courageous and committed co-creative consumer!  I challenge you to take the Pledge!

One Dress Protest

One woman’s inspiration, in her words, “to figure myself out in the complex and oftentimes disconcerting world of clothes

and outward appearance.”  Excellent inspiration for me!

www.lorieneck.com

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