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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Equinox~ Moment of Balance~ Light and Dark

Dark/Light Sky ©LE Art & Design

“You have the opportunity to drink in this energy of Balance and allow it to transform the very atoms at the core of your being.”  ~Archangel Michael via Shanta Gabriel

Happy 1st Equinox of 2014!  This day is significant in that there is an equal measure of lightness and darkness (or shadow) in our Earth and Sun dance.  This “outer” balance of dark/light reflects our own delicate balance of our inner light and inner darkness.  And, in the northern hemisphere, the light is getting brighter and stronger day by day… building towards our Solstice in June.

How can we work consciously with these outer energies in a way that is favorable for us?  For me, doing some sort of ritual to honor the light/dark balance in a simple way is my charge today.  Lighting a candle on my alter in the morning with prayers and meditation and later in the dark of the evening, I will create a simple ceremony again with fire as the central element.  For more ideas on rituals and ceremonies, check out Mystic Mamma’s ideas.  (scroll down on that page to Rituals)

Harlesden Spring ©LE Art & Design

The power of clear intentions is a sure way to move forward and harness these cosmic energies. We are also in the “new year” in the astrological world, moving from Pisces, the 12th sign of the cycle into Aries, the powerful first fire sign.  So, to my many astrologer/y friends and Persian friends, “Happy New Year!”  To quote one of my favorite online resources for charting the annual cycles as well as wisdom of the “Mamma”:  “This symbolic point of balance has been celebrated by our ancestors since the beginning of time. In cultures across our planet this period marks an initiation and symbolic integration of the forces of light and dark.”

For more insights on the meaning and significance of this transition time/space, see this link and many many Bright Blessings in this new season!

Ciel/Mer XV ©LE Fine Art

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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Process as Catharsis

Kalalau 3 ©LE Fine Art (photo)

Happy nearly mid-summer to you!  How is yours coming along so far?  Mine has been dedicated to completing a new body of work, a series of paintings concentrated on the element of water.  You most likely know that water comprises over 70% of our bodies and about 70% of our planet Earths’ surface.  The oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all Earth’s water and water also exists in the air as water vapor, in rivers and lakes, in icecaps and glaciers, in the ground as soil moisture and in aquifers. Did you know that the proportions of salt to fresh water on the planet are the same as in the body, the fresh water being in the in spine?  Wow!

My passion for water is many layered.  Firstly, water “in-spirits” me, inspires me to create, to feel, to allow my spirit to BE.  Growing up near the ocean and the fact that seashores have always (and will always) be a very healing, cooling and nourishing place for me to simply BE.  During the past few months, I have been inspired to engage with the waters of life in any way that I can.  For example, long essential oil and salt infused baths, swimming in the ocean lots, sitting on the sea shore, hydrating the body with more and more pure water and feeling the inner waters of e-motions.

Through my daily practices revolving around water, old layers of sadness have emerged to be made love to and let go of…  Embracing fluidity and stillness in my life process, resting in vulnerability and surrender allowing old thought/feeling patterns to bubble up and dissolve…  This life process is vital to go through for me vs. the avoid-dance, catalyzing catharsis to create (in this case) my art  from a place of authenticity and true beauty.

And, honestly, from what I have learned from being a lifelong artist and student, moving through the layers of the shadow and the strata of the defense structure, are what make great art.  Even if it’s not “pretty”, it’s a beautiful and necessary process.  I was challenged lately by one of my teachers Cass to face my pain, anger, sadness and other “ugly” shadow stuff, especially if I call myself a “transformative” artist.  Amen, he called it!  No steps can be skipped and this is the journey that I have accepted that I am on.  He encouraged me to look at my favorite artists’ (all mediums) and their work for evidence of this fact.  Vero vero.  Gratefully, I accepted this challenge as my aim is to be extraordinary and real in my expression of my Gifts in our world, similar to my favorite artists.  🙂

Courage, I embrace the waters with courage.  Nourishing from the source of life, our waters both inside and out.

I invite you to write 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

Awake-One

Cass Phelps is an amazing individual and his inspired body of work and offerings have been a

phenomenal resource for me! His work is comprehensive, relevant and rich…I am eternally indebted to my teacher Cass.

The Work and World of Dr. Masaru Emoto

Masaru Emoto has studied water for over twenty years. Water has been Dr. Masaru Emoto’s passion.  He has studied water around the planet form the perspective of an original thinker, and is the author of a number of bestselling books, a three-volume photo collection of beautiful water crystals, and now two children’s books about water.  These books have been translated into more than thirty-five languages.

Books:

The Water Cure with Dr. F. Batmanghelidj

Love his books!

Did you know?

Water is the basis of all life and that includes your body. Your muscles that move your body are 75% water; your blood that transport nutrients is 82% water; your lungs that provide your oxygen are 90% water; your brain that is the control center of your body is 76% water; even your bones are 25% water.

Our health is truly dependent on the quality and quantity of the water we drink.

Water

FindaSpring.com is a community and user created database of natural springs around the world.  Spring water is the cleanest, healthiest, most natural water. Now is the time to reclaim our water!

http://www.findaspring.com/

Film:

Inspirations

This latest documentary film by Michael Apted (7Up series, Gorillas in the Mist, Nell) explores the creative process through candid discussion with seven artists from diverse media.  (note: Chihuly loves water too, it’s fuel for his creative expression!)

“About 70 percent of our bodies are water. This is the case for adults of all races, and it is why people should not be divided by political strategies and ideologies. Just like water, people must always be allowed to flow freely.”

~Dr. Masaru Emoto

www.lorieneck.com

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Summer Solstice: Wedding of Heaven and Earth

Pacific waters filled with the light of the sun…

Summer solstice June 21, 2013 is around the corner.  Are you ready?   What is the significance of the Summer solstice?  To quote,  “Sol + stice derives from a combination of Latin words meaning “sun” + “to stand still.  As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky. As a major celestial event, the Summer Solstice results in the longest day and the shortest night of the year.”  And, the Druids’ celebration of the day as the “wedding of Heaven and Earth”, resulting in the present day belief of a “lucky” wedding in June.  (Source- http://www.chiff.com/a/summer-solstice.htm)

Isn’t that fascinating?  I always feel excited when the solstice is near.  I feel like there is so much to be grateful for, to look forward to and to celebrate in life!  We are lovers of life, yes?  Waking up each day, facing the mystery that each moment and in turn each series of moments making up a day, a week, months, and so on….  it’s a wonder!

I am simply writing today to share my joy, inspiration and love for and of life, the light, the beauty, and the shadows (helps me appreciate and seek out beauty even more!).  On this summer solstice, (in the Northern hemisphere) when the sunlight shines the longest, may it inspire you and light your way.  (Fun fact: Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut in Canada, will see a whopping 20 hours and 49 minutes of daylight on June 21!)

I look forward to your comments and questions … would love to hear from you via this blog, FB, or email lorien@lorieneck.com.

In love, gratitude and beauty…

Recommended Resources

Awake-One

Cass Phelps is an amazing individual and his inspired body of work and offerings have been a

phenomenal resource for me! His work is comprehensive, relevant and rich…

“Now is the time to see the sunlight dancing as one with the shadows.”
~Rumi

www.lorieneck.com

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What InSpires You?

Blue Pearl 9X12 inches Mixed Media on Paper

What nourishes you from your inspiration?
What ever nourishes and inspires you fully can be the starting point for Living your Life from the effortless Flow of Being, from the Inside out.

~Cass Phelps

Did you know that if you follow what inspires you, you will become more of you essentially are, your authentic self, stripped down to the core to your eternal being?  I love this!  Yes!  What if your daily practice was to simply follow your inspiration?  Similar to following your bliss, look inside and outside to  what inspires you, take a breath inhale and exhale deeply, inhaling spirit, in-spir-ation…  Observe what in-spirits you, gives you energy, makes your heart sing with joy, gives you goose bumps, gets you excited, discover and follow that.  Touch it and follow it like a butterfly….

Experiment with this focus and see where your inspirations lead you and what expressions, creations and visions emerge out of this process.  Trust your inspirations and take note, mark your musings and new awareness throughout~ whether in writing, sound, video, photos, drawings, or all, it’s your choice.  The exciting bit is that you will discover magic and brilliance within and without… You’ll feel satisfied, experience more causeless joy and pleasure!  And, our world will benefit through the sharing of your inspirations through your new manifestations in the material realm!  Play with this and see where the bread crumbs take you…  I wish you all love, light and blessings on your quest and path of exploration!

I look forward to your comments and questions … would love to hear from you via this blog, FB, or email lorien@lorieneck.com.

In love, gratitude, and beauty,

Recommended Resources

Awake-One

Cass Phelps is an amazing individual and his inspired body of work and offerings have been a

phenomenal resource for me! His work is comprehensive and rich…

“You Have The Energy Of The Sun In You.”
~Rumi

“Inspiration is always a surprising visitor.”
~ John O’Donohue, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

www.lorieneck.com

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Every Day is Our Day of Love

“Diane” Personal Essence Portrait

©LE Art & Design

 Self- love is the source of all our other loves.~ Pierre Corneille 

Dear Beloved Community,

As I write this my heart is filled with love for the beautiful gifts of friendship, community, laughter, and the beauty that is found both in nature and co-created with our hearts/hands.  Love in general and specifically self-love, has been a current theme for me.  I found this question to be very interesting and inspiring:  “What does it look like or mean to love ourselves?”  Yes, of course, a daily spiritual practice, some pampering (or plenty of pampering!), eating well, exercising, deep breathing, plenty of pure drinking water, green drinks, yoga, etc etc etc.  These are all excellent and vibrant expressions of self-love that I love! Yet, let’s look a little deeper into the question posed above as a form of self-inquiry.  I invite you to create a quiet space and explore these questions, inspired by Judy Satori and Mother Mary.

•What is that my heart desires?  Tune into your heart and ask How do I desire to Be?

•What are my soul’s true qualities?

•How can these soul qualities be expressed in my day-to-day life?

•What modifications do I require to make in my day-to-day life to be in more alignment with the true nature of our being?

I invite you to explore these questions and to see what kind of energy changes or ways of Being emerge for you.  I am practicing this self-inquiry now right along with you…  Take your time, take a few days, a week, or longer…  Relax and lean into this blossoming of you.

I look forward to your comments and questions … would love to hear from you via this blog, FB, or email lorien@lorieneck.com.

In love, gratitude, and Unity Consciousness,

Recommended Resources

Gently Moving Forward Blog Talk Radio

A fabulous radio show that my good friend Kat Nelson Troyer did recently!

North Point Astrology

It appears that this Full Moon is an initiation of sorts. Through experiencing its energies, we have opportunities to come into even greater alignment with our spiritual path, given a willingness to learn and perfect the steps along the way — our cosmic “dancing lesson”.
~Pam Younghans

“Sometimes an artist’s first invention is herself.” ~Stephanie Vaughn

www.lorieneck.com

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Awakening the Heart, Dreaming Forward Through the Gateway

Heart Nebula, 6X9 inches Mixed Media on Paper ©LE Fine Art

 “The end of the world for a caterpillar is a butterfly.”

~ Anthony De Mello

Greetings of peace, beauty, and love in this most auspicious holiday season!  As we approach the Winter Solstice and end of the year transition into 2013, we are facing immense opportunity for personal change, personal evolution, and personal choice.  There are plenty of cosmic energies swirling around now moving into these last two weeks and through the next few months of 2013.  I encourage you to stay focused, calm, centered, and grounded in your center, in your essence.  And, connect to the Mother Earth frequently through any means possible.  There are many practical steps that you can take, (that I am also taking), listed within the Health Checklist resource below.  To contribute in a positive way to the evolving collective consciousness, let’s continue to do our inner work, and our world will reflect our positive energy.  These times are truly about peace, love, union, light, and grace… Call these qualities into yourself now and radiate these powerful qualities outward from your heart…

One exercise that I am experiencing as beneficial during this ripe window of transformation is as follows:

Using your journal, write down the questions and reflect.  What is that that you wish to change in your life now?  What are your true heart’s desires?  What are your dreams for your life?  (dream BIG!) I urge you to write your responses down clearly and in block letters and to read the list daily, first thing in the AM and last thing in the PM before sleep.  Keep up this ritual of reading your list and really feel the feeling of living your dreams fulfilled now.  Do this practice until your dreams (each one) has actualized.  Stay flexible, open, alert, and creative! Have fun!

I am currently experimenting with this practice and finding it to be fun and supportive in my visioning and daily agenda priorities as well.  The idea is to capture the Big Picture and then, meditate on inspired actions that can be taken, as well as strategies to create the desired reality that you wish.  Invoke your “attitude of gratitude” in your heart chakra and infuse your dreams and heart’s desires with love, light, and silence.  It’s vital to hold your dreams and visions in an incubator, similar to the mother’s womb.  When it is “time” to birth and share with the world… you’ll know.  Happy Dreaming from your state of Your Dreams Already Fulfilled.  You can be, do, and have all that you divinely desire…  I vote your permanent victory in the light!

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.

Until 2013…

In love, gratitude, and One Unity Consciousness,

Recommended Resources

2012-2013 Health Checklist

Transformative Art to Awaken the Heart, Nourish the Spirit™

Mastery Systems

Winter Solstice Tips

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

~Mother Teresa

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