tHE cLOwN © sUE o'kIEFFe 2009

She knew after an especially long week the best thing to do was to have a good time.

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tweeple with a sense of humor (found on twitter)

@sargedunn1: If you can’t Laugh at Yourself, you give Others permission to do it for you.

@LaughItUp @umarnasir “It takes 10 people to change a light bulb because 9 of us are on Twitter” (1 to change, 9 to tweet about it)

@funnyoneliners: The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.

@DiamondSharp: Bumper Sticker: “If space is a vacuum, who changes the bag?”

@comedybot: If there’s a will, prosperity can’t be far behind. -W. C. Fields

@fizzyduck: The Italian Govt is installing a clock in the Leaning Tower of Pisa. After all, what good is the inclination if you don’t have the time?

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tHat’S all, fOlks!

We Come From the Stars (Circles of Awareness) © Sue O'Kieffe 2009
source image: linaria purpurea

We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust~Rumi

I have been participating in a monthly reiju blessing since early May.  According to Pamir, reiju is an offering of spiritual consciousness and energy; it's a spiritual boost, a divine blessing and transfer of spiritual/healing energy. The first two months I experienced this healing was very positive and uplifting. The other night I just could not settle down with it. My mind was racing, I was agitated and then I became more agitated because I was agitated. My monkey mind was swinging from the trees and there is really no point trying to calm or quiet the mind. There is no trying. And then ... some moments of calm arose and I received information on how to finish the mandala that you see here. I got the picture "use the spiral brushes that you made" and then my monkey mind got all agitated and chattery because humpf that's not the kind of information you are supposed to be receiving now Sue you are supposed to be meditating and in a state of bliss.

What a funny girl I am.

So this morning I finished the mandala and used the spiral brushes and was pleased with the outcome. When I thought about what I wanted to write about in this blog post, again my monkey mind was looking for profundity; as if even though I believe in my heart that we come from the stars, I sure can't write anything authoritative about it. And then I heard this little voice say, well why not write about your experience of creating and how you got to where you are?

I mean, aren't I the only one who can write about my own expertise with any authority?

What a concept.

So here ya have it. When I think an experience is supposed to look the same way all the time, I think I can control what I am experiencing. And trying to control stuff, which is really impossible anyway, leaves me no opportunity to experience the pleasure of the moment. And the moment is really all there is.

Oh, and if you feel inclined, check out the clown-like meditating figures sitting around the edge of the circle. I knew the Great Cosmic Jester was hanging out in those flowers!

Update below:

Summer Magic Mandala (Mandalas for Peace series) @Sue O'Kieffe 2009
source image: daylily

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. ~Celia Thaxter

I have wanted to do an art giveaway  for the longest time, and I decided the first day of summer, when the day is brightest and the night is shortest, was the perfect time to do it! (As you know by now, for me it's all about the Light) Of course, for those of you in the Southern Hemisphere, you are now entering into the darkness and mystery of winter. I love that too. So it would seem now is the perfect time, wherever we reside.


The winner will receive his/her choice of one of these 7.5"x7.5" mandalas, which is suitable for framing and printed on archival matte paper using archival ink. Along with the mandala, the winner will also receive an inspirational story about the mandala and a photo of the source image I used to create it. To be eligible for the drawing, this is what you need to do:

1. Leave a comment in the post that you wish to be entered in the give-away
2. Email me here if you wish to be added to my newsletter mailing list. Periodically I will be offering discounts on my art that will only be available to my newsletter subscribers. (Of course, be assured that I will never sell or giveaway my mailing list. Your privacy is safe with me)
   
3. The give-away will be open until July 1st, at which time I will use random.org to select a winner.
4. Unfortunately, at this time, the contest is only open to people in the United States. I hope in the future to extend my give-aways to my international friends. That will be so cool!
5. You are under no obligation to be part of my mailing list to enter the give-away.

Update: I do want to disclose that this give-away is also occuring at Sacred Circle Mandalas. I will determine the order of who entered when by date time and date stamp on both blogs.

If you have a blog and feel so inclined, please help me spread the love with a little mention on your site of what I am doing here, or by recommending my post.

I so love seeing the beginnings of living my dream as a self-sustaining artist starting to take shape, and I love that all of you are part of my dream as well.

Brightest blessings!

~Sue O'Kieffe
Sacred Circle Mandalas