Shine the Divine:

Creativity IS a Spiritual Practice

When we see through our hearts, we recognize that every single one of us is infused with creativity. Divine Sparks are embedded in everyone and everything. It's up to us to be courageous, to look and listen deeply, to find the sparks, gather and release them back into the universe, transformed into something new. Join me as we wake up to the sacred-ordinary blessings waiting to greet us each and every day.

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I am so excited to be teaching alongside my longtime mentor and friend Rabbi Myriam Klotz and a new friend/colleague Rachel Dewan, this summer, June 17th through June 21st at Isabella Freedman Retreat Center. To learn more about this heart opening, deepening opportunity and register click the link below. I hope with all my being that you will join us!

Tikkun Yoga

Tikkun Yoga

Thanks to everyone who has asked about our dog. You are so kind. You can read an update on her health below the heading "Ellie" on the left hand sidebar.

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Monday, March 4, 2013

Surround Sound






Sitting this morning in surround sound
aware of breath in the back of my throat
reminiscent of the sea mysteriously held
in a shell cupped against my ear as a child
observing mind meandering back through time

distant bird sweet clear draws me back to the present.
Through the floor i perceive the bass thrum of dishwasher. Listening with discernment there is more music in this single household appliance than i had ever noticed before. The pellet-stove motor rattles warm air filling a few rooms where weighty limbs walk a path through the kitchen below me. Light switch clicks then a slight squeal as hand turns knob door closes a sharp edged moment of alertness. My posture elongates.

Sitting this morning in surround sound
aware of breath in the back of my throat
peaceful song could be our dog belly rising
falling as she napped on the bed along my side
time travel again she sleeps on the first floor now

flush whoosh of water door opens light flicks off i return.
Rhythmic melodies weave new harmonies as floorboards creak walls settle. Now sensing vibrations in thighs alive with this symphony our home. A drawer rolls spoon clinks quickly dampened by table. There is a pause in the lyrical lines ‘til ceramic cup contacts counter and i feel orchestral strings of love quiver up and down my spine. Lips form crescent moon the sort that slides down a quarter turn into a contented smile for this life.



through dark webbed branches
colorful clouds encourage
buds to open bright





broken mementos
heart inside heart in
-side heart cradled love

Thank you everyone for your kind concern and prayers for our dog Ellie. She is slowly returning to herself, certainly more alert and today started to play with her toys and shocked me by cajoling me to come out in the snow to chase her around. She ran. Ran! She is still having issues with bladder control, but even that seems to be improving, less super soaker pull-ups today. (TMI?)  I am awed daily through all of the illnesses we have lived through and continue to live with in my family alone at the capacity for a body to heal, even if not completely cured; it is nothing less than miraculous.

I will be slow to visit blogs, as Ellie’s care is a priority, and she needs a lot more attention. We hope her health continues to stabilize, but of as we all know there are no guarantees.

Death that mysterious transformation of vital energy shifting from a form we recognize to one we might imagine but can never really comprehend will arrive when it does. And yet as long as conditions allow, life finds a way to restore, renew, regenerate. My heart is grateful. 


linking to:

at 8:30 PM
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Posted by Laura

75 comments:

  1. I just read about Ellie. Poor thing I know you will be busy caring for her, but there is nothing else a person can do when you love. I am so sorry, and I hope she will have a turn around and some more time.

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  2. What a gift to have her young-self return to you,
    if only for a moment.
    You teach a lot about love, Laura. Sometimes it is
    just so hard...but always, always worth it ♥♥

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  3. My prayers and best wishes for Ellie. Hugs.

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  5. smiles...love your found hearts laurie...please do take care of ellie...i am glad though for improvement....

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  6. Even pet's health can take a toll on us. I hope she does recover fully.
    lovely, serene evening sky image

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  8. So glad to hear Ellie is slowly improving.

    As always your photos are spiritually uplifting!

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  9. Lovely poem and words, Laura! I will continue to pray for Ellie to recover. Your photos are beautiful, thanks for sharing. Have a happy day!

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  10. i love your surround sound much better than the other kind... hiya Laura, hope you're well!!

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  11. really like how this has a nice prose/poetry/song lyric feel to it, the part that would be the chorus in a song is really very nice. Excellent write. thanks

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  12. Lovely photos, and I am very sorry to hear about your dog, Ellie. Wishing her peace & comfort.

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  13. Much love and white healing light to you and your family Laura. Yes...most definitely, it is all worthwhile, never easy, but worthwhile.

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  14. The best sent to you for Ellie. I hope and pray for the best outcome and the courage to get through it.
    I need your e-mail address please. spadoman@icloud.com

    Peace

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  15. remembering you and Ellie.
    your post is making me aware of sounds
    in this simple cottage by the woods.
    wind, heat unit clicking on, my breath and I feel the beating of my heart as the sound of the keyboard continues...

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  16. Magical observations in images and words. The swirling vine you captured is exquisite. The breath in the back of the throat is something I have never noticed. Thanks for sharing.

    GO ELLIE!!! xoxox teri

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  17. Nice post Laura. You and your dog Ellie are in my prayers.
    I am so glad to read your post especially your haiku. Very well done.

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  18. Beautiful shapes from art in the nature! Great pictures of it:-)

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  19. Your gift for photography never ceases to amaze me, Laura! One of my favorite things to do is to listen to the sounds around me, too. I especially like the sound of a ticking clock, although with all the digital clocks those are becoming rare.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you and your sweet Ellie. We went through many, many months of caring for our beloved senior dog, Beau, last year. I understand completely. I'm glad to hear that she is perking up again!
    xoxoxo

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  20. Beautiful, I love those shapes, gorgeous.

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  21. A big dog lover here...will keep her in our prayers. It is so hard to see them suffer...they are our fur babies! Wonderful to read she is doing better. PS...its never too much information☺

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  22. Such lovely and detailed. photos. So glad to hear that your dog is improving. It's so hard to watch when they can't tell you what hurts.

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  23. Blessings, (((healing))) and much love to Ellie...

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  24. Sending prayers and positive thoughts for Ellie's swift recovery. It is amazing how much we really hear when we stop to listen, Laura. You captured that beautifully.

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  25. Interesting shots!!! I love the context of music!!!
    I hope your dog continues in abundant recovery...

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  26. beautiful post, love the last wisdom.

    my dog has these seizures too. i don't freak out anymore, and they are random, so i take him day by day, as i can.

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  27. Vad naturen kan göra fina konster som vi bara får se och njuta av med tacksamhet.
    jag njuter i naturen.
    Ha en fin kväll
    Kram Meta

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  28. I found myself relaxing at your words; suddenly hearing the subtle surround sounds I don't usually hear, but I now realize can be beautiful music. Thank you, Laura, for this awareness.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you, as always, Laura. I will include Ellie.

    I had to bring my daughter's beloved cat to the vet this week because of seizures. Turns out she has allergies to either her food or something in her environment. Sigh. Now the work begins to try to figure out what that "something" is.

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  30. I'm so glad Ellie is better!! Give her a big hug from me and Sam Schnauzer! Wonderful series of shots and a great post for the day, Laura. Hope all of you have a happy weekend!

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  31. I'm so glad to hear that Ellie is improving! What a scare!

    I love your creative winter photos.

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  33. Nydelige bilder du viser!!
    Ønsker deg alt godt!!
    Hilsen fra Norge:))

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  34. Great series of pics. You match them well with the themes.

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  35. This is a beautiful post Laura.. You do have the magic touch for connecting with nature...

    I am glad that Ellie is doing better. It was during an exacerbation that we lost our last senior cat and I made the decision that I needed some joy and got out 2 rescued orange tabby brothers.. They were my rehab and now at age 10, are seniors themselves... hugs..Michelle

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  36. Your words and images are perfect matches.

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  37. Great post, sorry about your dog. I hope she continues to get better.

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  38. the swirls and twirls are fabulous.

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  39. The animals we choose to live with are so important - hope all continues to go well.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  40. I'm so glad that Ellie is getting better!
    Wonderful post :) I love the photos, very creative.
    Wishing you a happy weekend.
    Hilde :)

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  41. Nice pictures you show Laura. Wish you a good day :)

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  42. Sending good thoughts for Ellie and the rest of her loving family.

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  43. °º✿✿
    °º✿ FELIZ DIA INTERNACIONAL DA MULHER!
    º° ✿✿ ♫° ·.

    ♡

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  44. Wonderful pictures!
    And all the best for your dog!

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  46. Swirling vines. Heart shaped shells.
    Ellie doing well.LOVELY.

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  49. Your post brought a mist of tears and a tug at the heart. It is so human and heartfelt and spiritual. So real. I send love to you as well as to Ellie.

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  50. Love the "heart in a heart in a heart" shot!!
    Have a nice weekend:)

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  51. Beautiful pictures and love to Ellie!

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  52. Beautiful shots. I'm glad your dog is doing better.

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  53. Happy your pooch is recovering; thrilled with your words; delighted by the curving lines nature has created.

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  54. What a beautifully and deeply meditative post! Glad your little Ellie is better!

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  55. This is such a profound and complete post. Thanks for sharing

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  56. Nice to know about Ellie's latest condition.
    Wonderful shots as always. Thanks for dropping by, Laura.
    Happy Women's Day!

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  57. Such beautiful photos...and a wonderful prognosis of healing for your sweet Ellie! Our pets are such a part of us, no? My cat was just diagnosed with diabetes and my husband and I have taken up the cause. Bless their innocent little souls!

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  58. Heart within hearts -
    Thank you for your kind words.
    Mormor

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  62. Such a lovely, healing post. I lhearts.ove your cradled

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  63. Wonderful and so beautiful capture! Hope Ellie gets better soon!

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  64. Beautiful collection of photos and thoughtfully worded, how great to have some fun times playing with your dog in the snow

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  65. Lovely photos. I hope your dog is doing better.

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  66. The monochromatic hearts are very beautiful and the lines add a lot of visual interest.

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  67. I've learned so much about the beauty in suffering from you Laura. Thank you also for your symphony of sounds, your eye for Nature's best, and your care for a sweet creature named Ellie.

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  68. "Death that mysterious transformation of vital energy shifting from a form we recognize to one we might imagine but can never really comprehend will arrive when it does. And yet as long as conditions allow, life finds a way to restore, renew, regenerate. My heart is grateful."
    i always find profound love and wisdom here beside you. thank you laura. sending so much love to you and yours.

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  69. Thank you for your nice visit and comment. I wish you welcome to put in your picture of the weather where you are this week http://edelirosa.blogspot.no/2013/03/vret-der-du-er-weather-where-you-are.html

    And all the best from edelirosa

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  70. Please add my thoughts for continued improvement for Ellie to your long list of well wishers. So many people care, Laura, and you have a way of bringing out the best in all of us. Love the poem and photo of the tree branches among the clouds.

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  71. I'm so glad you came by to share on Weekly Top Shot #73!

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  73. Catching up with posts and reading about Ellie. I'm so glad she is feeling a little better.

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  74. Hi, what a creativity, I'd like to show your pics to my lectors. Tell me if it's ok and I'll publish some of your delicious images.
    Thanks,
    Encarna

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  75. Hi, congratulation for your blog
    I'd like to tell the visitors of my blog your are an interesting photographer, adding some of your pics, and explaining yoour motivations for photograpy. Giving your blog link and information. Are U interested in? If it's ok, please give me your answer, my mail: artedigit@hotmail.com
    My blog: aadelarte.blogspot.com
    I've already put your link on my page.
    Very interesting Art!!
    Thanks,
    Encarna

    ReplyDelete

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