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I have returned to my website blog after a long break. My last blog posts were on my Tumblr page where I offered some deep reflections, my favourites titled 'Fate, destiny and the mystery of human connection.', 'We are angels walking the Earth.', 'Climate change is good for Humanity' and 'The Eternal Now.' You can read them here.
New Blog 12/11/2016 - RANDOM THOUGHTS CREATE: To be original is a great challenge for many Creatives, many of whom are guilty of copying other talented artists and designers, rather than trusting their capacity to experiment, play and think. (The term Creative is given to designers, writers and directors in the creative industry). The creative process is random. Influences, experiences and interests we randomly stumble upon can take us on a whole new path of creative exploration, New tools, software or technology that we experiment with, produce unexpected results. Taking time to explore, experiment and play is crucial for true originality. But there is skill involved. Not just the ability to compose random elements, or use technology or your chosen medium, instrument or art form. Its a human skill that true Creatives have particular access to, and I believe can be developed through meditation and connection to nature. Its the skill of openness. The skill of openness means the ability to unzip your skin bag and expose your inner self to the entire realm of existence. The ability to channel inspiration at will. The knowing to get out of the way. The discipline to control the mind so that it becomes the receptor for thought, rather than the controller of thought. There is a lightness of being, when we open. The ego is dropped, even forgotten, as we sway, dance, dream, sing and receive what I can only describe as the a glow of divine inspiration. The Creator flows through the Creative. Being able to feel is essential in order to be able to open to this energetic flow. Using the breath, focusing on your heart and solar plexus and cracking them open to the outside world. Using your imagination to 'see' light flowing out from within you, and receiving light in through the top of your head. Learning to name your feelings. Trusting yourself to respond to your feelings. Being able to be with not knowing what's next. Becoming the observer of self, and becoming witness to your own creative capacity as you allow the unfolding to happen. The skill of openness is essential to living a creative life. To live a creative life, is to be fully alive, to be fully human. If we all learn to develop our creative capacity we may find new aspects to our humanity. By taking ourselves to the feeling gym, we strengthen empathy, psychic capacity and our ability to love. We become wise. We find peace. We discover unity. I had a random thought, to write a blog about how random thoughts create. In writing about the creative process, I harnessed the skill of openness that I have developed as an artist. I didn't know that this is how I write, draw, paint, cook and create until I started to describe what I do. I cook best when I'm inspired by love, open my heart to the pantry and call in inspiration as I feel my way into the ingredients. I've never been good at following rules, or recipes. I love to dance and to dream. I hug trees. I am in awe of beauty. Creatives will do well to throw out their formulaic designs, their 'style', their tried and tested tired-old sameness, and flex their openness muscles. Taking time to focus on our breath, walk barefoot on the earth and play in new media will help us to trust our own unique access to random thoughts and bring in original, refreshing, creative works. I have finally moved into my tiny abode and enormous garden block in South Gippsland, with a view of living cheaply, growing lots of veggies and quietly painting. A tiny cottage on a large block of land by the sea is all I need to live sustainably.
No sooner had I arrived than I discovered the beautiful rolling green hills of Gippsland Victoria have CSG mining exploration licences slapped all over them. I was whisked off to a few dramatic community meetings to hear the horrors experienced by Queensland and NSW farmers, and the outrageous claims from the USA of serious illness and poisoned water with no regard to its citizens. I have found myself in the thick of it! Just as the bushfires in Marysville drew the community together, this issue it seems is having a similar effect. As people become aware of the sinister nature of this highly toxic industry, the more vocal and united they are becoming. I have met the most wonderful people in the community as a result of this debacle. It is heartening to see a community that is so strong, and empowered in standing up for their rights, for their children, the land and our water. I am certain that CSG won't happen in South Gippsland, firstly because of this united voice that I am witnessing, but also because I believe if enough people vision it not to be, it won't happen. As a result of this onslaught on communities and environment however, I am convinced there will be some really positive outcomes, such as a complete rewrite of the Victorian Mining Act, which currently gives the most outrageous privileges to the coal and gas industry and is very weak on ecological impact study requirements, but also it will usher in a new dawn for this state, embracing wind, solar and tidal power. Let's dream it together! Keep positive, and stay united. More information can be found on the www.lockthegategippsland.com website I am feeling so inspired at the moment. My trip to Peru was life-changing - I'm still integrating the incredible energy and healing vibes that I experienced. I've come back and moved into the city with a great creative gang, and feeling totally empowered on my path. We have named the house 'Shambhala House' and will be launching workshops and productions soon. We have a phrase "we deal in magic in Shambhala House" as we are determined to live our passions and experience the abundance that flows from such commitment.
Hot off the press are my Tee Shirts! Created for World Vegan Day - and on display this Sunday Nov 6 at the Abbotsford Convent and on my Tee shirt page. I hope you like them. Today I'm very excited as a bunch of good looking young south american musicians just moved in over the road. I must be in Heaven... In Just one week I make my pilgrimage to the Sacred Valley in Peru. I have always dreamed of going to this exotic destination, and I can hardly believe that I am finally going. The Time Is Right!
I discovered that there was an International Expressive Art Therapy Conference AND and Indigenous Education Conference happening in August. I heard the call. The nice thing was that I found out about the Arts Conference while looking at an orphanage online called Casa De Milagros (House of Miracles). Unfortunately they are not taking volunteers at this time as they are still coming to terms with the passing of their beloved Mamma Kia; an extraordinary woman who set up the orphanage to look after all the poor homeless children in Cuzco. But the House of Miracles has set me on another path... ...and then its onto San Francisco and the Burning Man Festival out in the Nevada Desert. This incredible 25 year old festival has massive art installations that blow your mind, not to mention the culture of leave no trace and gifting - no money changes hands once you enter the week long festival. Quite a Transformational experience, this year's theme is Rights of Passage. I'll be off in a week - for a true right of passage. Nothing will be the same after this. I have been reading 'Dreaming Reality' by Joe Griffin and Ivan Tyrrell. Their work on dreams and the role of REM on how we see reality is breakthrough work! I love it.
Basically we can utilize our ability to dream by inducing the REM state through meditation and guided visualisation, so we can consciously program our sub-conscious. It looks at why we dream (to resolve unfulfilled expectations during the day) and the importance of dreaming (how REM affects us physiologically). The process is simply self-hypnosis and shows how we can direct our lives. Their work is making major breakthroughs with Depression and has implications for Schizophrenia and Psychosis. Probably the most exciting thing I have read in years. I am very interested in exploring this work and recognise the many cross overs with art therapy. The most striking thing have taken from this work is their view that "For every negative thought, create one hundred positive thoughts!" This is disciplined self-programming and along with learning skills for self-acceptance has some truly exciting implications for wellness. Thumbs up from me.
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Julia PeddieArtist and Graphic Designer, Transpersonal Art Therapist and Labyrinth Facilitator. Archives
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