April Flow

April is spring; the yellows and violets of March explode into all the amazing colors of the rainbow: orange tulips, pink azaleas, red-flowering currant, fresh green, and the blue true dream of sky - that rich blue of patience, peace, and understanding.

During this middle month of spring, I celebrate the limitless energy of the maiden and the crazy wisdom of the fool. I turn everything upside down and inside out - anything is possible! April offers me happiness and wonder; maybe now I can say YES with vigor, enjoy the surprises, confusion, and chaos that life brings, and feel comfortable in the depths of my life.

Agenda: 

1. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"
2. Creative imagining for spring bliss
3. Bliss brainstorm
4. Projects for the week

5. Writing themes and passion flow plan

1. Read "The Book of Doing and Being":

I'm reading from this book by Barnet Bain (2015), subtitled "Rediscovering Creativity in Life, Love, and Work". This is a book of creative perspective, to help jiggle me out of the straight line way I usually think into something new: Use the exercises with consistency in order to stay focused on my destination. Practice will ground me and allow my ambitions to take root and grow.

Chapter 6 is The Most Amazing Thing, about flow and bliss - about the experience of being open, inspired, and connected to myself and others. It's the switch that turns me on and makes me truly alive. "Attuning ... to this quality or feeling is a way to align with your creative output and to direct it."

I can recreate the experience of bliss I felt when teaching ongoing art classes - the high of being impactful to groups of kids, but not by trying to do THAT again. It is the feeling I want but not the exact situation. Chasing after Being an Art Teacher is not the correct approach; rather, I need to "crack open the door again to inspiration and flow".

2. Creative imagining for spring bliss:

My theme this year is Creative Perspective: To keep a positive and broad perspective; shift my perspective to help myself find equanimity, and also expand my perspective (think outside the box), having the courage to take experimental risks and express myself honestly with words and art.

Beginner's mind is dropping expectations and preconceived ideas, seeing things with an open mind, fresh eyes, curiosity and wonder. Today I'll enjoy a beginners's mind meditation for a new idea of bliss.

1. Hold in my mind an image of the activity that gives me the most direct connection with my creative flow. (Working with an ongoing group and helping them to see things in a new way. Thinking up ways to open minds and teach skills. And that moment when everyone sinks into their own place of flow - the joy of shifting agitation and worry to peace and contentment.)
2. The essential quality is teaching ways to shift. The Needs are Inspiration and Transformation.

3. Bliss brainstorm:

Today I am brainstorming goals for Grandma Earth Teacher and Dragonfly Studio for April: First steps for healing my space and my Light, 

possible projects, and a possible spring class or workshop or retreat - a way to inspire and transform. Ideas:

1. Clearing: I need to clear out the studio so I can access my supplies and so I know what and where my tools are. Start by going through, simplifying, and labeling all the bins, and also tools in the cabinet. Make room! Then clear the table, and set up to work on signs.
2. Unicorn projects: Sign-making still calls me: Start with a "Love this Earth" sign for my front yard. (Practice this until I find a way to expand this project to a class.) Also: Stamp making, Sanctuary art in spa area and writing den + more butterflies
3. Grandsons: Set up easy access to kid tools and paints, and plan lures for visiting every day (big motor, process oriented). Next week: Just lure them out there, then start to paint or work with clay- no expectations. I will try to continue bird and nest projects: Making nests with mud and straw, clay bird sculptures with feathers, painting a bird, and drawing birds.
4. Cleaning: Take the studio one section at a time, strip it clean, and repaint. Start with the door area. 
5. Community projects: 

• Moon party - May 1st: May crowns
• Earth Action group party, maybe in June: Start by making a sample Earth poster with lettering and bling, and then send an invitation. 

4. Projects for the week:

Each week I plan the projects I will work on in the next week - one or two kid projects, one or two home projects, and one or two Unicorn projects (those that feed ME). This next week I will:

• Th: Finish and hang my appliqué 
• F: Dye eggs with Aldo + clear table and set up for sign making + Earth coat sleeves for Easter
• S: Start Love this Earth sign + label and simplify bins
• Sun: Love this Earth sign
• M: Bird sculpture sample, Suncatchers sample
• T: Nests with mud and straw, clay bird sculptures with feathers, painting a bird
• W: Suncatchers

Doing the smallest thing is a great way to make courageous creative work less frightening; also finding the "minimum effective dose", the amount of work that keeps me challenged and joyful, and if I keep at it will get me to the finish line on time.

5. Writing themes and passion flow plan:

The next few days are the best block of time I have for healthy obsession for my writing project. Today I will set themes and topics for writing, research, and also some garden, advocacy, and community tasks to support that Nature-Culture flow through the next week.

My Nature-Culture theme this month is early spring renewal and awareness.

• Fri: Hopeful shifts: Be present
• Prep beds and plant beets and carrots
• Little Plant Library web info
• Sat: Sanctuary: Plant keystone plants, sunflowers
• Start a "Love the Earth" sign
• Sun: Reciprocity: Little plant library + talking to neighbors
• Plant give-away and EC plans for the summer
• Mon: Natural Living: Waste free eating, zero waste shopping
• Spring plastic round up walk
• Tues: Hopeful shifts: Kid projects - make a nest, plant sunflowers
• Plant sunflowers and peas
• Wed: Write Reciprocity