Following the Blue Moon

 Journal page, Drozda,  2006

It's been a busy time, no?
As it ought to be during this most active 'doing' time of the year.

Celebrate the Full 'Love' Blue Moon with some dancing.

I'm so happy to share with you the 'Life in Transit' project that I've been investing in since last fall and now launched  as a public art initiative in collaboration with dear artist friend, poet/educator Toni Wynn and nonprofit partner, Tidewater Arts Outreach.

'Life in Transit', a public art/education project, honors and respects the strength and vitality of women around the world who have taken creative action to be liberated from domestic violence and poverty.
As a 'think global, act local', venture LiT invites a group of marginalized and culturally invisible women (who have participated in a community shelter support program in our community) to creatively express their inner strengths and inspire courage through personal art made public.

Please visit our new Face Book page, friend us and give the project a LIKE...we're moving toward sponsorship by our public transit system, enlisting their support in making 'Life in Transit' a community outreach...is your life in transit? ...visit our blog and share your courage and strength.

Read more...

And may you dance...

Subscribe to the Luna See   Read the 2012 Lifecycle Forecast

Following the Moon: Eat Some Fire

Welcome to Following the Moon...

Heat Up Your Passion!!, Drozda, 2012

 
 
This week the Clarity Moon takes us through the Gibbous Phase...that means it's time to create, create, create in the direction of your intention for the year! Gibbous begins early morning (EDT) Tuesday, April 3 and extends through Friday, mid afternoon, April 6.


On Friday, April 6 the Full 'Clarity' Moon comes to call. It's the only time in the Natural Year when you'll have the opportunity to experience a sense of balance and order in the particular way that will visit now. Pay attention. See if you can show up with true, what the Buddhist teachings refer to as, 'equanimity'...go for it....really notice how much steadiness you possess.


This Moon is ruled by Aries and Mars. I truly respect the dynamic qualities of these Archetypes. They are here to bring it on in every and all forms.


Recently, while spring cleaning, I opened a cool looking storage box and my eyes widened to take in the surprise. There in front of me was a lost treasure... a stack of drawings done many years ago when I led a group of 'Luna-tics' in a year long exploration of the Major Arcana...through a process of creating 'opposite hand' postcard size 'Inner Child Tarot' cards. I've been missing this group of twenty two images for several years and had no idea where they might have gone. Have you ever lost a creative project and recognized how attached you get to the images and inspirations that come but once?

The Archetypes for this current Moon/Month are Aries/Emperor and Mars/Tower...they combine to challenge you to take your next step standing in your power, dying to the ego and all forms of bravado...
read complete post

Subscribe to the monthly 'Luna See'

Read the 2012 Lifecycle Forecast and find your gift...

Following the Moon: Distractions Fly Away

Shakyamuni, Drozda, Private Collection

Welcome to 'Following the Moon'. It's Tuesday, May 17 and we're in the powerful and potent Full 'Wisdom' Moon. My friend Che'usa includes a wonderfully informative post about the power of this Full Moon as a Tibetan Buddhist Festival called Wesak.


This Full Moon extends through Friday evening, May 20. This is an excellent time to remind yourself that the rhythms of these cycles create a mirror. Each month when we come to the Full Moon these several days offer all of us a chance to see our shadow.... look it in the eye.

Honestly looking at our insecurities, confusions, and inner turmoil during the Wisdom cycle may bring us some of the most powerful Art/Life insights and outcomes that we can possibly imagine.

During this cranking up time of the year conceive of, picture, envision, think of, expect, and assume that you can power yourself into another level of Art/Life expression.

I received this quote, attributed to the Tibetan Buddhist saint, Milarepa, from my friend Rita in an email today. Milarepa's words fit this point in the Wisdom cycle beautifully:

Maintain the state of undistractedness, and distractions will fly away. Dwell alone, and you shall find the Friend. Take the lowest place, and you shall reach the highest. Hasten slowly, and you shall soon arrive. Renounce all worldly goals, and you shall reach the highest Goal. If you follow this unfrequented path, you will find the shortest way. If you realize Sunyata (the absolute Emptiness), compassion will arise within your hearts; and when you lose all differentiation between yourself and others, then you will be fit to serve others. ~ Milarepa

Read More...return here to leave a comment or share a few thoughts there ...it'so good to hear how the moon cycles are moving through your Art/Life.

Subscribe to the monthly Luna See 

Following the Moon

'Bodhicitta Heart', Drozda 2009

24x20"

under painting on canvas

Welcome to Monday's brief opportunity to look-up and recognize your beautiful 'Luna See'. The keyword for this moon cycle is Illumination. The New Moon started on June 12 and extends through Tuesday afternoon. This is a great span of time to refresh the brilliance of your creative vision:

The world needs us to be balanced in creating and communicating.  What's possible through our collective brilliance? During this week illuminate your heart/mind and reconnect to your creative vision. Remind yourself daily of the importance of your talents and skills. Do your very best to stay close to your heart. Remember, as you may have read in the Luna See newsletter, that the last time our planet felt this level of collective global energy (for a full year) was in 2001. You may feel terrorized in new and different ways right now. Be aware and have courage.

In the five years (1990-1995) that my studio was located on the top floor, high security lock-up ward for women, in the former Fairhill Psychiatric Hospital in Cleveland I learned a great deal. I learned, in this raw unrenovated space, more (I'd previously learned a lot) about loss of power and loss of voice. I could feel, as a sensitive and member of the scar clan, the desperation left behind by the former occupants. The powerful residual deposits of  fear and agony were embedded in the walls and literally carved into the broad wooden window sills. I was there in that cavernous space alone. I could feel the pain and isolation of the women who had been there. I spent many a morning doubled over in heaving sobs.

The book The Cracker Factory (Natalie Wood starred in the movie) had been written by a patient. Reading her pithy stories about heavy medications, electro shock therapy and isolation deepened my resolve. I could stand for greater strength and self expression in my own life. I could honor those broken women in the name of the creative spirit that does no harm.

Within two months of moving into the Fairhill studio I became Artist in Residence for The Art Studio: Center for Therapy Through the Arts, now renamed Art Therapy Studio. I opened my doors and began holding many workshops and studios including the all day first Saturday Creativity Salons. Each Salon had a focus...the keyword for the current moon cycle gave twelve artists a 'way in' to discover fresh levels of self expression. We forged great friendships and shape-shifted the energy of a heavy, dense and foreboding space into a gathering place of tremendous healing and joy.

'Creativity Salon', Drozda 1991

Fairhill Studio

I share this story intentionally. I ask today that each of us consider all the ways we can deepen our commitment and resolve. This is the Illumination moon cycle. I am hoping that each of us will turn on our brilliance and contemplate the strength of the heart. Feel the depths of what your heart can create.

I know about brilliance from my recovery process. I know from my years in my Fairhill studio, how very powerful each brilliant creative step we take is for the whole.

'Bodhicitta Heart', Drozda 2009

24x20"

mixed media on canvas

There are so many exciting ways to engage your creative energy. Choose one and place it into the brilliant light of your imagination. Your imagination is like no other on the planet...celebrate that radiance.

What I have come to appreciate since 1989 when I started working with time in this natural 'follow the moon' way is the awareness that there is space for addressing what's most important. Find what that is for you. Then move through the year, following the moon, with a vibrant yet quiet focus.

Before we meet again for our Monday 'Following the Moon' we'll have moved through the first three phases of this cycle. That gives us from now through Tuesday afternoon to create our vision for this four week cycle, Tuesday through Saturday we can research the vision, Saturday through till next Tuesday we can take action on that vision. It would be lovely if you would tell your vision to someone who will honor you.


~May your heart find its song

Sizzle in the Studio

It's been quite the winter in an area where we rarely see the birdbath freeze.

There was a great collection of snowmen in the paper the other day and I thought I'd share this great image.

On the art front it's been sizzling... many great projects percolating in the studio and openings galore.

There was a wonderfully attended multi-gallery opening last Sunday at the new experimental Art Space in Pembroke Mall. My work is in my friend Debi Stadlin Studio where I have one large canvas tapestry titled 'Talking to Trees', a series of mantras and three painted benches.

Tonight my large canvas titled 'The Wish Fulfilling Tree' is being shown in the inaugural exhibition at the spanking new Art/Culinary Institute here in Virginia Beach. Tonight is also the opening where I am invited guest artist in Ohio at the Tri-C/Ursuline College Art Therapy graduations exhibit and 'Simplicity Symposium'.

The opening for Shooting Star Gallery is this Friday and also the opening in Brooklyn, New York for the Art House Sketchbook #4 Project.

Sunday I'll be presenting a talk and a workshop at Unity Fellowship in Newport News.

It's such fun to simply keep on keeping on...lovin' life.

Art Heart

I was born the day after Valentine's day so needless to say its always been dear to my heart... so when I was invited to exhibit in the 'Red Velvet' show at Shooting Star Gallery I was excited to see what would appear...here are the two 24x20 canvases that I'll deliver today.

'Bodhicitta Heart' and 'Fire in the Lake'.

'bodhichitta heart '/ 'fire in the lake '24x20 mixed media/canvas

Turkey Vultures Knock My Socks Off...

It was fun and a complete surprise when my sister emailed me this afternoon to let me know that Donna Drozda carved tiles are being shared this weekend at 'Peninsula Python Days'...this bit of news has given me the chance to reminisce:


In 2003 and again in 2005 I had the honor of being selected as Artist in Residence for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the CVNPA Environmental Education Center. A stunning experience that gave me the opportunity to live and work, for weeks each time, in a comfortable old farmhouse (with a choice of studio spaces) feet away from a rushing river, nestled at the base of a steep and forested ravine.
Each day at dusk dozens of Turkey Vultures (one of my very favorite birds, their Latin name is Catharses Aura...as in 'cleans the aura' ...how great is that!) gathered to roost in the pine grove by the covered bridge a few hundred feet from my door.

Most evenings as the sun set I would dash down the path, binoculars in hand and stand enraptured staring up into the maze of pine boughs silhouetted against the darkening sky. One after another these huge birds flew in ready to roost for the night. As they flapped down into place on their chosen branch they would invariably knock someone else out of their space and a wild beating of 4 foot wing spans would ensue as one by one, in a comical domino effect, they fell from the highest branches down into the lower limbs. The sound of this was primal and ancient and magnificent. It would go on and on and on past nighfall and still I did not want to wind my way back to my door.
In addition to this landing fiasco it seemed they would fall asleep shortly after landing and then proceed to slip from their branch with, again, a raucous rattling of wings. I felt transported evening after evening observing their odd antics.


Throughout the night White Tail Deer roamed beneath the old gnarled sculptural cherry trees in the side yard. I'd often extinguish all lights and then lean against the frame of the expansive front room window, sketchbook in hand, quickly drawing their graceful movements as they grazed in the moonlight. At times there would be up to ten or more large ungulates within inches of the plate glass illuminated by the soft lunar glow.
I have great and grateful memories of weeks on end living alone in this preserved and protected forest.



What an irreplacable treasure we have in our National Park system. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is 33,000 acres of mixed hardwood forests, rushing rivers, working organic farms, and the historic Erie Canal Towpath restored now as a hike and bike path extending for more than 30 miles through the valley...all in the backyard of both Akron and Cleveland, Ohio.


Here's the copy and a link of all the events...this weekend...
Nature Notecard Art
From 11 am to 3 pm at Park Place, use carved tiles created by Cuyahoga Valley National Park Artist-in-Residence Donna Drozda to create your own make-it and take-it nature themed notecard.

http://63.84.59.169/page.aspx?ID=100