I am absolutely in love with this new way I have re-discovered of making art/vision boards!
When I was in school I was always super disappointed with the outcome of any collage - it was such an eighties thing and I haven't touched it for years!

But now I see it clearly, again!

It's really easy. And it's simple. And it makes things a whole lot clearer!

The magic of the vision / health board is that you don't have to THINK! In fact it works much better when you don't!




So:

How to make a Health Board!

1) Grab a magazine - just one is enough!
2) Get a piece of paper or cardboard - A4 will do - a gluestick & a pair of scissors.
3) Decide what your board is about (health, love, romance, garden, creative project, anything!) This board is about "My Health" that is one of my passions for 2015.
4) Now: Cut out all the bits that drags your attention, makes your stomach butterfly shimmer and catches your heart! Cut them out!
5) Get the paper and the glue stick out, and carefully chose a place for each cut-out piece, and place and glue it on the board.
6) When it is finished: Put it up somewhere nice where you can see it often, and
7) Reflect on the new things this board is telling you about your life!

Useful guidelines...

* Biggest pictures goes first and underneath, smaller parts and words go on top

* Cut ALL your pieces first, then put the magazine away. Then, start gluing your board (otherwise things can get too confusing).

* Be completely open. Don't judge what you cut out; trust!



I cut out a picture of a woman I felt drawn to, but I thought she was pretty ugly. Instead of fighting it, I cut her out and glued her on my board, anyway. When I saw her together with the other pieces on the board; it made so much sense! It wasn't about her, but about adventure! Next to Big Ben and the words 'La Prairie' I suddenly realized that she was a symbol of traveling, adventure, America and unseen places! Something old and authentic! So there we go! Don't judge - just flow!

If you would like to read even more about creating dream/health/ vision boards, have a look at my article Make a Dreamboard.

Happy Dreaming!

For many reasons, 2014 wasn't a very good year for me. As much as I like to keep my head high, my heart open and my optimism intact, 2014 was a year of difficult challenges.
Most of them revolved around my business, my "art world" you could say. I found it very difficult to navigate in my business and figure out the right thing to do. I opened up lots of new ideas and worked with them through the year. But it wasn't until late this year, that I felt some clarity about what I am actually doing.
I changed my name from The Sunshine Studio to Lone Aabrink * Sacred Art & Dreaming. I burned the old Facebook page and created a brand new.

I suppose this is normal; to go through a looong period of questions, hopes and doubt. But when I look back, 2014 really was...   quite exhausting.


I watched a BBC program with Peter Owen Jones. Peter is an English vicar (a type of priest) and the program is called How To Live A Simple Life. In the program Peter tries to live by the rules of Saint Francis of Assisi.  Francis was an Italian monk who died in 1226.
Saint Francis believed in and lived a simple life. Giving everything to God and to be at God's good will and mercy. He would own nothing and begged and prayed for food. In How To Live A Simple Life, Peter Owen Jones tries to follow his footsteps. First by growing his own food. Then by exchanging his services for food or other things he need (like washing up at the local pub and getting food out of it). In the last episode he takes to the road, to feel one on one just how it feels to live without money. In his program we follow his 'adventure' and it was especially the moment when Peter meets with a monk that really captured me. The monk says to Peter: "When you ask God to provide for you, you become extremely vulnerable. When you ask somebody else for food or to sleep in their house, you give them an opportunity to give, to show kindness".

In the muslim belief there is a tradition and a knowledge of "the sacred traveler". And the Koran says that should a traveler arrive at your doorstep, you are to shelter and give him food for 3 days. It is a well known thing to the muslims.

The monk goes on and says: "If you are self-providing, self maintaining and self sufficient (this is the BIG word in our life today, isn't it?), you are an island. Self sufficiency cuts you off from other people. This is what Saint Francis taught; When we have nothing, we give our time, and share our gifts with the community. And we become part of that community".



This program sat with me for a long time. And on this 1st day of the New Year, it is what still rings in there. Because How Can I Become More Connected To My Community? How Can I Take Money Out Of The Equation? How Can I Allow GOD To Step Into My Life and Receive The Good There Is For Me? How Can I Allow Good Into My Life? These are the powerful questions that the program made me ponder.

Morning tide. And the thoughts awaken. So much to do, things to get ready. I start to feel my head buzzing. My body is alert. Too much to do.

Yesterday I watched a video about nutrition. I really don't get that the guy says "start off with fruit first thing in the morning". For me that's like pushing sugar straight into my veins from the early beginning of the day. I enjoy my eggs. And a carrot. I like carrots. They keep me healthy.

I made illustrations for Marie's blog. She is a dietitian so she knows a lot about food and how we react to it. She helps women, especially women with PCO, to find a balance in their diet. To lose weight and to be more aware of what we are eating.

I like that. Especially with Christmas coming up.

I use to give my self much more carte blanche to whatever I wanted to eat for Christmas. And it's not like I am holding back now. But things have changed. I no longer enjoy food the same way I did. Or let me say I enjoy the richness of the food much more than the quantity.

The thing is, lately I've been going really deep into the pattern about things. Feeling them through. There is so much suffering. So much imbalance in our world. We have to be the balance. We must do that for ourselves; find a lifestyle that is in balance.

What IS balance? We have heard the word before, but what does it mean to be in balance?

To me, being in balance means waking in the morning and be full of energy. Not worry to much about the past or the future. Being in balance means to respond with kindness, with openness and with a clear intention. Being in balance means respecting the world; people, nature, around me AND be exactly who I am. To speak my truth. To step forward if I need to. To stand back when I need it. Being in balance means being healthy and carrying healthy thoughts and agendas. To be that kindness. To be that love that can embrace. But also to be that person to say no. Who knows her resources and is not some kind of saint but a real person. Someone to say enough.
Or no.
Or not right now.
Or not at all.

To really honour that soul that I am - so I can get much more joy, kindness and sacredness into my life.
Each person is different. And we all need different things to make our life feel rich. What does being in balance mean to you?, if I may ask. :-)

When I look outside, nature is in balance.  Her change is constant AND in balance. I am much more worried about people! Do we really know what ignites us? Do we understand who we are? Do we know what we need, I mean, are we aware of it?!

Everything starts with awareness. There is a natural balance inside us, a natural way of life, so powerful and present that we were born with it, and we will die in it. This knowledge, this knowing of Everything's Flow. We know it. It lives inside us. It is us!

But can we silence the voices and hear it, and grasp a little of it's sunshine?

Blessed day, lovely. Blessed day.