A challenge the ancestors didn’t have…

It’s 5:30am in France, the land of some ancestors I’m eager to learn more about.

I think! There’s no clock in my hotel room.

My iPhone, which was happily charging away on the bedside shelf, popped some kind of restore message, with a picture of a cord on the screen, and won’t do anything.

What it says on my trusty new laptop about recovering it involves the elves sending my iPhone a message, which it can’t get/tell me.

It’s check out time in the morning for the next phase of this adventure. Which kind of requires being awake!

So… off to lobby, jammies and all, to ask if there’s wifi trouble in the hotel.

Night clerk not so much on the English. Me, not so much on the French.

Time out for picture drawing and hand waving.

Now, the plan is for the desk to call me in 2 hours to be sure I’m awake. (I totally am!)

So… 14 inner choruses of This is a challenge but not – cosmically – a huge one.

(I’m trying!)

And then, a story for you!

One of my paint-type sisters and I went on an adventure to the Basilica of Our Lady of Duraude, also known as Notre Dame de la Daurade and the Black Madonna of Toulouse, which had been highly recommended for early arrivers.

A Black Madonna lives there! My first one in person!

Well, some of her lives there.

At some point in history, an attempt was made to destroy her. Only her head and a hand and the head of her infant remain. She wears a re-created robe and crown.

The art in that place is stunning. Many visitors came and went while we wandered and pondered.

Many of them stopped to light prayer candles and leave them on a small altar below the Madonna.

And, yes… this is not the way we learned things in a PC(USA) seminary!

Our visit was a huge multi-sensory experience for me. Echoes. Footsteps on very old tiled floors. Light coming through stained glass. The scent of the candles burning. Glorious paintings. The sculptural presence of massive organ pipes.

A whole lot of that artwork featured snakes! Snakes in tiled insets in the floors. Snakes in huge paintings. At least one of those paintings featured a larger than life-sized madonna figure standing with a crescent moon beneath her feet, much like Our Lady of Guadalupe. And the lower edge of the moon seemed positioned to cut off the head of the snake below it. (I have more questions about this!)

And, just perhaps for the wonder of it, a tiny spider web in a remote corner. An actual spider web!

I, of course, flashed instantly to Charlotte’s Web and found myself wondering what this cosmic Weaver-Dreamer might be trying to tell us.

I’m still listening for a message on that one.

What I do know is that I – like most of us – am a walking library of limiting beliefs, which, in my experience, often begin with the words…

We don’t….

There were a whole lot of we don’ts in that place. We don’t have images in churches. We don’t light candles as offerings. We don’t have saints…. Well, you get the drift!

And, yet, what if some of that don’t-ing is holding us back from experiences of feeling known? Of receiving the Divine with more parts of our awareness?

I’m just asking!

Here’s the punch line of this story…

The vast majority of us are walking this word with our own libraries of limiting beliefs. Current. Ancient. Individual. Traditional.

When we own, though, the miracle that they are simply beliefs – not absolute truth – we can thank the limiting ones for bringing us this far on our journeys and lay down, intentionally, the ones which are holding us back from being who we were created to be.

Can that feel scary? Yes!

Newness and hope often do!!!

For now, I’m hoping that, when my phone decides to play again, I can add some of the images I noticed to these wonderings. And we can all wonder together!

And maybe… just maybe… we might experiment with the notion that sometimes it’s possible to throw out the dirty bathwater without also throwing out the baby! I’m just sayin’…

ps… if you squint just a bit at the top photo, you might just notice a green snake lurking near the bottom in the stained glass! Curiouser and curiouser!

pps… need a black madonna of your own? There are several eager to be adopted at FierceArtWithHeart! Check in Original Paintings, Archival Prints, and Small Things! Can’t wait to see what you’ll choose!!!

Leavin’ on the WayBack Machine!

By the time you read this, I will, indeed, be on the WayBack Machine… aka, a British Air jet to Heathrow and then on to Toulouse, France. (I’m guessing Rocky and Bullwinkle will be busy somewhere else!)

Today is still filled with lists and sorting and packing.

Last night, my Story-Gramma, Elsie, joined Grandmother Moon on the dream-whispering team.

Kind of surprisingly, for me, they were whispering in pictures!

Elsie holding my Dave when he was about eight months old.

Then, the one at the top… an image of the farm where Elsie grew up in Illinois. Hand drawn and used for keeping tax records!!! (A long time ago!) As the story goes, my great grandfather built a 5-seat outhouse to accommodate his 7 daughters!

Elsie grew up to bake 40 loaves of bread a week on a wood stove. My Dad, the youngest of her 6 kids, remembered when they got running water on the farm!

All of which feels like a whole lot of WayBack in this moment. Yet, there is more.

Elsie’s 8th great-grandmother’s aunt’s grave marker. Hanged in Salem. Another of Mary’s sisters met the same fate on the same day.

And, still more. You see, I’m headed for what I’ve only recently learned is even farther WayBack than that.

I’m headed to the Middle Ages. To a place where, to this day, the towns and villages and even the airport, are named for my ancestors.

I’m not special because of this. I’m not anywhere near the only one. I’m just blessed to be learning the stories.

And I feel even more blessed to be learning things which I believe our world needs more and more of us to know.

Love. Faith. Peace. Hope. Determination. Even in the face of huge peril.

History. Vision.

I have no idea what will change in and for me. I only know my answer is yes!!!

Why???

I have 2 granddaughters growing up in this world!!!

Stay tuned… I’ll keep you posted!

ps… so, I’m going to be wearing my perfect for travel leggings all over France. And I’m extending the special offer, just for you! Now, through July 22nd, you can save on 2 pair… any design, any size! Check out FierceArtWithHeart! Daphne says to add the special code: BUY 2 – SAVE $8

Just between us…

I am, indeed, glad I didn’t need a sermon for today!

National holidays are really hard for preachers. (Well, the ones I hang out with.)

Recent news surely doesn’t make things any easier.

I did have an inspiration, though, that helped me cope.

As part of the preparation for my rapidly approaching trip to France, Kathleen McGowan – the leader of the band – suggested that we make a list of our perceived blessings in the context of this moment.

Frankly, it was a helpful shift from swearing at the news!

Here are some things from my list…

  • Three dissenting SCOTUS justices.
  • Feelings… even anger!
  • Questions… which I like a whole lot more than answers!
  • My Intentional Creativity® journey… especially, in this moment, the Legend 2023 painting who is teaching me so deeply, even when I haven’t yet picked up a brush. And discovering images as a way to express myself!
  • Family… those I was raised with, the blessing of those who come after me, those on my Red Thread, and ancestors waiting to share roots and my place in the story.
  • Dreams.
  • Truth to paint.
  • Stories to tell.
  • Learning new things.
  • Concrete Passion and Very Large Hope… ie. the Legendary Husband
  • Claiming the Freedom to be who I was created to be! (Even now…) And the courage to preach that, with every fiber of my being… to people with ears to hear.

Well, you get the drift!

Then, believer in curiosity that I am, I read the next suggestion from Kathleen.

Basically, she suggested taking the list and turning it into a thank you note to the Creator of our best, deepest, growing understanding.

Mine got a little mushy. Here are a few lines at the end…

Thank you for helping me see that I can edit my filters and choose my Map of Reality! Walk with me, please, and guide my travels and learnings on this path to France. May I find not only history, but a vision for my future. Thank you for being You and loving me. In partnership with the Divine, I create,

Oh! There’s another thing I’m thankful for! The witness of Joan Baez. She, too, reminds me of hope in the midst of the news.

I had to hunt a bit to find the video I needed in this moment. It’s a particular performance of a song she sings a lot. And there’s a punchline at the very end that I lean on when it’s hard for me to pray honestly.

Possibly the best 2 minutes and 12 seconds of your day!

May we all go in Peace!

ps… Kathleen McGowan’s book is The Source of MIRACLES… 7 Steps to Transforming your Life Through THE LORD’S PRAYER

pps… so, I’m going to be wearing my perfect for travel leggings all over France. And I’m extending the special offer, just for you! Now, through July 22nd, you can save on 2 pair… any design, any size! Check out FierceArtWithHeart! Daphne says to add the special code: BUY 2 – SAVE $8

Boom!

First, our trip home last night was a bit more of an extended adventure than we planned.

Missing jetways, baggage gone walkabout, really sore muscles… you get the picture.

Then, to say that my morning started off in a dramatic fashion is a bit of an understatement.

I was reading a book I’ll tell you about in a minute.

All of a sudden, the Boom! along with the house shaking, which is a bit much for me during my first cup of tea.

Detective work was clearly in order.

  1. Text to check on Legendary Husband, already at work in the basement.
  2. Attain levitation.
  3. Peek out windows.

The front was all clear. I even noticed the beginnings of pollinator flowers blooming in the garden, which I had missed at midnight.

The side toward our neighbors was clear, too. At least what I could see.

Then, the studio, and the huge tree down in the back yard! Fortunately it missed the house!

A quick check with the neighbors confirmed that they, too, were okay, despite a somewhat crushed fence.

By then, only half a cup of tea ahead, it was time to head off to physical therapy.

After a batch of dry needles, we went back to strategizing for the trip to France and I learned to hula!

For real!!!

Not like flowers and grass skirts, but quite cool.

I was holding onto a big metal frame (a doorway being a good home substitute) looking into a massive mirror (Gulp!) and getting my hips to move alternately up and down in a fashion quite like hula dancing which, trust me, they never covered in gym class but probably should have.

Here’s the surprise… it was fun AND it helps strengthen some muscles that can use all the help they can get!

Then, home for tea and a bit more reading.

Remember the book?

It’s part of my preparation for France and was written by the leader of the journey… Kathleen McGowan.

Here’s the part I just have to share:

The path of the first petal is faith, and it is the foundation upon which your spiritual life is built. One of my favorite quotes comes from Gandhi, who said, “Be the change you wish to see in this world.” I would add to that, if I may be so bold, “And the change you wish to see in your life.”

The Source of Miracles

And I would add to that, if I may be so bold…

even on days when the change you wish to see in your life involves learning to hula dance!

Which is kind of like saying that maybe, just maybe, walking the Way of Love is scary and turns out to be way better than we might have imagined!

I’d love to know what that looks like in your world! You can leave a comment, below, or email me. suesvoice@gmail.com

ps… the special offer on wearable art leggings is good until midnight (ET) June 30! They’re gorgeous. They wash great. And they come in LOTS of sizes. Check it out at FierceArtWithHeart. Just put any 2 pair in your basket and enter the magic code BUY 2 – SAVE $8

Wisdom comes in many ways!

Okay… this story could be a bit embarrassing, but it wants telling, nonetheless!

Monday was a mixed metaphor sort of day.

Physical therapy in the morning. Let’s just go with LOTS of needles, and an empowering bit of learning.

Then, because I was tired when I got home, I overdosed on news. Waaaaayyyy… too much news! Which, if we’re being honest, didn’t help much with the tired part.

It probably didn’t help much with the tension part, either. (I’ll spare you the rant… fill free to fill it in your way!)

Laundry. List making. The big things to do bit.

The ah-hah’s started after dinner… and Jeopardy!

Let me say, first, that I’ve about had it with the writers’ strike. Oh, I’m totally sympathetic. And fed up with summer in the midst of a strike TV. Not to mention AI. And so, I went wandering. And wound up in an unusual place.

Princess Diaries, to be exact. Go ahead and laugh. I can take it.

You see, about 20 minutes in to the first movie, the FILTERS magic kicked in!

Probably because I’ve been learning new things! And they seem to be letting in new info.

Before too long, I’m heading to France. It turns out I have a lot of ancestors from the area we’ll be visiting. And I’ve been learning their stories, along with lots of stories from the way-back days.

Some of those stories made me hear the whole Princess Diaries saga about arranged marriages and voice and choice with new ears.

Then, when the stories combined themselves with some recent conversations about the Divine Feminine and Masculine, the FILTERS really lit up. Not to mention the whole Truth Oil/Voice chakra adventure!

Suddenly, Garry Marshall’s movies went from a good way to avoid the news to an enormous doorway into history. Mine. And the world’s.

My trip to France is already different. As is my trip to hug my girls. But, for now, there’s more packing to do.

I’d love to know what you’d notice if you watched Princess Diaries at this moment in your journey! (Disney Plus, in my part of the world.)

Here’s a bit more of what I’m discovering at the end of my paintbrush…

ps… rumor has it there’s a new Princess Diaries movie in the planning stage!

pps… so, I didn’t grow up to be a Queen. I did grow up with a medicine basket full of ways to help folks like you get to the place that needs YOUR gifts and wisdom! If you’d like to get clearer on the path to the place where your greatest joy and the world’s deep need are calling, let’s talk! 45 min. My gift. And, an important filter to take home!

It’s been a Medicine Basket kind of weekend…

Actual medicine kinds of things, like more physical therapy… and more dry needles! And hunting up a new eye doc who – you know – takes our insurance! And a bit of a tiff with the pharmacy over a couple of epi-pens. (Still sorting that one, but I am determined!)

Then a whole lot of the more metaphorical kind of medicine.

In order to follow along, you need to know two things.

We have a couple of trips coming up, soon-ish!

And, I have an editing project that came with one of those scary things called deadlines!

So, spells of getting ready sorts of things. Laundry. Hunting for stuff I haven’t needed in quite a while. Asking my feet and knees which pairs of shoes and hiking boots they’re willing to cope with.

And, when I’ve done all of that I can do, the magic chair and actual paper – pages and pages and pages of paper – and red ink. Old fashioned, perhaps, but it works! And my laptop is acting cranky. (Prayers gratefully accepted!)

Fortunately some of the folks who’ve been my imaginary friends since the long gone days of summer camp volunteered to keep me company. I’ve been singing along! (There’s only so much news I can manage!)

Joan Baez, of course. Simon & Garfunkel. Carole King. James Taylor. And, Leonard Cohen, even though I haven’t know him as long!

Somewhere along the line, it was Peter, Paul, & Mary’s turn.

If I Had a Hammer!

And, yes, I really do remember it from summer camp. It was part of my job to know all the words to all the songs! (If you’re not familiar, keep reading!)

And through it all, I was thinking about my dad. And then I noticed that I was chair drumming, as Harry used to do.

Context had surely entered my adventure! Fathers Day. Juneteenth. The voices of all the women whose words I’m witnessing. The news.

My drumming, though was different.

Lacking wooden arms on my magic chair, my lap desk volunteered. Just one hand, instead of the two Harry preferred. (The other one was fiddling with my favorite pen as I read on.)

Perhaps it was the particular chapter I was reading at the time… wise words from my dear friend Betz McKeown. What I noticed was that – even though I was doing many things differently than the ways they lived in my memory – I was still doing what I needed. I was being me!

Which feels like a whole body reminder that we don’t have to imitate others to belong. We can add our own selves. Our own voices!

If I had a song, I’d sing it in the morning

I’d sing it in the evening

All over this world

I’d sing out danger

I’d sing out warning

I’d sing out the love between my brothers and my sisters

A-all over this land…

-Pete Seeger & Lee Hayes

Here’s the question, though…

What song will you sing?

In your way? In this world, now?

Really!!!

Leave me a comment, below. Or email me. suesvoice@gmail.com

The future is counting on us!!!

ps… the medicine basket? It’s not just a metaphor! Mine is full of lots of tools to help you get from here to there. To sing your song. (Well, maybe not literal singing… but the courage to sing, yes!) The calendar elves only have a few spaces at the moment and I’d love to see your name in one of them. 45 min. My gift. Let’s take the next step!

pps… there are LOTS of liberating leggings at FierceArtWithHeart! And the special offer is still going on! Just check out using the magic code BUY 2 – SAVE $8 when you put two pair in your basket. Any size. Any design. They’re all awesome!

Instead of lions & tigers & bears…

It’s luggage & shoes & ancestors… oh, my! (Also, needles!)

And, yes… it’s Work in Progress Wednesday in my world!

I have two trips coming up. One to hug my kids!!! (And practice the logistics for the other trip.)

The other… to the land and history of my deep way-back lineage.

I’m really excited! And more than a bit anxious. You see, it’s also pain flare time and that makes everything harder.

My physical therapy team is on it! There’s this mysterious adventure called dry needling which looks rather like acupuncture, with a different theory behind it. It’s not much fun. And it helps.

So, extra space in the calendar for needles and subsequent feet-up time.

Then there’s the whole packing thing! Like, how I will physically manage what I actually need, especially on the “big” trip.

You’ve met Sarah, the rolling walker thing.

She’s excited!!! And I’m grateful. Also a little concerned about how she’s going to get from here to there with me. Hence, practice! (I am totally a muscle memory kind of learner!)

My knees and feet are insisting on extra help so there’s a stack of hinged and stretchy and squishy things at the ready.

My inner artist is unamused by my current plan to limit her packing to camera, sketch book, and artsy black markers. Only. We’ll see how that goes!

Then, there are the books! The ones related to the ancestors. To the many, many things that they didn’t cover in nursing school or seminary. To the things which are appearing in my paintings. And, no, e-books don’t count for this adventure! (Well, not for me…)

If you get right down to it, this is all just an adventure in living intentionally!

From the why? behind the packing list to the how? which has me hanging with the physical therapists… it’s me being me. On purpose!

Which is exactly what I want to model for my girls!!!

So, necklace with recently collected Saint medals, check!

Epi-pens and inhaler, check!

Laptop… and adapters and … well, duh! (There’s ALWAYS writing to do!)

Even eco-friendly laundry sheets!

And, in the land of Intentional Creativity® … space in my whole being for what I will claim and bring with me to my easel. Legend and Origins are about to begin!

ps… the photo at the top is a very early sketch of my first Legend painting! (@2017/18) I love Legend! Can’t wait to see what this 6th journey brings! Curious???  https://livingyourlegend.com/

pps… the fun just keeps growing in Legging Land! And the special offer has been extended! Buy 2 pairs – any size range! – and save $8.00! There are kids sizes, now, too! (Daphne – who has shorter legs than most of us – is hopeful!!!) All at FierceArtWithHeart! You’ll need the magic code… BUY 2 – SAVE $8

Sue Boardman, Certified Intentional Creativity®
Color of Woman Teacher & Coach