One of the Sufis‘ favorite metaphors is the dangerous ego-self (al-nafs) as a dog that the Sufi strives to tame and subdue. This seems very similar to the story about the two wolfs that is being told in the next story, so perhaps there is a universal metaphor here. An old Cherokee is teaching his […]
Und meine Seele spannteweit ihre Flügel aus,flog durch die stillen Landeals flöge sie nach Haus… And my soul tightlyspread her wings,flew through the silent landsas if she was flying home… Joseph von Eichendorff “Freedom and Fear”20 x 20 inch (51 x 51 cm)acrylic, mixed media on canvas, ready to hang (painted around the edges)
I like the term “unreasonable happiness”, from the book “way of the peaceful warrior” by Dan Millman. . . “A warrior can rely on the power of love, of kindness, of service – and the power of happiness.” “You cannot attain Happiness; it attains you – but only after you surrender everything else.” “Wake up! […]
Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Rainer Maria Rilke The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery. Anais Nin The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. Albert Einstein
A very interessting article in Yoga Journal daily today talks about Yoga and Tantra rising in the west and its origin and meaning… read more here. Posted using ShareThis
From Japanese Garden Very meditative just to sit and look at the water. Lucky it wasn’t raining or perhaps it would have made it even more magical. It started at midnight… drop, drop, drop… What a heavenly sound in a quasi desert of LA. The earth and the plants need it, and we need it […]
This was one of a series of paintings that emerged as I was exploring intuitive painting. One can feel comfort and love even in the midst of terrible things happening in the world or around us. Like birds huddled together when the storm comes. The red represents danger but also warmth. The inside reflects outside. […]
So long as we do not die to ourselves,and so long as we identify with someone or something,we shall never be free.The spiritual way is not for those wrapped up in exterior life. Farid ud Din Attar (1119 – 1230?) saint and mystic, one of the most voluminous authors in Persian literature on religious topics. His […]
Longing is the core of mystery.Longing itself brings the cure.The only rule is, Suffer the pain. Your desire must be disciplined,and what you want to happenin time, sacrificed.Rumi – The Essential Rumi – Coleman Barks Meister Eckhart said, “God is the sigh in the soul,”and this sigh, this sorrow, is a most precious poison….(source) O […]
Watching the beautifully done documentary about India,“the story of India” by Michael Wood, who is so excited and informative at the same time. The website is also very very well done.It started with the origins of civilization spreading out from africa all the way to South India, where it remained genetically unaltered for centuries. “In Tamil Nadu the latest […]
Summer has come in the middle of winter, they call it santa anna winds, coming from the desert.
acrylic, mixed media on canvas 24 x 20 inch Hand is above hand, child, in skill and in strength,up to the Essence of God.The ultimate end of all hands is the Hand of God:the ultimate end of all torrents is undoubtedly the sea.From it the clouds take their origin,and in it, too, the torrent has […]
This is the promise, they say when you remember God, when you don’t give up hope, when you remain “broken” instead of fixing it all… Let sorrowful longing dwell in your heart, never give up, never losing hope. The Beloved says, “The broken ones are My darlings.” Crush your heart, be broken! ~Shaikh Abu […]
Auf der Strassevom Gestern zum Heuteder Koffer zu schwerder Daumen kaum gehobenfegt es mich davon.Muss ich auf meine Seele warten?Sie reist ohne Koffer aber schwerist ihr Gang und zeitenlos. Was bleibt zurückvon dem Abschied zu nehmenso wichtig erscheint?Was erwartet michwo das Begrüssungswortnoch nicht gesprochen? Gestern kam ich von Gesternheute stecke ich festkann erst morgen weitergehn. […]
(This film was shot entirely on a cell phone, on the streets of NY + Sydney, each word being captured by signs of those cities plus pictures that say more than words) ‘Mankind is no Island.’This story is about 2 cities divided by a great ocean united by hope, hunger.Through your eyes our city is […]
Was macht meine Fragein Deinen Augendas Lächeln um Deinen Mundwenn ich fröhlich bindie Trauer über Deine Sorgenstehen in meinem Gesicht geschriebenerschrocken blicke ich mich anin Dir habe ich mich gefunden. What is my questiondoing in your eyesthe smile on your facewhen I am joyfulthe sadness about your worriesare written in my facelooking at me frightenedI […]
Finished the last drawing class… “The work of seeing is doneNow practice heart workUpon those images captive within you.” (Rainer Maria Rilke)
I started the figure drawing class different this time, maybe drawn in by the models attitude. I choose a small paper pad and instead of drawing from a safe distance I sat right under her nose almost. I wanted to be really close to see, really see this time. I was not trying to draw […]
Wedding portraitacrylic on canvas 20 x 24 inch Finished! As promised there is my gift for my Brother and his wife’s wedding. There will be a baby soon I heard! Maybe that will be another painting…. 😉
CIMG8694.JPGOriginally uploaded by claudia dose … with my own hand on my own foot. I hope I will get better than this as my rusty hand is coming back to life and the pen sits more fluent in it.
We are in the middle of preparations for our annual Celebration in honor of our spiritual master. We have one in May and another in September or October (depending on the moon date), this one needs more preparations since we are performing a fire ceremony (in the garden!). Also we are hosting a few days […]
Had a productive silent day all to myself. Took advantage of space and time to sort and toss thru my closet, then clean the room and, then only then could I bring my current paintings up from the garage/studio to paint undisturbed and with natural light rather than fluorescent. The portrait for my brother and his wife is […]
We had a garage sale on Saturday. Been so busy schlepping furniture and boxes. Good for chasing away any sad thoughts. Got bold enough to put my prints out for sale and actually sold some. I am thinking of having a sale of prints online pretty soon.
Shocked about the sudden death of our nephew in Australia. He was only nine years old.At least he is resting in peace.I can only imagine how his parents must be feeling, even “from the distance” I am deeply saddened by their loss. It is hard to believe that there is any sense in him leaving […]
CIMG8546.JPGOriginally uploaded by claudia dose Had a great 7 days holiday with my “family” in a cabin in Mariposa near Yosemite, really comfortable place with everything we needed to relax. We were lucky the fires had stopped just before we arrived. We could still see some scorched mountains from the house and some more burned […]
Wow! Reading the book “many lives, many masters” by Brian L. Weiss. M. D. is amazing. Not so much the idea of rebirth, I am familiar with it since my childhood for some unknown reason, but the messages of the masters in-between each live are quite profound. They are not talking about new things, same […]
Spend the morning lifting boxes out of the garage and rummaging through suitcases and sorting stuff for our upcoming garage sale. Wasn't that bad, my back seems all right and I had finished before afternoon so still enough time to paint on the portrait of my brother and his wife. It's coming along quicker than I thought. […]
