FALL 2009 - SPIRITUAL ART BOOKS & NEWS WOMEN

Fall 2009 - Spiritual Art, Books and News for Women

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IN THIS ISSUE
Path to Empowerment
Empowerment
Interview with Fantasty Goddess Arist Sharon George


PATH TO EMPOWERMENT - THE EVOLUTIONARY STAGES TO SPIRITUAL POWER
By Pamela Wells

This is a remarkable time in human history when an infinite amount of information and knowledge is converging with the freedom to choose what to learn. Many people now have direct access to this infinite information through the Internet and the available time to pursue and cultivate a path to both outer and inner knowledge. Pursuing both forms of knowledge can lead to empowerment and spiritual power if you are willing to take full responsibility for evolving your own consciousness.

Because the path to empowerment is evolutionary, there is a difference between the external power you attain in the world, the inner power (empowerment) you earn from daily self-reflection and the spiritual power you cultivate from having access to your own personal and spiritual authority.

The Three Stages of Evolutionary Power External power leads you to what you think you desire. The problem with external power is by the time you get there, you realize you want something else. This can result in a lifetime of chasing what you desire while leaving you bankrupt on the inside. Empowerment (inner power) represents mastery of your emotions and thoughts in response to the outer world and gives you direct access to your own personal authority. It aligns you with what you really want which is a positive state of physical, emotional and mental well-being. Spiritual power brings you clarity of thought, inner peace and awakens you to your own divine essence and the divine light in another.

Stage 1 - Power You learn about how to use your power in the world before you learn about inner power. This learning process is necessary because the human mind needs to be given a container in which to make meaningful connections to things. So, in the first half of life you must develop a strong enough ego to take on the outer world and an adequate sense of personal identity to help you interact and survive in the world. How well you manage your power will be reflected in the outcome of every decision you make. In the physical world of actions and consequences, you will be held responsible for your choices when you act in your own name. Using your power in your own name is most often focused on the satisfaction of endless desires resulting in external wealth but very little inner wealth or happiness.

Power could be directed toward positive actions that support yourself, those you love and all other beings but in these narcissistic times, external power is a grand illusion marketed by sellers. So often what is sold appears to be the answer to what you seek and because it is visible, it seems more useful than mastery of inner power. But as life progresses, issues in relationships regarding use of power, sex, money and self-esteem start to surface and develop into mental, emotional, physical and spiritual problems. It isn't until you experience some kind of failure, loss in a relationship or a challenging illness that you realize your personal power is limited and the physical world cannot be controlled. These difficult experiences can actually become blessings because they provide you with the opportunity to learn about your inner world of emotions and thoughts so the choices you make with your inner power become creative acts of outer power that benefit all.

Buddhist version of POWER the Causes of Suffering - Ignorance of your real nature, egoism, object referral, aversion and fear of death.

Stage 2 - Empowerment (outer power united with inner power) Either during a personal crisis or by mid-life, your ego is asked to develop an interior dialogue with your inner self and act in accordance with these insights. Empowerment is knowledge of how power works in the world merged with self-knowledge and personal authority. You earn inner power through careful self-reflection and a honest evaluation of your thoughts, emotions and actions. Over time you gain direct access to personal authority - the source for solving life challenges and for pursuing a life with meaning and purpose.

Inner power cultivated with growing consciousness helps your break free from negative thought patterns and leads you to the realization that your conscious actions in the world reflect your interests and passion in living a life congruent with your highest purpose. Self-knowledge and personal authority reward you with a meaningful inner life and outer life that has value and significance for the human community. Your increased self-awareness moves the planet positively forward for all beings.

The journey to empowerment encompasses some of these tasks: · Liberating yourself from disempowering and limiting beliefs · Integrating many perceptions and beliefs · Moving past your personality and embracing your authentic self · Forgiving and letting go of the past and rejecting victimhood · Rewriting your personal history · Discovering your own truths and then being true to yourself · Taking responsibility for your choices and their consequences · Being able to stand for your own truth and trusting in life · Being emotionally rational by striving for objectivity which gives you the power of choice · Relinquishing sexual power in order to aspire toward personal success and intimate union with other women and men in a way that is not sexual at all · Standing autonomously and not wavering

Buddhist version of EMPOWERMENT the Laws of Life - Nonviolence, truthfulness, integrity, purity and self-referral.

Stage 3 - Spiritual Power (outer power + inner power + global knowledge and cosmic wisdom) Spiritual power begins with the recognition that you are responsible for your relationship with a higher power (God). The activation of inner power can lead you to realize your own divine nature since you are the source of your own personal authority. In the process of accessing inner knowledge, you become more aware of the guiding spiritual power of intuitive information. Your intuition (your inner guidance system) is the foundation for building a relationship with the divine in an intimate and manageable format that resonates deeply with your own particular personality.

Spiritual power is about choosing to go beyond yourself and seeing the same divine light in another. Expanding on inner guidance through a spiritual practice will help you become expansive enough to integrate and include all that has ever been. Merging the flow of power, inner power, global knowledge and cosmic wisdom will give you direct access to your own spiritual power.

The journey to spiritual power encompasses some of these tasks: · Having a passion to know the answer to life's most challenging questions · Studying the sacred texts of your culture, including them and moving beyond them · Believing in something greater than yourself · Recognizing and honoring your connection to the whole cosmos · Expanding your horizons and awareness by having an open mind · Creating a sacred space a practicing inner silence · Releasing your ego's identification with the material world and the mind · Establishing a contemplative practice to remind you that you are loved and never alone · Integrating and aligning your outer and inner power with the will of God · Practicing symbolic sight and embracing spiritual truth · Surrendering illusions in order to receive divine truth · Being love and energy to co-create the world you desire

Buddhist version of SPIRITUAL POWER the Rules of Life - Simplicity, contentment, purification, refinement and surrender.

ABOUT AUTHOR AND ARTIST PAMELA WELLS Pamela Wells has been working as a fine artist, commercial illustrator and graphic web designer for over 20 years and specializes in creative work that leads to greater understanding and awareness. Her goddess art incorporates her interest in the study of transpersonal psychology, integral transformative spiritual practice and the evolution of human consciousness. She cares deeply about both men and women and also about the ecological preservation of the planet which benefits all living things. To order a copy of Pamela's most recent book and card set, Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess, www.ArtmagicPublishing.com

Artwork by Pamela Wells Emperor card from Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess deck.

EMPOWERMENT

When life is going smoothly, it is easy to go into automatic pilot. You are fully and gainfully employed, all your bills are paid on time, you can even take vacations, all your primary relationships are happy and you are otherwise enjoying life.

What happens when there is an unexpected loss or inevitable setback? What do you rely on as a source of your strength to sustain you?

We are constantly fed messages that we need something outside of us in these challenging situations. We become accustomed to hearing that we are lacking something and whatever "it" is can be bought or sourced externally.

It is during these times of transition that there could be an opportunity for growth and insight into the source of what empowers you. The invitation is to change your vantage point and see that all the resources for you to navigate your challenges are sourced by plugging into a Universal presence inside of you.

Here are the steps of self-empowerment:

When faced with a challenge, start by honoring yourself. Take the time to pause and just breathe. There is no need to do any deep breathing. Instead, take a comfortable seat or even lay down with one hand on your belly and another on your heart and simply enjoy your breath. Let yourself feel anchored into the chair or into the earth if laying down. By merely bringing consciousness to your breath, you initiate a process of awareness to the presence that supports you. You can enhance this process by gradually softening the layers of resistance, stress, tightness and hardness manifested in your face, jaw, throat, chest, stomach and other areas of your body. By beginning to let go of physical clinging, you further the process of yielding to an inner support. Breath by breath you drop deeper into your every expanding source of that which sustains you.

You reinforce a process of reclaiming the source of your power by reflecting and determining one quality of heart or mind that could enable you to effectively handle the situation you are facing. Take the time as you continue to breathe to reflect on what quality of heart or mind would make a meaningful difference in your life. Perhaps you could cultivate more courage, sensitivity, clarity, more patience or whatever you deem to be appropriate. You then set this seed of intention in your heart and mind and then infuse it with your breath so that there is a unity in your body, mind and heart. You literally call all aspects of yourself into attention as you tap into this wellspring of energy inside of you in service of your intention.

Interestingly, in this process of reflection and then engagement, you will experience inevitable internal shifts. As you draw closer to your heart and what is meaningful, then what you say and do will be aligned with your own wellspring of energy and resources.

If you begin to feel like you are forcing yourself in this process, check to see if are holding your breath or you have been breathing in a shallow way. There are patterns that are both conscious and unconscious that we follow that resist this process. Such patterns may not always be life affirming and may appear as chronic tension in our body and tightness even in our minds. All of this manifests in the breath and blocks us from accessing our source of sustenance.

You may need the assistance of a wise guide to facilitate in accessing your inner resources and optimizing the way you use them. However, ultimately, what enables you to effectively deal with what you are facing is inside of you.

You are completely free to either reinforce old patterns of thought and action or choose to awaken to the realization that the ultimate source of your fulfillment is as close to you as your breath. It is a process of remembering the source of that which sustains you and then taking action to align with it so that you can continue to shift and grow in ways that bring more beauty and love to our shared planet.

Michael Fukumura is a gifted Anusara Yoga Instructor who teaches classes in San Diego and assists students in private yoga therapy lessons. You can find out more about Michael at his website.

FANTASY GODDESS ART BY SHARON GEORGE - An Interview with Fantasy Artist Sharon George

Interview by Pamela Wells Pamela Wells: Please tell us a little about your creative background and what got you interested in painting and goddess themed compositions?

Sharon George: I drew and painted avidly as a child but somehow it got lost to me. When I was 30 years old, I decided to paint again. I took a drawing class at Glendale Community College along with working full time and raising a daughter. It wasn't easy and I also gave up trying. My instructor, Robert Weaver, pulled me aside at the end of the semester and encouraged me. He told me I had a gift and not to give up on it. Funny, but those few words saw me through some difficult times. I haven't given up!

PW: What do you think has kept you so focused on your goal of using your gifts despite life's challenges? SG: Well, to be honest, I've not been terribly focused. I've done the best I could given my circumstances, remaining rational in this world while keeping my children fed and sheltered. I am now taking care of my grandchildren as I help my daughter through college. I am still trying to answer my deepest calling to paint. There is so much more I wish I had accomplished and so much I still hope to do.

In fact, when thinking about the greatest artists, I feel the difference between, say, a Pisarro and a "George" is that Pisarro never, ever, even for an instant, lost focus of his goal, which was simply to paint. He painted when there was no food in the house for his children. He painted when his father disowned him, his wife despised him and his children wondered why their father didn't seem to care. He painted when his eyesight gave way and he could hardly see. He painted when the whole world told him he shouldn't and that he wasn't any good. That's incredible courage. To most of us, to society, such behavior appears insane, irresponsibile, and it IS; but it is also the courage to fulfill your inner mission despite your circumstances in the world. It is true faith, true spirituality, a pure response to the calling of your highest self. That is so difficult to do. I believe that is the difference between those of us who attempt to be artists and those whose names are remembered for generations. The degree to which we can master ourselves, to which we can answer our own inner calling, is the degree to which our art shines a light upon the world.

PW: Could you tell us something about your painting technique? SG: I am a digital artist almost exclusively now. I sketch with pencil on paper then scan my drawings into my computer. I work mostly with Corel Painter and Photopaint. I use Photopaint (Photoshop) for effects and manipulating the images and Painter for the brush painting. Mostly I use the airbrush tool. I work in many layers, applying effects and coats of digital paint on successive layers. In the end, it all gets flattened on the background.

PW: What projects have your worked on in the past and what are you working on now? SG: For years I drew and painted for my own pleasure. I was able to fit some classes in at Mesa College in San Diego along with working and raising two daughters. In the late 1980s a teacher asked me to join a group of honor students learning computer art. This is back when Microsoft computers functioned by typing commands into a command line. We all opted for the Macintosh which was mouse driven. It was a blast! At that time there were limits of printing art off a Mac. We had to have slides made and the slides printed. It was very primitive. All this landed me a job as Assistant to the Creative Director at Kobey Advertising which runs the swap meet here in San Diego. I learned new software programs there and created brochures, flyers and invitations. It was all great fun. In 1997 I bought a computer, printer, scanner and with my "expertise" opened Gorgeous George Graphics. I worked for myself as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator until 2007.

My true love, however, is what I started as a child - images of women in costumes, surrounded by nature. All my free time was spent drawing and painting goddesses.

PW: Do you have a message that you wish to convey to viewers? SG: I hope that when people see my art, they recognize the god/goddess within themselves. We are each divine as is every living being in the universe. Our destiny is to uncover and experience that divinity. Some call it god-self, greater self, Buddhahood or God. Whatever you choose to call Spirit and however you approach Spirit, the critical thing is to live Spirit. This is what I attempt to express in my art. Hopefully viewers understand this.

PW: Do you have any suggestions for women who are trying to create or discover their own life purpose? How can women follow their life purpose while balancing responsibilities like children and paying bills? SG: It is very difficult to strike a balance creating art, when art and creativity by their very nature require obsessive, single-minded focus and a lot of time. That's one part of the whole story. Another route is to enjoy what you're doing whether it be your art or washing dishes for your family. I have a somewhat morose nature, and I have only been able to strike this balance intermittently in my life but I think it is a better way to live. When I use my spirituality and let my inner love guide me, the results are always better. I waste less time, have more to give and feel more fulfilled daily.

PW: What is the inspiration behind the goddess artwork you do? SG: I believe it's very primal. It has something to do with sex and procreation and creation. It's spiritual. I am moved by ovarian shapes and soft, round s curves, something that feels nurturing, loving and protecting. It's difficult to put it into words, but I feel it. People comment that I never paint men. I've always adored men, but their bodies are hard and sharp. Women are so pleasing to see with our soft layer of fat beneath our skin and our round curves. Our nature is to nurture, to create and protect life and to me, nothing rings more loudly in my heart.

PW: Do you have any suggestions on how women can fill their lives with divine inspiration even when working? What do you do to stay divinely inspired and connected to Goddess Spirit? SG: I breathe. I breathe consciously into my physical heart, letting go of all stress and filling up with love and gratitude. It only takes a moment but changes the (my) world. This is a technique I've learned in the last year from a metaphysical group my husband and I are presently attending The Heart Space at 7625 Mesa College Drive, San Diego. I've also been a Buddhist for the last 30 years and although I'm no longer connected to the lay organization, I find the principles I've learned there very helpful. I find chanting very helpful. The point is, whatever method of spiritual practice calls you, or works for you, do it! Connect daily to your higher power. Just take the time to center yourself within your divinity. It makes all the difference between a life of frustration and a life constantly broadening with ever greater, more fascinating, beautiful, and encouraging horizons. Someone said, "We all have a hole inside and it's shaped like God." I couldn't agree more.

PW: Where can art collectors purchase your work? SG: I've been most fortunate that Dr. Doreen Virtue discovered my work online and has commissioned me to do many oracle cards for her. That has led to many other licenses of my work: Hay House, Leanin' Tree and so on. I also sell my prints online www.fantasy-goddess-art.com. I sell at various street fairs and venues that come up. I sell prints, cards, bookmarks and plan to include journals and bags.

FANTASY GODDESS ART BY SHARON GEORGE To learn more about Sharon George or to purchase prints or originals, please visit her website. You can also purchase her beautiful goddess art work at the Artmagic Publishing Gallery. To contact Sharon directly: Sharon_George@sbcglobal.net