"Her and Her Episodes" Acrylic on paper... All content copyright! 2005 - 2017 and so on, and on, and on....

Friday, December 29, 2006

The shadows are
as important as light
they give us the dimension...

Rauf , 2005/6
Wishing you a healthy,
balanced and richly blessed 2007
filled with love, joy and laughter... !
One of the most significant, and influencial book I came across this past year, has been "Owning Your Own Shadow" - Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche - by Robert A. Johnson
"To honor and accept one's own shadow is a profound religious discipline. It is whole-making and thus holy and the most important experience of a lifetime" - from the Introduction.
In our "positive thinking only allowed in my presence" world, this book is a breath of much needed fresh air! I hope you find the time to read this short gem.
Another precious jewell that just came to mind is another book I keep around since it was given to me some years ago... "Women Who Run with the Wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D - despite its tittle it not a femenist book nor is it exlusively for women.
"This volume reminds us that we are nature for all our sophistication, that we are still wild, and the recovery of that vitality will itself set us right in the world" - Thomas Moore
(PS.: It appears that reason for me feeling out-of-sorts lately had to do with an unmentionably high boold pressure. I am going to continue blogging, but with limited visits to other blogs - I do love you all dearly - but I want to take care of my health and stress level...
My apologies for my looooooong absences at your blogs!)
A thousand apologies if I failed to visit you at your blog during the holidays... Do forgive me, and let me know how I can make it up to you! Be gentle!

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Angel!
Thank you for sharing your heart, your soul, words, arts, your time, your love.
Through our words we are creating worlds, moments, of heartfelt peace, love, joy.
Have a wonderful peaceful weekend!

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Always bringing sunshine Krystyna.
Thank you, for your caring, supporting words.

My very same wishes to you and yours.

Margie said...

Hi Angel, dear friend
I have not read either of these books, but they will be on my...to read list.

What a joy it has been to get to know you...how I have enjoyed all our chats on the phone...many more to continue in the new year!
Happy New Year!
May 2007 be a wonderful year for you!

BIG HUG!

Margie

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Goodie, goodie so we will be able to discuss them!

I do look forward to your calls... yes I do.

Happy New Year sweetie
Big hug to you and family

rauf said...

Hi Angeldust
We don't remain in a shadow or in light for ever. seasons change, change is constant. Things keep changing all the time, so is our life, cold warm, rain sunshine (sorry Eskimos) Life would be dull and monotonous in a paradise with eternal warmth or sunshine. I will kill myself within six months. Here we have hot hotter and hottest seasons in South India. December January is 'season' for us when it is pleasant and everything happens. shopping discounts, music and dance festivals, harvest festivals hundreds of exhibitions, tourists and what not. then we have to wait for one more year. There is no charm if all the 365 days are pleasant.

When times are bad even our shadow leaves us. (At 12 noon, sun hitting my head my shadow is right under my feet)

Happy New year !

Love and Hugs Angeldust

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Hello Rauf

I have the feeling I would like "season" in India... and Diwali...and...
It is not so boring for what I can see. Hm?
I think you got more festivals going than we could ever dream off.

On the serious side, a balance between the two (shadow and light) would be very bearable.
And when it happens, it feels oh... ever - sooooo - fleeting

Love and Hugs back to you dearest Rauf

Anonymous said...

sweet, i will have to look for that book :)

Have a great new years eve!!

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Thank you dear Xmichra, I will

You all have a great one too!

rauf said...

Angeldust, there are more holidays in India than anywhere else in the world. India is a land of holidays
lots of love and Hugs

QUASAR9 said...

Hi Mischief Angel, best wishes for the final moments of this year, and much merriment, great joy and great cheer to see in the incoming Year

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Rauf dear

Brace yourself - I'm on my way!
lol...
xox

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

So gentle and graceful Dear Q., thank you and,

May zillions of dusties envelope and keep you safe and joyious.

Katie McKenna said...

Happy New Year AngelDust! May your New Year be full of love, light and laughter!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an amazing book. I will have to find it and read it myself.:) I hope your health gets better fast. I hope the new year brings not only good health for you but happiness and love.

Hugs, and blessings my blogger friend.

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Dear Katie
I never mentioned I love your icon - nice angle, you look just lovely

Thank you for your kind wishes, I am looking forward to a 2007 just like that - the same flowing back to you...

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Dear Mysti
this Am's measure showed a dramatic improvement on the systolic (I been as high as 202/111) I was 158/91 - hope I can manage to bring it down steady - I am one of those people that does no do well on any kind of medication, including homeopatic and herbal.
So, it is all a matter of management...
Thank you for caring and for your good wishes.

Hugs and many blessings to you and yours.

trinitystar said...

Sorry to hear that you have not been too well. It is mandate to look after ones health ... she says having neglected herself ... new years resolution pamper herself and get back on track health wise.
hugs for you
thanks for the visit.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
;O)

Anne-Marie said...

Hi Angeldust,
Just popping in to wish you all the best for 2007.

-AM

Anonymous said...

Angel,
A very Happy New Year to you and your family!

with best wishes

Vallypee said...

So sorry to hear you're not in the best of health, dear Angel! You are right to take care of yourself first and foremost, and I'll keep popping by to make sure you're still OK. Many thanks for your sweet words about my dad. It's been more of a loss than I expected, and I am feeling it.

I was interested to hear about your Dutch friend! Does she live in Canada now?

Lots of love to you for a peaceful, stress free and healthy 2007. Vally P

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Hello dear TrinityStar

Some of us have this ability to drift away from self-nurturing,
"if" we ever learned it at all.
I need to back to the drawing board!

Love and joy to you all year through!

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Thanks for the visit Anne-Marie, dear - hope your trip is unfolding as planned.

All be bestest to you and Austin

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Hello dear Vally,
It appears I am making some progress - but, I must add that It is not possible to "take life any easier", unless - of course - one is laying on the beach watching palicans dive...

The loss of my grandfather was quiet "significant" for me. I can any without any hesitation that I highly admired and loved him deeply - as much as he loved and respected me, always!
Some losses are harder to overcome indeed.

Yeah... she has lived in Canada for a while, spent some years as a young gril (growing up) with an aunt in the south of France.
She is still quiet Dutch ("ContinentaL") in many ways, reminds of being with my own family long ago.

Nice to hear from you.
Love, joy,laughter and a hug to you.

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

HEllo dear Ganga

Thank you for your visit and words.
Loads of Love, joy and laughter to you and yours

Metalchick said...

Happy New Year Angel!
I'll be sure to check out those books.
Take care of yourself, your health is more important than blogging.

Anonymous said...

Well I will be looking for those books as well...are you starting a reading group now? Just kidding. Do take care of health matters, not much will be accomplished otherwise. Best wishes for a healthy new year!

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Hello Pauline
I am expecting mail! mmmhhmm...
I shared my idea with a couple of friends and they think it is super-cool.

Book club?
Nah...?
But, wouldn't it be nice to be able to comment on it to each other?

I took it when a wokshop facilitator for Carolyn Myss' Sacred Contracts held her hand out and no one took it. OUH spooky!
It was definitely a welcome reading so, I bought 2 copies, one I gave to friend "in need" of it.
Talking about things coming to yuo when you are ready for them!

Hope it is as positive an instrument for you as it has been for me.

Love, joy and laughter

Anonymous said...

Dear Angeldust, never mind about visiting blogs - take care of your health, first. Without good health we have nothing.

Thank you for your good wishes - hoping you enjoy good health and much joy in 2007!

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Thank you SunflowerOp for your words and visit.

I am doing my best - definitely calls for some lifestyle changes...

Love, joy and laughter to you and yours