Sharing this video after reading Eric Francis’ PLANET WAVES astrology info for this week. You can read the full article at: http://planetwaves.net/astrologynews/190114-mm-159.html
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I’m in the process of rebranding my handbag business and all of the messages I am receiving reaffirm that my childhood passions for gardening, hiking, exploring, beeing in nature were the original blueprint for the story of who I am. Along the way, sacred geometry and Flower of Life joined my list of major inspirational alignments. The symbolic and energetic vibrations of Flower of Life and all of its variations have become the basis for many of my paintings, projects, and designs over the past decade, which is especially significant in light of the challenging background story of bankruptcy and foreclosure that I was living during that time. The energy and alignment that I experience while creating art and designs using the underlying grid that represents the Flower of Life and all of its power is phenomenal.
My close friends and family knew the background story and as the foreclosure process signaled that is was time to move on they also understood why I chose to return to my childhood home town of Narrowsburg, NY. It was time to review the full circle, time to help my only sister with the care of our 88 year old mother. Mom had a severe stroke in 2005, is paralyzed on one side of her body and needs full-time assistance for all the basic daily grooming and feeding activities that most of us go through on auto pilot. I now also realize from conversations and the posts of many Facebook friends that we are among so many others taking care of aging parents and, as much as possible, we are maintaining and expanding our own stories along the way.
One of the ways I maintain an optimistic perspective is to begin my day with great coffee, my two favorite inspirational daily emails (Thoughts from The Universe and Abraham’s Daily Quote). If that isn’t enough to get my energy and attitude in the flow, because some mornings just need an extra dose of positive energy – I’ll listen to a short meditation or watch an inspirational video.
Today I ‘listened’ to the messages that, not surprisingly, came through a link in an email, and followed one to the video on this post. I’ve been aligned with the work of Esther and Jerry Hicks/Abraham for many years and as I allow more of what feels right to me, I understand, to the point of tears of joy, why nature is such an inspiring, vital part of who I am and what I can share.
Please share your thoughts on this in the comments below and share this post with your friends (share buttons below).
Enjoy the video and NATURE!
The Universe Always Provides Signs. Pay Attention
a YouTube Video of Esther Hicks/Abraham that reminded me of the power of my connections to nature:
Every astrology design in my Flower of Life Sacred Geometry collection has been created as a meditation on that particular sign.
I set an intention to create images that would share the highest and most inspirational vibration of each sign’s planetary aspects, known characteristics and the essence of its element (earth, fire, air or water).
The colors and patterns of each sign developed organically as I tuned into the energy that flowed through my muse. My eyes, hands and photoshop were merely tools expressing and translating the vibratory meanings that downloaded as the images you can see .
I also intended that these images could be used as visual meditation tools to amplify the positive aspects of an individual’s astrological alignments and in particular, to set specific, personal intentions that will activate the energy of the desired outcome every time he or she touches, or acknowledges, that intention through visual and emotional alignment.
To see all twelve designs, click on any sign below:
AQUARIUS PISCES ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER
LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN
12 New Flower of Life Astrology Signs by Debra Cortese
Variations of these designs are available for licensing. Contact debra (at) debracortese.com
A Kreative Blogger award has recently been passed to me by fellow Miami artist, Rosie Brown and I’m honored that she chose me to receive it. I’m also delighted that it was presented to Rosie by Monique Lassooij. Both artists were participants in an 8 week long Art Marketing Salon* that I facilitated at the Windisch-Hunt Gallery in Coconut Grove, FL in 2009, and, in passing along this award, they are affirming the value of social media marketing as one of the most effective marketing tools around today: blogging!
Since I’ve become a bit of an information addict, I couldn’t do this without a little background research. I quickly found reference to the original ‘Kreativ Blogger’ post and requirements for nominated Kreativ Bloggers. I believe they have been edited and abbreviated over time and cyberspace.
Kreativ Blogger originated in May 2008 in a post by Huldas Verden as noted by Clay Garden author in this April 2009 post:
“Finally I found that it was started in Norway by a blogger named Huldas Verden.”
When the Clay Garden post was written in April 2009, the author’s Google search came up with 712 entries for Kreativ Blogger.
When I searched today, Feb 28, 2010 for ‘Kreative Blogger’ awards, Google comes up with 23,200,000 entries! Hence, the power of blogging!
Here are the requirements that I found, and am passing on to 7 fellow Kreativ Bloggers (names and links to blogs at the end of this post):
The Kreativ Blogger award comes with the following requirements:
1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link the person who has nominated you for the award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated.
Seven things about me that may be of interest:
1. I’ve always loved nature and art and just knew this was my path in life.
2. I did, and still question, my choice of life experiences and have finally come to terms with accepting that whatever happens, as long as I pay attention and learn something, I can move forward.
3. I’ve been married 3 times – divorced twice and widowed. I have two amazing daughters that I’m very proud of. My third husband died when my youngest daughter was 4. I’ve been a single mom for the last 14 years and must say, I really don’t enjoy being the responsible adult all of the time.
4. Self sufficiency is admirable and it gets the job done, but the ability to ask for help and help others empowers everyone.
5. Travel is now high on my to do list. My youngest daughter will graduate high school this year and she has plans for college so the timing is right for me to go on my walk-about. Thus far, I’ve only been out of the USA to Canada. Mountains, lakes, rivers, oceans, deserts and cities all around the planet are out there, full of fabulous nature creations that I’ve yet to see and can’t wait to photograph!
6. You really do teach best that which you need to learn, and actions do speak louder than words.
7. I truly believe there is magic (healing, restorative power) in the energy of nature and that is what I hope to share with my art.
Sample of my nature’s energy photo-digital art: “South Beached Man-O-War Reflection”
MY KREATIV BLOGGER NOMINATIONS ARE:
Alyson B. Stanfield http://www.artbizblog.com/
Tara Reed http://artlicensingblog.com/
Eric Francis http://www.planetwaves.net
James Echols http://www.soulofmiami.org/
Tom Falco http://coconutgrovegrapevine.blogspot.com/
Heather Allard http://www.themogulmom.com/
Catrien Ross http://www.energydoorways.com/category/blog/
* Art Marketing Salon is a group or community, guided, do-it-yourself workshop with all materials provided by Alyson B. Stanfield, Art Biz Coach. I highly recommend Alyson’s book, “I’d Rather Be In the Studio” and signing up for her newsletters which are full of valuable marketing information for artists and business people alike.
NOTE: I only recommend products or services that I have experience with, believe in and support. When you click on a link in this blog and make a purchase, I will receive a referral commission. This is one of the ways an artist can earn a little extra income and support her family!
Seems I’ve been even busier than usual. The Art Marketing Salon will have our 3rd workshop tonight at the Windisch-Hunt Fine Art Gallery in Coconut Grove. Last week, we had 20 artists participating, and this week I expect a full house because everyone is back in town.
Collective energy and ideas have been flowing and from the emails and calls I receive throughout the week, I know this project is stirring up all kinds of collaborations and new actions for every artist that is participating.
2nd workshop of Miami Art Salon members at Windisch-Hunt Fine Arts in Coconut Grove, Florida
As I stated when first announcing that I’d facilitate this 9 week, Art Marketing Course as provided by Alyson Stanfield, my personal goals are to develop a portfolio and web presence for my Nature’s Energy series art. Thus far, this includes food art: Mango and Tomato, just completed the first stage of Bromeliad art in conjunction with the Bromeliad Society of South Florida, I have the Native Plant Series to work on in the next 2 months that will debut with Arts at St. Johns for their Plants Without Borders program and, I’m also creating an astrological nature’s art series that will premiere on my line of Cortese Design handbags. No wonder I’m feeling busier than usual 😉
Below is a sample of the Custom art/design work for the Bromeliad Society of South Florida:
click image to see more Bromeliad art on products
AND…here’s a short excerpt (read more at MAY 2009 link) from Eric Francis’ Planet Waves Monthly Horoscope for May 2009:
“Allow the world to take on a transparent quality; see through the unnecessary, torturous maze of ego and remember that each of us is capable of expressing who we came here to be. Certainly you are feeling this potential, and it’s more than spring in the air. We each get there differently. In the immortal words of the Grateful Dead, “Some rise, some fall and some climb to get to Terrapin.â€
DEBRA CORTESE.COM Nature’s Energy Photopaintings
Cortese HANDBAGS
My CafePress Shop Nature’s Energy Designs and more on Journals, Shirts, Hats, Cards, Magnets.
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POSITIVE, WITTY, ENERGIZING – NOTES FROM THE UNIVERSE via Mike Dooley:
Alyson Stanfield’s “I’d Rather Be In The Studioâ€
Venus is visible above Earth's moon, which is illuminated solely by light reflected from Earth. Because of Venus' nearness to Earth and the way its clouds reflect sunlight, it appears to be the brightest planet in the night sky. Photograph courtesy NASA.
Many of my friends and I often make the comment, “Oh, it must be retrograde” in reference to whatever challenges we are experiencing on a particular day… not truly grasping the meaning of our words. For the past 10 years, Eric Francis’ writings have been my all time favorite astrological interpretations and explanations. In today’s entry, as always, he provides insight to some global and very personal changes that we are presently experiencing, giving clarity to why we attribute challenging experiences to ‘retrograde’.
Eric Francis, founder, editor and publisher of Planet Waves
excerpted from Planet Waves Daily Astrology & Adventure (Eric Francis)
[Today (April 3, 2009), Venus retrograde is in an exact square to Pluto, inching her way toward the Aries Point. The square was exact at 6:21 am ET and because Venus is slow and powerful …(more here)
On one level, Pluto in Capricorn (2008-2024) is about blowing through the ludicrous ‘traditions’ we live with in our society. Many of those are expressions of stoic, stodgy, joyless and blatantly boring Christian and capitalist values.
Remember that Christianity was foisted upon society along with the murder of the sacred Vodan trees, the slaughter of Mother God, the spilling of an ocean of human blood and the sacrifice of thousands of women as alleged witches, along with many of their cats. After that a real measure of docility could be counted on, but if you ask me it’s never really been complacent.
We don’t know exactly what this New Order replaced, but pre-Christian rituals such as Beltane suggest strongly that there was a more equal emphasis on maleness and femaleness as collaborative, complimentary energies and as attributes of nature.
It is the core of that female self that we are now in a process of dialing in and attempting to recover and explore. This can be lonely; the poignancy of emotional birthing can often discover itself as alone first. But here is the really interesting part: The Aries Point (the first degree of Aries) is involved. As individual and private as this experience feels, it’s widespread, collective and ultimately a public phenomenon. The Aries Point is that place where every private reality adds up to what we all share and must contend with, and where collective movements of society influence the consciousness of an individual. This is not theory. All you have to do is look.] (Read more at Planet Waves Daily Astrology & Adventure)
Subscribe to Planet Waves hereÂ
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from yours truly, Debra Cortese: Yesterday, I watched Michelle Obama as she spoke to the young ladies of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in London. Soft tears of joy welled up as I listened to her telling the girls to believe in their dreams, education and most importantly, that they do have the power to control their own destiny!  We all do and as I now know, challenges are life’s opportunities to learn, share, and grow.
First Lady, Michelle Obama inspiring London schoolgirls
click image above and line below to see 2 different videos of
Michelle Obama speaking to London schoolgirlsÂ
It is time for the feminine energy to re-emerge…
our planet, our lives are ready and waiting for this.
"Emerging Sylph"
see larger view of this painting here
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DEBRA CORTESE.COM
Cortese Design HANDBAGS
My CafePress Shop Journals, Shirts, Hats, Cards, Magnets
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POSITIVE, WITTY, ENERGIZING – NOTES FROM THE UNIVERSE
“I’d Rather Be In The Studioâ€Â
Marketing & Business for ARTISTS by Alyson Stanfield
Nature's Energy design process melds plant image pixels into eco-trendy, fractal patterns and more! Click here for full post and images.
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