tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38365749514972002942024-03-13T19:24:30.055+00:00She Smiled the Widest SmileKaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.comBlogger628125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-57045061266537024082015-05-07T11:00:00.001+01:002021-06-17T00:19:34.652+01:00Time to take a breather...<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>~ 17 October, 2016 update ~</b></i></h2>
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<i><b>If you're just stumbling across this blog, or perhaps you discovered it through searching or on a blogroll somewhere, I AM still writing and blogging! I just <a href="https://medium.com/kaitlynschatch">do it over here now</a>, instead. </b></i></div>
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<i><b>...</b></i></div>
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I first began this blog back in 2008 as a way to promote the animation I was working on. It quickly became a way for me to share my other creative projects and in many ways has been a wonderful tool for inspiration. As I used it to share my art I started to realise that what paid the bills wasn't necessarily what fed my soul and that nothing but my own limited ideas would keep me from living a life I love.<br />
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<b>The life I love consists of a vast amount of creative energy, loads of curiosity and wonder, and great enthusiasm for whatever might come up. </b><br />
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Over the years this blog has evolved as my attitude to my own life has evolved. Through this blog I've shared my work, my contemplations, the things I've been reading, the music I've been listening to...with great joy and simply for the sake of it.<br />
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It has become a solid part of my life and it was only recently that it occurred to me that maybe, just perhaps, it's no longer needed.<br />
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As my regular readers will know I always have a number of projects going on at any given time. I'm a polymath so I'm always learning something new, playing with a new material, planning another event or trip - always.<br />
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The thing is, I reach maximum capacity and every so often I need to assess everything I'm doing and planning and plotting out to see what is ready to be left behind.<br />
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Late last year I was accepted as a student by Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel. My Buddhist practice has always been pretty full-on but it's definitely intensified and with that so has my self-awareness and therefore, awareness of my purpose and function in life.<br />
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<b>I love to teach. </b>Not in the sense that I think I know anything and have something to pass along but in that I love to help people connect with their own curiosity and wonder. I love to teach and have a great passion for it in everything I do. It's why I started the Dharma series, it's why I wrote 'Wise at any Age' and it's why I've written any of the manuscripts I've written.<br />
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I also love to learn, which is why I asked to be Elizabeth's student. <b>Because I never want to stop learning and sharing what I discover from that.</b><br />
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So I've been thinking about this passion and drive I have and realising that there are so many different ways I can express it. And one of the things that's come to me is having a Podcast. A weekly recording that's there to inspire, to engage, to encourage.<br />
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I've been mulling this over for some months now, along with other ideas, and I'm fully aware that this is a rather large undertaking. It's a big project, no matter how you look at it. And it will feed other projects, just as 'She Smiled the Widest Smile' has done for so many years.<br />
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So in a few weeks I'm beginning something new and in the mean time, at least for now, this will be it for 'She Smiled the Widest Smile.'<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-60085647351136625102015-05-05T11:00:00.000+01:002015-05-05T11:00:03.039+01:00Custom shoes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">Oh hey! Here are some custom shoes I did for a client recently. :) </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">They're called 'Mermaid' - suitably. </span></div>
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To order your own custom pair or to order a pair for a friend or family member, <a href="http://www.faunawolfcreations.com/hire.html">visit my website. </a></div>
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<br />Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-81704838884583839632015-04-30T11:00:00.000+01:002015-04-30T11:00:03.879+01:00Thirty years!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Tomorrow is my birthday. Yup. Me. That nerd there holding a blueberry wearing a raspberry as a hat (it's delicious, I totally recommend it).<br />
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<b>I think there's an expectation of how people should feel for certain birthdays.</b> Like your eighteenth is supposed to be about being legal so you should be excited to go get totally wasted - so much so that you might not even remember your birthday.<br />
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I have a friend who's never drunk in her life. I remember how baffled people were on her eighteenth because she just wasn't interested. She was excited to be able to vote and to be an adult, officially, but she wasn't interested in the legality of alcohol.<br />
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Twenty is another big one just because you're not a teenager anymore. And by twenty-one there's no age limit for drinking anywhere - or at least not in North America anymore.<br />
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Twenty-five is only kind of cool. The cost of car insurance goes down and you can rent a car too! But it's not particularly significant.<br />
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<b>And then there's thirty. </b></div>
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What can I say about thirty? I know a lot of people feel dread at this birthday. Or at the very least they think they should feel dread.<br />
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I'm thrilled. I'm giddy. I'm over the moon!<br />
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Because we seem to live in a world where all the experience you may have doesn't actually count under a certain age. And thirty seems to be the age when you finally get credit for your experience and what you've learned and achieved. Like, because you made it to thirty and haven't killed yourself in some unfortunate or silly accident, you must be pretty reliable and mature. Or something.<br />
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I don't know.<br />
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I know that looking back on my life, it's amazing. I'm proud of it. And may there be thirty more years to come, and more. Because every birthday that happens is another year I'm alive and that's pretty damn amazing.<br />
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So far in my life I've been to twelve different countries, I established a not-for-profit organisation that's still running today - along with the longest running Drag King troupe in Canada. I've learned sign language, taught myself to be a designer and changed my career in under a year, published a book, and held three successful art exhibitions that I organised myself.<br />
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So here's to getting old, because I want the smile lines. I want the grey hairs and I want that furrow in my brow from enjoying the sun. I want all the bumps and bruises and scrapes and scars.<br />
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Because life is amazing. <b>And growing old sure beats the alternative. </b><br />
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<br />Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-61483351285011184882015-04-28T11:00:00.000+01:002015-04-28T11:00:01.844+01:00Glimpses of Mahayana - Book review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As promised, here's my review of 'Glimpses of Mahayana." </div>
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Generally I take about a month to read most books about Dharma. <b>This allows me time to digest what I'm reading and apply teachings to my life as I go, but my enthusiasm for the subject generally means I want to read a bit almost every day. </b>Occasionally I'll read a Dharma book that's more academic or has really non-conceptual teachings that require a lot more time to digest - like anything on the Heart Sutra, for example - and I'll chew on these for several months. </div>
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This book, however, I powered through. I just couldn't get enough. I think I finished it in five days and will happily pick it up and read it again and again and again. <b>Because this book has really good, really pointed stuff in it that's so easy to apply right here, right now. </b></div>
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I found myself writing very enthusiastically in the margins, filling it up with "Yes! Totally" or "Just like that teaching by..." or "This happened to me when..." </div>
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It's like the ultimate practitioner toolkit - the very basics and how to use them to work with your life all the time. <b>It really highlights the difference between intellectually understanding the teachings and having a lived, felt experience of them - knowing them in your bones through application. </b></div>
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Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-19097144113983384082015-04-23T11:00:00.000+01:002015-04-23T11:00:02.157+01:00Everyday Zen - Book review!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is one of the most pithy books I've ever read. But then, it's written by a Zen teacher so I suppose that's to be expected. </div>
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What do I mean by pithy? Well, I found myself saying<b> "YES! That! So much that!" </b>to most of it - and writing a lot of pointed lines down in my journal or on my arm. Writing dharma on my arm is something I've been doing for about three years now. It's like ultimate reminders of practice tools. I feel like there's something about the physical act of putting it on my skin that helps me become saturated with dharma so I don't have any excuses when something is up for me. </div>
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But I digress. </div>
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<b>This book is all about practice</b> - not practice as in knowing how to do a particular technique but the actual application of teachings in our lives in any given moment so there can be real transformation. It's not for the faint of heart. It's not for anyone looking to transcend the difficulties of their life or use meditation to 'feel good.' </div>
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<b>This is a very cutting book that really asks you to work with your own mind. </b></div>
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<u>Some pithiness from this book:</u></div>
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"Enlightenment is not something you achieve." </div>
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"No matter what the work is, it should be done with effort and total attention to what's in front of our nose." </div>
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"When you sit, don't expect to be noble." </div>
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"Life is the way it is." </div>
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"If we understand that each moment of our life is the teacher, we can't avoid practice." </div>
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"There's nothing wrong with our self-centred thoughts except that we identify with them." </div>
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"Trusting in things being as they are is the secret of life." </div>
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"There is no special time or place for great realisation." </div>
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"We can't love something we need." </div>
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"All I can be is who I am right now; I can experience that and work with it. That's all I can do." </div>
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"Always the practice effort is to see what life requires us to give as opposed to what we personally want to give - which is not easy." </div>
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"It isn't important that we are upset; what is important is our ability to observe the upset."</div>
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"The quality of our practice is always reflected in the quality of our life." </div>
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"...searching outside ourselves is not the way." </div>
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"All of practice is to return ourselves to pure experiencing." </div>
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"Love expects nothing." </div>
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"If life were not impermanent it wouldn't be the wonder that it is." </div>
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"Expect nothing from life and you will enjoy it." </div>
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"Any aspect of ourselves that is not observed will remain muddy, confusing, mysterious." </div>
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"We only know our lives when we experience them directly." </div>
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"To look outside of ourselves for true peace and satisfaction is hopeless." </div>
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"When we are attached to the way we think we should be or the way we thing anyone else should be, we can have very little appreciation of life as it is." </div>
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"So our practice is about making fear conscious, instead of running around inside our cell of fear, trying to make it look better and feel better." </div>
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"Life is not a problem." </div>
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"In times of confusion or depression the worst thing we can do is try to be some other way." </div>
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"Sadly enough, some of us die without ever having lived because we're so obsessed with trying to avoid being hurt." </div>
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"The strength in our practice, and the ability to communicate our practice to others, lies in being ourselves." </div>
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"If I feel completely muddled, it isn't that there's a problem that I have to find some way to solve; I just don't know who I am in connection to that problem." </div>
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"Freedom is the willingness to risk being vulnerable to life." </div>
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"True commitment and true love have no 'ifs'."</div>
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"What we expect we rarely get." </div>
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"The more we are aware of our expectations, the more we see that our urge is to manipulate life rather than live it just as it is." </div>
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<b>If even just one of these lines resonates with you or sparks your curiosity, please read this book. </b>Really, really. And then I recommend moving onto 'Glimpses of Mahayana' - which is another superbly pithy, pointed book. I've just realised I've never written a review of it and I feel I should. Next blog post... I promise. </div>
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<br />Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-88525521993202254292015-04-21T11:00:00.000+01:002015-04-21T11:00:01.663+01:00Dharma art - progress<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWQGF33I05vLCWbJwn1dgpSVHjsxXMqBE8UGjmVG7s5K80JIrAXq64y0IGsSlQjTXabfX5ky4dRdruI7PZMddI0FoQ0hhxI5RI3geFDeLt5FqPTsM_bBSF9Y_ltoVl7-qe1BP64cxG_o/s1600/IMG_1165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWQGF33I05vLCWbJwn1dgpSVHjsxXMqBE8UGjmVG7s5K80JIrAXq64y0IGsSlQjTXabfX5ky4dRdruI7PZMddI0FoQ0hhxI5RI3geFDeLt5FqPTsM_bBSF9Y_ltoVl7-qe1BP64cxG_o/s1600/IMG_1165.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>After completing my last Dharma piece I decided I wanted to continue with the trees. I love trees, I really, really do, and have always struggled to capture their detail and beauty when I've tried drawing them. In fact, I generally dislike the trees I draw. I just feel they're flat and lacking in everything I admire and love about a tree, especially an old gnarled tree with years of regrowth and the odd disease that adds character and depth to the bark and twisting branches. </div>
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I decided to do the last piece while I was sitting in meditation. I've recently started sitting for a half hour each time, at least twice a day. So I was sitting there, following the breath, labelling thoughts as thoughts, that whole thing - and suddenly I just saw this Bodhi tree in my mind and I saw all the lines of the detail. </div>
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Now, you may have noticed that my art doesn't generally entail a lot of intricate detail. I really admire art that does and have often wanted to create something with such fine lines - but I've found it comes across as forced and then I lose the pleasure for what I'm doing. </div>
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Until now. </div>
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I feel like I could draw the lines of trees forever. It's almost addictive. Like, I'm creating the character and richness of the surface of something that's been standing for decades, possibly even hundreds or potentially thousands of years. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxWHa6XRFaSalhOlxcLR00x4wXcHuD_-c3VPyBgrAYJNU9vvCDJiredAZSl7zapF2zLdKASluR-hLDJyrgDbhDF48F3IH77K0vhGLbdWPwPZOt7mnA6wZRQy16rkUd-LFJ1NWhyphenhyphen3yHps/s1600/IMG_1166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxWHa6XRFaSalhOlxcLR00x4wXcHuD_-c3VPyBgrAYJNU9vvCDJiredAZSl7zapF2zLdKASluR-hLDJyrgDbhDF48F3IH77K0vhGLbdWPwPZOt7mnA6wZRQy16rkUd-LFJ1NWhyphenhyphen3yHps/s1600/IMG_1166.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>I met a 3,000 year old tree in Japan. It was impressive and humbling. It makes me think of the wonderful teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh about seeing the entire universe in a tree. Without the sun, there is no tree. Without the clouds there is no rain, so there is no tree. Without the earth, the minerals in it, there is no tree. </div>
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It's a beautiful example of interconnectedness, interdependence. Very suitable for my Dharma series. </div>
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<br />Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-16967742875149216342015-04-16T11:00:00.000+01:002015-04-16T11:00:01.556+01:00Bodhicitta - Dharma Series<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yYf4-yVX5rmwm5jvuy7BL-RQI4rZjZFomSrCsOHYhV_4a4nIMxnrWAyvyc8OC5_UP8ucdPLVaUKm-UmhVS-SVhb6dBeqWlYJ-CWB9Ga8YmfsDU2Zj01gk8FwhI_xHRVDsJ8jUDuK1mc/s1600/Your+mind+isn't%2Ba%2Bproblem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yYf4-yVX5rmwm5jvuy7BL-RQI4rZjZFomSrCsOHYhV_4a4nIMxnrWAyvyc8OC5_UP8ucdPLVaUKm-UmhVS-SVhb6dBeqWlYJ-CWB9Ga8YmfsDU2Zj01gk8FwhI_xHRVDsJ8jUDuK1mc/s1600/Your+mind+isn't%2Ba%2Bproblem.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Your Mind is Not a Problem"<br />11.7X11.7in ink & gouache on bristol board</td></tr>
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<span class="s1">Lately the focus of my Dharma study has been Bodhicitta. I first encountered the word through - surprise, surprise - reading and listening to Pema Chodron. It’s one of those very difficult to translate words because there isn’t exactly a direct translation available. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Instead teachers point at different words which capture the essence of what Bodhicitta is all about. Pema herself describes it in so many different ways. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Bodhicitta is awareness of our compassionate nature. Or Bodhicitta is the ability we have to be big enough for our world and our experience. Bodhicitta is our awakened mind. Bodhicitta is our Buddha nature - the nature of all beings to see the world free of reference points. Bodhicitta is recognizeng interconnectedness, or as Thich Naht Hanh says, ‘interbeing’. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Our ability to awaken Bodhicitta is our ability to show up for ourselves and for others.</b> In order to do this we work with our own mind, with gentleness and dedication. The more we can see our mind, the more we can sit with our experience, and the most honestly we show up for ourselves, the more we are able to open up to others. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Our minds may seem like the enemy, at times, which is why gentleness is so important. I’ve recently realised I experience anxiety at its worst when I’m being impatient with myself. The more harsh I am about what I’m feeling, the more challenging working with my mind becomes and the more intense my emotions.<b> But when I’m kind to myself, when I see my mind as workable rather than something that needs fixing, the whole experience softens.</b> My heart opens up and I genuinely feel big enough for my life. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I didn’t come up with the text for this piece. The person who did is incredibly wise and I am so appreciative of the ways she reminds me to be gentle. The moment she said these words I knew they were the ones that would accompany this piece. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Your mind is not a problem to fix. </b></span></div>
Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-62888515570657542162015-04-14T11:00:00.000+01:002015-04-14T11:00:11.422+01:00So many little projects<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mD7At2m6aVp0UjMzVWnWcOAkUP_XpO0Ji7mlJxSDO6XnlmuO5pJ2MVnQmJFRdGgabH73BZOPBDMOnt9e6FYvwIDBHuz7zkEKn2Mg25KGSKBGnsDBNl_en2rsc4QFllRiiHcxU9oYtTI/s1600/IMG_1007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mD7At2m6aVp0UjMzVWnWcOAkUP_XpO0Ji7mlJxSDO6XnlmuO5pJ2MVnQmJFRdGgabH73BZOPBDMOnt9e6FYvwIDBHuz7zkEKn2Mg25KGSKBGnsDBNl_en2rsc4QFllRiiHcxU9oYtTI/s1600/IMG_1007.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leather project</td></tr>
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I've been working on a lot of little projects these past few weeks. I seem to suddenly be getting an influx of freelance and custom work, which is always fun. I do find these requests come in waves.<br />
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I'm really enjoying this particular wave as there is such a variety of projects for me to work on.<br />
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One of the requests has allowed me to use up some of the scrap leather from all my mask making. I've also done a new pair of custom shoes, which is always good fun for me. And I have some more freelance design work, including a logo design and a promotional rack card.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xrKgHSeyp7KpSRxV5IjquLhfFCB1lvw-QHUlEWaiFFzgJ429S1dlRtsQnymnYpjh-uMayGYSb6YImOYmO4jBnjmvutjAyVXLLsSzzraCOzmBUsH7EfTothH-XgYhfsGUBAY2rhI6iRc/s1600/IMG_1083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xrKgHSeyp7KpSRxV5IjquLhfFCB1lvw-QHUlEWaiFFzgJ429S1dlRtsQnymnYpjh-uMayGYSb6YImOYmO4jBnjmvutjAyVXLLsSzzraCOzmBUsH7EfTothH-XgYhfsGUBAY2rhI6iRc/s1600/IMG_1083.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sketch for custom shoe design</td></tr>
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In and around these projects I continue to research agents and submit manuscripts. I'm also on the hunt for someone who knows how to design apps and might want to partner with me on a few ideas.<br />
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Oh all this creative energy!<br />
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Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-60645730324084697742015-04-09T11:00:00.000+01:002015-04-09T11:00:00.267+01:00Make things happen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuslIw6RdT9Dg5mUgsUpy4yXpeceIGpU4drbXecMU85zR8zndYPfkhSNDz_liYCKt6fUsOpxghemuczPZZgVlP6mU_7127xALbm1Je1Bvf62PWp8-CnyLlDhBDkloSTQp8XLVejEZSic/s1600/IMG_0913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuslIw6RdT9Dg5mUgsUpy4yXpeceIGpU4drbXecMU85zR8zndYPfkhSNDz_liYCKt6fUsOpxghemuczPZZgVlP6mU_7127xALbm1Je1Bvf62PWp8-CnyLlDhBDkloSTQp8XLVejEZSic/s1600/IMG_0913.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I seem to have an abundance of energy at the moment. I already know that I have a pretty high output but I swear I somehow managed three days worth of To Do list accomplishments in one on Easter Monday. And it wasn't frantic either - it was a very relaxed, productive day spotted with regular bouts of lolling in the sun reading 'Good Omens' or 'Everyday Zen'.<br />
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There was no anxious energy underlying my productivity. It was just pure flow.<br />
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And it's continued on this week. I've been filling my evenings with projects and tasks and ticking things off to do lists left, right and centre.<br />
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One thing I've started doing again is submitting manuscripts to agents. This is always an interesting task as most agents prefer to be the only person you've sent a manuscript to. They take six to eight weeks to get back to you, so it's a waiting game once a manuscript is submitted.<br />
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I have five completed ones and three nearly complete. This gives me a bit more to work with. I can find eight suitable agents to submit to, check the dates, and then wait. I can space submissions a week apart to give some regularity to the task. I intend to do this and intend to carry on submitting until I am picked up because ultimately, in all the things I do and dream about and dabble with I always come back to the fact that since I can remember, since I could hold a pencil and form a letter, since I could put down into words the things that filled my childhood imagination, I have known in my bones that I am a writer first, foremost and with the greatest conviction.<br />
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All this meditating I've been doing (I'm sitting for a half hour both morning and night these days) is really focusing my mind in so many new ways. I feel very energised by it but also incredibly calm. I have a clear purpose:<br />
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<b>I do what I do to engage people in their own sense of curiosity and wonder. </b></div>
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<b>I do what I do to encourage people to try new things, to be adventurous in their choices and to see their world and their life in a bigger way.</b></div>
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I write, I create art, I keep this blog, I have a full-time design job - and behind all of these things my big all encompassing 'why' is engrained in my every action. I'm really looking at this sense of purpose and how it drives us. When we know our purpose we can sort out the how and the what afterwards. I'm really enjoying this way of looking at my life and my intentions and actions.<br />
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So far it's resulted in some pretty incredible practical and creative output. Long may it last...<br />
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<br />Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-46681889513289839652015-04-07T11:00:00.000+01:002015-04-07T11:00:01.940+01:00London Journal - Stomping around ShoreditchI love going to Shoreditch. There's always so much street art to be found. Usually I wander about aimlessly, collecting photos of pieces down the various streets I take, but on my last visit to the area I discovered the jackpot along a single street, Hanbury.<br />
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I could hardly walk four steps without spotting another fantastic piece of art across the side of a building or on a gate or door.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD71dYKOPDDhqtI4x6UQtcNSKGE_ndyYPLecJ0C1-MHw-VBEZnGjwgTCRhrTVK_1B379-gqFLvzL17qOwDE_D9RvmbRu8fYcjLNTpyNoW7y8scbacapcFBlArEG7rAtWPKIl56UVq9FBk/s1600/IMG_0867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD71dYKOPDDhqtI4x6UQtcNSKGE_ndyYPLecJ0C1-MHw-VBEZnGjwgTCRhrTVK_1B379-gqFLvzL17qOwDE_D9RvmbRu8fYcjLNTpyNoW7y8scbacapcFBlArEG7rAtWPKIl56UVq9FBk/s1600/IMG_0867.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottle lid silhouette. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPs-BfWS4XkibOFpUelCtpoMYMq9ihru9s2tPcj-EwCHrfNiVYrHer2fVJWsTb6uxQPo-KJYh9Vj4Vz40LteNetvr8a_v8z0zkKwEb7386mEKG54fmP6ssTOmHwn5AEHPumH0FzvTiOhY/s1600/IMG_0868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPs-BfWS4XkibOFpUelCtpoMYMq9ihru9s2tPcj-EwCHrfNiVYrHer2fVJWsTb6uxQPo-KJYh9Vj4Vz40LteNetvr8a_v8z0zkKwEb7386mEKG54fmP6ssTOmHwn5AEHPumH0FzvTiOhY/s1600/IMG_0868.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-eaLK-sSrliFBY3P5iRyHtWj-3XTOPYhK1MXv8OZDft0a4jki_ZoDASuDSU_wJxOjh5W5Vqp9xsCVLdEakbHfddhIUXXDiJZ6K5JAeUPT8nnbIkMmmBioOA0OpS-9Hojlt1k95ZFEuo/s1600/IMG_0869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-eaLK-sSrliFBY3P5iRyHtWj-3XTOPYhK1MXv8OZDft0a4jki_ZoDASuDSU_wJxOjh5W5Vqp9xsCVLdEakbHfddhIUXXDiJZ6K5JAeUPT8nnbIkMmmBioOA0OpS-9Hojlt1k95ZFEuo/s1600/IMG_0869.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I feel like the tagging done over this lion actually really works somehow.<br />Urban jungle...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9duJrNdvJIxKPWyfT3Q2hm12lswfrDrjguq8F8uBcsA-D1PTRBHNYbeT3dWfbFG9GCLgita0uRDgbRtLJXvtayGgCjFKlk_VRRq9TIQ6vkjj9IcglUNfZiocpcxoHiDqrP6-i_1tbi8/s1600/IMG_0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9duJrNdvJIxKPWyfT3Q2hm12lswfrDrjguq8F8uBcsA-D1PTRBHNYbeT3dWfbFG9GCLgita0uRDgbRtLJXvtayGgCjFKlk_VRRq9TIQ6vkjj9IcglUNfZiocpcxoHiDqrP6-i_1tbi8/s1600/IMG_0870.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favourite street artists!<br />Don't know who it is but I love their work. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yfxbqIpu3JcG7zrwMsekq0rbSiYZVMr_hZ06UiJfYrcjPQabnWhDYYg9VGuBc_CqzfEnZZw6tzOt2QA1b1i_lXsC0KY2unDQQXZp-do5WT7BE4shF4guh1R4uZn5r3ZVy95McwigZz8/s1600/IMG_0874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yfxbqIpu3JcG7zrwMsekq0rbSiYZVMr_hZ06UiJfYrcjPQabnWhDYYg9VGuBc_CqzfEnZZw6tzOt2QA1b1i_lXsC0KY2unDQQXZp-do5WT7BE4shF4guh1R4uZn5r3ZVy95McwigZz8/s1600/IMG_0874.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning level of detail. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banksy inspired on the right?<br />I don't think it's an actual Banksy. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfdKIBGyEMNNPdHBbEIbeK_DQkcZ2wT_iy6FvFhM0oD7Mont-LfeEgoaCyDYnmmqsr5eKv57YSku5nuCa8peU0lrkNXL1iSI7A2bS0_47aCAdGpaJF5tQUunivTx-sECaxy512Pp8f8I/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfdKIBGyEMNNPdHBbEIbeK_DQkcZ2wT_iy6FvFhM0oD7Mont-LfeEgoaCyDYnmmqsr5eKv57YSku5nuCa8peU0lrkNXL1iSI7A2bS0_47aCAdGpaJF5tQUunivTx-sECaxy512Pp8f8I/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adorable!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICkGwOiu_PDbF26WCPsgyhXiwa-6kk0iLTVrtCTx1_5HdFywO1A5GoNgrD-6PXhkjgH4JjHGifjHFz2R_YuB2HEQu2K1wBSZRPIXVNLsFqSTGFmpfsNgAMwl0i_GWchdZ74zj2UP6svM/s1600/IMG_0885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICkGwOiu_PDbF26WCPsgyhXiwa-6kk0iLTVrtCTx1_5HdFywO1A5GoNgrD-6PXhkjgH4JjHGifjHFz2R_YuB2HEQu2K1wBSZRPIXVNLsFqSTGFmpfsNgAMwl0i_GWchdZ74zj2UP6svM/s1600/IMG_0885.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were very small and hardly noticeable. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also small and easily missed. </td></tr>
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<br />Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-45815561165510202842015-04-02T11:00:00.000+01:002015-04-02T11:00:03.309+01:00Awe and Wonder - Contemplation<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><b>"Don't underestimate the things in your life that will bring you happiness." </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">-Pema Chodron</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I want to talk about woo. Woo isn’t exactly a ‘real word’ and yet I’ve encountered it in many conversations and even in blogs written by medical professionals, so there does seem to be a growing universality to its use. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Woo could also be known as ‘airy fairy’ stuff or ‘hippie clap-trap’ or anything along those lines. Practitioners of woo tend to come across as flakey. And woo itself is entirely at odds with science and practicality. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">As a Buddhist I encounter a lot of people who spout woo and I know that a lot of what I study and share is taken as woo. <b>But there is a distinct difference between woo and awe, or woo and wonder, or woo and delight. </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Woo has always come across as fake to me. It’s generally quite harmless but it’s childish in a make-believe way. In the way little children will tell lies so outrageous that adults just laugh. Like ‘I saw a tiny dragon down by the river…actually it was a huge dragon. Oh, and there were two of them!’</span></div>
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<span class="s1">In kids it’s cute. In adults it becomes a bit concerning. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCp72Vrb8YYJ11go6ei36O9-xmL9v2DEKqMb9hMFim_XlkTB4A7ZrntJOCNaDHU85d2Z2Wm0Is8hi358KdcuuRys0NjTPIOL8Hvcp28tnlm1d8_Y0xqgDCnWxOJUn4HTAaH3aLXJLuvM/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCp72Vrb8YYJ11go6ei36O9-xmL9v2DEKqMb9hMFim_XlkTB4A7ZrntJOCNaDHU85d2Z2Wm0Is8hi358KdcuuRys0NjTPIOL8Hvcp28tnlm1d8_Y0xqgDCnWxOJUn4HTAaH3aLXJLuvM/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span class="s1">Buddhism is not woo. On the surface it can come across as such and I know it often does. Things like Karma and reincarnation are not properly understood by a lot of people, including Buddhist practitioners. Karma is simplified into some dualistic system or punishment and reward and all about ‘energy’ in a woo way. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The actual teachings on Karma are in-line with physics - cause and effect. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Inertia. <b>Karma is science.</b> </span></div>
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<span class="s1">And reincarnation is not some mystical idea when the teachings on it are really examined. Again, reincarnation is more science. Energy cannot be created nor destroyed. Our bodies have a lot of energy, our consciousness has a lot of energy. <b>If energy cannot be created nor destroyed then we’ve all already lived forever. </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">I’ve never felt that Buddhism and science were at odds with one another and, in fact, the more I study both the more interwoven I find them to be. <b>Because awe, wonder and amazement are crucial elements to scientific discovery. </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Neil Degrass-Tyson is trending right now and has been for several years - and he is full of wonder. I don’t know what, if any, spiritual leanings he has but he definitely sees the universe in a bigger, fuller way than most of us. He says things that match entirely with Buddhist teachings I’ve read. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Same wisdom, different package. </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWonFD88vjGTdMoJ5WmaYjhLpq9F9hh7MnjZD-7tf7rZ8RW9ANT8GoeNI1vDHnyBoaT0Ts9_ovM4fn3XVNK_I_hQCdXmeGFq716N908PDWiliLDbAXwK-cDzJDdaeIlUyuutXkW9cKNdk/s1600/IMG_0809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWonFD88vjGTdMoJ5WmaYjhLpq9F9hh7MnjZD-7tf7rZ8RW9ANT8GoeNI1vDHnyBoaT0Ts9_ovM4fn3XVNK_I_hQCdXmeGFq716N908PDWiliLDbAXwK-cDzJDdaeIlUyuutXkW9cKNdk/s1600/IMG_0809.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span class="s1"></span></div>
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<span class="s1">“When was the last time you caught a snowflake on your tongue?” he asked a six (and three quarters) year old boy. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">“A few weeks ago.” </span></div>
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<span class="s1">He turned to an adult in the audience and asked the same question. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">“I can’t remember.” </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I caught a snowflake on my tongue the last time it snowed in London. I stood outside and let them land on my face and I enjoyed every freezing touch of it. <b>Because snow is magical. </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">I’m about to turn 30 and I’m delighted by seemingly simple things. This comes from appreciation of the world around me, of my interdependence with it, and of the absolute magic to be found in the setting sun or the way a flower blooms or the buzzing of a bee or indeed, the falling of snow. And this is not woo or something flakey. <b>This is appreciation I have for the wonder of life. </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">And wonder is not just in the beautiful things we see like a sun-set or sun-rise. Wonder is in seeing the difficult stuff and appreciating it as part of the richness of being human. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb7-JEceLkbyhka5q7_RSCTw8nEHAwckgimb_ecz5kD6mqMzK-YKKT8pv4fiXe5b6wqDW4QQ0x3saCBfq6mzT_z9FU8FEZT2tRdeoFRPnC1zhcoU5rQlxVfSJvAhL5WtI59t966tnZJY/s1600/IMG_0818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb7-JEceLkbyhka5q7_RSCTw8nEHAwckgimb_ecz5kD6mqMzK-YKKT8pv4fiXe5b6wqDW4QQ0x3saCBfq6mzT_z9FU8FEZT2tRdeoFRPnC1zhcoU5rQlxVfSJvAhL5WtI59t966tnZJY/s1600/IMG_0818.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span class="s1">A person who can see the wonder in the most difficult of situations isn’t naive but awake to the fullness of their experience. They can appreciate that something like grief is an expression of love or the energy that accompanies anger. <b>To have wonder is to see the benefit that comes from not rejecting any of our experience. </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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And I totally recommend <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/17/neil-degrasse-tyson-meaning-of-life-video_n_6489894.html">watching this video</a> because what Neil has to say about the meaning of life is totally and utterly spot on. </div>
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Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-42074219982069951582015-03-31T11:00:00.000+01:002015-03-31T11:00:11.672+01:00New shoes! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXakiMrEvXdyUzBhupXJ9JPwdpMbOk8QfnZgk0MBnr8z8Uvc1xeuAKBwLQW-UsW4O5cflK17O9YK3ZkKWSVKMlxdkjCoMl1ahhW7bprvo1NIreaFN7ovS9soZQzItDaWV4H3B2K4wJz6Y/s1600/IMG_0802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXakiMrEvXdyUzBhupXJ9JPwdpMbOk8QfnZgk0MBnr8z8Uvc1xeuAKBwLQW-UsW4O5cflK17O9YK3ZkKWSVKMlxdkjCoMl1ahhW7bprvo1NIreaFN7ovS9soZQzItDaWV4H3B2K4wJz6Y/s1600/IMG_0802.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I got some spiffy vintage shoes! So I had to customise them, naturally. These will be my birthday gift to myself. They're awaiting the just-right-perfectly-suitable laces. </div>
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If you think these are spiffy and you'd like your own custom pair of awesome canvas shoes you can order them through my website:</div>
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<a href="http://www.faunawolfcreations.com/custom-canvas-shoes.html"><span style="font-size: large;">www.faunawolfcreations.com/custom-canvas-shoes.html</span></a></div>
<br />Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-52229029028561750552015-03-26T11:00:00.000+00:002015-03-26T11:00:02.163+00:00Not *exactly* a London journal entry...Last year I set my sights on Belfast. I decided I really wanted to finally get there, given I've been living the UK for ages now and it's silly that I've not been to Northern Ireland yet.<br />
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It didn't happen last year and I determined that this year I'd definitely get there, for sure - no matter what. I had a few possible weekends when it could happen but have to admit I didn't think the decision to go would come the week before it happened. Oh the joys of spontaneity!<br />
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And oh the joy of realising that the Giant's Causeway was only an hour and a bit to drive to from Belfast.<br />
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So this past weekend I stomped around Finn McCool's Causeway and delighting in all the vibrant colours of the seaside combined with the absolute wonder of nature.<br />
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Not to mention a fantastic educational jaunt to the architecturally majestic Titanic Museum.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2Y4kn17UIo4uScOVgn1XrZFJFPLZJ158mzNV6BeiE5SkN4e4L_bDyofLUwtXzQ95CZPPsavQtMVuyFPzpuaZOc9noFJl69kdXpSqttRNwwPtMOcG2yHDFkkhvcECyD52rEtsVJRYW3Q/s1600/IMG_0649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2Y4kn17UIo4uScOVgn1XrZFJFPLZJ158mzNV6BeiE5SkN4e4L_bDyofLUwtXzQ95CZPPsavQtMVuyFPzpuaZOc9noFJl69kdXpSqttRNwwPtMOcG2yHDFkkhvcECyD52rEtsVJRYW3Q/s1600/IMG_0649.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantastic sculpture depicting unity and peace. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST791uZJAvvO8TBA8I95JLZZIKQ1RDQONAeCqyoJ-Z9ppqWDg_YhlP50QCXwBr2fnfnCm9ay64H3PTxhzo9KVyYqHKSV9wJeu4whTOscw6apqb7_rqTbj5D7nOxaVhGxRqPV3tne8q2M/s1600/IMG_0663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST791uZJAvvO8TBA8I95JLZZIKQ1RDQONAeCqyoJ-Z9ppqWDg_YhlP50QCXwBr2fnfnCm9ay64H3PTxhzo9KVyYqHKSV9wJeu4whTOscw6apqb7_rqTbj5D7nOxaVhGxRqPV3tne8q2M/s1600/IMG_0663.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love street art like this. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2KXR5KIobNqvb6NC7soW1ma470Ty7-rYOjWcbwLAY8shp6auEXEBM1cGedZ4Sm6NGs0AwgqIlIsik5agCDcRz9VVeukSQvSR7PSNQmYpWE5qRy22AnJtGX_Q5Rt0A3JUa85_QQdKyJo/s1600/IMG_0671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2KXR5KIobNqvb6NC7soW1ma470Ty7-rYOjWcbwLAY8shp6auEXEBM1cGedZ4Sm6NGs0AwgqIlIsik5agCDcRz9VVeukSQvSR7PSNQmYpWE5qRy22AnJtGX_Q5Rt0A3JUa85_QQdKyJo/s1600/IMG_0671.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very cleverly designed Titanic Museum - it's amazing how much they fit in there. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IVAJFuDWBbM7cF3r0QN_57p-3yz0iCcqagA5DV0QDLTQao57a0gZwhIliSqFwubr3Z8jbyNou-FKlHtrhRvyX-x3hc2wA0vC8dNEwTF0n_o4cZUHgDiODx4mMtaXkfb7y_gX7tXsqXY/s1600/IMG_0673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IVAJFuDWBbM7cF3r0QN_57p-3yz0iCcqagA5DV0QDLTQao57a0gZwhIliSqFwubr3Z8jbyNou-FKlHtrhRvyX-x3hc2wA0vC8dNEwTF0n_o4cZUHgDiODx4mMtaXkfb7y_gX7tXsqXY/s1600/IMG_0673.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sculpture of Titanica</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaK9TrwdD1S8lRc4qEyeMeycdxjcahH3Bvb5jHDmPJtB3u4wjGk4Vgms8R8q5ER2kzKMLDHD9OELQB_3e73YKi-Bs7OsVPCXD2Fea-t5MHdosdSZGmacKgUN_cBNhBklOgM3vst35ORWU/s1600/IMG_0705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaK9TrwdD1S8lRc4qEyeMeycdxjcahH3Bvb5jHDmPJtB3u4wjGk4Vgms8R8q5ER2kzKMLDHD9OELQB_3e73YKi-Bs7OsVPCXD2Fea-t5MHdosdSZGmacKgUN_cBNhBklOgM3vst35ORWU/s1600/IMG_0705.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street artist's sand sculpture. Very impressive! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqX13G7kcPBIxujTIS7KoakF6fyyCL46Nux3aquPZEt9NVAJbDn9nlkje3nAU-BWMwWNfAD603uZdlbpAixIH0qTW3I0LSX1SdskVTkOQapuM5ngAJ2zMO1V9Z7GDVehfPIU3RmKg_MoU/s1600/IMG_0710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqX13G7kcPBIxujTIS7KoakF6fyyCL46Nux3aquPZEt9NVAJbDn9nlkje3nAU-BWMwWNfAD603uZdlbpAixIH0qTW3I0LSX1SdskVTkOQapuM5ngAJ2zMO1V9Z7GDVehfPIU3RmKg_MoU/s1600/IMG_0710.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuB0f1-SBPYNIapKistTwRUd2hQciI9ZqbYL0I0Qqv3fzNozwVyuvkFcjTIzC0ZMlE5AmWlWZ534ii8ozWvqYwmpxSOIRdvP3L4E6OjtNgXqd-bYSRg4kaOKLjb9RkWH8hT99Jj9iGLw/s1600/IMG_0721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuB0f1-SBPYNIapKistTwRUd2hQciI9ZqbYL0I0Qqv3fzNozwVyuvkFcjTIzC0ZMlE5AmWlWZ534ii8ozWvqYwmpxSOIRdvP3L4E6OjtNgXqd-bYSRg4kaOKLjb9RkWH8hT99Jj9iGLw/s1600/IMG_0721.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The absolute wonder of the Giant's Causeway</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvshyyl-uazJ0XF7LLROJMK7ynzpocWqYYEoYCVpQZbET-84oqGHDuyIqL6LSWUkizvTKLwoVRIL84o3sv55VmfWm43B7iJS0VGm_yQG9-dOMwSWsLQb1noVKdOQ3nOUD8Q-0O9VG9SY/s1600/IMG_0728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvshyyl-uazJ0XF7LLROJMK7ynzpocWqYYEoYCVpQZbET-84oqGHDuyIqL6LSWUkizvTKLwoVRIL84o3sv55VmfWm43B7iJS0VGm_yQG9-dOMwSWsLQb1noVKdOQ3nOUD8Q-0O9VG9SY/s1600/IMG_0728.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the purple seaweed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUkvFlIjicNraKxwe_WSXJaGAcSf3oXBghZyrpsptxHMivOi-H3UDPEqLg05Akl8yVy6fSokUtOHhkchJYNzVNTN1MOWlKlksIpyjkLLEq4Qx0Z6p-pwYtv94k_jjHEQnvjD4tDBFA-M/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUkvFlIjicNraKxwe_WSXJaGAcSf3oXBghZyrpsptxHMivOi-H3UDPEqLg05Akl8yVy6fSokUtOHhkchJYNzVNTN1MOWlKlksIpyjkLLEq4Qx0Z6p-pwYtv94k_jjHEQnvjD4tDBFA-M/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-44901846623647953332015-03-24T11:00:00.000+00:002015-03-24T11:00:00.936+00:00New mask designs! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnHjHK0bgKxIpSOA0yS5up7wOTR54Qym4yQNIsZz0SM4zMJZh1B0zPJUA3KcyyvPhUtyRCHdoa6teDtAu3GJVPCI_VSAMFzjtmsiDD9kaY66Vo1VC34h1xe6LGC-yvbr61jaQNxycVxo/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnHjHK0bgKxIpSOA0yS5up7wOTR54Qym4yQNIsZz0SM4zMJZh1B0zPJUA3KcyyvPhUtyRCHdoa6teDtAu3GJVPCI_VSAMFzjtmsiDD9kaY66Vo1VC34h1xe6LGC-yvbr61jaQNxycVxo/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Man!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGOLzX5b8a0OWade4Kaz3G8G9yh7323Fhw3XcUVnbZxZPK4-yotJ6cFilurEPZ49rd1LSq1Wi7OYZ-AkwtJja77oPp4pBZbp34_viYkwkzy6gQpFnsUTpYpyb7h7xJxKY47U-MBhhOOw/s1600/IMG_0636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGOLzX5b8a0OWade4Kaz3G8G9yh7323Fhw3XcUVnbZxZPK4-yotJ6cFilurEPZ49rd1LSq1Wi7OYZ-AkwtJja77oPp4pBZbp34_viYkwkzy6gQpFnsUTpYpyb7h7xJxKY47U-MBhhOOw/s1600/IMG_0636.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water Dragon!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.faunawolfcreations.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html">I have two new mask designs available on my website!</a> </span></div>
Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-26377100618001275992015-03-19T11:00:00.000+00:002015-03-19T11:00:04.384+00:00This very moment - Dharma Series<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgATWIMwXVQ7ZyxjZthZRNPdTSC1VaygdTGMF7ydFwrhkgNmi1Amxbw-Cb45r99A6AZgjbVToHhqjc13-QlDJmPi0kh1LX4cnqSyJMrc7QRn5d26ReYdx6u0naRoi2F21Dop_ca3eztY/s1600/This+Very+Moment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgATWIMwXVQ7ZyxjZthZRNPdTSC1VaygdTGMF7ydFwrhkgNmi1Amxbw-Cb45r99A6AZgjbVToHhqjc13-QlDJmPi0kh1LX4cnqSyJMrc7QRn5d26ReYdx6u0naRoi2F21Dop_ca3eztY/s1600/This+Very+Moment.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'This Very Moment'<br />A4 gouache on bristol board<br />Prints and original available: www.faunawolfcreation.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
In one of her many talks Pema Chodron tells this story about having a lot of anxiety bubbling up for an extended period of time. It was relentless and she kept sitting with it and working with it and finding that it just wouldn't go away, so eventually she went to her teacher and told him about what was going on. </div>
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Her teacher was very receptive and had a lot of questions. He wanted her to really go into great detail about the sensation, where it was, what it felt like, did it have a texture or a taste? She described it for him as intimately as she could and then he clapped and said, <b>"Ah! That's the Dakini bliss!" </b></div>
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This was the first and only reference to a Dakini I had heard in all my study and practice until a few months ago. In Pema's story she goes on to say that she realised that bliss did have the same intense qualities as the anxious feeling she was describing and she was eager to get back to meditation - but when she did the feeling had gone because her resistance to it had gone. </div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
I thought Dakini was just a Tibetan word for an an emotion or something. In September last year I learned just what, exactly, a Dakini was. </div>
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In fact, pin-pointing the ‘what’ is a bit of a challenge as the Dakini comes in many forms, but the essence is she is a representation of wisdom in female form. Although even that is an over-simplification from what I’ve learned thus far. </div>
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I am the very fortunate owner of a signed copy of <i>Dakini’s Warm Breath</i> by Judith Simmer-Brown and I’ve been dipping in and out of it for some weeks now. I’ve also found Dakini stories popping up in talks I’m listening to by various teachers. <b>My understanding of the Dakini is that they show up when you’re ready for them. </b></div>
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This piece itself was one of those ones that was entirely unplanned. I sat down to sketch one evening and found myself drawing a Dakini. I decided to paint her using gouache, something I’ve not worked with in some time, and the words came to me during this process. </div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<b>I do feel this is just the first of many I will create as I continue my Dharma series.</b> I also want to delve deeper into the words and why I chose them but at this moment I'm finding a total lack of flow in that regard. I will revisit the topic as the whole practice of life and experience as teacher is something I'm coming to appreciate more and more every day. </div>
Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-36687846050744187982015-03-17T11:00:00.000+00:002015-03-17T11:00:03.732+00:00To Terry Pratchett - No one is ever gone when they are not forgotten<b>Here's to Terry Pratchett - arguably my favourite author of all time. </b><br />
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I never met him but I feel like I've lost a dear friend. <b>He made me laugh.</b> Often. Loudly. Until tears streamed down my face.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBPKGMBPaF6p80tjXTXtIP2O0FnF4Qj5_UZafWnznA-OjJGMNuW87ZmvoDUzOTtzNUqIR9Kks8vibrvXRq4R0wfqrbDll8CgHKU_bR-Ij5f7idNHf2yCfW8_joT0y0SHVurbtGp8EQ50/s1600/IMG_0550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBPKGMBPaF6p80tjXTXtIP2O0FnF4Qj5_UZafWnznA-OjJGMNuW87ZmvoDUzOTtzNUqIR9Kks8vibrvXRq4R0wfqrbDll8CgHKU_bR-Ij5f7idNHf2yCfW8_joT0y0SHVurbtGp8EQ50/s1600/IMG_0550.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a>He also inspired me as a writer. <b>He inspired me to be creative and clever and imaginative.</b> He inspired me to think outside the box and write my characters until they felt like solid, real people I might one day meet.<br />
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He also taught me a lot. He taught me about politics and literary history, about geography and philosophy, about plays and poetry. <b>About life. </b><br />
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I am grateful to have lived in his time, to have grown up reading his stories and to know that I can visit him again whenever I want by picking up Mort or Wyrd Sister or Hat Full of Sky or The Hogfather or Snuff or Equal Rites or any number of others - it's nearly impossibly to pick a favourite.<br />
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Here's to a man who wrote about the weirdos and the freaks and the little guy and the oppressed in an alternative world of his own imaginings.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Thank you, Terry, for sharing your imagination so skillfully and with such grace and talent. </b></div>
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The world is better for having had you in it. </div>
Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-24374124916210279082015-03-12T11:00:00.000+00:002015-03-12T11:00:01.107+00:00My Little Painting Challenge entry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp81-w-C0clTOMmEFs_gL_V9xMyTFu1mIW7-m2mqDLKeYaP1oyhyphenhyphenncf7NYc9gakjSUK-nNtG7Ct3eBtuJ7K-2P_wUgSwUlICqRJQWjltFpfLazkLwIFbBjyBDwy5wraUKUClWhgYrIwm4/s1600/IMG_0521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp81-w-C0clTOMmEFs_gL_V9xMyTFu1mIW7-m2mqDLKeYaP1oyhyphenhyphenncf7NYc9gakjSUK-nNtG7Ct3eBtuJ7K-2P_wUgSwUlICqRJQWjltFpfLazkLwIFbBjyBDwy5wraUKUClWhgYrIwm4/s1600/IMG_0521.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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There's a competition going on right now through the BBC called<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/Cvsz560mZ2km6WgrQkhgGm/the-little-painting-challenge"> 'The Little Painting Challenge'. </a>One does not have to actually paint something as the challenge states that drawings are accepted as well, but the idea is that anyone can submit a work of art with one of the post cards they have available in most libraries or in copies of RadioTimes.<br />
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I've made my entry! Inspired by a small child I saw at Borough Market a few weeks back. It was a fun little weekend project and I'm quite happy with my feisty little fairie.<br />
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<br />Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-89009761204380006812015-03-10T11:00:00.000+00:002015-03-10T11:00:01.028+00:00Water dragon...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHE_MNeg3rvHdBS8yZlxuLjImak1qezAPNERcUUZzXxxoifQvEwTyZ8HiAvvN3nxwEAeZbTtpd1hHNTJHbk1mQshijbch317P3PU8QXwqydrSFxXIiJT7tLgtVx3rijZrnk8LyyW1_FGE/s1600/IMG_0287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHE_MNeg3rvHdBS8yZlxuLjImak1qezAPNERcUUZzXxxoifQvEwTyZ8HiAvvN3nxwEAeZbTtpd1hHNTJHbk1mQshijbch317P3PU8QXwqydrSFxXIiJT7tLgtVx3rijZrnk8LyyW1_FGE/s1600/IMG_0287.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sketched design</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzT9Tqo8rm3qC2MCmzLYsTZN28SOB4aXVxRAIeKpfmLsJvwYOcrg6vTZth_2pwZF0HXLMtVPAYSk00FD5z7jwqD41g6CGWzwvdJh5NdwI4uHKYw7fLKfsSG4oAxpzjPNLNx6H_RyBf6g/s1600/IMG_0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzT9Tqo8rm3qC2MCmzLYsTZN28SOB4aXVxRAIeKpfmLsJvwYOcrg6vTZth_2pwZF0HXLMtVPAYSk00FD5z7jwqD41g6CGWzwvdJh5NdwI4uHKYw7fLKfsSG4oAxpzjPNLNx6H_RyBf6g/s1600/IMG_0460.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traced onto leather...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4m7Hag1-er78L7LtSP00UCAmhPGDGuxg7_371bOHJje5Be4D3FgceaGt7fCI87zddgJsm1YsL6PP-Jx1GDNJs3p7ea-3oqwJn1hvu5SOdiAr_BK84ibRCFxp6vvIfEWk_c4eDmsxJQE/s1600/IMG_0461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4m7Hag1-er78L7LtSP00UCAmhPGDGuxg7_371bOHJje5Be4D3FgceaGt7fCI87zddgJsm1YsL6PP-Jx1GDNJs3p7ea-3oqwJn1hvu5SOdiAr_BK84ibRCFxp6vvIfEWk_c4eDmsxJQE/s1600/IMG_0461.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All cut out! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4HMRajpV4AgwHJNGMNiuWDleXGnCdOYpatdgzg8P-YIUAviDqI9KFsWGAtXdsbaCiZNT2Q0PylbyHhyphenhyphenxUS9gNb_XBHhVKBJ_ZkoeAiuxoU1fk_B-9hsdbqh3pdffUeurnFm7OXJDQsQ/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4HMRajpV4AgwHJNGMNiuWDleXGnCdOYpatdgzg8P-YIUAviDqI9KFsWGAtXdsbaCiZNT2Q0PylbyHhyphenhyphenxUS9gNb_XBHhVKBJ_ZkoeAiuxoU1fk_B-9hsdbqh3pdffUeurnFm7OXJDQsQ/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding the detail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4harQ255khQRG8mmYOEAfQ7jMAzTsaY9Lhvh2XsXQdX2azhmu5D0-UjRbQvFeiIRF3eR6ZS6Z2-hx4yFqYTRuFPiq5XnJLehGQrltypoLVP8oMCIkq_e6Q7ysakeJTtL4Rvw0h2XkaoU/s1600/IMG_0491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4harQ255khQRG8mmYOEAfQ7jMAzTsaY9Lhvh2XsXQdX2azhmu5D0-UjRbQvFeiIRF3eR6ZS6Z2-hx4yFqYTRuFPiq5XnJLehGQrltypoLVP8oMCIkq_e6Q7ysakeJTtL4Rvw0h2XkaoU/s1600/IMG_0491.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moulded! </td></tr>
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I should be painting this pretty soon. I'll also have the design available in my webshop alongside the <a href="http://www.faunawolfcreations.com/store/p144/Dragon_with_curled_horns.html">fire dragon design already available.</a><br />
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Feel free to post suggestions for design to my<a href="http://www.facebook.com/faunawolf"> Facebook page </a>or, if you want something custom, you can order it <a href="http://www.faunawolfcreations.com/hire.html">through my website.</a><br />
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Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-58881251180169343022015-03-05T11:00:00.001+00:002015-03-05T11:00:01.878+00:00Amazing mask tool!When I first dove into leather mask making all the people in the instructional videos I was watching talked about having a plastic face mould for shaping the masks with. They proported that they were 'cheap and available at all major craft stores'. <b>As is sometimes the case this was better rounded out with '...in the USA'. </b><br />
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As soon as I began collecting supplies for my new-found and rapidly favourite new art project I discovered that a hard plastic flat-lying face was not to be sourced in the big smoke, nor anywhere else on the island, the neighbouring continent or indeed anywhere outside of the US of A. By the time I did finally find a source that shipped outside the US it was the sort of 'international' shipping that actually meant 'We also ship to Canada'.<br />
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Fortunately I happen to spend a lot of time in Canada what with my family and most of my favourite people residing there, so over Christmas I ordered some of these elusive items to be delivered to my parent's house.<br />
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Well I FINALLY got to play with them! <b>And the result is amazing! </b><br />
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Gone are the days when I applied a piece of leather that had recently been immersed in extremely hot water directly to my face to fumble blindly over it in a mirror at close range because one can't wear glasses when one is moulding leather with one's face.<br />
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Observe! A wonderful tool to increase my productivity and significantly lower the stickiness and risk of burn that previously plagued my mask making.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUstRdiQ5hxOTdgxB1-vIFepHf6o0-nW463ktaLjvUtOXS-nqwpb36G52L5hTdTX7fKAKbRWOOqBynJbH3aVUdq8TcFLB8BVnVF6GZgoCG3yih5XEtK9oOMio8SIKAo7FYF4bugk4S2Fg/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUstRdiQ5hxOTdgxB1-vIFepHf6o0-nW463ktaLjvUtOXS-nqwpb36G52L5hTdTX7fKAKbRWOOqBynJbH3aVUdq8TcFLB8BVnVF6GZgoCG3yih5XEtK9oOMio8SIKAo7FYF4bugk4S2Fg/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All ready for immersing with the semi-eerie white mould awaiting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PHWXXZWiFpP8hTeVMfdKZtogLtZ3bHpzb74kyG0h2TpulkshgCiTuyxIlJ1UAeVa5b9Oju3RAMsfYVJc_5UxqkzCHAdjOWRhU6fXZhyAO1F5_hyphenhyphenI19TYiSQfC1DhSZ0r137Yv78KpFk/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PHWXXZWiFpP8hTeVMfdKZtogLtZ3bHpzb74kyG0h2TpulkshgCiTuyxIlJ1UAeVa5b9Oju3RAMsfYVJc_5UxqkzCHAdjOWRhU6fXZhyAO1F5_hyphenhyphenI19TYiSQfC1DhSZ0r137Yv78KpFk/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta da! It's the simple things in life that bring me joy</td></tr>
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Oh yes, and if you like these masks and you want to support an artist (because contrary to popular belief, we do like eating) you can <a href="http://www.faunawolfcreations.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html">buy them through my site! </a></div>
Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-51000030384766790982015-03-03T11:00:00.000+00:002015-03-03T11:00:06.654+00:00Bethlam Museum of the Mind - London Journal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bedlam:</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.2;"><b>1</b>. </span>a scene of uproar and confusion.</div>
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"there was bedlam in the courtroom"</div>
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<tr><td class="lr_dct_nyms_ttl" style="font-style: italic; padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">synonyms:</td><td style="padding: 0px;">uproar, pandemonium, commotion, mayhem, confusion, unrest, furore, upheaval, hubbub, hurly-burly, turmoil, riot, ruckus, tumult, disarray, turbulence<span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m"><div style="display: inline;">
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<i style="padding-right: 4px;"></i><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=define+hullabaloo&sa=X&ei=YfHyVKfSAua07garz4AI&ved=0CDcQ_SowAA" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"></a><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=define+rumpus&sa=X&ei=YfHyVKfSAua07garz4AI&ved=0CDgQ_SowAA" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"></a><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=define+snafu&sa=X&ei=YfHyVKfSAua07garz4AI&ved=0CDkQ_SowAA" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"></a></div>
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<tr><td class="lr_dct_nyms_ttl" style="font-style: italic; padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"></td><td style="padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=define+calm&sa=X&ei=YfHyVKfSAua07garz4AI&ved=0CDoQ_SowAA" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"></a></td></tr>
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<li style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.2; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="lr_dct_sf_sen vk_txt" style="font-size: small !important; padding-top: 10px;">
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<strong>2</strong>. </div>
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<span class="lr_dct_lbl_blk vk_gy" style="color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important; font-style: italic; margin-right: 6px;">archaic</span></div>
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an institution for the care of mentally ill people.</div>
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The Bethlam Royal hospital was founded in 1247 and originally called The Bedlam Hospital. This is where the modern term 'Bedlam' came from and it's believed to be the world's oldest mental health institution. </div>
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Recently, thanks to Lottery funding, they updated their museum and art exhibition, moving it to a single building. The hospital itself is still in operation and the museum sits on the grounds, which are expansive and not unlike a university campus - full of brick buildings spaced far apart - with the noticeable exception of security fencing around certain areas. </div>
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Bedlam had a reputation and mental institutions of old are 'known' for being archaic in their treatment of mental illness - but the modern-day hospital has left those days behind. Patients are far more involved in the treatment they get and the hospital fosters an environment of self-expression. One way they do this is by offering space for patients to create art and the Bethlem Museum has an exhibition of work by current and past residence. </div>
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The museum part of it documents the rather sordid history of mental illness care but not in some gruesome way. It's very enlightening to see how far we've come and consider that, whilst stigma is still rampant and mental illness still compartmentalized as separate from physical illness, we have a far better understanding of how the mind works. There is also a humbleness and awareness of how little we do understand and that mental health needs to be approached holistically and on an individual basis. </div>
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The entire place was really incredible to explore and I, personally, feel it is one of the best museums I've ever seen. </div>
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<a href="http://museumofthemind.org.uk/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yLkhfx3DfxaZ-PIvc92X9JSim_O62AeZx_kjhtaq7c6wAla-lOrif4WY12i8B5HxfNFGdknc8dbJxdc5RB47-YvuLI1hu8hm1jDJh4xLPl-_kQEywUafIrXTCf9JGVl75aTrU50nMVY/s1600/IMG_0443.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SoMynEl2XOy2LCFod69qDJrQaDFuVGDL-dB44BTjeuyxk1Uh6JdKdrkf67TOaKy0zDdjy8uFM3hz-Jq4tUR25ircPi0dORGeI7OY-YP2SFAFq410mVEzAz0a8gaS2IiPnWB5_nvcc7o/s1600/IMG_0423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SoMynEl2XOy2LCFod69qDJrQaDFuVGDL-dB44BTjeuyxk1Uh6JdKdrkf67TOaKy0zDdjy8uFM3hz-Jq4tUR25ircPi0dORGeI7OY-YP2SFAFq410mVEzAz0a8gaS2IiPnWB5_nvcc7o/s1600/IMG_0423.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sketches by artist Steph Bates</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_j0G5kIbPipOa2I3mDbAbE3LzcbDYjz8OBajxqR8pLnP8HCR6PMfrg2zwGJlPUpLBDCS6ptIiQh3t92XgyJ2tgFnPYvR5SMEBoraxKFQ4WqHo-KjdEts-3mxLa5GoKYHIFEO0fbW-VA/s1600/IMG_0426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_j0G5kIbPipOa2I3mDbAbE3LzcbDYjz8OBajxqR8pLnP8HCR6PMfrg2zwGJlPUpLBDCS6ptIiQh3t92XgyJ2tgFnPYvR5SMEBoraxKFQ4WqHo-KjdEts-3mxLa5GoKYHIFEO0fbW-VA/s1600/IMG_0426.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Various sketches over many years by artist Dan Duggen </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHRvSjr0uml6P-ZyYXGRuUM3eFLLpMxkOfq_WMFsOPN7fPAe1KwibSXf5HJYxbDkdCmf4aMXOweGcoD2Zs9rT1Dar3KWajlJqsxi302GcfBqLdNwrxhPiQ72gdDmtxOwsQ75a-YQWPqc/s1600/IMG_0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHRvSjr0uml6P-ZyYXGRuUM3eFLLpMxkOfq_WMFsOPN7fPAe1KwibSXf5HJYxbDkdCmf4aMXOweGcoD2Zs9rT1Dar3KWajlJqsxi302GcfBqLdNwrxhPiQ72gdDmtxOwsQ75a-YQWPqc/s1600/IMG_0432.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sculptures and sketchbooks by Sue Morgan </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50Mh4VFBRFhv5i_sby1bHWF7eVxpKj6KJBW7FisGS2yWfGq5HygnKBS22E3pwvurcrpquweGEM2HlmECiUlOLpum_LhgqGwhfBhpe0tbLqIgmE5yD7n-6uwsPvvw4biAVV4aKFVaReUw/s1600/IMG_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50Mh4VFBRFhv5i_sby1bHWF7eVxpKj6KJBW7FisGS2yWfGq5HygnKBS22E3pwvurcrpquweGEM2HlmECiUlOLpum_LhgqGwhfBhpe0tbLqIgmE5yD7n-6uwsPvvw4biAVV4aKFVaReUw/s1600/IMG_0435.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue on the ground floor leading to the museum</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8S7ADw3zCO7zm6XurTkvEZjXjchwxdilRimOh6sbDpkH5_HV7Efsb51UtJ4nA8amQvdMZaC9RaSmLiNS_S4sTbGM9mV06ymeokq5B8-uz1y7XTr0alKLfFsPCCn9LYcxtmDCuGu1dj8/s1600/IMG_0438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8S7ADw3zCO7zm6XurTkvEZjXjchwxdilRimOh6sbDpkH5_HV7Efsb51UtJ4nA8amQvdMZaC9RaSmLiNS_S4sTbGM9mV06ymeokq5B8-uz1y7XTr0alKLfFsPCCn9LYcxtmDCuGu1dj8/s1600/IMG_0438.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artist not identified - incredibly detailed and fascinating painting<br />depicting a skull come 'unstitched' with interesting 'memories' or 'experiences'<br />captured in the different compartments. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiW6Jw8t8X4MAnVBXuS8Vgow_A_O9BHKVW3QyNQb9tnUMDM_wZSLGjVOHTD90iikdKymDtUrmbfiCayy_keXDG4ZSaLZ17T3NLWNHN5IM5CLs1IwNmKU_Jwk7ABA1wnB36-gh1t6KCck/s1600/IMG_0442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiW6Jw8t8X4MAnVBXuS8Vgow_A_O9BHKVW3QyNQb9tnUMDM_wZSLGjVOHTD90iikdKymDtUrmbfiCayy_keXDG4ZSaLZ17T3NLWNHN5IM5CLs1IwNmKU_Jwk7ABA1wnB36-gh1t6KCck/s1600/IMG_0442.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning and intricate piece by Vonn Strop. <br />Would love to have it in my own home. The sort of thing one could get lost in for hours. </td></tr>
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<br />Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-42825926289311767362015-02-26T11:00:00.000+00:002015-02-26T11:00:04.020+00:00Basic Goodness and Being Kind<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFsDiyUl8bxenhHevOgFW6zPWYR7wWXaxKRpuleGqOg_cBe-J2d1lI7DNAfmS7VTgs_GCGvS7YXMM9mkDMiKZ7npTSCS2n6IzWfY52_J-GvUcPOiwh-PjQtjHexxRjAlI2LlWa1Qt2cI/s1600/Kindess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFsDiyUl8bxenhHevOgFW6zPWYR7wWXaxKRpuleGqOg_cBe-J2d1lI7DNAfmS7VTgs_GCGvS7YXMM9mkDMiKZ7npTSCS2n6IzWfY52_J-GvUcPOiwh-PjQtjHexxRjAlI2LlWa1Qt2cI/s1600/Kindess.jpg" height="400" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Kindness'<br />A4 Portrait pencil crayon & ink on bristol board<br />Prints and original available through www.faunawolfcreations.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone is basically good. This doesn't mean everyone can't also be a total asshole sometimes. And that also means you are occasionally a total asshole - whether you realise it or not. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which is rather liberating really because it means you don't have to be perfect. <b>But you certainly can be kind and compassionate, and ultimately, that’s what basic goodness is about. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The idea of ‘basic goodness’ as I understand it from studying the Dharma, is not ‘good’ in the sense of virtuous or correct but good as in: we all want to be happy. The best way I ever heard it put was by Pema Chodron when she said, <b>“No one does anything because they want to feel worse.” </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we put on a jumper because we feel cold, when we shift position so a limb doesn’t fall asleep, when we put a band-aid over a paper cut so it doesn’t sting - these are all signs of our basic goodness. Our basic compassion and care and kindness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may seem easy to argue against basic goodness. We could say that the news is full of examples of basic badness. People kill each other every day. People shoot, bomb and set-fire to others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It might seem totally naive to say people are basically good in light of the atrocities that are committed on a daily basis. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>But saying people are basically good is not the same as saying people are basically sane or people are basically self-aware or people are basically skillful.</b> We are all neurotic in our own ways and the discomfort we feel about our neurosis is what drives a lot of our actions. We go into a default mode to try and make ourselves feel better in a constantly changing, unpredictable world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We feel like, if we would just bring the world to a perfectly fixed stand-still with everything totally in balance, then we might feel sane. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we act foolishly, carelessly, even unkindly or outright viciously. Some more vicious than others. But these actions are still based on this basic goodness, this basic longing we have to be happy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The teachings on basic goodness are not saying that we are virtuous. <b>They are saying we all have a longing to connect to happiness, to feel love and belonging. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cynics (And cycnism is healthy - no teaching has any value if it doesn’t agree with your own sense of reason. You don’t have to buy any of it and it’s important to test it against your own experience of the world) might say, “Someone who shoots up a school or who convinces a ten year old to be a suicide bomber is evil.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Verse 6.39 in the Bodhicharvatara provides a helpful contemplation in this regard: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>If those who are like wanton children</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>are by nature prone to injure others, </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>what point is there in being angry -</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>like resenting fire for its heat? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This asks us to consider - if we believe that some people are basically bad then we’re rather foolish for resenting them. Resenting someone for their supposed inherent nature would be like getting angry at a rock for being hard or fire for being hot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What greater proof of basic goodness do you need than our expectation that someone shouldn’t harm us? <b>We only think people should know better because we believe they CAN know better.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact, our very shock at reports of violence, our aversion and disbelief, is further proof of this basic goodness.<b> If we truly believe that people are basically bad then we would never be surprised by the things we read in papers. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And when we read something horrific and we think to ourselves, “I can’t imagine being angry enough to kill for my belief,” that is a sign of our own basic goodness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The things we do that cause harm are not born of some inherent evil within us. We are all confused beings scrambling in the same impermanent world. Not a single living creature doesn’t want to feel safe, secure and content. This is the motivation for our actions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>When a natural disaster occurs I can’t help noticing that the first thing people do, when they realise they can’t do anything else, is reach out to help one another. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bodhisattva lives by this. The bodhisattva sees clearly that ultimately, every situation is unknowable and the greatest thing they can do is be there for others. They accept that the world is not a fixable place. There is no single idea of what a ‘perfect’ world would be and even if there was no war, no famine and we weren’t a threat to one another, we would still have to contend with old age, sickness and death.<b> They realise and accept that the greatest gift we can give is to be present for others, to care for them, and to be kind. </b></span></div>
Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-19506980960663699202015-02-24T11:00:00.000+00:002015-02-24T11:00:08.235+00:00We Are Given What We Need - Dharma Art<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gCUJ5ANeAYpFtljynVugedF4ch4jBEE6b1vZZtKQZiZRDbpMXIRxrrQML761RYnCS8mAs_IVZpnyHWXdM7zEwvXnOMwPUy3c4vKNYHR5LyXMPTxaJkHfRBH1YGAs93LvzRLc6M6C1N0/s1600/We+are+given+what+we+need.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gCUJ5ANeAYpFtljynVugedF4ch4jBEE6b1vZZtKQZiZRDbpMXIRxrrQML761RYnCS8mAs_IVZpnyHWXdM7zEwvXnOMwPUy3c4vKNYHR5LyXMPTxaJkHfRBH1YGAs93LvzRLc6M6C1N0/s1600/We+are+given+what+we+need.jpg" height="400" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">'We Are Given What We Need''</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">5.14X5.12 pencil crayon and ink on bristol board</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Prints and original available</span></td></tr>
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"Our suffering doesn't make us special."</div>
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- Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel</div>
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I spent some time contemplating the phrase 'Everything happens for a reason'. I've written about this before but with this Dharma piece and the wording I chose to accompany the Kapala I drew, I wanted to go deeper. </div>
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I much prefer 'Everything happens' and was once explaining my thoughts around this to a friend.<b> I was giving examples of how the idea of having a 'reason' implies some sense of pre-determination or fate.</b> Because the future really is unwritten and we have no idea what might happen next, it's a phrase that simply doesn't fit with reality. Or, if we are to presume that somehow things are predetermined, it implies reason to atrocities. </div>
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I feel it would be immensely unhelpful to tell someone who was raped or who lost their family in a bombing that 'everything happens for a reason.' Giving reason to such pain feels unreasonable and can also lead people into spirals of guilt or shame - like they brought something on themselves or somehow deserved what happened. </div>
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My friend, who was listening very thoughtfully through all this, then said, <b>"How about, everything happens and the meaning it has is all in how you work with it?"</b> </div>
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I loved this and immediately related it to something my psychologist has often said, which is that life is not out to get us and we are never given more than we can handle. Life is perfect this way. <b>And perfection doesn't mean without flaws. </b></div>
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We are given a lifetime of experiences and as sentient beings we are also given the wonderful tool of our mind to worth with. Any experience we have is an opportunity, whether we label it positive or negative or neutral. <b>How we work with life is the choice we have.</b> We can choose to shut down, to feel victimized by it and go numb to it, or we can choose to be curious about it, to engage with it - even to embrace it. </div>
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<b>Life is a perfect teacher. </b></div>
Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-44046495694318004062015-02-19T11:00:00.000+00:002015-02-19T11:00:03.336+00:00Let Us Not Create Monsters Where There Are None<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“As you label it, so
it appears to you.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently I received a copy of Single Step from Depression Alliance and noticed an
appeal on the first page. The language is quite intense, calling depression a
‘monster’ that’s gotten away with ‘destroying’ thousands of lives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost immediately I felt rather put off. This labelling
depression as a monster creates a sense of ‘other’ I’m not comfortable with,
and also perpetuates the ‘badness’ of something that, quite frankly, is a
normal part of life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course by writing that I could be seen as being
controversial, but allow me to explain my thinking behind this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a Peer Volunteer on the <a href="https://friendsinneed.co.uk/">Friends in Need (FiN) Forum</a> I am
used to seeing any number of posts from people sharing their stories of
depression, often coupled with something else like anxiety,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder or any number of
physical challenges ranging from chronic migraines to hyper-mobility. Often-times
these stories are shared in such a way that the difficulties and challenges of
life are listed and the person posting them perceives depression as ‘yet
another thing’ on the heap of difficulties they’re facing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I totally get this.</b> I used to do it when I was experiencing
a bout of depression. I’d think, “If it’s not already bad enough that I’m being
bullied, have no friends, am failing math and my parents don’t understand and
won’t talk to me about it, I’m also depressed.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking back on those early years when depression was
frequent in my life, I now see my experience very differently. I was being
bullied, had no one to talk to about it, felt abandoned and was unable to cope
on my own. I became depressed as a result, stopped performing at school and was
unable to live up to the expectations I thought my parents had of me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This isn’t special</b>. I am one of thousands of people who had
a similar teenage experience. Just as I’m one of thousands who have become
depressed after the death of a loved one, or multiple deaths very close
together in a society that puts pressure on people to ‘get over’ loss, not
allowing for a healthy grieving process. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So in a world that tells us low-moods should have a limited
life span or that bullying is a ‘normal’ part of growing up and doesn't support
those who are bullied, depression is normal. Of course it’s going to happen.
And even without all those pressures, depression is a natural human response to
an overwhelming amount of stress, a lack of proper exercise and sleep and/or
stagnation or feelings or a sense of helplessness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m not saying that depression isn't problematic and that
people should suck it up. Far from it. Depressions, and all mental illnesses,
need to be talked about and addressed more openly. <b>But using fear-based
language isn't a helpful way to get that dialogue going. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most often I find myself replying to the posts on FiN with: </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A)<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>What you are going through is normal.</b> Of course
you feel depressed when you’ve been made redundant, are going through a
divorce, lost a loved one, have just started a new job, just moved to a new
city/town/country, are overwhelmed with your workload, are being bullied at
work, are in an abusive relationship etc. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">B)<span style="font-stretch: normal;"> <b>
</b></span><!--[endif]--><b>Be kind to yourself.</b> There is nothing wrong with
you for feeling the way you do. Your feelings are not ‘bad’. They are
communicating something.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">C)<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Give yourself time and space to heal.</b> Depression
is like any other illness, and not merely mental. The idea that mental illness doesn't affect us physically baffles me. The approach to any illness needs to
be holistic – diet, sleep hygiene, exercise AND our mental state must all be
addressed when we are working towards recovery. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t write this as an outsider looking in. I lived with
constant anxiety for seven years. I went through regular bouts of severe
depression for nearly ten years. I used to self-harm and I've been suicidal on
three different occasions. <b>Ultimately I was hospitalised due to the anxiety, at
which point I had to seriously take stock about the approach I had to my mental well-being. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Up until that point my anxiety was my enemy. I rejected it
and did everything I could to resist it. When I was depressed I felt guilty for
it and rejected that too. <b>Rejecting our experience is incredibly aggressive and
not at all helpful. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Einstein said “the definition of stupidity is doing the same
thing and expecting different results.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m not saying I was stupid, or that anyone experiencing
mental illness is stupid. But as a society we’re not terribly clever when it
comes to healing ourselves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After my hospitalisation I began seeing a psychologist and
soon discovered my natural Buddhist nature. Buddhism is just a package for what
I know to be good common-sense. There are many packages for the same approach
to life and finding the one that works is a fun adventure, but ultimately the
message is this: <b>Learn how not to reject your experience but instead to embrace
it and appreciate the richness of what life has to offer. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I stopped making depression and anxiety into ‘other’
and ‘enemy’ I began to become far more comfortable and familiar with them. They were no longer threatening but something to explore and learn from. I began to
see the way they actually provided me with a lot of helpful communication. <b>In
short, I began to make friends with myself by accepting that sometimes I will
be depressed and sometimes I will be anxious but neither will kill me and both
can and do teach me a lot. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has not been easy and it’s not a flick of a switch
experience. I've been meditating for seven years, seeing my psychologist pretty
regularly during that time too, and have completely changed my life-style by
establishing better sleep-hygiene, improving my diet and incorporating regular
exercise into my life. But the result is that I've not experienced any bouts of
depression for years and I never feel unable to cope with and manage anxiety
when it flares up. I listen to my body, listen to the emotions, and take care
of myself with gentleness and compassion. And I don’t have a black dog or a
monster or a demon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I am a full human being, like anyone else, with a full
range of emotions and experiences and a life worth living, for better or for
worse. </b></span></div>
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Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-54451681398981999022015-02-17T11:00:00.000+00:002015-02-17T11:00:00.146+00:00Salisbury, Bath and Beyond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I recently went to Salisbury and Bath for the first time. At one there was a Cathedral and the other an Abbey. </div>
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I love exploring churches. Inside and out they've magnificent works of art. From the flying buttresses and towering spires to the intricate details of stained glass windows - I can spend quite a lot of time admiring the beauty of them. </div>
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On this particular trip I discovered something new that both places of worship had.</div>
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I was walking along the choral benches in Salisbury Cathedral, noting the beautifully sculpted wood, when I realised that the end of every bench on every level had a small creature: a gargoyle, a lion, a dog, a gryphon. They were all different and all incredibly lovely. </div>
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I honestly feel I could have photographed all of them given the chance. There wasn't a single one that didn't delight me and for that reason, when exploring the Abbey in Bath, I immediately went in search of and was rewarded to find similar sculptures! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIlLeKxeGn3pc2BJB8Vp_YR7UiUSVBG4lji6gUiIjTigbCtHpzBNiT4EMdlcwLrplpZWD0g6q3TsI6Itqn2o8tce3hYACULbZXWksTUhY7f6B1XHE-KgM0C1ELcj6HeTtWhdj9_4d3ds/s1600/IMG_0195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIlLeKxeGn3pc2BJB8Vp_YR7UiUSVBG4lji6gUiIjTigbCtHpzBNiT4EMdlcwLrplpZWD0g6q3TsI6Itqn2o8tce3hYACULbZXWksTUhY7f6B1XHE-KgM0C1ELcj6HeTtWhdj9_4d3ds/s1600/IMG_0195.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dog, a very worried dog. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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Small delights but these little details are so incredible to think about. To reflect on the fact that someone carved these by hand, so many years ago. A tiny detail that would go unnoticed by most and yet deemed a necessity for the beauty of the building in which they are housed. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rp2BLxeeetC5N-o0kgIRxjQvbVMJQJN6iszS68trlnr8qp71vixa1H8UhqePt_q8cpFEx8MJNX9isgOYaCsYs5VzSNABWzMDn4V5ypbTTiwNmWn33hD-c5w3QMDegqND38iaBoaCLJc/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rp2BLxeeetC5N-o0kgIRxjQvbVMJQJN6iszS68trlnr8qp71vixa1H8UhqePt_q8cpFEx8MJNX9isgOYaCsYs5VzSNABWzMDn4V5ypbTTiwNmWn33hD-c5w3QMDegqND38iaBoaCLJc/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winged Lion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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Each one a work of art unto itself. Different postures, expressions and combination of animal captured by incredibly skilled craftsmen so be enjoyed by the discerning eye. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEy-0RUTEWzDGWLv5AXJQul18XaXRRTLkclKnDsMyx7kEwxUxdpPB79fPPJV85R_YC5brin_WzgQyDCQ-GdUGv0r-g_ut8AyaTNvxrhxPJV4UtqaUzl36q5WUTtK7u3WItUFIAeT3pwzQ/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEy-0RUTEWzDGWLv5AXJQul18XaXRRTLkclKnDsMyx7kEwxUxdpPB79fPPJV85R_YC5brin_WzgQyDCQ-GdUGv0r-g_ut8AyaTNvxrhxPJV4UtqaUzl36q5WUTtK7u3WItUFIAeT3pwzQ/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gryphon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Imaginative creatures not seen anywhere else before. What's not to delight in? </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfWdOgBP3oJfix-lPqks47q2VB7kbF6HZloGWcI8yZ3lli4AJ6B3nctajwMCm3LGxqxoLLM3idvy30VYhLvlarRJiZKitvy1Rdv5z9RleFsgF8eSrSAm5z0_nPVriDQ1Q2NyQiAzfk10/s1600/IMG_0235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfWdOgBP3oJfix-lPqks47q2VB7kbF6HZloGWcI8yZ3lli4AJ6B3nctajwMCm3LGxqxoLLM3idvy30VYhLvlarRJiZKitvy1Rdv5z9RleFsgF8eSrSAm5z0_nPVriDQ1Q2NyQiAzfk10/s1600/IMG_0235.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Owl-Lion? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836574951497200294.post-21743374927839448352015-02-12T11:00:00.000+00:002015-02-12T11:00:02.416+00:00What it means to practice - Contemplation<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“If you think you’ve reached enlightenment, go spend a week with your family.” </span></i></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ram Das</span></i></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYrTfpC-nBMAPUfNpLlHCBMVrQ0AxWYz5EJF3y0i2rwOAkLF3_up3d59BmklSlvCxJ97HTof_19l2Db4nLUCIiqA4bCkjb4hSOE8zzjWlQGk4S-0Aj5G-I88KzbiToYBqJfkKy2q3BWM/s1600/Thoughts+as+thoughts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYrTfpC-nBMAPUfNpLlHCBMVrQ0AxWYz5EJF3y0i2rwOAkLF3_up3d59BmklSlvCxJ97HTof_19l2Db4nLUCIiqA4bCkjb4hSOE8zzjWlQGk4S-0Aj5G-I88KzbiToYBqJfkKy2q3BWM/s1600/Thoughts+as+thoughts.jpg" height="320" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Thoughts as Thoughts'<br />
<a href="http://www.faunawolfcreations.com/dharma-art-shop.html">5X5" prints available</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For the last fourteen months I’ve been attending regular meditation retreats at the London Shambala Centre. When I come into work on a Monday after being on retreat my co-workers are often curious and we’ll generally have a conversation about meditation and what I learned on the weekend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Once I was met with the statement, “I couldn’t meditate because I couldn’t not think.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I laughed and said it wasn’t about not thinking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Then what’s it about?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“It’s about being present.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>It was one of those moments that as I said it I realised it.</b> I was already understanding that this was the whole point of meditation, but I hadn’t quite been able to form words around how it was transforming me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So what does it mean to practice? Not just to meditate: coming back to the breath and labeling the thoughts as thoughts and letting them go (Which is not the same as not thinking). That’s a technique. <b>That’s just a way to guide us and point as to the </b></span><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">true practice. </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">One cannot meditate regularly and not begin to notice the gradual awareness of mind that comes with that. I have, in the last fourteen months, begun to notice the workings of my mind with so much more detail. I don’t just see the thoughts but I see the conditioning behind them, the habitual reactions to them, the hormonal release that accompanies them - adrenalin for an anxious thought, for example. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCrbZDRiRwDKZIQhr27Tkpcb3ifnZ7snRk36fJMWvZ5UbktqNTulhO-haDZwOKeXzYSm_jgNSulckIDhH6yyzFJtAsss7ZdvOOn70J56xuCQFK3n_6_mX_SxOu-5uFHW4UDZv2kE085g/s1600/Unfixated+Mind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCrbZDRiRwDKZIQhr27Tkpcb3ifnZ7snRk36fJMWvZ5UbktqNTulhO-haDZwOKeXzYSm_jgNSulckIDhH6yyzFJtAsss7ZdvOOn70J56xuCQFK3n_6_mX_SxOu-5uFHW4UDZv2kE085g/s1600/Unfixated+Mind.jpg" height="311" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Unfixated Mind'<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I’ve had this level of awareness for more than fourteen months, to be honest, but have always felt a lot of aggression towards myself when I notice the neurotic and habitual things I do. “You’re frustrated because you’re not enlightened yet,” my psychologist likes to say. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And I was often frustrated. I was getting better and better at seeing all these ridiculous things I did and yet <i>I kept on doing them.</i> I kept on responding to anxiety with resistance or shutting down around confrontation. I knew these things weren’t helping because I could see it so clearly and yet I couldn’t stop myself. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Until I began to understand practice very differently. </span></b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I began to understand that practice is something we do on the spot. Meditation teaches us how to stay on the spot, to relax into or accept the current situation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Practice is how we experiment in this place of being present.</b> Practice i<i>s</i> seeing what we do clearly because we cannot work with that which we do not see. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Practice is a willingness to let our family members be themselves - to not expect them to behave any differently - and see what happens. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Embrace Circumstances'<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Practice is feeling anxiety well up because someone disagrees with our opinion and just feeling that anxiety and not trying to make someone like us by retracting what we said. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Practice is having your train cancelled and noticing how entitled we feel and not pretending any different. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To practice doesn’t mean these uncomfortable things go away. It means we notice them and work with our mind in a way we never did before. We accept our human-ness and meet ourselves right where we are, with what’s going on in the moment. <b>Because ultimately the only thing we can work with is our mind and the mind exists in the present. </b></span></div>
Kaitlyn S. C Hatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445361760658470586noreply@blogger.com0