Another progress pic. Just started adding oil paint on top of the acrylics to add more depth and luminosity. Also gulded the moon and some of the feather wdges with gold leaf. #art #painting #spiritchat

We pause #Spiritchat for Sunday, June 21 and will return at 9amET on Sunday June 28… May the gentle fragrance of peace and light bring hope and healing ~ ❤️‍🩹🙏🏽😌

For me, it begins with awareness and mindfully reconnecting mind and body when I realize I've dissociated. (a survival mechanism learned in childhood) #spiritchat

All that we see comes from what we cannot see. I do not claim to know or understand 'source'. Maybe someday I will be given direct knowledge. :) #spiritchat

Same Sharon. That is a stumbling block for me as well. ESPECIALLY when it comes to the abuse of children... #spiritchat

Part 3 answer: I have also found 'The Four Agreements' (Toltec wisdom) helpful as well. In particularly, don't take anything personally and don't make assumptions. #Spiritchat

Part 2 of answer >> Even though I don't consider myself a Buddhist. I use whatever knowledge and wisdom I have found from any religion or practice I find helpful in life. #spiritchat

I still struggle with this when it comes to my most seemingly important connections. Currently working through something now by myself that I don't directly speak about. The 'attachment' to situation is quite bewildering. I've been relying on some Buddhist ideas for assistance. #spiritchat

I can see the cloud that brought the rain that watered the tree that the paper was made of. And I feel sad that we lost the tree to make paper. And yet I still use paper. Not as much as I used to since we now have kindle books and computers, but still use it. #spiritchat

At the coast, I simply allowed myself to 'receive', which is challenging for me to do, especially as a nurse. #spiritchat

A3) As I shared in a previous answer, I recently spent some time at a favorite beach along the Oregon coast. I cannot describe how good it felt to be there: to be so close to nature, the sound of the waves, the wind and surf on my skin, the smell of the sea. #Joyful #spiritchat

I think of interdependence: our well-being relies on each other, what we do impacts each other, and none of us are free unless we’re all free. #spiritchat

Not necessarily new but the first so far this year! I noticed the other day the impact the weather has on my joints. (arthritis) #spiritchat

A1) I was acutely reminded of this very thing recently when I had the opportunity to take a mini vacation along the Oregon coast at Cannon Beach. Hadn't been there since before my husband died in 2005! The rain, wind, clouds, ocean, the ebb and flow of the tide. We are all connected. #spiritchat

Baby steps. A little more progress on this acrylic #painting. #art #Spiritchat

Join us for a #bluesky chat and gathering in #Spiritchat ~ Sunday June 14 at 9amET / 1pm UTC / 630pm India ~ Topic: Inter-connected Nature of Being bit.ly/sc140-being26 Host: @ajmanik.bsky.social #interbeing #nature #existence

The early stages of another #painting I'm working on for a coworker. Scrapped the initial #watercolor painting I started awhile back, created a new reference image, and decided to change the medium to #acrylic on canvas board. #art

Some fruits of my labor from Cannon Beach. A fusion of reality and fantasy. #Watercolor #painting #art #Spiritchat

Join us in an online conversation in #Spiritchat ~ Sunday, May 31 at 9amET / 1pm UTC on Bluesky Topic: The Effortless Paths Host: @ajmanik.bsky.social #spirituality #pathways #freedom

Please allow me to say that on more than 1 occasion, I wanted to wash a certain 'leaders' mouth out with soap. I understand NONE of us our perfect. But I still have expectations that leaders representing our country should have to behave with the most BASIC human decency/respect. #spiritchat

I'm in a season where 'words' don't carry as much weight as a person's actions. People can SAY whatever they want. We can literally be parrots of whatever religion or philosophy we want, but it doesn't mean we are living it...embodying it. And I'm afraid our world is FULL of this... #Spiritchat

I believe as parents, the words we say carry tremendous power when we speak to our children. Something said carelessly can act as a seed that plants in their hearts and gets buried deep. Often unbeknownst to us as parents until much later. #Spiritchat

Ahhh, Kumud, here's the essay question! If we do not let them go--truly let them go--their weight becomes a burden for us. A4 #SpiritChat

Yes, I experience these people at various times throughout my life...various authors, poets, religious figures, etc #Spiritchat

The state of the hearts, of the speaker and listener, gives power to the words… the deeper the heart-connection, the stronger the power can be… 🙏🏽 #Spiritchat A3

If we don't consciously 'transmute' our anger (by various means), the anger will poison our bodies and that energy will still flow through are other words and actions towards that person. #Spiritchat

The more we value someone or love them, the more power their words have on us for good or ill. #Spiritchat

I can think of more than one occasion where the truth was revealed by an unexpected person that literally changed course of my life. At first devastating but in the end, probably saved my life. #spiritchat

Words have the power to wound or to heal. To create or destroy. #Spiritchat

Happy Mother's Day! One of my latest #watercolor #paintings and latest Substack post. >> What The Tide Returns: On Caregiving, restoration, and gathering ourselves again. #art #SpiritChat #KindledConnection kindledconnection.substack.com/p/what-the-t...

This year, I am learning more about the quiet virtue of acceptance. This has helped me understand that struggling against what IS does not change what is happening. Instead, I continue to choose love and peace. A8 #SpiritChat

Restraint that chooses not to react, to wound, or to escalate. It protects trust, prevents harm, and creates safety. #spiritchat

A quiet truth spoke so loudly that it didn't need to raise it's voice. #spiritchat

The Serenity Prayer: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference". #spiritchat

Humility clears the lens of ego/control. Gratitude fills the space with appreciation for what we already have. Bliss is a byproduct when there is less resistance and more appreciation. #spiritchat

In some cases, yes, contentment can create complacency when used to avoid responsibility or lack of effort. Some prefer the status quo precisely because they may be getting their needs met but at the expense of those around them. Of course they are 'content'... :) #spiritchat

Contentment is being satisfied with what one has in life without constantly craving for more. Happiness is more emotional and can change based on the givens of existence. #spiritchat

Patience, compassion, integrity... although there are times when I feel like I spent too much time being patient when I should have let go long before. #spiritchat

Quiet and loud virtues differ but not necessarily better than one or the other. I may 'quietly' be a loyal person and yet I may have to speak out in matters of injustice or when boundaries are violated. Sometimes, courage is anything but quiet. #spiritchat

I would say that because of the internet and social media, people in general publicize every aspect of life from what food is being eaten, to publicizing problems with spouse or family members, bullying, to the sensationalism we see in the government as if it's another reality tv show. #spiritchat

Quiet virtues are the unannounced qualities of a person's character. It is not advertised but who they are: a humble person who is extremely intelligent, capable, honest, and loyal...but does not have to broadcast it. #spiritchat

A little more progress but not quite there yet. Acrylics on 16x20 inch canvas #painting #art

Join us for a live #Bluesky chat, Sunday May 3 at 9amET in #Spiritchat ~ Topic: Our Quieter Virtues Host: @ajmanik.bsky.social #spirituality #bliss #grace #gratitude

Botanical acrylic #painting on 16x20 inch canvas. #WIP #art #spiritchat

I was recently reminded that our words are like spells. It's important to be more conscious of the words we speak. We can learn to choose where we want to communicate from. #spiritchat

#spiritchat For Julie & all: "The Guest House" #rumi #poetry #mysticpoetry

Nature and painting for me right now! Certain pieces of music, poems, books, qigong (moving meditation), breath, various sanghas, womens groups, portals.... #spiritchat

The lotus needs and uses both. We can't have one without the other. Our universe and existence on this planet relies on both light and darkness. #Spiritchat

A4) Darkness in life has taught me to be resourceful and rely on myself. It allowed me to not only draw from external resources but it helped point toward inner resources I didn't know I had. #spiritchat

A3) Sources of light have integrity. I do not mean perfection. Everyone makes mistakes. I'm referring to those who intentionally and repeatedly lie to hurt or exploit others. People who genuinely practice life with integrity are those I consider to be sources of light. #spiritchat