Day 127 ~ Maya

Today's butterfly is dedicated to my favorite poet, teacher, and all-around phenomenal woman:
Dr. May Angelou. Here's her poem that changed my life:

PHENOMENAL WOMAN

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them,

they think I'm telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It's the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

the swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much,

But they can't touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,

they say they still can't see.

I say,

It's in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Now you understand

Just why my head's not bowed.

I don't shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing,

I ought to make you proud.

I say,

It's in the click of my heels,

the bend of my hair,

The palm of my hand,

The need for my care.

'Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomeanal woman,

That's me.

~Maya Angelou

Day 126 ~ Happy Earth Day!

Day 125 ~ Wishes and Dreams

I made this butterfly to go with an article I am writing for "Journal Journeys," an online membership zine for Artellaland. The article is called "Wishes and Dreams Come True on the Boardwalk." I made this butterfly with gold leaf and copper edges, and with a mirror in the center. I wanted to make something that was beautiful and lasting, because I wrote my dearest wish on the back. It's meant to be a reminder, to keep me plugging along in the direction of my dreams. It's small enough to carry with me, and the mirror helps me to look myself in the eye and believe that my wishes and dreams will come true.
I had a little "wishual" (wish ritual) to bless my special butterfly and my wish. I lit candles, said prayers and had yummy ginger-lemon-mint tea and biscotti. My childlike faith has been renewed. ;)

Day 124 ~ I am the Eggman

CooCooKaChoo!
Still on my Chagall kick...
Chagall used lots of chickens and donkeys in his work. He grew up in a small rural village in Russia, and farm animals were around, so that was what he painted. He also loved the circus, and often combined images he liked together in dream-like compositions that made sense only to him.
A clock hangs from the chicken's arm and I'm not sure what it means. Perhaps it's a commentary on just how short life is, and to "gather ye rosebuds while ye may."

Day 123 ~ Love Flies

As you can see, I am studying Marc Chagall this week. He was so hopeful and romantic, and since I am feeling the opposite these days, it's been good for me to study Chagall and his beautiful work. He had such a great attitude, one which I would like to adopt for myself. I love this quote:
"I'm not pessimistic because my motto has always been to look for love. Love is all that interests me, and I'm never in contact with things that don't revolve around love. So, I am never pessimistic." ~Marc Chagall

Day 122 ~ Cat Chagall

Day 121 ~ Tera Warner

I just finished listening to WISH Summit, which is a 40 day program of inspirational speakers interviewed by Tera Warner. This year she decided to do the program for free, which touched my heart deeply. She interviewed amazing people like Maya Angelou and Marianne Williamson.
I love her interviewing style, and the wise morsels of her own that she shared while conversing with her guests. I wrote her to say that someone ought to interview her. I wasn't the only one who suggested this, and she complied! I was so inspired by Tera's interview. I've been studying hope like a subject in school, and her interview gave me hope. I especially loved her quote: "To the degree to which you have fallen, you can fly." I wrote it on her wings!
If you'd like to be inspired with a dose of hope, sign up here: http://www.wishsummit.com/

Day 120 ~ Rain the Birthday Boy!

There once was a caterpillar named Rain

He wanted to fly

And still a caterpillar remain

So he made some wings out of Leggos and glue

You wouldn’t think they would fly

But they do!

Day 119 ~ Record Store Day!

All over America it's Record Store Day today! So get thee to a record store and soak up some good vibes! If you happen to be in Humboldt County, then be sure and visit Matt and Adam at Missing Link Records.

Day 118 ~ Champion of the Tender Hearted

Today's butterfly is for Angi Kowitz Orobko, Ed.D. I had the distinct pleasure of attending her teleclass about adding joy, delight and liveliness to our everyday routines. It was fun and interesting, and I learned some good tools for future use. After class I felt energized, like I got a shot of Vitamin B. (for bliss!)
To learn more about Angi and the wonderful work she is doing in the world, check out her websites:
www.AngelaKowitz.net
www.HeartsThatCare.net
championofthetenderhearted.blog.com

Day 117 ~ Cultivating Hope

I have been off of antidepressants for 2 months now. It hasn’t been easy. I am noticing more and more how important hope is for me, like a magic fuel that keeps me going. I am studying hope like a subject in school: noticing what it takes to keep my reservoirs of hope full. If they get too low, it’s almost impossible to do those things that cultivate more hope within me.

So, what IS hope anyway?

I think of it as a deep knowing that everything will be ok, especially when there’s lots of evidence to the contrary.

Here’s the dictionary definition of hope :

1. To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment.

2. Archaic To have confidence; trust.

v.tr.

1. To look forward to with confidence or expectation: We hope that our children will be successful.

2. To expect and desire. See Synonyms at expect.

n.

1. A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.

2. Something that is hoped for or desired: Success is our hope.

3. One that is a source of or reason for hope: the team's only hope for victory.

4. often Hope Christianity The theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help.

5. Archaic Trust; confidence.

For today’s butterfly, it’s more about the background than the butterfly. I wrote in the flowers different activities that help me to fill up on hope. It’s a fridge poster to remind me of things I can do when my hope gets low.

How about you? What fills your hope tanks?

Day 116 ~ Forgive and Forget-Me-Not

To forgive someone
They say
Is divine...
Have you forgiven me?
I need some sort of sign.
I've called,
I've written,
I've tried
and I've cried.
So now I can only
Step aside
And hope that you'll
Come 'round again
I miss you so much
My old friend.

Day 115 ~ Flu Bug

I'm not feeling so hot...
I may be away for a few days. I think I have the flu.
I will catch up eventually though, like I always do.

Day 114 ~ Nowhere Man

This is the Nowhere Man from Yellow Submarine, also known as Jeremy Hilary Boob.
I love this quote by the Nowhere Man:
"Yes is a word with a glorious ring! A true universal euphonious thing! Engenders embracing and chasing the blues! The very best word for the whole world to use!"

Day 113 ~ Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Day 112 ~ The Only Gal in the Band

I have been watching The Yellow Submarine and getting all kinds of inspiration from it. I want to spend a few days creating various butterflies from the movie.

Day 111~ Sleepy Butterbear

I don’t know why, but I have been so exhausted lately! I mean like fall-asleep-at-the-wheel sleepy! A friend of mine used to make these herbal spring tonics to energize and sip away the winter blues. I found one online I’m gonna try, since I already have a lot of the herbs here to make it. Gee, I hope it works or I may have to start drinking coffee again!

Today’s butterfly, or should I say “butterbear,” is quirky and misshapen, like the one who made him. He’s made from a blanket and an old pair of pj’s. It seemed to fit, since I’ve been so sleepy lately.

Day 110 ~ Good Fortune

Made with handmade Chinese paper, beads and fortune cookie fortunes.


A wise man turns chance into good fortune.

Day 109 ~ Paint Blot Butterfly

Last night as I was going to bed, I realized I had yet to create my butterfly for the day. I took out my journal and squirted some paint between the pages. I rubbed the pages a bit, then opened them and put my journal by the fireplace to dry overnight. This was what came of the experiment.

Day 108 ~ Cowboy Neal

I'm re-reading Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" as I often do at this time of year, wishing I could take a road trip. Since I already made a Kerouac butterfly, I thought I would make one of his side-kick, Neil Cassady, AKA Dean Moriarty, AKA Cowboy Neal, driver of Ken Kesey's busload of Merry Pranksters.
I got to meet Ken Kesey once at a book signing. I wish I could have met Cowboy Neal. Since he lived about a third of his life on the road, I made his wings out of road maps.
I love this line from the book:
"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awwww!"

Day 107 ~ Buddhafly

Buddhafly Haiku

Smiling Buddhafly
Green mossy belly laughing
The forest loves you.