Lazy summer

Most people love summer and sunshine, so they migrate to the sea on vacation. Our little country doesn’t have its own sea, the population is heading especially to Croatia. I’ve never been there.

Although I’ve been to the sea several time (even to the shore of Pacific ocean), I prefer a more intimate contact with the power of such mysterious element than is allowed by crowded beach.

Moreover, I discovered that the sea is too exotic for my soul, I feel better and more alive in the middle of forest. I love the tall trees and all the greenery inside which also provides cool shade from the aggressive summer sun.

The older I get, the worse I can stand the power of sun. So when neighbors run to the pond to swim, I hide in the depths of the forest or come out after dark. I celebrate every cooldown and rain that breaks a range of tropical days. I believe greenery does the same.

Just today I celebrated the all-day rain. Not too strong, just pleasant enough for a walk. Thousands of snails crawled out and happily enjoyed the wet day with me. What they actually do during a drought? I doubt they have a shower in their handy home.

Because it’s easy to celebrate the rain, when you have a hot shower and a dry sofa waiting for you at home. The snails made me think about comfort, general proclamations and hidden truths.

With love and hugs,

Ivana

The snail illustration is my watercolor painting.

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Miracles of the Light

Light was a first act of G*d creating the earth and living on it.

Light is an essential for most living creatures. It’s a part of nutrition without which we suffer and die. 

Light is a symbol of hope. It’s a lighthouse in the stormy waters of life, leading our steps to safety. 

Light attracts living beings and brings them to socialize and create community. 

Light helps to measure time and set milestones between seasons. 

Light phenomena in the sky were often a subject of various prophecies. 

Whether we call it Solstice, Hanukkah or Christmas, now it’s the right time to celebrate miracles of the light. 

Enjoy it!

Ivana

 

The Holiday Card Project

I decided to take a part in the Deviant Art Holiday Card Project because I think its simple idea is great. Who wouldn’t like to please those who have not enough luck, pleasure or even health? Additionally, you can do that, which also enjoys you and what you consider to be your hobby.

The word charity usually involves donating money or things needed for life, more precisely for the physical part of life. But doesn’t soul feel hungry?

At school, I learned that there is a pyramid of values, the basis of which is just physical needs – food, drink, clothing, shelter. And if these are not saturated, you probably do not care about what is on the higher floors of the pyramid – values like love, belonging or self-esteem.

Traveling and aging brought me a little different experience.  With my own eyes, I saw huge number of people who were really poor, yet they lived in love and with supporting community, and I don’t think they had the problem of respect or self-esteem.

And of course, I saw and see a lot of people, who have their basic needs more than saturated, yet they didn’t open their hearts either for love or for the support of others.

I believe that donating money helps to change the physical reality of many people, which is great. But I also believe that giving joy feeds their souls and helps them accept what cannot be changed or paid for money.

And so I put my love and positive energy into a simple drawing, hoping to send pleasure and joy even across the ocean.

Thanks to the creative people in Deviant Art for inspiration and their excellent work.

Ivana

The sign of Scorpio

I was born in Scorpio and I’ve never liked the animal picture related to it. Nothing to say about trillion people repeating that Scorpio is the worst sign of zodiac and that it’s better to keep far from it.

Long ago, I created an easy visual tool for astrological beginners. The chart was divided in 12 areas like Olympic arena, Himalaya, Amazon rainforest, etc. Then I personified the planets and put them down to the relevant areas. It was like a funny desk board game.

All of us have the whole circle, but we differ in what areas the population is and what they do there, or how they interact. As soon as I simplified and visualized the chart, people understood their potential and pitfalls much easier.

Recently, I decided to renew the old board with more precious drawings. And here we have the Scorpio area!

Imagine rainforest deep in Amazon, wet and dark, colorful wilderness around you. There is breathtaking beauty combined with mortal danger at every turn. Half instinct calls to fall into forever, because all previous experience was empty gray in comparison. But the second half calls for caution. You watch the life and death so close each to other, both so intensive.

And there, hidden from civilization, the native people live with their traditions and ancient wisdom. They know the secret of living on the border between life and death. Their shamans know the healing rituals and potions above which modern medicine can shake the head with disbelief.

Daily life might be simple, golden chains or shiny cars have no meaning there. Life might be short, so it’s better to live intensively. And the powerful are those who know how to heal and protect life from death.

And how about the great sexual appetite of Scorpio, you have certainly heard about it? How does it fit into the Amazon jungle? Sex is magic from many reasons. At least it is connection, leading to creation of a new being, which is a miracle for sure! And from the long-time perspective, creation of new generations is a tool how to deal with death, perhaps the only one.

Having Sun in the Scorpio sign means the inner King lives in Amazon. And that’s nothing easy. Each king likes power and comfort of his palace, wide range of servants and plenty of fun. He needs to be important but how to manage it in the middle of rainforest, where death could be so close? Before anything else could be done, the king must assimilate on the jungle territory. Keeping too much pride could even kill him.

Looking at the other planets on board makes the whole story, or better to say the complete picture. I believe to finish my updated version soon.

Today, I wish all the best to all Scorpios worldwide, either in the Amazon or anywhere else.

Happy birthday!

Ivana

What’s wrong?

I’ve been walking through the colorful landscape, accumulating sunshine of amazing Indian summer, and suddenly came to me a burden of emotions, requiring immediate drawing. Fortunately, I was ready for a similar situation, having a pencil and paper in my backpack. Sometimes it’s exhausting to use nature as a partner for spiritual conversation 😊

Still in the heart of landscape, I drew a rough sketch and was surprised how the original intention developed. My first emotional load was supplemented in a breathtaking way, which was ugly and true at the same time.

I had to draw a bigger sized picture in colors just after returning home, but nothing could change the story that screamed from the depth of my soul.

The lovely proclamations and prayers are directed to the sunflower instead of the sun and the pink lady opens heart to the whole world except to the person with whom she’s connected.

And the other person is shivering in the cold directly under sun, waiting for apology and satisfaction, instead of taking luggage and leaving the board.

Both are stuck together and both are waiting for the other to change. Nobody’s happy. What’s wrong?

I sent a question for solution to the universe and immediately got the answer. I’m going to draw it in colors, but the sketch is already done. Do you have tips what might be there? 😊

Hope you like the picture even though it’s not much about hope.

With love, Ivana

Sleeping summer

There are people who come to life with the sun and have almost no limits. On the contrary, my body switches to hibernation as soon as it’s too hot or hot for too long. And it has been so over the past few weeks!

I was paralyzed by the weather and worked only on autopilot as if I was drugged. Feeling sleepy, but without possibility of true sleep at night. Who would call it cooling when the daytime temperature in the shade is the same as the temperature of human body, and at midnight it is only ten degrees less? For weeks! And they forecast the hot hell will continue…

Luckily, some rain came today and brought happiness to my soul. I walked (not danced) in the rain and absorbed the drops by the whole surface of my body. It was so different from common shower. Although the shower was more comfortable, the rain today was more cleansing because it touched not only the body but also the soul, perhaps because I was so thirsty for it.

Later I noticed that the portion of today’s rain was nothing for the nature around. The soil remained dry and cracked, the fallen water somehow disappeared. Berries stay dried on the bush, sadly announcing low to zero harvest. And the leaves on the trees become yellow and start to fall as if autumn was already there.

One must be happy for a little thing and I’m looking forward to a nice sleep today, if possible without thinking of tomorrow’s hell.

Wishing you a pleasant summer,

Ivana