Dear friends,
Take a color break! I have a dear little one who was industriously preparing these drawings for color. Share with your kids, grandkids, etc…
Be well!
More posts when they are ready! 💗
As always, enjoying yours!
Category: Sketches
WIP …
i could
summon you,
but you are already here
you’ve been in my shadow
clinging to my insides
waiting for my consciousness
to ripen
waiting for my signal to open up
our shared eye
with you,
all our ancient promises arise
like shoots of green tendrils
ready to break through the land
and renew our promises
for a new
peace
Struggle vs. Challenge
I did this pretty quick sketch and I struggled throughout it. But! The whole time I’m thinking to myself: you are listening in during a meeting with a topic that is also challenging, and you are making it work! You are doing the repetitions. The outcome is not the point. The outcome is never the point.
You just go with it. You share.
This is what you couldn’t do when you were younger; when you didn’t know it was okay to be you, AS YOU ARE.
What I did was use a random animal generator online. I wanted to have an animal to work with that was spontaneous and that would make it even more of a challenge.
I could worry about the end product and fix whatever is wrong or could be improved upon, or I can just try again tomorrow with another spontaneous challenge.
What can you do to help yourself stay on the move? If you can stop being so critical and just let go…. What would you do?
Give me some feedback about the emotion here. I’m curious about the energy. Please do share!
Collaboration
One of the most fun aspects of parenting is sharing the joys of color and movement with new/emerging artists. Art is so inherent to all of us.
I doodled a drawing ✍️ and my daughter saw it and got really excited because she wanted to color it in. So she did.
Today is New Year’s Eve and freshly cut flowers are on the table that I wanted her to pick out. We are on our way to our church and appreciating the foggy 🌫️ and rainy day which is a unique occurrence in our sunny home city. 🌆. New beginnings are so exciting. Especially because we also begin ‘again’ at the Lunar New Year 🧧 where we will be welcoming the Fire 🔥 Dragon 🐉. I’ll be running a class at that time, called “Reluctant Shaman.” It’s meant to be a small group, so the spots are full for this iteration. If you are interested in joining, use the contact form and I will add you to a wait list which is approximately 7-8 weeks from now.
Let me use this moment to ask you about your small, perhaps unnoticed collaborations. You might be working with roommates, family members, or even pets. If there are none of these friends to buddy-up with around, then maybe you can invite in a spiritual guide.
Wouldn’t you like to collaborate more in the New Year? Here are some thoughts for your consideration.
1). Name one of your favorite flowers.
2). Go to the internet (this one should be easy) and look up as many different images of your favorite flower.
3). Either go clip your flower from outside after asking it permission. Or, go to the grocery store to purchase your favorite flower. If neither of these options are available, then just look at the image of your favorite flower and IMAGINE the smell.
4). After you have done this, write a little note to the person who you would like to collaborate with. Tell them they are a great friend, sibling, roommate, and list one quality you love about them. Then if it’s not a real, in-flesh person, put the note next to your nightstand, and sleep with it near you for 31 days.
Happy NYE!!
P.S. Even if you did none of the above things, still check back later to see if your seed planted and it might even take root simply with your focused desire while reading. ☺️
5 min or less sketch
I erased once. You can see that.
My drawing skills are nowhere near what they used to be, or potentially where they could have been if I would have progressed with this same skill level as a teen.
But I am 1000% less judgmental about what I create. This gives me pleasure.
I don’t have the time to dive in like I long to, but sketching a little bit here and there is a very welcome slow return to what used to feel more like “who I am.”
Who I am is not me.
It’s a process; it’s looking and feeling, and living. It’s simple. What activity most feels like you? Is it writing? Maybe it could even be walking? Walking would be my second most thing-I-do that feels like me (and exploring) but I have had to forgo that for now. I’m still finding ways to enjoy the day.
The beauty
I never intended to share this, but there’s something so special in it that I felt like if I don’t let it out, the magic will not come back again. And by magic I mean… the allowance!
Your life wants to live through you. If you are judging yourself before you even start, you are missing the most precious moments of your life. This is an energy thing. This is an important lesson. Give yourself a little exhale from now and then and remember– this is your life, but you are not living it for yourself! 🖼
I had never used these pens before. I’m not going to make excuses about how much I think this drawing didn’t live up to my expectations. I adore this drawing. It surprised me! With little to no preparation I made a Mark that will be remembered forever. I adore this gift that I was given, and I hope to pass it on! It only takes a spark and maybe “her” 🔥 fire will be blazing! That is my hope! 😍
Mixed bag of Wishes Freed
what’s in my little satchel?
freeing the ‘ever i was’ and
‘always will be,’ as are you.
updating, electrifying
characteristic of total love
i will read with excitement
and travel through all those
moments
of reciprocity
while i am busy,
and then scale up-down
into that once solid core of molten
awesomeness
that flows and roars
and sparks and lives, feisty-like
and friendly-like a happy
tail-wagging you know who.
Ka Malana ©2018
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When I was much younger than I am now (although I do feel like I am getting younger), I attended an undergraduate bachelor program and dual majored Anthropology & Art History and I got a film studies certificate. If I were to be doing ‘right now’ everything that I ever started (in order to finish it? – hopefully never), I wouldn’t be visiting your blogs, or etc., So – I learned over time that ‘little by little’ was the only way I could release the sharing valve in a way that didn’t tear up my own eyes and cloud my mind, so that I could continue to “allow in,” at the same time, more grace, as I try to release gradually all that energy that I’ve been consolidating within my being – and has been taking up space.
That said, I used to decorate some of my college notebooks.Then there are more sketches and forays…
I’ve needed to upgrade my own website for a while, but it keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the list, as I am in school/clinic now in a busy and rigorous graduate program, being an intern (trying to be that best one of me that I can be), and that is demanding pretty much all of my heart and soul (and body). I have understated that, or perhaps not. My blog is a tip of my proverbial iceberg, and I love what I do here. I use it to empty out what has been stored away, and is ready to transform.
Sometimes this arises in the form of poetry, sometimes it arises in the sharing of others’ work, or my photography, or the astrology that build Fiestaestrellas.com. Sometimes I just want to dazzle or delight, as I am receiving the same from so much Source at once! Thank you: Uranus moving into Taurus! Thank you New Moon! Thank you Mercury! Thank you Goddess/God/Spirit etc.
There’s a story about everything here, and some memories I have forgotten ~ for sure. But in every detail there is a whisper, a reminder, an impression, and a hint of a flavor or a smell, or an experience….
**The Gecko from the Temple at Lawaii International Center – where one can tour the 88 shrines, has made it to the page** He/she adds something very new…. and a warm welcome to all passers by… I met him/her and he/she is a gem. So that’s why the photo, I suppose.
**This and all published pages are subject to updates at any time, and may or may not become private at the author’s sole discretion.
Enchanting candlelight
Today an image I drew from when I was a teenager came to my mind. The picture isn’t in focus; and it’s stained by time. The image still enchants me. Just a single candle’s light, is still quite profound to me.
2 min sketch during lunch + fun
I can feel the Aquarius energy coming in through that eclipse “portal” that’s on the 15th. Even though my S. Node and Ascendant in Aquarius (natally) makes tough aspects to some of my “personal planets” (astro-speak), I keep coming around the bend year after year in a lovely spiral, seeing how it’s all coming together very nicely; and while busting through the tough times, I find the skip in my step once again. I’m tired of talking about my astrology. What’s your 3? Sun, Moon, Ascendant. Leave them in the comments. I do have a new favorite up and coming youtube astrologer, and I want to see her supported even more. Usually I don’t watch youtube astrologers because I have a lot of access to people who are in my local astrological community who have a lot of expertise, some friends; I’ve gone to classes, and enjoyed the camaraderie. When I see a strong astrologer who has a certain kind of delivery, and who is really going for it, I want to see her supported. She does a lot of work with her daily recordings, and that’s a lot of energy she’s putting out there. Also, I think she’s tapped into the universal nicely.
Though I don’t have a lot of time to visit blogs; I do anyways, while still immersed in deep study, practice, and my outside of blog-land projects and goals, work, aka my non-virtual life. It’s just perfect! I know all you bloggers know of this balancing act!
Wanted to share: been enjoying a lot of pentacles cards lately. Also sat inside of Steven Farmer’s aura for a few hours at a small workshop several weeks ago – it was a close knit group, so I’ve been playing with the animal cards he created lately. I was inspired to share because the Moose card played nicely off my previously written and inspired poem. (Quick reminder that my poetry book is still being offered over at Amazon.)
The above food combo is basic whole oatmeal with some black sesame seeds, toasted coconut slivers, almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg, and monk’s fruit. Not my best food photography, but it really tasted so yummy, that that was that: posted!
Finally, there’s the drawing/sketch, and I don’t have anything to say about it. If I had more time available for blogging and sketching, or photography, or astrology, or writing poems, or writing books or articles, I’m sure I’d use it to share a really lovely and polished blog posts, but that’s just not as much fun for me, *right now.* This is.
Happy trails!
P.S. I do have some animals pictures I took that will show up soon, just haven’t gotten around to it. Also, I’ve been thinking about the following quote by the unknown author,
“Go where you are celebrated, not tolerated. If they can’t see the real value of you, it’s time for a new start.”
Taking a big, deep breath… Let’s get spicy and do the thing in November!
When you notice that I am posting even more frequently in November (hopefully). You’ll see that you, too, can join in. I will be participating in Nano Poblano, “the World’s Least Official Blog-Everyday-November Challenge.” Nothing gets me motivated like something that isn’t officially official-official, and really has the spirit of community, teamdom, and freedom. We all want to have fun. Here’s the official link. Especially if you are already a regular every day blogger, and want to reach more people, and participate more as well – go sign up!
Nothing says “potential over-commitment” like Jupiter conjunct Sun in Scorpio – so I thought it’d be a great time (or worst time) to take a deep dive. You get it, folks, I decided to go for the swim! Isn’t it exciting!? That said, considering my away-from-the-blog work/life/family balance, it should be an equally busy season off-blog. My throat already feels scratchy and my lymph nodes feel swollen, so why don’t we do it?! I’m gonna enjoy this, or at least enjoy trying! Oh, and the self-care… that’ll happen. 🙂
Blogging, for me, brings together my favorite things art, celebration, exploration, empowerment, and meditation, and growing together. I need the calm to balance the excitement. I need the bland to balance the spicy. I need the deep-discussions to balance the light-hearted whimsy. I need my own commitment to my writing/art/astro/photography space getting out there, and I need it to be okay when I don’t make it out the gate, or I just hide under the blankets.
This is my home beyond me. This is where I live, and I intend to keep decorating, or louse it up, whatever is my choice. If you stick around for my posts, I thank you all in advance for supporting me and my self-expression, as it ebbs and flows, changes and grows.
Gosh, all ya’all please join us, here!
Releasing-transforming energy sketches from another era of my life.
“I never made one of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking.”
–Albert Einstein
“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”
–Sylvia Plath
“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
–Pablo Picasso
Reflections #4: Figure Drawings
Depicting the human body has both amazed and inspired me since my teens when I had the opportunity to freely draw at a local college with a nude model. I didn’t have any lessons in this type of drawing at the time, but the practice helped me to make a representation of the image I saw before me. Then, when in college undergrad, I took a drawing class that had a 3-day drawing nude model exercise, the other activities were still-life, etc.
In essence, it’s been years since I’ve attempted anything like this. I doubt that I can “pick up where I left off.” By the same token, I am surprised that I was able to do this at all, and with very little training. What really mattered to me was the state of mind that drawing put me in. It was so comfortably silent. I have to wonder if my openness at the time led to these drawings. Believe me, I know the opposite: frustration. However, frustration is limited. It cannot last. What does last, is the mark on the page. Even then, it will disappear in time.
This is the last article in my Reflections series for the Mercury retrograde transit in Taurus. Starting tomorrow, I will be engaging in a weeklong silent retreat, and will be offline completely for at least a week. Following that I have some blog posts planned about my recent travels. Still, you know how inspiration is, it has its own timeline. We’ll see what happens after the retreat. Many of my days did not go as planned, but I’ve learned in life not to plan, while still, to plan.
May you all have sweet, blessed days filled with all the amazing developments of your own growth and the bliss of life. May all your creations bring you the joy of that curious openness, an openness accepting of mystery, and while relishing in the unfoldment and enlightenment that each day brings. ❤ aloha, ka
Reflections #3, the 6 of Diamonds
This is another piece from my collection, it was a work that I had made also in the 1990s. It’s its own. I never made the rest of the set. For some reason, this card was chosen by me, or it chose me. Probably both!
Sketches and Impressions
These sketches are older works of mine.
Due to a blogging conversation with one of my blogging pals, Dewin, I found these sketches while looking for another one that I was thinking of in our blogging conversation here. I may not resurrect the image that I was originally planning on sharing… but I hold the hope that I may find it.
‘Art’ often shows up at night, and when you least expect it…
Fiesta Estrellas 
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