Saturday, May 11, 2013

Calling on Krishna for Inspiration and Wisdom


As is usually the case, to paraphrase Charles Dickens, 
It [is] the best of times, it [is] the worst of times ... it [is] the season of Light, it [is] the season of Darkness, it [is] the spring of hope, it [is] the winter of despair...
On the one hand, my daughter Mariel is graduating from college.  This is such a time of hope and excitement -- her life lays before her, and it's looking full of promise.  She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, and will spend all of next year in the Czech Republic, teaching English and being an ambassador for the United States.  For her, it is the best of times, a season of light, and the spring of hope.

But then, as my heart is filled with joy, it is also filled with sadness.  A dear, dear friend -- a person who has dedicated his life to charity and service -- is loosing his third bout with cancer, and now his time is running out. 

How do I hold the joy and the sorrow, at the same time?  How do I feel the exhilaration of a life picking up speed and taking off, while holding the grief of a life cut too short?  Why must it be this way?

I turned to my journal, my place of refuge, where I can work out my feelings without judgment.   First I covered a spread with lots of leftover book pages, and then started sketching with white paint.  And who should emerge, but Lord Krishna.   In the Baghavad Gita, Krishna, a reincarnation of Vishnu or God in a human form, reminds Arjuna (who, faced with a fratricidal war, turns to his charioteer Krishna for counsel on the battlefield) of his duty - his dharma - and shares the wisdom of yoga, the path to devotion, and the doctrine of selfless action.  Krishna reminds Arjuna that everything -- the good and the bad -- is a manifestation of the divine:
I am the beginning, middle and ending of everything created.  Of all knowledge, I am the knowledge of Atman [the Higher Self].  And in controversy, I am reason itself... I am time eternal... I sustain everyone as I dispense the fruits of all actions [karma].  I am also death who devours everyone and everything.  Yet in the same moment, I am the source of all yet to be born...   (Chapter Ten)
 He also reminds Arjuna to do his duty (which in this case is going into battle) with devotion, remembering that:
Whatever is born will undoubtedly die; whatever is dead certainly will be born... Beings are all unmanifested.  At midstate they're manifested; and unmanifested again at the end ... The Self, which exists in everyone, the indweller, is invulnerable.  Therefore, you do not have to grieve.  (Chapter Two)
These words inspired me, and gave me great comfort and permission to hold both the happy and the sad in my heart, remembering that they are both part of our sacred universe.  In the end, my wish for my daughter and my friend is the same:
 
 
As the song goes, love is all there is.

I find painting faces quite a challenge - but thanks to all the amazing tutorials out there, and the most recent lesson on Lifebook, I am starting to get more comfortable.  And the flowers and little orange bird on Lord Krishna's shoulder? Collaged from gelli prints and headed over to Carolyn Dube's gelli party.


Linking to the blog hops at Mandarin Orange MondaysInspire Me Mondays, Monday Mantras, Make it on MondayArt Journal Journey (challenge yourself) and to the challenges at Simon Says Stamp (things with wings)Simon Says Stamp and Show (Inspired By).

Thank you for visiting! I read and treasure every comment and will answer any questions as quickly as I can.
Enhanced by Zemanta

48 comments:

  1. You show deep pensive emotion in your face, during this best and worst of times! Your friends spirit is already shining though your love for him... that will never end!!Congratulations to your dear daughter! Very poignant post! Blessing to you!

    Hugs Giggles

    ReplyDelete
  2. You worked out tour feelings so well. You painted that face very beautiful I can feel the emotions!! Loads of best wishes to your daughter :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so sorry to her about your dear firend yet I know how excited and happy you are for your daughter and what lies ahead for her. I have had so much loss in my life and the emptions never really leave but they crack me open a bit more each time. It is the bittersweet of living this life I guess. I am glad you have your beautiful art to give you solace. xox

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is such a heartfelt post with such extremes in emotion you have reconciled thanks to your art. May the joy of her graduating help you bear the weight of the pain of your friend.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love that post. Life is so full of ups and downs, we have to all find our own way to make it through.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So much going on here, Jessica. I feel all your emotions. Congrats to your beautiful daughter for achieving something so big at such a young age. And to see a friend suffer as he is, is so not fair. I hope your journal brought you some peace and balance. All we can do is keep out faith in times like this.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh and p.s. your journal page is just beautiful. That face.. oh that face.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your journal pages are such a wonderful product of the strong feelings you've had to face. So sorry to hear about your friend.xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. These pages are quite spectacular and thank you for sharing it and your joys and sadness with us.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What gorgeous journal pages!
    Joy and sorrow - what a challenge to balance these opposite feelings. My your way forward be filled with love.

    ReplyDelete
  11. such heartfelt words and pages Jessica. I've only briefly gone thru some workshops on the Baghavad Gita but am very interested in the Hindu teachings. You have found a soothing way to art thru your emotions at this time.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Eine fantastische Journalseite. Besonders das Gesicht hat mir gefallen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vielen Dank für Ihren freundlichen Kommentar. Mein Vater war in der Lage, um Ihren Kommentar für mich übersetzen, weil Jiddisch war seine erste Sprache. Er war sehr stolz auf sich!

      Delete
  13. JUST WONDERFUL Jessica .. she is amazing ...

    thank you so much for joining us over on Art Journal Journey !

    xxx Susi

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a beautiful post. We spent a summer in Prague and really enjoyed it.
    Sending comforting thoughts to you and your dear friend,
    Rinda

    ReplyDelete
  15. Very nice I think your face looks great! I like the background it looks like news paper :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Beautiful journaling really like the flowers & birdie very much happy AJJ Dxx

    ReplyDelete
  17. So lovely this Journal,this wonderful fresh colours make me feel happy.
    I like your paintings very much.
    Greatings Sabine

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love your journal!
    Hope you daughter enjoys the Czech Republic and has a chance to get out into parts east of Prague... I was there 7 or 8 years ago and loved it! There is also an AWESOME book museum way in the middle of nowhere (an hour train ride from Brno where I found out about it, in the middle of the country.) Several trains and no one speaking English made it a most adventurous day! Here is a link to the museum: http://www.nm.cz/Hlavni-strana/Visit-Us/Museum-of-Book-in-Zar-nad-Sazavou.html?xSET=lang&xLANG=2

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Rhonda - I will definitely give her this information! She's excited but also a little nervous. She was in Prague last year for a semester, but a year abroad in a small town is another adventure!

      Delete
  19. I love Dickens....loved that book! These pages are EXCEPTIONAL! Oh the color! Oh the face! Oh the bird! Oh the tiny details that only you do! Thank you for sharing your inspiration with us this week here at Simon Says Stamp and Show!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your faces are awesome, Jessica! Your inspiration here is just fantastic! Love the soulful Krishna and the tiny bird ob his shoulder...very different from the usual peacock feathered Krishna!
    Wishing your daughter all the very best and strength to you and your friend.
    The Srimad Bhagavatham gives a lot of teachings of Krishna and Krishna's own story.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Fabulous journal page Jessica! Love your post. :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow, your page is beautiful. I love that your heart is poured not the page. Amazing!!! So sorry to hear about your friend Jessica. Life is so fragile. Time passes so quickly, my daughter will be graduating in three short years as well, I cannot imagine it. Sounds like yours has such a promising future ahead of her, how wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sending love Jessica. Cherish every moment--the good and the bad....your face turned out beautiful as did the rest of the spread :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I saw you on MIM I always love seeing your work I am # , stop by I would
    Love to have you visit.
    This is so sweet.
    DIANA L.
    http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I came over from MIM cause I saw your work and could not resist having a look, it is wonderful, so much talent and imagination going on here, Have pinned and will be often having a look and admire. xx

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love the vibrant colour and pattern - and the expressive nature of your work. I have two favourites.... your MoM contribution and the bird. Thanks again for being part of Mandarin Orange Monday:)

    ReplyDelete
  27. WOW,this painting face is amazing, i love the pattern and the colors so wonderful,love it to much.

    Greetings Jeannette

    ReplyDelete
  28. What an emotional post and page. I just love the way you painted the face and I love the way you brought those opposite emotions together so that it fits for both, the good and the sad.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Lovely art work! Oh, I just love your bird on the first photo! =)

    ReplyDelete
  30. The close ups of your pages are beautiful just by themselves, the face is fantastic, I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  31. This is beautiful work Jessica - it really is. It's hard to be happy sometimes when there's other thoughts weighing us down. I guess balance is the best we can hope for here.


    Thanks for linking up!

    Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog Jessica...yes, I linked up to Carolyn's Gelli Print party already...love her site, Ronda's and yours as well. I pop in often to see what wonderful creations all of you have come up with. Thanks again for the kind words....and all the inspiration! Love your face in this post!

    ReplyDelete
  33. This is both an emotional post and canvas, Jessica. Women's emotions are all interconnected and, therefore, we can carry both happiness and sadness at the same time. But what is important is that you not feel guilty about being happy for your daughter while your friend is dying. Conversely, you needn't feel guilty about being sad for your friend while your daughter's adult life is beginning with such pride and joy. Your canvas has grounded both of those emotions together in one place and found a common place for both in your sentiment. Bravo, Jessica! Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Stunning Artwork Jessica. I spotted this on MIM..Loz

    ReplyDelete
  35. Stunning work with a lot of emotions going on!

    ReplyDelete
  36. A visual delight .Enjoyable post . Thanks for sharing on Make it Monday .

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thank you for sharing this quote...it is so poignant and so pertinent to me right now......thank you and bless you...x

    ReplyDelete
  38. Thank you for sharing this very moving post and your brilliant artwork here.
    Sending Brightest of Blessings to you and yours...
    oxo

    ReplyDelete
  39. I'm so moved by these pages, Jessica, and so sorry for your friend. Your work is incredibly beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Love the artwork in the face. Beautiful... first one I saw from the small banners in show and tell

    ReplyDelete
  41. What wonderful pages and expressions of self. Congratulations to your daughter and sorry about your friend. Cancer is a hard one.... Love your story and your conclusion. It is always okay to feel whatever we feel, life throws things at us and we deal with it. Very meaningful art pages.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Wow - I'm speechless - just gorgeous design - the sides are true works of art!!

    ReplyDelete

If you are entering a GIVEAWAY, please add your email address in the event we need to contact you.

To avoid SPAM, please write it like this:

jessicasporndesigns (at) gmail (dot) com

Thank You!