Photo – Courtesy of Casa Dresden

When I posted this article back in 2008, little did I know where THAT little forgiveness project would lead. The concept of Forgive it Forward could not have been further from my mind! I am re-posting this to share how important it is to pay attention to those little nudges we get along the path … including those to forgive. You never know where they will lead or, in this case, WHEN they will take seed and lead.

This Year, International Forgiveness Day is August 8, 2010

This original article was posted: August 1, 2008

Sunday, August 3, 2008 is International Forgiveness Day. An article by Michael E. McCullough, entitled Vengeance 101 in the July/August issue of Spirituality & Health lists projects that can be implemented in the spirit of encouraging the world to be a more forgiving place. Those of you who know Ray and me know this is a big topic for us. Neither of us would be here today were it not for our willingness to forgive and our willingness to accept forgiveness.

So, we cannot let this day go by without support. We are picking Project #4 on the list – with our own twist, of course. It states, “Promote a climate of apology and compensation in your family, neighborhood, congregation, or place of work.” We wish to promote a climate for consideration, contemplation, and conversation – if you care to join in – as to where our lives would be without the willingness to forgive and accept forgiveness.

When we say forgiveness, we are not talking about the “pardoning” kind. (The kind that says, “You’ve done me wrong. You’ve hurt me bad. You’ve altered me. I will suffer with this pain forever but I will forgive you.”) Yes, pardoning is a starting point. But pardoning, at best, offers a compromised peace. A peace that teeters atop past offenses, stashed yet never forgotten. Throw a few more offenses on top of the pile and this version of forgiveness crumbles rapidly. Pardoning would never have gotten Ray and I around the block after our reconciliation.

When we say forgiveness, we are talking about the kind that erases the “offense” forever; the kind that shifts our perception, converts the offense to a classroom, the offender to a teacher, the experience to an opportunity for growth. A growth that allows us to say, ” I forgive you.” with the subtext being, “I see this differently. I was mistaken when I thought you harmed me. Look at what I have learned. Look who I have grown to be. Look who I have uncovered. I’m okay. There is nothing to forgive here.” This kind of forgiveness does not crumble.

Yeah. Yeah. Easier said than done. You’re right. But it is doable. It took Ray and I eighteen years, nine months, and a betrayal to give birth to that kind of forgiveness between us. (It’s all in B’s Pages.) We signed up for the class, became teacher to each other, and grew up in spite of ourselves. We wouldn’t change a thing in the way it happened. We needed every bit of that classroom to receive – and share – our gift. (Including the additional fourteen-plus years of practice that have come afterward.)

So, in the spirit of encouraging the world to be a more forgiving place, Ray and I invite you to consider where you are with (or without) forgiveness in your own backyard.

• If you find yourself looking back on a moment where you truly forgave and are reaping its benefits today, extend gratitude. (And share it. The world needs gratitude, too!)

• If you are struggling to find the willingness to forgive, what purpose is your pain serving? (There’s a hidden “payoff” somewhere. Find the payoff and you’ve taken your first step to freedom.)

• Imagine for a moment, waking tomorrow morning with no memory of past hurts, slights, or failures. Do you feel relief? Or anxiety and fear?

Forgiveness is not just an ideal to strive for. It is a tool that radically changes lives – always for the better. Ask anyone who has given it. Ask anyone who has received it.

We are not limiting our forgiveness project to August 3. We welcome your comments and any experiences you would like to share on the topic. Every thought for forgiveness is a prayer for a more forgiving world.

“Let us start our process of reawakening with just a few simple concepts: Thoughts increase by being given away. – The more who believe in them the stronger they become.”

Did you miss the Forgive it Forward video? CLICK HERE to see the 3-minute video!

Curious how it ALL started? CLICK HERE to see the 2-minute video book trailer

©2010 Enlightened Ink – If you are inspired to share or quote from this article please share The Messy Room with it. Together we grow.

Did this make your day a little brighter? (Then “LIKE” this or SHARE this!) And feel free to add to the conversation below!

Forgive it Forward: Follow Those Footprints

Sometimes it helps to follow in someone’s footsteps – even if only for a short while. For that reason, Ray and I have started this series; a virtual footprint forum for muses with stories, ideas and tips that we think worth sharing. We hope your ‘walk’ with them makes your day a little lighter and brighter – and that you leave with something that inspires you to forgive it forward, backward, upward and downward!

In this post, we invite you to follow Michele’s footprints. (And we encourage you to pay close attention because, though she has a big heart, she has little feet that like to break out in dance.)

GUEST MUSINGS BY: Michele Sevacko, New Thought Minister

Note: If you always get what you desire … if you only attract “good” … then you might want to skip this post. (Or better still, contribute to this post!) 

If, like me, you’ve been involved in New Thought or Metaphysics for a while (even just a little while) or if you’ve explored the Law of Attraction, you may have heard the expression “what did you (or I) do to attract this?” 

I call this “Metaphysical Malpractice.” Often, all this question results in is feelings of guilt – ’cause if you’re attracting it, then you must’ve done something “wrong” or “bad.”  Right? 

Well, not really. There may be something that you could possibly do differently; but it’s not about making a judgment of bad, good, better, etc. That just takes you one step further into the land of guilt. (OR possibly resentment of the person(s) that suggested that you must have done something to draw this to you.) In either case, you’re now presented with an opportunity to practice forgiveness. And, in those times that forgiveness doesn’t seem to come easily, you’ll be happy to know that your willingness puts you halfway there. As well as dealing with the opportunities for forgiveness this brings up, you may also be interested in some ideas for how to eliminate this scenario. 

Enter the concept of being “divinely aligned.”    

With books, speakers and movies about the Law of Attraction being so popular, the power of our thoughts has come to the forefront of interest. This really isn’t anything new. It’s something the ancients knew, as in Romans 12 (The Bible) we read, “Be ye transformed by the renewal of your mind.” And more recently – but over 100 years ago – James Allen’s “As A Man Thinketh” was published.  And, yes, our thoughts are things, or as one song puts it “our thoughts are prayers,” so it’s important that we take care in the thought seeds we plant. However, to me, it’s about what I call being “divinely aligned.” 

What are you in alignment with? You are in alignment with universal law. 

Universal laws are those “eternal Truths” that work for everybody, all the time, no matter where they are. AND we don’t even have to know the law for it to work. And, just as we trust in the law of gravity, we don’t have to know HOW this works – we just have to know and trust that this DOES work. That’s the “good” news. 

It’s simple.

• To be divinely aligned starts with a thought. 
• Then whatever you think becomes a feeling. 
• Taking action and what you say then follows. 
• Once you have all these things working together, you’re in a position to manifest what you desire. 

Does it sound too simple? Are you thinking, “I already knew that”?

Sometimes, simple Truths aren’t easy Truths. The part that can be a little more challenging is that some things seem to come easily and others take more time. And, in those times we wonder what we’ve done “wrong.” Remember it can be an ongoing 24/7 process. And, because we are not isolated individuals, there are people, events, situations, etc. that pop-up and give us opportunities to grow. It requires focus and a conscious effort. 

So, the next time you’re faced with Metaphysical Malpractice, remember to practice forgiveness.  Or, if you participated in Forgive It Forward, remember (with a smile) that you’ve already done the forgiving. Give thanks for the opportunity for growth and understanding – and affirm your good. Then, as you take the steps of divine alignment – working on manifesting what you desire – remember to embrace all the good that shows up along the way!

Michele Sevacko is an ordained New Thought minister and lives in the Triad area of North Carolina with her husband and 4-legged kids. With a Ph.D. in Philosophy, specializing in Pastoral Counseling, she works from home (and heart) providing spiritual support services. Additionally, Rev. Michele serves through her Music Ministry sharing music and songs in churches, spiritual centers, the community and beyond. 

To find out more about Rev. Michele Sevacko and her Pastoral Counseling Ministry CLICK HERE 

To find out more about Rev. Michele Sevacko and her Music Ministry CLICK HERE 

You may also enjoy meeting Rev. Chele’s ”alter-ego,” Metta Fizzical, Ph.D. who received her education from the School of Life. Blending the wisdom of a meta-physician and some down-home advice, it is Metta’s joy to offer you her opinion on just about any of life’s most pressing questions – whether she knows anything about the topic or not.

Here’s one of Metta’s musings that we are going to try:

My favorite exercise for letting go of issues is to go on a rock hunt and collect rocks of all shapes and sizes that represent the issues, (i.e. – this rock represents getting fired and this rock represents being stood-up, etc.). Put them in a sack and when you can’t think of anything else (or your sack is full), tie it around your waist and haul it around.  At some point, (I hope) you will become tired of hauling around the “baggage.” At that point, cut it off and surrender it to the Universe, taking notice of how light you feel after releasing it. If nothing else, you will burn some calories carrying the extra weight so you win, no matter what. Now, doesn’t that sound like fun???

For more Metta CLICK HERE

Prayer: Be Positive … Be Practical … Just Be … As the title suggests, this e-Book explores the many various aspects of prayer with a focus on being positive and practical in your approach.

To find out how you can get a copy CLICK HERE

Did you miss the Forgive it Forward video? CLICK HERE to see the 3-minute video!

Curious how it ALL started?  CLICK HERE to see the 2-minute video book trailer that started it all!

Or check out Bernadette’s Pages. CLICK HERE to find out more! 

©2010 Enlightened Ink – If you are inspired to share or quote from this article please share us with it. If this is a guest post, permission will be needed from the writer as well. Together we grow.  

Did this make your day a little brighter? (Then “LIKE” this!) Are you divinely aligned? Waiting and wondering? Celebrating? Here’s your chance to walk and talk with Michele – or Metta, if you prefer!

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Anon

Have you ever had an idea, a dream, or a creative inspiration that wouldn’t let go of you until you did something with it? If you have then you know what it’s like when the muse strikes and you are the match.

Whether your idea is for something that resides in uncharted territory or an ingeniously twisted reincarnation of an old theme, it doesn’t matter. Muses are relentless – and perhaps unforgiving. (Hmm. A topic for another post.)

But this post isn’t about hearing the call. It’s about after that. After you answered the call. Painted your heart out. Sang for your supper. Written your novel. Built your homeless shelter. Erected your church. Re-mortgaged your house. Maxed out your credit cards. And sacrificed your retirement fund.

It’s about what happens after you hang your shingle and send out invites for the concert, poetry reading, gallery showing, taste party, patent demonstration, animal adoption clinic or wellness workshop – and find yourself waiting for the world to show up. For the world to embrace this gift that you burned to share. Waiting with – God love ‘em – the usual suspects/supporters who always show up. (If you are not a creative-activist-entrepreneur who’s had this experience you might want to stop reading now while the rest of us wait.)

Okay, so where am I going with this? It is my belief that those who continue to invent and create when confronted with the ‘not attending’ know a lot about forgiving it forward. See, the very act of continuing to dream and dare and create is what forgiveness looks like to a muse.

Some might say that the act of gifting the world – anyway – with something that may not be recognized or even noticed in the span of one’s life is a precarious kind of forgiveness. Agreed. That’s why I am writing this. I’m back at the Pandora’s box and lifting the lid.

Thirteen muses contributed to this forgive it forward project. Muses that I have the utmost respect and admiration for and that, I suspect, have a lot to say about the forgiveness challenges found in sustaining their creative process in a distracted, overwhelmed, not attending world – whether it be with the world or with themselves.

So, I am opening this post to some honest “do you dare” discussion. (Even if it is just amongst us.) The world needs us to keep sharing, creating and contributing our gifts. And WE need to be able to do the same while knowing peace and joy regardless of the outcome. We all need to forgive it forward while answering the call of our muses.

Pick a point and jump on in!

Did you miss the Forgive it Forward video? Click here to see the 3-minute video!

Curious how it ALL started? CLICK HERE to see the 2-minute video book trailer

Or check out Bernadette’s Pages. CLICK HERE to find out more!

©2010 Enlightened Ink – If you are inspired to share or quote from this article please share The Messy Room with it. Together we grow.

Irene Rose.
Seen through the eyes of a seven-color palette.
Alizarin crimson and
ultramarine blue compete for starring roles
while bristle brushes encounter the terrain of a prepared canvas.
Piercing blue eyes of subject and artist
mother and son
struggle to make peace with 96 years
while filberts #4 and #6 solicit to capture a wordless truth.
Each application of paint renders layers of
Guilt. Innocence.
Disappointment. Hope.
Expectation. Acceptance.
Until the last piece of paint pronounces
Forgiveness
and
Irene Rose.
Seen.

“My preference, in doing portraits, is about the relationship I develop with the subject I paint. When I ask myself the RIGHT questions, they give me the answer. Uncovering that abstract story … emotion … beauty … THAT is the joy of creativity.” – Ray

When Ray told me that he wanted to try his hand at portraiture in oils, I was curious.

When he told me his mother would be his first subject, I was surprised. When he said he needed to start and complete the portrait before the summer was through – well, he had my full attention. (Oddly, she fell and broke her hip about a month after the piece was completed.)

A portrait can capture a likeness or an essence.

What Ray captured in ‘Irene Rose’ is an essence not often seen in our day-to-day life with Irene – and that is what I love about this piece. He was able to rise above all the negative conditioning that often presents itself in this relationship with his 96-year-old mother to see and paint the woman without the fears that have driven her to drive others. (Anyone in a challenged relationship with a parent knows what I’m saying here.)

That an artist can accomplish this feat in portraiture is maybe not so amazing. But when that artist is the son of the subject and the painting is a first attempt, it is. (Just my opinion.) And it makes me want to stick around and see what else he captures as he continues to explore his fascination for painting people in the chiaroscuro style of the masters.

So, when Ray told me his next portrait is to be a self-portrait, I smiled. THAT subject might be even tougher than the last!

Entered through the Art Gallery? Click here to go back.

To see another “Ray step-by-step” post click: Art in the Making: A Confession

To see what other creatives have to say about their process click: Muses Among Us

©2010 Enlightened Ink – If you are inspired to share or quote from this article please share The Messy Room with it. Together we grow.

Title: Lumiere
Muse: Juliette Mansour
Gift Giveaway: 5×7 photo, matted for framing

Muse-Creations for Our Forgive it Forward Giveaway – Because forgiveness and creativity go hand-in-hand for us, Ray and I thought it would be fun to spice up our 35-day Forgive It Forward project launch with a focus on the arts. So, we sent a call out to the muses among us for a little assist and some inspiration.

Between June 14th and July 19th, we introduced artists, sculptors, potters, musicians – and more – who forgave it forward with us by donating a gift for a random drawing giveaway. Each muse answered two questions and shared a little bit about their creative process and passion. We hope they inspire you.

Juliette Mansour: Photographer & Web Wizard

Were it not for this muse’s abilities and patient persistence, you would not be reading this blog. You also would not have a Forgive it Forward video to watch or a Facebook page to visit. And there definitely wouldn’t be any tweets, chirps or twitters coming from this part of the world.

Why? Simply put: I’m a “procrastinate until it is obsolete” technophobe when it comes to computers and the internet, Ray is a “just put a pastel or paintbrush in my hand” artist and Juliette is a saint. (Okay, maybe not a saint but certainly an angel for sharing her wings.)

I’ll never forget her first remarks when I asked her what she thought about Enlightened Ink’s new website back in 2006. After she said it was “nice” – yeah, THAT got my curiosity too – I asked her to be honest. (I mean, nice? Just NICE?)  Juliette likened my attempt at a website to “putting a poodle sweater on a Great Dane puppy.” (Cute at first but no potential for growth.) When I asked her to go on, I had an eerie sense that I was opening a Pandora’s box. The next thing I knew, my online presence was under construction!

This muse single-handedly poked, prodded, cajoled, coaxed and oftentimes tricked me into embracing the internet as a creative medium the same way I would a blank canvas and box of paints. She instinctively knew all the buttons to push and the frequency with which to push them. On her resume, Juliette says, “my day job can be captured in one headline: “Bilingual chick with a knack for creative stuff and with years of experience in web stuff helps overwhelmed, small biz clients find their voice.” I say that’s an understatement if ever I heard one. Just browse this site and watch the videos and you will see how well this muse collaborates to support all my creative whims, which is why I am excited to be able to share HER in our Forgive it Forward Giveaway!

From Juliette:

I love symbolism, I love stories and I have a love-hate relationship with ambiguity. Not being comfortable with the unknown, I’ll often want to expose what’s there even further and study it. In 2003, an artist friend told me I had a knack for taking pictures and that comment was like lighting a match near gasoline.  It uncovered a lost memory of me as a 10 year-old, obsessing for hours with an old Polaroid camera. Photography then became a new way to blend gadget love with story love. I immediately upgraded my Sony digital 2.0 and my creative mindset all at once.

For me, taking pictures feeds the connection with all that IS life.  I feel compelled to capture that connection and share it online and offline. What I love about this form of art is that I can offer a view to others without the burden of judgment. Photos have an innate power to merge someone with an experience in a unique, personal way. I simply pass on the experience – combined with a personal narrative – in whatever way you want to interpret them. And the web work I do helps support that.

So, tell us Juliette …

R&B: What does forgive it forward mean to you?

JM: I don’t remember who said, “Love is what we’re born with. Fear is what we learn here. Forgiveness is our most important contribution.” That contribution translates into a genuine healing on our part and is simply bound to have some sort of positive effect on the world.

Photo: Carmel By The Sea

Forgiving it forward for me means …

• Being willing to welcome change in ourselves and others.
• Making a global commitment to question our perceptions.
• Saying “yes” to letting go at the expense of what our minds may tell us.
• Saying “no” to the anger and defense within us and around us – across cultures, generations and decades.
• Believing that the anger and defense are merely shadows of learned fear and righteousness.
• Knowing that those shadows are not who we are.
• Waking up to the idea that globally, we are feeling the effects.

Photo: Before You Call Me Homeless

• Embracing the knowledge just as we created the effects, we can create healing.
• Getting in touch with our unhealed perception of ourselves and others.
• Rejecting our own resistance to healing.
• Allowing our healing to be born without the constraint of past or future.
• Feeling empowered by the experience of a genuine shift in our thinking.
• Welcoming the new global paradigm of healing.
• Delighting in the idea that others can join us here.
• Asking the world to join us.
• Leading by example for a world that needs us.

R&B: How do you feel your creativity enriches your life and helps to heal our world?

JM: My creativity allows me to tap into that deep space within that is already healed, already forgiven. I am in the flow with no past, no future – just in the now. Combining a love for writing and photography, I look for hidden stories and contrasting perspectives. Just like the light and shadow sides of us that battle it out, healing occurs when I allow myself to be the observer of what is. I leave the interpretation open. Nothing is labeled and the story exists as it is. Being that removed from beauty and, at the same time, at one with it is incredibly enriching.

Photo: Vibrant Street Art In San Fran

Juliette (Casa Dresden) has been online since 1996 and originally began as Pubu Web Team, derived from nicknames and inspired by Juliette’s love for her dogs.

If you would like to see more of Juliette’s work, visit her photo blog and website at: http://casadresden.com/blog

You can also follow her as  Casadresden on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo: Serendipity Train

If you missed our previous Muse, Ray Smith: Click here to see his work and leave your comment.

Did you miss the Forgive it Forward video that Juliette collaborated to create? Click here to see the 3-minute video that started it all!

Did you miss the book trailer that Juliette created for us? Click here to see the 2-minute video that inspired Forgive it Forward!

©2010 Enlightened Ink – If you are inspired to share or quote from this article please share the Messy Room with it. Together we grow.

Photo – Courtesy of Casa Dresden

“Let us start our process of reawakening with just a few simple concepts: Thoughts increase by being given away. – The more who believe in them the stronger they become. Everything is an idea.”  – A Course In Miracles

The questions and “yes buts” are coming through loud and clear, along with the judgments. Forgive it Forward is NOT a radical idea it seems – it’s a CRAZY idea!

How do we forgive what we don’t know?

WELL …

How do we spend money we don’t have?

We may have to go back a few generations on this one but if our ancestors saw us swiping a little piece of plastic to pay for a dinner instead of using cash they would have thought we were insane. AND, if they knew we were all doing that on faith that we would have the money to cover that swipe at some undetermined point in the future?

Need I say more?

And yet, extending credit based on future gains opened the door to a more gracious lifestyle shared by a larger mass of people. Luxuries reserved for the wealthy in our ancestors’ day are now available to most any workingman and woman – as well as the non-working man and woman (and teenager) who manage to attain a credit card.

How did we pull off that idea? We all agreed to it.

We’ve extended WELL into the future with credit, why NOT with forgiveness? Forgiveness certainly won’t bite us in the !#@! like our recent economic crunch has. But then, we COULD forgive THAT forward, too. After we talk about how forgiveness does not erase the principle of accountability. Another post for another day …

So, this is the place where YOU get to share!

Did you miss the Forgive it Forward video? Click here to see the 3-minute video!

Curious how it ALL started? CLICK HERE to see the 2-minute video book trailer!

©2010 Enlightened Ink – If you are inspired to share or quote from this article please share the Messy Room with it. Together we grow.

I would love to hear YOUR thoughts on Forgive it Forward. Especially your stories. So, don’t be shy!

“When most people think of forgiveness they look to the past. Past events. Past people. Past gripes. Forgiving the PAST is a lot of work. Tedious work. Painful work. So, it’s easy to see why we tend to push it to the back of the closet to be sorted and dealt with another time.”

When I think about issues of forgiveness, I think about clutter clearing and closet counseling sessions with clients. For those of you who don’t know, closet counseling is what happens after we unearth a challenge from a closet, attic, garage or basement. A deer-frozen-in-the-headlights gaze generally announces this challenge, at which point clutter clearing shifts to counseling with  “tell me about this” followed by  “how is this serving you?” and ending with  “are you ready to release or reactivate this?”

We can pack a lot into the darkened recesses of closets – and memories. Stuff attached to hopes, dreams, disappointments, frustrations, judgments, resentments, guilt, fear … That entails a lot of work and why many people cannot do it alone. It’s overwhelming.

So, I’m stepping out of the closet now. Lets talk about forgiveness.

What if we gave forgiveness a break from being the clean-up crew? If we let forgiveness scout the future for a change to trouble-shoot and clear our path – and avoided the pile-up? Sounds radical, but what if we could forgive it forward?

What would that look like, if we agreed to forgive the next someone or something that gets under our skin – right now – BEFORE it happens? The very next thing?

Just PLAY with this idea.

It’s okay if you need to qualify it with the very next SMALL thing. Just try it and see how you feel when you get “there,” to that moment you already forgave. Maybe a rude store clerk or waitress will be the recipient when the thought “I forgave you forward” hits. Maybe they’ll wonder why you’re smiling. Maybe you’ll make their day and yours – in ways that you cannot even imagine now.

It’s no secret that Ray and I are where we are today because we forgave. And, if you’ve read Bernadette’s Pages, you know about all the forgiveness work that he and I had to do to get here. What you may not know is that we also had to forgive it forward!

Did you miss the Forgive it Forward video? Click here to see the 3-minute video!

Curious how it ALL started? CLICK HERE to see the 2-minute video book trailer!

©2010 Enlightened Ink – If you are inspired to share or quote from this article please share us with it. Together we grow.

Title: The Journey of the Red Umbrella
Muse: Ray Smith
Gift Giveaways: Fine art giclee print of pastel painting with double matt. Image size is: 7 x 9 3/4 • Matt size is: 11 x 14

Muse-Creations for Our Forgive it Forward Giveaway – Because forgiveness and creativity go hand-in-hand for us, Ray and I thought it would be fun to spice up our 35-day Forgive It Forward project launch with a focus on the arts. So, we sent a call out to the muses among us for a little assist and some inspiration.

Between June 14th and July 19th, we introduced artists, sculptors, potters, musicians – and more – who forgave it forward with us by donating a gift for a random drawing giveaway. Each muse answered two questions and shared a little bit about their creative process and passion. We hope they inspire you.

Obviously this muse post is going to be treated just a little differently … Ray says he has to do his part to represent the guys being that all the muses who stepped forward for our forgiveness project were women. Well, except for Andy Irwin who is a singer-songwriter-storyteller-performer. He offered a CD in the first ‘call for all muses’ but we haven’t been able to catch up with him since!!! (As for all the other guys, don’t worry. Ray forgives you forward!)

Let’s start with a few words from Ray about his gift:

Architecture that reveals a history, that tells a story through distinctive texture and character inspires me. I found inspiration for this painting in Savannah, GA, a city rich with these qualities and in my memories of Savannah as the place Bernadette and I chose for our first artist escape after the experience described in her book.

The young character ‘journeyed’ from a previous pastel I had done for her. The human form always introduces a distinct energy to any painting. The raincoat and red umbrella are rich in spiritual metaphors and I love the anonymous innocence and questions this character brings to this piece.

Then let’s go to a few words from Ray about his creative process: Okay, I copped this copy from his gallery page. I knew you’d forgive me forward for not writing something new.

In 1965, after completing my Christmas shopping, I came upon an art store and found myself just standing and gazing in the window. I followed the impulse inside and walked out with $50.00 worth of basic art supplies. That New Years Eve I sat alone and drew my first pictures. I will never forget the experience of following my creative instinct. That new way of seeing the world around me led down many creative paths but did not honor my true nature as a fine artist. I was always at the party but never took the floor. Now, to dance with the lady I came in with is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life!

My personal creative experience weaves through 38 (plus) years of overlapping involvement with commercial art, fine art, advertising and acting in Detroit, New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles. My professional experience initiated in 1968 as vice president of an art studio that serviced advertising agencies in Detroit. The ‘actor’ emerged in 1969 and after three years of balancing studio responsibilities with acting I moved to New York and never looked back – except to return to Detroit to find Bernadette in 1975! (Insert Bernadette’s ‘WOOHOO!’ here.) As a member of the Screen Actors Guild, my experience is predominately in film and TV.

How does Ray feel art enriches his life and helps to heal our world?

“It is time to look beyond the stereotypes to glimpse what creativity makes possible for all of us.” – Gene D. Cohen from The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life

RS: My work today, in my studio or out, is to inspire and support the creative instinct in all people and to encourage them to see the beauty in the things that are so easy to overlook.

Integrating my love for acting and art with life experience, I help others use these crafts to identify, develop and enjoy their own unique strengths and abilities, no matter what their path. I conduct classes on drawing, acting and the creative process through a local senior services program encouraging activities that allow seniors to express their vitality and the treasure they are as keepers of our culture. I also advocate the importance of creativity, not just as part of a program for seniors, but also as an essential aspect of a healthy community.

What does forgive it forward mean to Ray?

He says, “forgiveness is a state of being – not a state of doing.” So, with that idea in mind, you can see it doesn’t matter so much whether he forgives it forward or backward or upward or downward or inside-outward. In BEING, he’s got it covered coming and going.

If you would like to see more of Ray’s work visit our Art and Muse Creations Gallery or visit Art in the Making on this blog.

If you missed our previous Muse, Anandi Devi: Click here to see her work and leave your comment.

Did you miss the Forgive it Forward video? Click here to see the 3-minute video that started it all!

Art Form: Jewelry
Muse: Anandi Devi
Gift Giveaway: A single angel wing dangles from each earring surrounded by hand-curled wire. Silver feathers drip from chains adorned with clear quartz crystals … Find dimensions and description of this prize on Anandi’s etsy page.

Muse-Creations for Our Forgive it Forward Giveaway – Because forgiveness and creativity go hand-in-hand for us, Ray and I thought it would be fun to spice up our 35-day Forgive It Forward project launch with a focus on the arts. So, we sent a call out to the muses among us for a little assist and some inspiration.

Between June 14th and July 19th, we introduced artists, sculptors, potters, musicians – and more – who forgave it forward with us by donating a gift for a random drawing giveaway. Each muse answered two questions and shared a little bit about their creative process and passion. We hope they inspire you.

Artisan: Anandi Devi

I’m a nomadic jeweler, a hoop-dancing healer, a feral fashion designer, a Jill of all trades, a worshipper of the One. I live and love in Florida with my loving partner Keith and our two cats.

Exaltation is my favorite project because it’s all about using gnosis and the gifts of the land (crystals, stones, metals) together to create something both beautiful and powerfully healing.

I love experimenting with all the gifts for ascension that we have been given to play with on this planet: Healing tones like Solfeggio Frequencies and binaural beats … Astrology and how to use both natal and transiting planetary positions as a guide for spiritual growth … Nutrition and the path of sanctifying the body temple through the highest quality raw living foods, herbs, water, air and sunshine … Feng Shui and how to see and use our environment as a reflection of our life and vice versa … Just to name a few.

Exaltation, which began as just a site to sell my handmade jewelry is quickly growing to incorporate all of these exhilarating facets of experience into a congruent site for handmade toys of the truth seeker … natal charts, feng shui art cures, solfeggio music, chakra clothing, and much more. So look forward to these additions in the near future!”

OM Crown Chakra Pendant

So, tell us Anandi …

R&B: What does ‘Forgive it Forward’ mean to you?

AD: “Forgive it Forward” brings to mind one of my favorite quotes by Shakespeare about God and his infinite mercy, “The quality of mercy is not strained; it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It istwice blessed – It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”

Forgiveness, to me, is an act that acknowledges our intrinsic innocence. The divinity within each of us is a flawless God/Goddess at play. One wouldn’t scold a child for falling down on the playground, nor judge what games he chose to play while at recess. We cannot harbor resentment for past scraped knees or karmic games – those of ourselves or our brothers and sisters. They are imperceptible fluctuations of energy on the screen of our own infinite-ness. I believe that part of forgiveness means accepting the paradox of incarnation: the most miraculous gift in the Universe  … nothing more than the blink of an eye to our eternal nature.

R&B: How do you feel creativity enriches your life and helps to heal our world?

AD: Julia Cameron says, “The heart of creativity is an experience of the mystical union; the heart of the mystical union is an experience of creativity.” Being creative is as much a part of being human as breathing. Life energy is Creative energy and when I’m creating is when I’m most in touch with my own body/mind/spirit … it’s a time when (for once, it would seem) they are all working toward the same purpose and intention. My jewelry is intended to harmonize the physical, emotional and spiritual experience of the wearer using certain crystals and symbols. Each material used is purposefully chosen for its energetic healing properties.

My “Exaltation” shop is dedicated to the divinity of the body temple. Everything is made in devotional service to the Supreme Creator Goddess within every woman. Each item is designed to be a talisman, infused throughout the crafting process with healing Reiki energy. I am a certified Reiki practitioner, and as I make each piece in loving service to the Divine, I know that the powerful energies in these items will continue to serve and heal long after they have left my hands – and will hopefully touch many lives in their many travels.

To the right is a unique, one-of-a kind design that Anandi fashioned from an upcycled Calvin Klein t-shirt. The bracelet below has powerful grounding and centering qualities in addition to being a beautifully crafted expression of luxurious goddess adornment.

If you would like to follow Anandi and her muses you’ll find her at: Exaltation.Etsy.Com

If you missed our previous Muse, Cindi Hall: Click here to see her work and leave your comment.

Did you miss the Forgive it Forward video? Click here to see the 3-minute video that started it all!

Art Form: Music

Singer-Songwriter: Cindi Hall

Gift Giveaways: CD, “Sleepin’ with the Window Open”

Muse-Creations for Our Forgive it Forward Giveaway – Because forgiveness and creativity go hand-in-hand for us, Ray and I thought it would be fun to spice up our 35-day Forgive It Forward project launch with a focus on the arts. So, we sent a call out to the muses among us for a little assist and some inspiration.

Between June 14th and July 19th, we introduced artists, sculptors, potters, musicians – and more – who forgave it forward with us by donating a gift for a random drawing giveaway. Each muse answered two questions and shared a little bit about their creative process and passion. We hope they inspire you.

Cindi Hall: Singer-Songwriter

Music has been a constant in Cindi Hall’s life. While other little girls were carrying around baby dolls, Cindi could always be seen holding a small microphone that came with her parents’ portable cassette player, the first piece of equipment used to record her voice.

Cindi grew up listening to her dad and uncles play guitar as her mom sang along. That family hobby turned into a college curriculum for Cindi, who studied music therapy, voice and classical piano at Radford University and Averett University in Virginia.

Active in her church music program and community musical theatre, the Covington, Georgia singer-songwriter has just released her first full CD, “Sleepin’ with the Window Open.”

So, tell us Cindi …

R&B: What does ‘Forgive it Forward’ mean to you?

CH: Forgive It Forward means, for me, to first forgive myself. That is not easy for some of us. Many people find it difficult to let go of past mistakes. Showing kindness to yourself puts you in the mindset of realizing most people really are just doing the best they can.

Also, in order to Forgive It Forward, it is absolutely necessary that we forgive those who have hurt us in the past. How we perceive an offense is based on our own life experience. Interpreting the actions of someone in our present through the filter of what someone else did to us in the past keeps us repeating the same patterns and never gives us the chance to completely invest ourselves in healthy, meaningful relationships.

R&B: How do you feel music enriches your life and helps to heal our world?

CH: Music has always been a way for me to tap into what I’m really feeling, whether it’s writing a lyric or sitting down at my piano and just seeing what flows from within me onto the keyboard. Cellist Pablo Casals said, “The heart of the melody can never be put down on paper.” I’m inspired by anyone who puts all of their heart and soul into whatever it is they do. I hope that’s what people experience when they hear my songs.

If you would like to hear Cindi’s music and keep up with what the muses have her doing here are a few of the places you will find her singing!

Click to listen to Cindi’s music at myspace

Click to find Cindi at her website

If you missed our previous Muse, Kerry Allor: Click here to see her work and leave your comment.

Did you miss the Forgive it Forward video? Click here to see the 3-minute video that started it all!