Of course, I know the definition of vanity, but there have been times when I’ve mistaken someone for being vain, and after getting to know them, I realized that they had a confidence of self, that was enviable. Which brings me to my next pondering…do we see vanity because we envy the confidence of an individual?

The lesson learned for me, is not to judge, since it is only when I get to know the person, do I begin to see the true self, and there have been times, when I would have missed out on knowing a wonderfully confident and loving individual.

(Image: “Da Bronx” – 9″x12″ Mixed Media/Paper)

I captured this beauty sitting on a stoop in the Bronx. My first thought was “what a vain young woman.”  She exuded confidence, beauty, which many took as being vain. I glad I got to know her, she had a mighty story, where vanity had no play in it.

How do you know when you’re dealing with vanity or confidence?

How do you know the difference? Have you ever mistaken one for the other?

Does culture play a role in your viewpoint of vanity of another?

Have you ever dismiss a vain individual without getting to know them?

Love to hear what you think!

Peace to you and yours.

I love exploring the spirituality of the forgotten feminine, be it in dreams, myths, or truths hidden in mysterious legends. It is one of the things that my art allows me to explore…the mysterious!

There is a Navajo legend of the Changing Woman. According to this legend, Changing Woman comes closest to representing Earth and the natural order of the Universe. She represents the cycle of the Seasons, Birth (Spring), Maturing (Summer), Growing old (Fall) and Dying (Winter), only to be reborn again in the Spring. Changing Woman is mysterious and meant to be explored and shared.

(To find out more on this Native American legend, visit: http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/Changing_Woman-Navajo.html).

(Image: “Changing Woman/ShapeShifter”- Mixed Media)

There is a sense of the mysterious, everywhere, our challenge is to bask in it, share it fearlessly and allow it to shape us, not conquer it until it is only dust that slips through our fingertips.

How do you define mysterious? Does it excite you or make you tread carefully?  I look forward to reading your answers and comments.

Our humanness is a mystery. Peace to you and yours.

I listen everyday, as my Mum’s voice gets weaker and weaker and all that is happening to me is my heart swells and I wear it on my face.

I hold on to all the sweet and sour that is her and pray that it lasts me a life time.

I pray that everyone holds what is dear in life earnestly and closely, so that they may be able to let it go when it is time.

In peace to you and yours.

It’s not something that I can articulate well at this point, and maybe I never will.

(“Mind Body & Spirit” – Mixed Media/Paper)

My sweet little sister, Renee is in hospice, that is really all I can say now. My dreams are filled with surrender, an outpouring of love and a deep hole of sadness. So on these midsummer nights, I try to understand, believe and sustain faith. May the God you believe in, give you the peace of mind, that can surround the body, so that the soul may be released. Blessings to you and yours.

]]> http://indigeneart.com/2011/06/26/midsummer-nights-of-mind-body-spirit/feed/ 16 http://indigeneart.com/2011/06/04/shadow-of-her-former-self/ http://indigeneart.com/2011/06/04/shadow-of-her-former-self/#comments Sat, 04 Jun 2011 16:01:29 +0000 Indigene http://indigeneart.com/?p=1956

Soaking up this beautiful weather, communing with nature, chatting with friends, loving family, laughing, being shamelessly silly and truly understanding how life is so precious, always puts me in a pondering mode.

(Work In Progress- April 25, 2011-SEE COMPLETED PAINTING BELOW)

I’m currently pondering on…

Creating starts  with shadows, some darker than others, with more and more substance added and once the shadows have become a thing of substance, color invades it from all angles.

Like our earth.

Maybe that’s really the big bang theory, or is it what God created from the shadows, what is now our earth; no matter what you believe,  something started it off.

Is that what it will take to save the earth from the onslaught of humankind’s continual draining of her resources? An intervention is inevitable. She is a shadow of her former self…Save her…save us.

(COMPLETED WORK)

“Saving Me, Saves Us“

(24″ x 18″ – Mixed Media/Paper)

Enjoy what has been given freely…the earth.

Peace to you and yours.

]]> http://indigeneart.com/2011/06/04/shadow-of-her-former-self/feed/ 12 http://indigeneart.com/2011/05/13/zoo-safari/ http://indigeneart.com/2011/05/13/zoo-safari/#comments Fri, 13 May 2011 18:01:05 +0000 Indigene http://indigeneart.com/?p=1940 The word for this week at Illustration Friday‘s website, is “safari“. Unfortunately, my current safari adventures with exotic wild animals are at the zoo! One day, I will go to Africa, the Amazon, China and India to see exotic wild life. Hopefully, they will not be extinct!

During my safari to the Philadelphia Zoo (click on the zoo link to find out more about Maya and friends) in March 2011, I visited the snow leopards and polar bears!

As I watched, Maya, the snow leopard, I was mesmerized by her spirit! So after sketching and taking photos, I came back to my Studio Nookery and created this piece, entitled, “Maya’s Spirit” (14″x 12″- Mixed Media/Paper) She is a part of my “Animal Totem” Series.

There are many cultures that have myths and legends where animals are the main characters or play an important role in teaching important life lessons. Animal Totem characteristics for Snow Leopard are: Sensitivity, Agility, Strength and Mystery.

Life, itself is a journey, as we travel through it, we gain the knowledge and tools to make it our own unique safari! Peace to you and yours.

For those of us, whose mothers have transitioned out of this life, this can be a bittersweet day. We remember her with love, and then remember, that she is no longer with us. We continue her legacy by living our lives with integrity and the lessons she taught us.

Some of us may not have any of those memories above. You may be one of those courageous women, who did it alone, then you are to be celebrated too!

Maybe your memories are not tempered with love, maybe that mother figure was not what you would have liked; hopefully, there is a woman, that gave you some semblance of a Mom.

Hopefully, in most of our lives, we have met a woman, who has embodied that “mother” figure. She has nurtured us, cheered us on, when we needed it most, told us about ourselves when we were acting less than we were, she may be your best friend, a girl friend at work who taught you something that one else could or would take the time to!

I don’t think of Mother’s Day as the only day to honor my mother or the other women in my life, but it is a day, that can be used to remember all the other women in my life who have given me their “mothering ways”; the ones, that I might forget in the hectic thing, I call my life, it is these women, I honor on Mother’s Day, because, my Mom tells me I honor her everyday, so she would prefer that I honor all the women in my life who have been there for me as well!

So I encourage you to do that on this upcoming Mother’s Day. Honor the Women in Your Life. A special call, a card, take her out to breakfast, a gift, an “I love you for who you are”. Give her a token of your love. As women, we treasure those things, because the words and the action are important.

May you continue to honor the women in your life, wherever they are.

My art work is created and based on honoring all women, from various cultures, traditions, myths and spirituality.

For prints or cards, order by April 30th the latest for Mother’s Day at:

indigene-theresa-gaskin.fineartamerica.com

In peace from me to you.

Hmmm…I’m sure that word does bring about songs, music, dances, couples and possibly love.  It does for me, too!

But, I took a little detour from the traditional visual. What comes to my mind is the “duet” of our inner and outer selves.

You, know that duet, that dance!  It’s the duet we do when we  present one self to the world and keep that protected, vulnerable, beautiful self, well hidden. We all dance this duet with ourselves moment-to-moment.

Now take a breath, slow and deep…I would like to invite you to show that beautiful self that you keep hidden, that perhaps only your family sees, or your friends see or maybe only your God sees.

Maybe you can only show it for a moment, that’s okay, you get braver each time you show your true self.  Peel back your winter defenses and let your spring shine!

We are all deserving of our true self, to share with others…so that our duet of self can become one beautiful dance that we can all participate in.

Peace to you and yours.

Title: “Dream Sequence 12″

9″ x 5.75″ – Mixed Media On Paper

(Acrylic/Graphite/Watercolor – ($150)

]]> http://indigeneart.com/2011/04/05/duet-the-real-dance/feed/ 8 http://indigeneart.com/2011/03/05/bear-in-mind/ http://indigeneart.com/2011/03/05/bear-in-mind/#comments Sun, 06 Mar 2011 01:42:41 +0000 Indigene http://indigeneart.com/?p=1614 Warning: Get your sunglasses!  Warning: Blinding vivid color!

Exploring,  the concept of animal totems and nature-based stories, there is a lot to be learn through nature, especially the animal kingdom. I adore bears and not just the cuddly plush toys.  It’s the real bears that I have an affinity for.  The quiet, swift,  adaptable, solitary, very protective of their young, independent, wild and ferocious bears. These traits are human traits, too! Many we can identify with.

Many indigenous cultures, have myths and legends where animals are the main characters. The stories play an important role in teaching and continuing  native traditions through important life lessons.  I am fascinated by all myths, legends, history, fairy tales; stories of  fantasy and imagination involving nature and the power of female archetypes. These stories still have the power to teach, influence and empower you. Researching these traditions have led me to many resources, numerous experiences and dreams! Just simply put, “good stuff”.

So as the bears are slowing turning over from their deep sleep winter hibernation, because there is a little spring wind hanging about. I decided to honor these magnificent creatures. So here you are,  a new painting to delight in, “Bear in Mind”.

Hibernation is almost over, let’s take our heads and bodies out and enjoy the hints that nature is dropping us; letting us know Spring is coming, slowly, but surely. Get out and explore nature, it’s time for us to add to the stories of old.

Peace.

So after dreaming about birds again last night, lots of birds, lots of birds flying, the whole dream in blue, I decided to post my dream sequence  image of swarming birds…:)

Sometimes dreams help solve problems or give answers that exist or are needed in the conscious world, but sometimes dreams are just crazy nonsensical dreams.

But, how do you tell?  I’m open to answers.

After my week, I think it’s probably the universe, playing its own kind of game, (see image below) watching us, running through our lives, not doing what truly matters.

Be still, be alert and always present.

Peace.