http://www.spiritualartblog.com/ed_p_artist_with_spirit/ An interesting insight into the spiritual side of our lives as seen through the eyes of spiritual artist Ed Parkinson. en-US 2009-11-09T12:32:28+00:00 SpiritualArtBlog-EdPhttp://feedburner.google.com http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpiritualArtBlog-EdP/~3/PJdn7f1Htq4/mountain-to-heaven-1.html The Mountain to Heaven is now finished. Next week I’ll write about my understanding of it. To see a larger version click on the image.

]]> November 2009 Pictures Ed Parkinson 2009-11-09T12:32:28+00:00 http://www.spiritualartblog.com/ed_p_artist_with_spirit/2009/11/mountain-to-heaven-1.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpiritualArtBlog-EdP/~3/SwY32ae1d_c/create-a-structure-for-our-creations.html When we use our imagination we travel within ourselves to explore what is possible and often what is impossible. We see creations in the heavenly worlds, where we as Soul are based. We are Soul, a part of God. We have that creative power of God, in the heavens. Is there a way of bringing that creative power into our physical worlds?
It is easy to create in our inner heavens but being able to manifest that creation here in our physical world takes a bit of practice. When asked, what is the purpose of the creative arts? Harold Klemp, the spiritual leader of Eckankar, said, it was for the artist to learn structure. I didn’t understand this until I was chatting with Tunde, of the Lighthouse Family. Here’s a YouTube link to one of their hits, Lifted.

Create a Structure
Tunde explained that as a creative person, which we all are, it is our job to create a structure for whatever we wish to create. It could be a song, a picture, a meal, a business, an event, a job, a project, etc. We create the basic shape in our imagination, our inner worlds, and let the Life Force, Holy Spirit or Higher Power flow into it. Then ideas, happy accidents, fresh thoughts and coincidences come together to fill this structure we have created. 

For example a musician will use composition, a story, musical notes, scales, tones, a variety of instruments to bring the music he hears, in his inner world, out into our world so we can hear it. An artist when creating a picture will use colour, shadow, perspective, shapes, composition, to create the structure for the picture he sees within himself. As these elements are put together, the happy accidents and coincidences occur to help create the final piece. 

What happens here is the musician or artist has the basic outline or structure, then the Holy Spirit fills in the blanks with its inspiration and our efforts. This is where the structure mentioned by Harold Klemp is necessary. This is how a musician brings heavenly music into our worlds so we can hear and enjoy it. It’s how an artist makes the invisible visible. 

The Perfect Meal
The same creative process happens when we set out to create a nice meal. We gather the ingredients; meat, vegetables, seasoning, etc. We now have the basic structure. Next we begin cooking and get creative. We can :
fry, grill, bake, boil, stew. 
add seasoning, 
mix cooking methods like boiling first and baking later, 
create sauces, 
meat can be cooked rare or well done,
serve aperitifs, starters, salads, desserts, etc.

As we go about the work of creating the meal, different things happen. We discover a sauce or extra flavours that blends well with the dish we are creating. We add seasoning. We may think we’ve added too much or too little, but when we are finished cooking, the meal will be perfect for that time. 

The methods we can use are endless but we end up with a meal for our friends and family. It is a unique creation. We’ve used our imagination, created a structure, got some inspiration, some physical food and effort to manifest the meal we imagined within ourselves. If we’ve made mistakes, we’ve learned and can correct them the next time we cook that dish but for now we have the perfect meal.

Become the instrument of Spirit
Just to get a different view on this subject, Rodney Jones, the inspirational musician and guitarist recently wrote the following:
“Knowledge of self is that which shapes expression of Self. Being the Self, is the point where the artist begins to mirror in a full way, the attributes and qualities of the divine. At this point, all that he plays becomes a channel for Divine Spirit to utilize for ITs purposes. 
“He no longer just plays an instrument, he has become the instrument of Spirit.”
(See the end of this post for more about Rodney Jones and his music).

As Rodney says, if we become aware of our selves as Soul (Self), we realise we are part of the Divine. If we can connect regularly with the Divine we become a channel for it. Spirit flows through us. As the flow of Spirit grows, we grow, Spirit grows around us, we become an instrument of Spirit. How do we do this? Do everything with Love. Let Love be the reason we do everything. God is Love, Spirit is Love, Soul’s home is in Spirit, in heaven, in Love. Let Love guide our lives and we’ll create a heaven around us. We “become the instrument of Spirit”.

Our Unique Melody
Let’s take our instruments out. (Let’s become aware of ourselves as Soul). 
Let’s dust It off and get It back in tune. (Let’s reconnect with Soul).
Let’s practice our instrument. (Let’s do a regular spiritual exercise, contemplation or meditation).
Let’s play for ourselves, our friends and our world. (Let’s live life with Love, enjoy it, savour it and discover it.)

Let’s play the unique melody that is our life.

*Ed Parkinson


P.S. - Rodney Jones is a guitarist who’s most recent CD, A THOUSAND SMALL THINGS, has been placed in the first round of GRAMMY© Nominations.]]> November 2009 Thought for the week Ed Parkinson 2009-11-09T12:30:29+00:00 http://www.spiritualartblog.com/ed_p_artist_with_spirit/2009/11/create-a-structure-for-our-creations.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpiritualArtBlog-EdP/~3/8vCY6HlTzWo/art-fair-09-at-the-rds-.html News The Art Fair 09, in the RDS Dublin, is on the weekend after next. I won’t be exhibiting there but it should be a nice place to see a range of good art and meet a lot of the... News
The Art Fair 09, in the RDS Dublin, is on the weekend after next. I won’t be exhibiting there but it should be a nice place to see a range of good art and meet a lot of the artists too. I will be exhibiting at the Craft Fair, in December and a few others. I’ll post details closer to those events.

Below is another style ticket which I came across during the week. It’s a much easier option than the Ticketmaser ones from last week’s post. Just click on the image below and print it. That ticket should get you in. Enjoy.

Here’s the blurb and dates on the Art Fair:
Featuring over 100 Galleries & Artists from Ireland and abroad, Art Fair 09 at the RDS is a showcase of new and established artists that will delight all art lovers! 
Dates and opening hours: 
Friday, Nov 13 - 12.00 noon to 9.00pm
Saturday, Nov 14 -11.00am to 7.00pm
Sunday, Nov 15 - 11.00am to 6.00pm 

For more information visit: www.rds.ie/artfair 

Friday, Nov 13 - 12.00 noon to 9.00pm
Saturday, Nov 14 -11.00am to 7.00pm
Sunday, Nov 15 - 11.00am to 6.00pm

Click on the image and then print as many tickets as you need..
]]> News November 2009 Ed Parkinson 2009-11-09T12:10:49+00:00 http://www.spiritualartblog.com/ed_p_artist_with_spirit/2009/11/art-fair-09-at-the-rds-.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpiritualArtBlog-EdP/~3/L1EvcuwnSa0/inspirational-quotes-on-creative-structure.html “The creative imagination is one thing that can lift us into truly becoming godlike beings.” Harold Klemp “Nothing exists until or unless it is observed. An artist is making something exist by observing it. And his hope for other people... “The creative imagination is one thing that can lift us into truly becoming godlike beings.”
 Harold Klemp

“Nothing exists until or unless it is observed. An artist is making something exist by observing it. And his hope for other people is that they will also make it exist by observing it. I call it 'creative observation.' Creative viewing.”
 William S. Burroughs

“One supreme fact which I have discovered is that it is not willpower, but fantasy-imagination that creates. Imagination is the creative force. Imagination creates reality.”
 Richard Wagner 

“The movie, by sheer speeding up of the mechanical, carried us from the world of sequence and connections into the world of creative configurations and structure.”
 Marshall McLuhan

“The teacher, like the artist and the philosopher, can perform his work adequately only if he feels himself to be an individual directed by an inner creative impulse, not dominated and fettered by an outside authority.”
 Bertrand Russell 

“Creativity is merely a plus name for regular activity. Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right, or better.”
 John Updike

“Art is the great democrat, calling forth creative genius from every sector of society, disregarding race or religion or wealth or color”
 John Fitzgerald Kennedy

“It is the creative potential itself in human beings that is the image of God”
 Mary Daly

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.”
 Albert Einstein

]]> Inspiration Quotes November 2009 Ed Parkinson 2009-11-09T12:08:42+00:00 http://www.spiritualartblog.com/ed_p_artist_with_spirit/2009/11/inspirational-quotes-on-creative-structure.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpiritualArtBlog-EdP/~3/kRBNFXXI93Q/mountain-to-heaven.html At this point in the development of this picture, Mountain to Heaven, I’ve now decided on most of the elements and the composition. The final picture will probably look similar to the rough sketch below. I now have to do...

]]> November 2009 Pictures Ed Parkinson 2009-11-02T11:58:42+00:00 http://www.spiritualartblog.com/ed_p_artist_with_spirit/2009/11/mountain-to-heaven.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpiritualArtBlog-EdP/~3/IZjrY96tguA/let-your-spark-of-love-spread-like-fire-.html One of the limiting concepts in our Western culture is that we can only love one person in our lives, usually our spouse or partner. It is great if we have love within our family but we can also share our love with others. We have friends, neighbours, colleagues, co-workers, team mates, etc. This love can be found in actions such as: Thought for the Week

One of the limiting concepts in our Western culture is that we can only love one person in our lives, usually our spouse or partner. It is true that we should honour and respect our spouse and the promises and commitments we’ve made to them. However we shouldn’t limit our love for just to one person or just to our immediate family. 

It is great if we have love within our family but we can also share our love with others. We have friends, neighbours, colleagues, co-workers, team mates, etc. Among these people we can find a spark of love. Something in a person we enjoy or attracts us to them. Something we really like about them. These are great reasons to share our love. This love can be found in actions such as:
Getting a ball to a team mate so they can score.
Helping a colleague finish a project.
Helping with chores.
Being available to a friend.
Sharing some food or cooking.
Being spontaneous in doing a favour.

Love as a spark
If we think of love as a spark within us and we meet someone we like or love. We now have two sparks sharing their love for each other. When they part they are brighter than before they met. The fire of love glows brighter within them. If they meet someone else the fire is radiated to them, thereby brightening the other person’s spark of love. 

The love we share should be a pure, unconditional love with no requirements placed on the other person. This love doesn’t say things like “I will love you provided you do this”. This love just loves the other person, in the moment, here and now. This love doesn’t require us to proclaim our love for another. We can share it with people we don’t even know. It shows itself in the actions we take, the things we do, such as:
Picking up a dropped item for someone.
Giving a reassuring smile.
Sharing a small gift, like a sweet.
Listening to someone, with sincerity.
Leaving a place better than we found it.

Do what we can
We need to be careful not to burn ourselves out by doing too much. We should do what we can. We can do one thing a day, for love, for a month or so, until it becomes a habit. Then we can expand to doing two or three things for love, some days. These little gifts of love will brighten us and if we take our time we can get brighter bit by bit without burning ourselves out.

This brightness will show itself as a little more happiness in our lives. We will also begin to see that those around us are a little more positive too. The fire of love is beginning to glow in our hearts. 

Let’s give a little love and brighten our world and the worlds of those around us. Let your sparks of love spread like fire. 

*Ed Parkinson]]> November 2009 Thought for the week Ed Parkinson 2009-11-02T11:56:08+00:00 http://www.spiritualartblog.com/ed_p_artist_with_spirit/2009/11/let-your-spark-of-love-spread-like-fire-.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpiritualArtBlog-EdP/~3/IIeiDBuZ9Lg/news-free-tickets-to-art-fair-09.html Art Fair 09 at the RDS The Art Fair 09, in the RDS Dublin, is on in two weeks time. I won’t be exhibiting there but it should be a nice place to see a range of good art and... Art Fair 09 at the RDS 
The Art Fair 09, in the RDS Dublin, is on in two weeks time. I won’t be exhibiting there but it should be a nice place to see a range of good art and meet a lot of the artists too. I will be exhibiting at the Craft Fair, in December and a few others shows too. I’ll post details closer to those events.
As a former exhibitor, the RDS have offered free tickets to me, my friends and family. If you're reading this, your my frined, for now anyway. The problem is you’ll have to go through Ticketmaster to get the tickets. It’s a bit of a pain. As I’ve already gone through the process and got the tickets and they're free anyway, I don’t think they will mind me giving you my ticket. Just click on the image below and print it. They should get you in. Enjoy.

Here’s the blurb and dates:
Featuring over 100 Galleries & Artists from Ireland and abroad, Art Fair 09 at the RDS is a showcase of new and established artists that will delight all art lovers! 
Dates and opening hours: 
Friday, Nov 13 - 12.00 noon to 9.00pm
Saturday, Nov 14 -11.00am to 7.00pm
Sunday, Nov 15 - 11.00am to 6.00pm 

For more information visit: www.rds.ie/artfair 

Choose the ticket for the day you wish to visit. Click on the ticket to enlarge it and then print it.

Friday, Nov 13 - 12.00 noon to 9.00pm


Saturday, Nov 14 -11.00am to 7.00pm



Sunday, Nov 15 - 11.00am to 6.00pm


]]> News November 2009 Ed Parkinson 2009-11-02T11:49:22+00:00 http://www.spiritualartblog.com/ed_p_artist_with_spirit/2009/11/news-free-tickets-to-art-fair-09.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpiritualArtBlog-EdP/~3/dm84vqqvMq0/inspirational-love-spark-fire-quotes.html “The best we can do, in the highest sense, is to be open to the directions that Divine Spirit gives to us about how to make our daily lives better. And the lesson is very often how to love better... “The best we can do, in the highest sense, is to be open to the directions that Divine Spirit gives to us about how to make our daily lives better. And the lesson is very often how to love better with fewer attachments, with fewer ideas about how some event should go.”
 Harold Klemp

“Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.”
 Joan Crawford 

“Yes, Love indeed is light from heaven; A spark of that immortal fire with angels shared, by Allah given to lift from earth our low desire.”
 Lord Byron

“Doubt that the stars are fire, doubt that the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love.”
 William Shakespeare

“A spark of kindness starts a fire of love.”
 Anon

“Everyone has Love towards some thing or other, and that Love is a spark of the Divine; everyone has ultimately to base his life on some one Truth; that Truth is God.”
 Sri Sathya Sai Baba 

“What avails love when life is so ephemeral?
What avaiIs a mortal’s love for the immortal?
Love that is snuffed out by death’s passing blast
Love without the pain, the passion that consumes?
A flickering spark I am, aglow for a fleeting glance
Flow vain for a flickering spark to chase an eternal flame!
Grant me the bliss of eternal life, O Lord,
And mine will be the ecstasy of eternal love.
Give me the pleasure of an everlasting pain
An agony that lacerates my soul for ever.”
 Allama Iqbal 

“Love is the only kind of fire which is never covered by insurance.”
 Anon

“Tolerance and celebration of individual differences is the fire that fuels lasting love.”
 Tom Hannah

]]> Inspiration Quotes November 2009 Ed Parkinson 2009-11-02T11:41:01+00:00 http://www.spiritualartblog.com/ed_p_artist_with_spirit/2009/11/inspirational-love-spark-fire-quotes.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpiritualArtBlog-EdP/~3/opYzPL1H1Rg/mountain-to-heaven-2.html The Mountain to Heaven continues to develop. Below is the latest rough sketch.

]]> October 2009 Pictures Ed Parkinson 2009-10-26T11:25:37+00:00 http://www.spiritualartblog.com/ed_p_artist_with_spirit/2009/10/mountain-to-heaven-2.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpiritualArtBlog-EdP/~3/MC4MmWCuNiY/a-new-friend-from-a-past-life.html A couple of months ago I met a person who seemed very familiar. This was the first time I had met her. Was this an old friend from the past? The curious attraction left a desire to get to know her but circumstances didn’t allow it, yet… Thought for the week

A couple of months ago I met a person who seemed very familiar. This was the first time I had met her. On this occasion it was just an introduction, a few brief words of chat followed with a quick goodbye. The curious attraction left a desire to get to know her but circumstances didn’t allow it, yet. Was this an old friend from a past life?

A few months later we met again and circumstances were kinder. We got to sit and chat on several occasions to explore each other and reconnect again in this lifetime. 

A past life friend
One of the reasons I know this is a new friend from a past life, is because we got on so well together. Very quickly, we shared with ease the details of our lives. This was key in confirming our friendship was from a previous life. If I meet someone for the first time, I will reveal very little about myself. I’ll ask a lot of questions and let the other person tell their story. Until I’m happy to trust a new friend, I will keep personal details to a minimum.

With this person I felt at ease. There was no threat of being used. No hint of emotional dependence from either side and our intentions regarding the relationship were on the table. This was going to be a brother sister type friendship. We had an interest in each other but no desire to impose or interfere with each others lives. This was old friends catching up with each other.

We told each other our lives to date, this lifetime. There was genuine advice, compassion and love flowing between us as we rediscovered each other.

It has probably happened to you
This wasn’t the first time this has happened to me and it has probably happened to you too. It may have happened to you on many occasions without you realising it. The tell tale signs are things like:
An immediate attraction to the person.
A curiosity about the person.
A knowingness about the person.
The ease with which you talk and chat with them.
The trust you automatically give them.

Just think about your friends for a moment. How did you meet them?
When you met them first, did you want to get to know them more?
Did you feel at ease in their company?
Did you want to spend more time with them?
How long did it take you to get close to them?

The answers to these questions can help you locate, who among your friends are from past lives. Now add in your common interests, likes and dislikes and you’ll begin to build up a picture of your relationship from the past.

Love at first sight

‘Love at first sight’, is a real indication of someone you know from a past life. How can a person randomly decide they are deeply in love with a person, just by looking at them? Logically it doesn’t make sense, if you go along with the theory that we live just one life. However, if you consider past lives as a reality then ‘Love at first sight’ makes a lot of sense. It is a reconnection with someone you loved in a previous life. If you loved them previously, you still love them now. Love has no boundaries. Even time is swept away by Love as it connects two Souls together again.

The next time you see or meet someone who rouses your curiosity, or you find somewhat attracted to, watch how the relationship develops. Does it all seem familiar? Is it easy and comfortable? Do you know them well after just a few hours together? If your answer is Yes, to any of these questions, you could be reconnecting with an old friend from a previous life.

Wishing you Love and friendship.

*Ed Parkinson]]> October 2009 Thought for the week Ed Parkinson 2009-10-26T11:24:01+00:00 http://www.spiritualartblog.com/ed_p_artist_with_spirit/2009/10/a-new-friend-from-a-past-life.html