Breathing, Stretching, Creating & Eating in Italy

I’m taking a break to chat with you while letting a layer of paint dry.  The flames of the pellet stove beside me are keeping me warm while the symphony of rain on the tin roof and thunder all around stirs my soul.  Lunch is in an hour and by then Dana and I may have a dry walk back to The Refuge at Ananda Ashram from the Academy of Art, Creativity and Consciousness, 3 minutes down the road (or 20 if you take your camera with you for a detour through the woods).

All I can say is that what I’m living here is what I could see myself living on an ongoing basis.  Up at 5am, shower, yoga/ meditation in the temple from 6-8:30am (various choices), delicious breakfasts in silence while looking at the vista of Umbrian hills and valleys, painting all day with breaks for lunches, suppers, reading, blogging or photo editing, gorgeous sunsets from the dining room or my balcony, quiet evenings by myself (was alone in my “shared room” for 3 night now) or in community (spiritual cinema, prayer, etc.).  I am so grateful to be here.

Now for some details.

YOGA:

I was very lucky on Monday as I was the only one to show up for 6am yoga.  The teacher therefore taught the class in English.  Yogananda’s energization practice was, according to him, his unique contribution to yoga.  As it was different than any of the yoga styles I’d experienced before, getting English instruction was definitely beneficial.  I followed that up with another class at 7am that included energization, meditation and chanting.  The ashram had arranged to have a translator there for me.  What service!  She stood behind me the whole time and, in her soothing voice, translated everything and corrected my postures if she spotted something off.  The teacher, by the way, could be the twin to my friend Jackie in Saskatoon – from the hair style, facial features, smile, body style, to the fact that she’s a yoga teacher too.  I felt right at home.  Maria, the translator, came back again on Tuesday to help a few of us out.  By Wednesday, I understood the series of exercises better and class was in English anyway. After yoga, I only stayed for the first 45 minutes of silent meditation (although my mind could have used more quietude… not a master at meditation yet). I may do the full hour and a half on Friday. Tomorrow, I’ll do the 7am mixed session again to give me time to write/edit photos first.

MEALS:

After 2.5 hours of yoga, however, I am super hungry and eat more than I ever would if I were having my usual 5am breakfast.  On Monday morning, I tasted peanut butter for the first time (except in cookies or satay sauce).  I know… I’m strange.  I’ve never tasted coffee either.  I’m just not a typical North American.  Anyhow, this was a huge bowl of obviously homemade stuff and it was warm. The bread looked good too even if I’ve never been a bread fan either (lucky thing as I try to eat gluten free). Anyhow, I liked it, but wouldn’t choose it every day.  On Tuesday morning, I was surprised to find chocolate cake along with the porridge and fixings… not sure which yogic principle that follows, but it was great.  I was starved, but it waited for me an extra 15 minutes as I ran outside after bringing my plate to my table. I simply had to chase the rainbow that appeared in the sky.  I got it with my iPhone (can you see it?), but by the time I ran to my room to get my good camera, it had faded.

There’s always a variety of vegan and vegetarian choices at every meal, including plain steamed veggies and rice for those on special diets.  There’s usually a salad buffet and a hot food station:  risotto, cauliflower purée, pasta, soya meat stew, bruschetta, various soups, etc.  Breakfast is in silence for the first half hour before a brief reading, lunch starts with a blessing and can be quite plentiful and social.  Dinner is in silence and lighter in nature.  It’s all healthy and prepared for me – such a blessing!

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE / ACADEMY OF ARTS, CREATIVITY & CONSCIOUSNESS:

I love it!  I could stop there, but I promised details.  When I first walked into the Awakening Arts Center on Monday, I discovered something about my relationship with my camera.  The gallery part of the space was so beautiful aesthetically and energetically that it overwhelmed me in its offerings.  I almost immediately turned to my camera to help me navigate the space. It helps me to zone in and appreciate the details – to slow down and see and feel as I move along.  This is a different way that this beloved tool helps me be fully present in the here and now. When I mentioned that to someone in the community, he offered some interesting insights from his own teacher/swami. He offered that tools and techniques are good, but our goal is to eventually not need them anymore. I wouldn’t want my camera to become a crutch, but for now it’s a blessing. Eventually, I’ll be able to achieve the same equanimity and presence in a space that once would have overwhelmed me without tools. I enjoyed the conversation. I also enjoyed my tour around the gallery – my favourite pieces were the digital works on metal by Dana Lynne Andersen, who runs the place. So many, however, appealed to both my eyes and my heart.

After about half an hour in the gallery, I realized that the space behind the frosted glass doors was not Dana’s apartment, but the studio space.  What a great space it is.  Since Dana loves painted floors, it is very freeing to have complete freedom to splatter them with paint without worrying about making a mess.  I’m so used to being careful…  no need here.  Yay!

Dana had prepared a big canvas for me to play on.  After I swept the floor, I used my pendulum to clear an uncomfortable spot I had felt in my designated area. I then called in my heavenly helpers and blessed the space and canvas with palo santo smudge and cat love. Stella was quite adamant about being part of the creative team.  My heart smiles every time I see her.

Working this large on an unstretched canvas is totally new for me.  Some really cool things happened before it all became one colour on the first day as I overdid the pouring, lifting and folding with warm colours.  No worries – it was only the first layer and all part of the process.  I quickly had to remind myself that I had asked to be a channel to God, my guiding spirits and angels and so it wasn’t my place to judge.  Instead, I got back into a space of total trust.  After decades of painting intuitively, I’ve learned the value of stepping out of the way.  Where the paint was puddling, Dana suggested putting plastic on top so that by the time it dried, tearing it off would create ridges of texture while uncovering previous layers of colour.  I saw what it did on one of her paintings, but I’ll need to press down more next time to push the paint out to the edges.  New trick – cool!

On Tuesday, I got in there with the cool colours and started mark-making.  I love this stage – it’s all about colour and layers – no thinking, no planning, no knowing where it may go from there.  I find that stage so much easier in painting than in life, but I’m getting there with that too.  Layer upon layer, dancing, standing back and listening for what is being called for next – very enjoyable!  It’s a wonderful way of painting and having the canvas up on the wall makes it easy to have my whole body involved, not just my wrists and hands.

Part of the pleasure of working/ playing here, in addition to the space and energy – is that Dana and her daughter Rachel have been wonderful hosts and assistants.  From afternoon snacks of gluten-free toasts with almond butter and jelly to freshly squeezed orange juice, I am served like a queen (and you know how I like that).  Also, if I need anything or want help, they’re glad to jump in.  The whole philosophy here is about love and awakening to our higher consciousness.  I can feel it in many facets of my experience.  The 250 Euros I’m spending as a fee for being artist in residence for the week is going to supplies and so I’ve got access to all sorts of paints.  Fantastic! There’s a great feeling of abundance here.  The sun even came out just in time for my lunchtime walk to the dining room and the rain only began again as I was walking back up the driveway to the studio.  Cooperation all around!

Time to stare at my canvas again to see what it would like. It feels like a very happy piece – my favourite kind.  Let see where it goes from here… this is just the foundation layer. I’m open to inspiration and I know it’s on its way. It’s inevitable in a place like this!

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Oh – and while waiting for another layer of paint to dry, I wanted to create one photo that captured the feeling of elation from this stage of the painting process. Instead, I present you this slideshow (viewable only on the website, not in email subscriptions, so click on the blue post title at the top of your email to view post online).

I’m having a wonderful time – what a blessing indeed!