See the world through my eyes! Experience it through these blog posts.

Frozen Dinner, Snores Galore & Radiant Roses

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A heat wave has hit Vienna. We’re talking 30 degrees Celsius or maybe even above.  When surrounded by concrete, that’s hot! I don’t do so well in the heat (one reason I’m glad I’ve chosen to live in Newfoundland again in a few weeks), so my walk home from school yesterday was a very slow one.  There was a huge line up at the water fountain in front of the Imperial Palace, where I refilled my water bottle. It was the first time that I saw people using the button on the side that showers a mist into the air above our heads.  I certainly didn’t complain.  I was also tired after a full day workshop with 17 other people in a small classroom.  It was a good day, but I’m looking forward to delving into new territory in the rest of the week.

Since I’d had a huge lunch at 1:30pm and it was so hot, I wasn’t planning on having dinner.  After walking by it almost every day since last September, however, I found myself walking into the Ice Dream Factory for the first time. Wow!  Even the smell of sugar was almost enough to knock me over.  They specialize in American Style waffles (which we call Belgium Style waffles in Canada).  I don’t usually do much sugar or dairy, so I’d never been in – but the place is impressive. Great atmosphere.  The best of all, however, was their ice cream counter.  I ended up with a chocolate coated waffle cone with vegan apricot, mango, raspberry and a complimentary dollop of vegan chocolate on top.  It made the rest of my walk home so much more pleasant – a new version of frozen dinner.

It was about 7:30pm when I got home, happy that my residence room had kept cooler than outside.  I love this room in a passive house – soundproof, air quality controlled, clean, etc.  It’s great to like where I live – it’s so important.  By 8:30pm, I was fast asleep.

I don’t think I’m a regular snorer – although I’m not in the best position to say – but last night, I kept waking myself up each time I started snoring. I’d quickly go back to sleep, which is a good thing.  One advantage, though, has been better dream recall in the morning as each time I’d wake up, I took consciousness of my dreams.  Interesting fodder for analysis this morning.

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Anyhow, the real reason I started blogging at 5:30am this morning is to share my iPhone photos of my morning walk through the Volksgarten on my way to school. I discovered my iPhone doesn’t do well with bright reds…  Last time I was there, they had just uncovered the rose bushes.  Now, what seems only a couple of weeks later, they already seem past their prime (I tried not to show that in my photos).  I’m glad I left early yesterday morning and made the slight detour.  What a fragrant and beautiful way to start my day.  I may just do the same today…

 

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A Walk Through Vienna’s Central Cemetery

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DLH_6912As I needed to go to the art supply store way out in Simmering on Saturday, I decided to check one more site off my Vienna Tourism wishlist.  It took about 20 minutes for my classmate Rachel and I to walk from the art store to the Central Cemetery (nowhere near the center of town, but central as in main) and then we spent about 3 hours walking around …  we barely scratched the surface (pun intended).  I’ve marked our trail in red.  It’s huge! Over 3 million are buried here from all religions – more than anywhere in Europe.

 

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The history is interesting, but you can read up on that on their website.  Instead, here are a few highlights from our visit.

First – the walk there: Simmering is not an attractive part of town  – car dealerships and such.  We were delighted, however, to pass a pub with live traditional music outside. Nice.

The Way In & Wild Encounters:

We entered the cemetery through Door 1, and I’m glad we did. It’s not the main entrance, and so we were spared the typical tourist feel of Door 2 (vendors, tour bus, horse wagons, maps, signage, etc.).  Instead, we followed our intuition, leading us past interesting grave markers and into the old Jewish cemetery.  We had 2 very special encounters with deer there – long eye contact as they hid in the tall grasses and eventually trotted off.  I also saw a huge jack rabbit – or a small deer….not sure which.

In the Details:

I could have taken thousands of photos – but didn’t, thinking of the work that would involve (I’ve spent way too much time at the computer lately).  Here are a few though – of things that caught my attention – beautiful, interesting, and strange (mostly the grave to the unknown artist…. you’ll figure out which one it is).

Not Just the Dead and Buried:

At one point, I felt pulled to a very different energy in an ethnic section we weren’t able to identify.  Instead of ancient graves, this one had a lot of fresh ones – piles of dirt with simple wooden crosses on them.  There were also very ornate ones from recent decades. There were a few families there sitting on benches and talking to their deceased relatives.  This was the saddest part of the visit.  It took us out of history and into the present. Not too many photos here.

Multifaith:

Our walk then took us through the Buddhist section.  I really liked the fact that all are welcomed to rest here, no matter of their faith or status while alive.  As the website says, however, not everyone is equal after death – some above-ground “neighbourhoods” were definitely richer and better maintained than others.

Dr. Karl Lueger Memorial Church:

We approached this huge structure from behind and found two of its monumental entrances closed.  I felt it strange that such an imposing structure be left empty and unused.  I found myself pondering about that.  After resting in one of the covered footpaths lined with crypts, we walked around the building and found its main door – open.  Ah, makes me think of life at times. Although it’s affectionately named after one of Vienna’s popular mayors buried there, it’s actually the Church of Saint Charles of Borromeo .  It suffered extensive damage during the war and in subsequent years, but now it looks great, shortly after major renovations.  The art deco style definitely appealed to me  – much more so than the usual church art.  The acoustics were pretty good too as another visitor tested out.

Final Home for the Famous:

We then found the section of the cemetery reserved for famous musicians (there’s also one for politicians, sports figures, various other kinds of artists, etc.).  See if you can identify their graves from the photos – click on an image to see it large and then navigate through them all. The monument to Mozart in the middle, however, was only built as a tourist draw. He’s actually not buried in this cemetery.  It was neat to observe a group of Korean tourists place flowers at Beethoven’s grave.  I could still understand a few words, but Korean is definitely at the bottom of the list of languages I’m familiar with (despite 3 years of living there).

The Way In Being the Way Out and Vice Versa:

We found out on our way out that there’s a bus that goes through the cemetery at regular city transit prices.  I recommend it to get an overall feel as it’s 2.4 square kilometres (590 acres) large.  By the time we got to the main entrance – Door 2, however, we were too tired and still had a long afternoon/evening of work at school ahead of us.  I may just return if I have time before I leave, especially since I read about the Park of Peace and Power , “designed according to the old traditions of geomancy (originally: divinations from the earth) and landscape gardening.” Click the link above – good read – I’ve rarely seen energy systems of the land and human soul written about on tourism websites.  Cool!  Sounds like a real gift for grievers of all kinds.

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Bavarian Beauty – Germany

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I spoke more German on Tuesday than I have my whole 9 months in Vienna! Wow! It was great! I’m so happy I finally connected with Germans and Austrians during my trip to Italy. Being at an English speaking school in Vienna and either hiking with classmates, being a hermit, or visiting friends in the Czech Republic hadn’t done much for my language learning. I can honestly say that I know less German now than when I arrived here in September. At that time, I’d been doing daily audio-studies for 6 months. Better late than never! Yay!

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Since Regina had a few appointments on Tuesday, I spent the day with her daughter Kira, Kira’s boyfriend Benny and his parents. We drove for about a half hour to Hintersee Lake in Berchtesgaden National Park. Confusingly, there’s also a Hintersee near Salzburg on the Austrian side, but this one was in Germany. We ended up taking 2 cars and I rode with Dagma and Claus – perfect for kicking into German gear. It was great having the back seat to myself as I kept unbuckling to swing from the left to the right window with my camera – in awe at the snow capped mountains and typical Bavarian houses, cows, etc.

The sign at the trail head said 20 minutes to the lake, but I was with fellow nature admirers with and without cameras, so I think it took us a couple of hours. Not sure – I lost track of time. All I know is that I enjoyed every minute and came back with 400 photos…

The colour of the water was the most precious – a mix of white and turquoise that reminded me a bit of the rivers in and around the Rockies.

There were so many flowers, plants, insects, funny moments, touching moments, and German lessons. We were also lucky in terms of weather. The roads were wet when we drove up and it started to downpour almost as soon as we’d gotten back in the car a few hours later.  Here’s the rest of my edited collection of photos – down from 400 to 115.

AINRING:

In the evening after dinner, Regine suggested we take a walk around her house. With “a walk around the block” in mind, I left the camera behind. Oh well. You’ll just have to imagine the sun hitting a snow-capped rocky peak in the distance with forested mountains and fields in front deep in the shadows – all that with shades of pink and purple starting to sweep across the sky. Also imagine being a foot away from a snorting bull and Regine snorting back with only an electric wire in between …. this is where the scardy-cat city girl came in. The wood ticks were almost as scary as the big bull – I was wearing a skirt with sandals… but I just created a energetic field around myself, let go of the fear, and checked myself in front of a mirror when I got home.

Regine’s house is surrounded by a series of marked walking trails through fields, forests, villages, etc. I got a lot of walking in that day too. Wonderful! I was huffing and puffing as we climbed a hill, but the view of Salzburg in the distance with mountains all around was worth it. Plus it was good to spend time more time with her. She simply radiates love.

DRIVE UPHILL:

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When we got back home, her son Leon suggested we drive up a nearby hill to where a hotel/restaurant and church are located to get a view of the Salzburg all lit up. The drive up was great – through the bare trunks of trees densely lined up in impressive rows lit up by the car’s high beams.  Once at the top, I found myself more interested in the church than in the city lights. I had brought my tripod, so I played with a few 20-second shots.

We got back home late, but still played a couple of minutes of djembe drums before bedtime.

ABTSDORFER SEE:

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The next morning after our shared energizing exercises, breakfast and trampolining, Regine and I went to her favourite neighbouring swimming hole – Abtsdorfersee. We walked around for a bit and dipped our feet in (not quite summer weather yet). She then drove me to Salzburg for my train to Vienna. I’m so glad her son told me about the Westbahn train that only runs between Sazlburg and Vienna. You can buy your ticket online or on the train. It basically runs once an hour and costs only 23.50€ ($34 Cdn) vs. 49€ ($73 Cdn) with the regular train company. It pays to be informed!

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Thanks Regine and family /friends

for a wonderful visit!

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“These Are A Few of My Favourite Things”…in and around Salzburg

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(For those of you who have never been touched by the movie “The Sound of Music” set in Salzburg, today’s title is from one of its songs).

1) Morning Routines: Yoga/Meditation

Dominique Hurley_ Austria_Salzburg_IMG_7541What a wonderful way to transition from life at Ananda! On Monday morning, I woke up late (for me) to the song of cows and walked downstairs to find candles and a meditation space set up. I started with a bit of meditation of the feline variety – a love-in session with the cat on my lap. Perfect start to the day! I then did the energizing exercises I learned last week, thanks to Regine’s gift of a poster that describes the full sequence of 39 exercises.  I did pretty well with the Italian. It was only after that I realized the other side was in English… oops.

2) Feasting, Driving, Playing

Regine, Helmut and I then headed out to get baked goods and groceries for a breakfast feast before he hit the road. Ainring is such a lovely village! It’s in Germany, 10 minutes from Salzburg in Austria – I took pictures out the car window of course.

Oh, how could I forget?! We had a bit of fun on the trampoline before breakfast (wouldn’t have been so much fun after breakfast…). Having all this nature around has once again reminded me of its importance in my daily life.

3) Walking in New Places:  Salzburg

Regine and I then walked around Salzburg for 5-6 hours – a huge circle that involved both sides of the river, a bridge decorated with a rainbow of locks placed there by lovers, the breathtaking (literally) Mirabel Garden, the historic downtown with its gazillion churches, the old cemetery at the base of the castle, the steep alley up the hill to the walking paths through the park on the cliff that arches around the downtown core and eventually back to our parking across a different bridge. After a phone call, however, we crossed the river on yet another bridge to join Regine’s daughter Kira and Kira’s father Thomas at a small restaurant for a delicious vegetarian curry. Great idea and I didn’t mind walking longer – I got to see more of Salzburg and I love to walk.  Interestingly, I had been here in 1992 and also as a child, but I don’t remember.  I got to experience it again as if it was the first time (a great gift for movie-watching too).

4) New Friendships 

I’ll let my photos do most of the talking this time. All I want to add is that I really enjoy Regine’s company, making our walk through this glorious setting even more of a blessing. I was thinking of leaving for Vienna Monday night, but she convinced me to stay longer – I’m so glad. I had a great day on Tuesday too, but I’ll save that for my next post.

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Great Ending to A Great Week – Quantum Creativity and More

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Well I’ve left Italy, but the adventure continues as I’m spending a couple of days near Salzburg before returning to Vienna. In case you don’t recognize the name, that’s the location for the movie The Sound of Music, which I must have seen 30 times in my life.  Interestingly, my hostess here has never heard of it.

Ananda Tidbits:

I’m very grateful for my week at Ananda near Assisi. I’ve got a few more pictures to share from my time there before I switch countries on you… plus a few interesting tidbits that never made it in the previous 4 posts I wrote about my week.

Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Ananda_DLH_5877*   I liked the doorknobs at Ananda. The button isn’t to lock the door, but acts the same way as when we turn the knob in Canada. You have to push the button to open and close the door.  The knob doesn’t turn.

*   If you see a sink in Italy that has no taps, it doesn’t mean it’s an automatic motion detection faucet. Look on the floor for a pedal – still great against germs though…

*   At first, I was surprised by the very thin bath towels that look and feel more like cotton tablecloths than  towels.  They’re highly effective, though, and sure would make traveling lighter than regular towels. Something to remember..

*   Even if Ananda was full for the long weekend, I ended up having a room with 3 beds to myself until my last night. Perfect as I get up earlier than most and go to sleep earlier too!

*    On my last night, Dana brought me to Assisi, and after a pizza dinner, I went to half the musical called Chiara di Dio (about the life and death of Saint Clare). After I had already bought my ticket, our waiter told us about a special free concert at the Basilica. Dana had already seen my show twice, so she was glad to hear of another opportunity. She went to that spectacular concert and met me back at my theatre at the intermission. The sign at the door of my show had advertised it as a one-hour show, but it turned out to be a special 2-hour performance that would have ended much too late for both of us (having started at 9:30pm), so I only got to see half. Still, I’m glad. We both enjoyed our evenings, and were thrilled to get back home to bed. I quietly entered my room, where my new roommate was soundly sleeping. I left the next morning to blog and do yoga before she woke up.  Interesting sharing a room with a mystery person. Oh, almost forgot – it was so cool walking back to our parking through tunnels built around old Roman ruins that had to be integrated into the design by law.

Quantum Creativity:

Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Ananda_IMG_7479Starting Friday, I participated in the Quantum Creativity workshop at the Academy of Art, Creativity and Consciousness. Dana basically made links between spirituality (concepts of oneness and consciousness / matter explained by monks of centuries past) and quantum physics (that I had been introduced to years ago in the wonderful movies called “What the Bleep Do We (K)now” and “Down the Rabbit Hole”). She then brought those together in the realm of creativity.

It was a great weekend. Part was theory, part was sound and movement, part was artistic exploration and expression, and part was sharing. We were only two, plus an Italian translator for my wonderful classmate, Maria Gracie. When no translator was around, however, we managed fine with Italian, French and sign language. She was a truly delightful classmate.

There were some magical moments in the workshop, culminating in the formation of an embodied mantra inspired by our collection of art. The bit of poetry below came out of that shared exercise.  I put some of my affirmations together. Each line was inspired by either one of my artistic pieces or one of Maria Grazia. After looking at one of my pieces, she contributed the line on sweet serenity that I used as my title.  This poem will give you an idea of what Dana succeeded in opening up in us through the gifts of her program.

Sweet Serenity

I am
Joyfully dancing through this journey of life,
Spinning around and around.
Letting go of all that doesn’t serve me on this delightful path.
I am
The dance of the angels –
Pure joy, pure expression, pure life.
I am fire, always regenerating.
Circles of light spiral within the ocean of my being.
I am
God unfolding within – all that came before and all that is.

As above so below
Flying high
Going with the flow

I am
Rainbows of gold – pure essence as was, is, and ever will be.
I am
A magical seed of love,
A drop from the heavens,
Surrounded and supported always,
I am
One with all that is Light.

In peace I live.
With equanimity I feel.
In Light I grow and expand.
Sweet serenity is embracing me.
I am.

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Goodbye for now Ananda – Italy

After another beautiful service on Sunday, followed by a huge feast, Helmut easily fit my roll of canvas in his car, which has a special little hole for skis – perfect for my paintings  (see previous post for the full story on my painting project this past week as artist in residence). We had a beautiful 9-hour ride towards Salzburg, engaged in conversation about life and unconditional love the whole way (with the occasional expressions of awe as we drove through the Alps at sundown!)  I can’t believe it was nine hours – felt more like two. I may not be able to do small talk, but the deeper stuff, no trouble. Manifesting this ride for me and my painting was a true blessing. Although I didn’t see Venice  (which so many back home thought I was moving to and not Vienna), I know we were really really close. The water was mere centimeters away on the GPS.  We had to make good time, though, as Helmut had a business meeting the next day in Munich. I’m not complaining.   My adventure is far from over.

We arrived at Regine’s house in Ainring, Germany at midnight. It’s about 15 minutes from Salzburg, Austria. She had been at Ananda the week before and invited me to come and visit for a few days before I took the train back to Vienna. Great idea! I was asleep within 10 minutes and slept very well. I knew I would be spending at least a day with Regine, so I didn’t feel the need or desire to stay up any later to socialize.

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The Artist in Residence Experience – Italy

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I remember thinking over the years that “artist in residence” opportunities out there weren’t particularly suited to my painting process. Instead of painting, I would want to spend all my time experiencing the new location with and without my camera. In fact, I’ve always been more comfortable with the logistics of painting in my own space, since my painting style doesn’t usually involve exterior references. My mostly abstract work comes from an internal connection to Source after invoking my team of guides and angels to help me be fully present with both the universal energy and all my artistic materials at hand. I was never really drawn, therefore, to artist in residence programs.

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As you already know, however, I had booked this trip to Assisi in Italy to attend a workshop with Rassouli, an artist I’ve admired for years. When it was cancelled, I decided to go anyway. I already had my plane ticket, had been strongly guided to go in the first place, and Dana Lynne Andersen, the Creative Director at the Academy of Arts, Creativity and Consciousness, invited me to come paint for a week before her workshop on Quantum Creativity. Well, I’m happy to say that being here made a huge difference in my creative process. Whereas I used to think my art wasn’t influenced by my physical surroundings once I got in my zone, my entire experience at both the Ananda Center and the Academy across the street definitely influenced my painting – the seen and unseen.

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Dana Lynne Andersen

Art for Self-Realization:

Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Ananda_DLH_5783I’ve already shown you the many foundation of layers of this week’s project in a previous post. At that point, I had no idea where this huge painting was going. I prayed for guidance and listened. The images started infiltrating my mind during yoga, meditation, meals, walks, etc. I’m also reading a book this week by Kriyananda (the founder of the Ananda communities) called “Art as Hidden Message – A Guide to Self Realization”. I resonate deeply with much of what he’s written – about the role of art in both creative expression and appreciation. He elaborates on how art is a meditation, a language, an expression of energy and a tool for self-realization. To clarify, he’s talking about art that encourages expansion and connection – my kind of art. He explains that if the artist is already in such a state, the art that he/she will create will reflect that and draw those to it that resonate on the same level or aspire to grow into it. Needless to say therefore, that as my soul expanded this week due to my surroundings, so did my art.

Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Ananda_DLH_5855Indeed, being here has definitely affected my inner state. Beauty in its many forms has lifted my soul. The focused intentions and shared aspirations of those who are attracted to this community fill the space with love. The joy that is invoked through the various practices awakens my every cell. I feel nourished here on many levels, including from the abundance of healthy food designed to enhance body, mind, and soul. All this is coupled with the sacred energy so palpable in Assisi, home of many saints.

 

 

The Design:

Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Ananda_IMG_7464The sketch I made early one morning, therefore, was filled with my experience here.

The most evident is the effect of gazing upon the bella vista of the Umbrian hills so many times a day – from the dining room, from my bedroom, on my walks to the studio. Their undulating curves and atmospheric conditions (the shades of paleness as they recede) have sung their song on my canvas. If you’re familiar with my art, I don’t usually paint landscapes, except for symbolic trees. So the hills were definitely new.

I’ve also been in awe of the sunsets here, even when masked by clouds. In fact, the weather in general has penetrated my work – both the sunny skies and daily showers. Can you see the drips in the background and on the left? The rainbow I saw one day at breakfast influenced my choice of colours – each mountain being primarily one colour of the spectrum. Those are the most obvious references. There are more though.

The graphic style of the painting was partially influenced by the stained glass windows ever so present in the plenitude of Catholic churches in this part of the world. The figure that came to me very much captures the bliss I felt during the first stages of the painting. Remember my dancing slideshow? More than that, it captures for me the Saint Francis energy– my strong love and appreciation for nature and especially for all the birds here. I have been strongly moved by their songs, especially when meditating at Ananda or during the vespers at San Damiano last Sunday. So although many wouldn’t see the connection between Saint Francis and my woman dancing with the birds while turning to the sun in gratitude, it’s there. She represents the essence of love, kindness, compassion and connection within the heart and soul of all beings – perhaps it’s also Saint Clare.

I’m sure there are other subconscious references (like moving up the chakra colours and the various states and stages of specific consciousness described in our Quantum Creativity workshop this morning), but this is enough to show that both the location and the vibration of those within my environment this week have definitely had an effect on my work. Shanti, Amen.

 

A Supported Process:

So was the entire process blissful? No. I am who I am, and so old patterns came along with me on this trip. When my painting came to its awkward teenager phase, it became hard for me to love it … or myself (like mental hiccups – not a prolonged state). I had been so happy with it before as it was growing and filled with possibility. But after covering the hills up with the rainbow colours and stepping back, my heart sank and my words followed. Luckily, Dana – who I am so glad was almost always in the space– was very helpful. Not only did she offer poetic and philosophical insights on my process and its results, such as “The destination is dissolving through the path of the journey (when I started shaping a world on top of my background), but she also gently guided me out of my occasional negative self-talk. In fact, she often offered alternative ways of framing my experience. For example, yesterday afternoon she reminded me that there is no better or worse, there’s only change. How true. Sometimes that change asks for further changes, and sometimes not. It’s about authentic expression and coming from a heart space of love and joy. Anything else creates obstacles for both my Self and my art. Dana is very perceptive, insightful, and helping people unleash their creativity is both her and her academy’s purpose. Through her several programs and certification courses, she helps them awaken higher states of consciousness and create from their center – from the inside out. Her philosophy is so in line with my own – that in itself was very refreshing. I can be a very open, loving, trusting being when I paint, but I can definitely let the doubt and self-criticism creep in “Oh why did I do that? It was so much better before! It’s ruined!…”

Fortunately, the morning after my awkward teenager came into being, our yoga was followed by a purification ceremony very similar to what I had experienced in the shamanic world. The temple was quite full that day as many from the community had come for the Thursday 2.5-hour meditation. I was partaking in a shorter session of yoga/meditation/chanting downstairs. After that, however, we joined the others. We wrote down a negative pattern we were ready to let go of on a piece of paper, asked God for help in releasing it, invited a channel to help us do so by opening ourselves to the Grace of God (he/she placed a finger on our heart chakra and conducted energy through a blessing of the masters – sort of like communion). We then burned the paper while bowing in thanks. Beautiful – I knew exactly what I was meant to let go of. After all, I had invoked God, the spirits of the place, and my celestial committee to work through me on this painting, and so judgment emanating from my lack of faith could only impede the co-creative process. The blessing ended with the statement that we were free. I could feel it – much lighter. Having returned to a state of non-attachment and trust, it was much easier to feel (not through drama, but through calm intuitive knowing) what was being called for next with every layer. The experience became much more joyful then and my process felt very supported – on many levels.

When you consider that it took 5 days to create this huge painting (and a lifetime to bring me to this point of course), I’m absolutely thrilled with the results.

 

Getting it Home

By the way, I never worried about what I was going to do with it once it was done. Again, the experience of creating it was the most important thing for me. I’d even considered leaving it behind since bringing it on the plane would incur significant additional costs. Total non-attachment. I’d surrendered to all possibilities and felt no need to control the details (believe me, that’s not always how it is being a super organizer with a very strong left brain). Early on in the week, however, a solution was presented to me that felt perfect. One of the guests, Helmut, prolonged his stay and is now leaving today after Sunday service to drive to a business meeting in Munich, Germany passing by Salzburg in Austria. I’ll be joining him for a drive through Italy (yay! road trip! Plus I enjoy his company, so it will be great) and am welcomed to stay at a previous guest’s house near Salzburg for a night, so I can spend time visiting that famous and scenic city. Truth be told, I had been singing “The hills are alive with the sound of music” since arriving in Umbria and even thought, in the week before, that it would be nice to visit the beautiful filming location of that movie before my return to Canada. I just didn’t know how to make that happen with less than a month before my departure and so much to do). Regine was here at Ananda when I arrived, but left earlier this week. My new plan feels quite magical and Helmut’s BMW has a special feature that allows for skis to go from the trunk to the front – perfect for my long roll of canvas! From Salzburg, I can easily take the train to Vienna and there’s no extra charge for the rolled up painting. I also avoid having to take the train or bus back to Rome. I may be forfeiting my return plane ticket, but there won’t be any additional costs. Again, wonderful manifestation.

Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Ananda_DLH_5985 Another One?

So – would I recommend the artist in residence program here? Absolutely. The whole set up both at the studio and at Ananda were in line with my personal, artistic and spiritual aspirations. The setting is so conducive to creativity (see previous post). How could I not create something that resonates with my soul’s calling. I would definitely come again if the opportunity presented itself. I may even end up going to the Awakening Arts Center Dana is opening in Portland, Oregon as part of the Ananda Center at Laurelwood. I’m open to the possibilities.

Thanks to all those I met here at Ananda for contributing to this work of art. You’ve made a difference!

 

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Assisi: In the Company of Saints

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Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Assisi_DLH_5563On Wednesday mornings, the ashram offers a guided pilgrimage to Assisi. As there were few guests earlier this week, I was the only one to go. Yay! There are many advantages to private tours:

  • deeper conversations with the guide
  • personalized itinerary
  • personalized pace

Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Assisi_DLH_5699 While my guide Gopala meditated in the various churches or had phone meetings while walking down the streets, I could walk at my own pace looking, feeling, and taking pictures when permitted (unfortunately and fortunately, no photos are allowed inside most churches). When we arrived at a site, Golpala gave me a brief introduction and added interesting facts to what I had learned in my series of movies on Saint Francis.

I was in the company of saints on this day – literally. We visited San Damiano church, which Saint Francis (1181/2 – 1226) built and where Saint Clare died after it had been turned into a convent for her order. I had been to vespers there on Sunday, but got to visit the rooms upstairs and the rest of the site. I’ll admit, although I could still feel the energy this time around, it wasn’t nearly as strong since my busy bee mind was focused on touring. Although I believe that just being here would benefit anyone, only a part of me was in pilgrim mode, and so only a part of me fully benefited from the incredible vibe here. This is probably true of all the sites I visited on Wednesday. My guide’s approach – to meditate at each site – is probably a more appropriate way to experience Assisi. No worries – maybe next time?

We then parked the car and walked through the charming streets of town past picturesque houses and an old Roman temple to the Basilica of Saint Clare, where the original crucifix is that came to life and spoke to Saint Francis when he found it in the ruins of Saint Damiano church. Downstairs, in the crypt, is the tomb of Saint Clare. I didn’t know this at the time, but Saint Agnes is also buried there.

We then went to a little church often bypassed by tourists – Saint Stefano’s. This is a very old and unrestored church – Saint Francis used to pray here. When I say old, I even mean by European standards, not only North American standards where anything over 100 years is considered old. We’re talking 12th Century. You’ll see a picture of this small and simple cave-like church below.

From there, we went to the Papal Basilica of Saint Francis, where I had 45 minutes to make it through the many chapels and murals on the top floor to the courtyard below and the crypt below that. Saint Francis’s tomb is there in a little chapel. When I arrived, I knelt down to pray and within a minute, a Franciscan brother appeared and led a few songs – magical. I didn’t have time to stay longer, so I’m not sure if this was part of a full service or not. My timing was great though. The echo of beautiful Italian voices resonated in the space while the tomb of Saint Francis, built high into a rock column at the front, imbued the space with love and light. That’s why he asked to be buried here, as before that, this place had had a dark history. The statue in front of the basilica represents his return from the Crusades – something I was familiar with thanks to all the movies on YouTube.

We didn’t get to see all the pilgrimage sites in 3 hours, but I certainly got a very good introduction and felt very happy. Thank you Ananda and Gopala! He even took a few pictures of me to submit to Kaliyana’s Facebook travelogue as I was wearing one of her tops. We then returned to the ashram in time for the food blessing and lunch at 1:30pm. Perfect!

 

 

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Breathing, Stretching, Creating & Eating in Italy

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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).

Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Ananda_DLH_5561All 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:

Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Ananda_IMG_7438I 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:

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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:

Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Ananda_DLH_5268I 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!

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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.

Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Ananda_IMG_7450Part 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!

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Buongiorno! First Day in Italy…

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IMG_7420Of course I was at the airport way too early. I waited there longer then I was on the plane to Rome. No matter – better early than late. I might have had time to take the first public transit train at 5am, but instead I spent 8 times as much on a taxi at 4am for the peace of mind of being there on time. Flying within Europe though, means a lot less line ups and hassles – I didn’t even need to show my passport once I landed in Italy. Traveling within the EU certainly has become easier.

I had a great flight – 1.5 hours. There were no movie screens, but I didn’t need one. The scenery was spectacular –  a meditative show reminding me of how small we are on such a big beautiful planet.

I looked for my ride after claiming my luggage, but couldn’t find him. He had been described as a big teddy bear and very Italian. That discounted a lot of the tiny men in suits with printed signs lined up at the arrivals door.   When I got to the end of that line up, I stood there a couple of minutes and saw someone coming my way with a big piece of cardboard. It was facing him, but I thought for sure that’s something an ashram/art studio would do. He too was surprised at how fast I’d made it through. Bimah, one of the creative artists from the ashram’s kitchen, had gotten up almost as early as I had to drive the 2.5 hours to Rome to come pick me up. I’d heard nightmare stories about public transport in Italy, and so chose to arrive with ease and grace on this Sunday and pay for the ride instead. I’ll take the train or bus back, but appreciated the ease of transition into a new culture/country/experience. The ride was wonderful and I got the kind of introduction to the country that no public transport provides. One can say “Wow!” a lot in 2.5 hours. Holding my big heavy camera out the window and trying to shoot something on the other side wasn’t very successful (the Romans didn’t build their aqueducts as crooked as one appears here!), but fun nonetheless.  Here’s a glimpse at what I saw outside the windows of our moving car. The last shots are of Assisi.  It was only one of the many small earth-tone towns that sat on a hilltop during this trip.  Assisi is part of Umbria, about halfway between Rome and Florence.  It’s absolutely beautiful, and I’m told quite similar to the neighbouring Tuscany, where many artists go to create.

Remember, if you’re on the website itself (vs. email), you can click on the first photo and navigate through each gallery at full screen.

We got to Ananda Ashram (30 minutes from Assisi) just in time for the Sunday 11am service – another advantage of getting a ride.  Had I come by bus, I would have arrived at about 5pm. The lovely Anandita at reception took down my information and helped me up to the top floor to my shared room (3 beds & a balcony) and showed me where the washrooms were at the end of the hall. I then met Dana, the Creative Director at the Academy of Arts, Creativity and Consciousness.  She graciously introduced me to folks, showed me the small farmer’s market and then led me to the temple.  That’s where I found out that in Italy, things rarely start on time. There’s an active community here and lots of guests who had just finished a week-long chakra yoga intensive. The ashram is very busy at times with its retreats, workshops, etc.  I’m told the dining room is as full as it was this Sunday through July and August with all the guests staying on site in the main building, camping in the forest behind, or sleeping at the dormitories 15 minutes walk away.  I almost stayed there, but am so glad I didn’t.  Again – ease and grace as I experience life at the ashram to the fullest.

The service was beautiful – an east meets west feel, as Dana describes it. I had expected Sanskrit, but everything was either in English or Italian– most often both. Some parts were delivered in both languages, or I could hear the English simultaneously translated on my headset or read it in their booklet. This helped my ear get used to Italian. I could guess many words with my background in both French and English.

The service had a very Christian feel and of course, the sermon was totally appropriate for what I had been experiencing this week – lots of talk about “the real world” and “delusion” and how we often have those two mixed up. It was right in line with my fears and insecurities about returning to “the real world” in a month when this year of art studies overseas comes to an end. It helped me re-frame that and remember that life is indeed as I make it. This was also in line with the Hicks Abraham videos I had been watching this week to help me regain my faith in myself and the future. Sounds dramatic – I tend to express myself that way at times. It makes for a more interesting read.  It wasn’t so bad – just a mental hiccup. Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Ananda_DLH_4972Jesus is indeed one of the gurus for the Ananda community.  There’s a line of gurus, that also includes Paramhansa Yogananda, whose  “Autobiography of a Yogi” , I had thoroughly enjoyed and been inspired by in my Spiritual Leadership classes during my Masters of Education program years ago. His direct disciple, an American named Kriyananda founded the Ananda communities in 1968. Their “non-sectarian teachings embrace the truths that underlie all the great religions.”

Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Ananda_DLH_4977After the 2 hour + service, it was feast time. Delicious vegan and vegetarian food served cafeteria style in a room with a spectacular view. I’ll enjoy having 3 all-you-want-to-eat meals a day here, designed to feed the body, mind, and spirit (prepared in the yogic tradition). Have I ever mentioned I hate to cook, but love to eat?  Well, I do.

I took some alone time after lunch – I’d been on the go since 3am. After unpacking, I headed into the surrounding gardens and woods with my camera.

Along the way, I met a lovely man named Helmut who came here from Austria by car. We talked about Vienna for a while (in English) and then he mentioned that he was going to the vespers at San Damiano church if I’d like to join him and 2 German gals. Absolutely! That was also the name of my room. What I’d forgotten is that it was the church that Saint Francis rebuilt, almost from the ground up, after he “saw the figure of Christ crucified come alive and say to him, “Francis, don’t you see my house is crumbling apart? Go, then, and restore it!” “. I’d seen it depicted in the 6 or so movies I watched on his life in the past couple of months and so leaping from movie world to the actual location was awesome. It’s also where Saint Clara died, but the room where that happened was closed for the evening. I’m told I have to go back to experience that. If it’s anything like the church itself, it will be quite the experience. Dominique Hurley_ Italy_Assisi_DLH_5183

I’m getting ahead of myself though. We left the ashram in the warm sunshine with rumbles of thunder in the distance. Half way to Assisi though, we got caught in a hail storm and had to pull over under a tree to save the car. What rain too! Once back on the road, we decided it was no use walking around the church in the pouring rain and just drove around. Police were guiding traffic at one of the tunnels that was starting to flood. We also saw a sewer grid on a country road get pushed up at a 90 degree angle by the gush of muddy waters spewing out of it. Quite the adventure and of course, I took pictures from inside the wet windows.

When the rain slowed down, we stopped in town for ice cream, but I was still full from lunch.  It looked great though….

It’s hard to describe what I felt inside the church. For the first half hour, the nuns, Franciscan brothers, and a handful of tourists and community member recited the rosary (at least that’s what I believe it was – I recognized the cadence and some of the words, but my Italian is near non-existant). As I sat there, the energy was so strong that my head  pulsated uncomfortably. I had to remind myself to breathe and to let the energy flow through me, not resist it.  Once I did that, my whole body was vibrating in the energy of Saint Francis and Saint Clare – very powerful indeed. When the vespers started – with its prayers and chants (I loved signing in Italian as it’s quite easy to read – very phonetic), I felt simply grateful for the “chance” meeting in the forest that had led to my being here on my very first night in Italy. The bird songs filled the church and my being during the silent meditation times – reminding me of how each movie I saw had depicted Saint Francis’s relationship to the birds in different ways. I strongly resonate with his love of nature and its creatures and could just imagine him running barefoot through the hills and fields filled with wildflowers of all colours and shapes. It feels great to be here!

 

Back at the ashram, we ate the very welcomed meal that the kitchen workers had put aside for us. I was asleep before 9:30pm and before my German roommate had finished packing her bags.   I dreamed a lot that night.

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A Day Fit for a Queen

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They say that like attracts like.  I certainly believe that on an energetic / vibrational level too.  I therefore set out yesterday for a day of feeling abundant, delighted, awed, free, inspired, joyful, and grateful in so many way. The sun was shining and it was pleasantly warm with a cooling breeze. What a perfect follow up to my previous post on switching channels.

Kreuzenstein Castle:

It only took an hour and ten minutes to get from my door to the village of Leobendorf. Public transportation here is amazing.  I was there by 9am. The U6 subway is minutes away from my residence and once at its end station, Florisdorf, I took the S-bahn (fast train) #3 to Leobendorf. Total: 4.20€ ($6.25 Canadian).  The highlight of that ride was seeing a field full of bright red poppy flowers.

Once in Loebendorf, it’s about a 45 minute walk to the castle – through the village and up a lovely forested path.

The castle was beautiful – got my imagination going as I took in the vibe and walked around it taking photos.  I didn’t take the guided tour of the inside (never was much into museums and photos weren’t allowed anyway- part of my fun). Nor did I visit the adjoining birds of prey centre for their 11am show.  The cheers from school kids and the occasional raptor swooping up from behind the wall added to the atmosphere though.

Instead, I had brought my tripod and had fun playing fashion model.  I was wearing two of my favourite Kaliyana Artwear pieces, so thought I’d create some more submissions for their Facebook Travelogue.  It’s challenging because they’ll eventually crop long horizontal images when castles would lend themselves better to verticals.  All part of the creative challenge.  I was lucky. There weren’t too many people.  Just me and my camera having fun!

After a couple of hours, I was ready for lunch.  What a feast! I would return to the castle just to eat at the  Burgtaverne-Kreuzenstein again.  The weather was perfect to eat outdoors, the staff were super friendly, their menu was a great read (they gave me an English version), and the food was the best I had had in Austria so far.  I chose the monthly special (see photo) – a chicken stew on bread dumplings. I felt like a queen having a luxurious picnic overlooking her castle. As I sat there enjoying my meal surrounded in such beauty, I could feel my entire being basking in the vibrations I was meant to both emanate and attract.

After lunch, I headed back down the hill, taking twice as long as when I came up. Nature’s splendor had me stopping every few steps all the way back to the train.  I was particularly taken by an iridescent being having its own lunch.

By 3pm, I had washed off the sunscreen in a cold shower and was lying on my bed with my legs up the wall – refreshing!

Watch What You Think:

By 5pm, I was ready to leave again for the evening portion of my luxurious day.

I took a convoluted route and walked another hour to downtown with music leading my steps.  I had an interesting experience on my way there that was totally in line with what I’d been listening to on the Abraham-Hicks videos.  I was on the shady side of the huge Mariahillferstrasse pedestrian mall with my hat dangling from my hand and my Kaliyana pants swaying in their uniquely beautiful way.  As I passed a gorgeous white puppy of the sled-dog variety, I thought how tempting all that flowing material must be.  A few seconds later, I felt a tug from behind and turned with a huge smile.  That darling little puppy had read my thoughts and responded to the images I had put out there in the universe.  The owners were shocked and so apologetic.  They seemed puzzled by what had happened.  I wasn’t.  I only laughed at the clarity of the lesson and crouched down to spend a moment in love.  Although I’ve never had a dog, most of my encounters with them are counted as the highest of blessings.  Watch what you think people – the universe responds!

Sacher Torte:

Sacher Cake is a Vienna tradition  – internationally recognized and still handmade to this day. It was invented in 1832 by a 16 year-old apprentice who had make a special desert for royal guests when his boss was ill.  Needless to say, it was a hit.  I decided that I had to partake in this tradition and headed to the Sacher Hotel for this famous chocolate & apricot jam treat.  The hotel is a family-run 5-star hotel with a lot of history.  You’ve got to be careful though – the most visible café at its base with its huge outdoor terrace, the Mozart Café does not serve the original recipe, which is a family secret.  They did tell me theirs is better, but did not claim it was the original.  After they failed to entice me to their establishment, they directed me around the corner to where I found the Sacher Café.  It was only after I had enjoyed my delicious treat and read my second historically interesting menu of the day, however, that I realized that the much nicer Sacher Restaurant (which also serves the Sacher Torte, of course) is nextdoor to that (I took a photo to show).  I considered going in for another piece, but let that go.  I had had a taste of the Original Sacher Cake with unsweetened whipped cream and I’m glad to say it was much better than the piece I had had at the Schönbrunn Palace last year (a disappointing dry and tasteless experience).  I had to give it one more chance before leaving Vienna, and I’m glad I did.  I was only a bit baffled when I gave the waiter a 10 and asked for 6 (here that means charge me for 6 and give me 4 back).  He said thank you and gave me back the exact change, not leaving me any coins for a tip. I tried to get his attention several times after that, without success, so left without leaving a tip (something tourist guides say is usual for cafés, but not something I like doing).  As I was replaying the scene in my mind, it occurred to me that I may have asked “Sex please” instead of “Six please” as the pronunciation in German is so close.  Perhaps that request had been tip enough.

La Traviata – Vienna Opera House’s Free Outdoor Screenings

The Opera House is right across the street from the Sacher Hotel, and so I didn’t have far to go. The crowds had already started gathering in the outdoor seating area to watch the live screening of that’s night opera (May-June and September).  You can actually get standing room inside for 2.50€ or 3€ , but I imagine you get a better view and are more comfortable if you’re early enough to get a chair outdoors- as I was.  By the 7pm start, however, hundreds were sitting on ground all around.  I actually enjoyed La Traviata (not usually a big opera fan) and so glad I had read the story beforehand. It’s not one with a lot of action, props, or other cues and the German subtitles only helped me a tiny bit.  The music, however, was beautiful and I was really in the mood for it.  What a lovely evening.

At 9:30pm, I walked home through the huge crowds at the Museum Quartier enjoying the warm weather and ever-present festive atmosphere in downtown Vienna at night (something I don’t often experience since I’m usually in bed so early).  I felt absolutely royal (without the responsibilities of any monarchy).  My task today was to enjoy myself.  And that, I did!

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