I lived in Vienna, Austria from September 2013 to June 2014 to study at the Vienna Academy of Visionary Arts.

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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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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Enough! Switching Channels…

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(Keep scrolling down if you’re only into photos – over 75 in this post…)

By noon today, cabin fever had set in.  Apart from walking to school, where I spent a couple of hours on Monday and Tuesday, I had been glued to my computer since last Thursday. I didn’t mind when it was cold and rainy.  It’s what I wanted.  I spent a few hours doing drawing lessons on YouTube, kept looking for a place to live in St. John’s, wrote blogs, and did some of my barter tasks for the Academy.  Way too many of those hours, however, were spent watching movies.  Grant it, I learned a lot from them – always do.  Most of them were based on true stories and most of those were about the lives of artists.  Although dramatic and depressing – as were the lives of most artists who are featured in movies – these films also inspired me in some ways.  I especially liked the French film on Séraphine, a painter I had never heard from a town I lived in during a high school exchange. I really resonated with both her art and her simple love of nature and God. Like many others, however, she spent the last years of her life in an asylum.

In my search for more inspiring movies, though, I ended up on a website that reminded me of David Hawkin’s findings (on his map of Consciousness/Energy Grid): “Most movies will weaken people who watch them by bringing their energy levels down below the 200 level of consciousness.” (on a scale of 1000).  I knew that.  I can feel it.  Still, when I get on a roll, it’s hard to stop. I may not do drugs or drink anything but water, really, but I certainly use movies for escapism.  (I’ve been good on leaving the chips out of that equation lately though…)

Anyway, this morning, as I stood there for an hour covered in a thick dark stinky oil (part of my daily Ayurvedic skin treatment for eczema for 2-3 weeks) I decided to switch channels and watch inspirational videos by my favourite channeler, Esther Hicks channeling Abraham.  Their material has inspired me for years. I was still on the computer, but it was a whole lot better for me. It’s not like I can sit down, do yoga, type, or much of anything with this coat of oil on….  and standing meditation for an hour would drive me mad.  Instead, I watch, listen, and do a few basic stretches.  At least I’ve switched channels and its main message was loud and clear: “Life is supposed to be fun” and everything you want is downstream, so stop paddling upstream.  I can hear some of you now… but in context it all makes sense!  By getting into a state of joy, abundance, gratitude – it will put me in the vibrational realm to attract more of the same. I’ve proven it to myself and others before, yet I constantly have to remind myself.

So instead or worrying about getting my life back in Canada figured out immediately or working on projects that didn’t inspire me today, I let the bright warm sunshine draw me out.  It took a lot. One voice inside me kept saying “but it’s a workday!”(something that’s only true on my schedule if I decide it to be so.  Plus, as an artist/photographer/writer – my work is anywhere and everywhere).  I’m not a slacker by nature. I used to be a workaholic.  I knew, however, that I had to do something to put me back in good state of body, mind, and spirit.  So I looked up a great self-guided tour of Vienna website and started making a wishlist of place in and out of town.  It was too late for one of my nature hikes, but I finally dragged myself out the door.  Once out, I had an amazing afternoon.  I walked around for 3.5 hours before life drawing class.  I used my Google Maps on my iPhone for general directions, but wasn’t shy about wandering off course when something called me.

It was great.  Here are some highlights:

  • weather was perfect – sleeveless with sunscreen, but not too hot
  • love cobblestone and the sound of horse wagons clopping by
  • there are so many churches in Vienna!
  • there are so many chocolate and pastry shops in Vienna!
  • I found 2 “beaches” along the Danube, right downtown, minutes from school.  One is really just a terrace with sand (where 2 of my classmates were taking their lunch break!), but the other gives the impression of a real beach (minus the swimming).
  • there are artist studios along the Danube. Cool!
  • great window displays on the ground floor and looking up is always amazing – such great architecture!

I’m so glad I got myself out there.  Tomorrow is the last sunny day in the forecast before I leave for Italy, so I’m either going on Vienna City Hike #7 or going to visit Top Day Trip #4 (having been to 1-3) – Kreuzenstein Castle, just half an hour out of town.

It really hit me when I talked to my parents on Skype yesterday and said “see you in 1 month and 6 days”…  My time in Europe is running out! I’m in Vienna now!  How can I not take more advantage of that?! Trying too hard to manufacture my return to “the real world” or losing myself in movies isn’t helping.  I’m glad I switched channels.

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Come Walk Downtown With Me – Brno & Vienna

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Dominique Hurley_ CZ_Brno_DLH_4026bAfter a great weekend in the Czech Republic with friends, it was time to return to Vienna.  I had a live drawing class at 4pm on Monday, and so I had bought an online ticket for the 11:30am bus back.  After breakfast and saying goodbye to my hosts, I headed for Brno to walk around for a couple of hours. There were occasional showers, but it was much sunnier and warmer than the day before. I was grateful for that.  I was also grateful for the  invention of carry-ons with wheels!

I wandered the downtown streets past familiar sites – from my last few visits and twenty some years before.

Thousands were lined up in Liberty Square for what I understood to be free skin-cancer diagnostics and sunscreen samples by Daylong. They took groups of 20 at a time in a big tent – not sure what they did, and although I was curious, I didn’t have time to wait.

The farmer’s market was relocated in a park just outside the downtown core due to construction in the Market Square.

For the first time this year, I ended up walking past the two big theaters. I remember going to operas and ballets there in the 90s for about 50 cents. Bus loads from Vienna used to come up for that. I wonder how much they are these days.

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Although I felt very comfortable walking around Brno, I much preferred my time outside the city in the smaller towns – always have.

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After another bus ride, movie, and glances at the moving scenery, I arrived in Vienna at 1:20pm, basically 2 hours before the start of class.  I knew that if I went home to drop off my suitcase, there would be a risk that I wouldn’t make it out again.  So instead, I walked around downtown Vienna for another 2 hours. It was fun playing tourist with the throngs of other people doing the same.  Here are more pictures – enjoy your walk along. I’m glad you’re here.

I feel so very blessed to have this time and this space in which to live my life.

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Back to Basics – Routines & Structures

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Being an entrepreneur takes discipline. So does being a student.  I’ve learned with the years that I work extremely well within a structured routine, even if I’m guided to do so all around the world.

Now that I’m back in Austria and no longer a full time student at the Vienna Academy of Visionary Arts, it’s time I figure out what that routine will be. I have goals and have less than 2 months to meet them, and so I’m motivated.  A good start.

After nursing a cold in bed on Saturday, I had to call on every ounce of motivation and energy to kick myself out of my new cozy apartment on Sunday. Discipline isn’t only required for work, but also for leisure. I can get into hermit mode much too easily and I didn’t think another sedentary day would be that good for my health.

It’s not like my time on the Internet this weekend was unproductive, however. I followed up on the recommendations given to me in the Eye of the Spirit workshop.  My blue veiled lady reminded some of the participants of Modigliani’s work, so I looked him up.

My painting

I can see why – look at those noses.  Seeing a great artist’s rendition of the human figure was comforting as I continue my own exploration of stylistic approaches to figures. I’m so not interested in painting photo realistic people.  While researching, I found a really good movie about his life on YouTube (2004 -with Andy Garcia). That led to my finding one on Klimt (2006- with Malkovich).  Artists’ lives can be so dramatic and depressing… they make for good movies though…  As an aside, I also found a 3-hour movie based on a book from one of my favourite authors back in the 80s – Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Mists of Avalon.  The timing of that one was perfect for Beltane – the Gaelic May Day festival.

But as this great little video below (which was recommended on Facebook) reminded me, it was time to disconnect and reconnect.

So by 1pm on Sunday afternoon, I succeeded in forcing myself out of the house.  To my great delight, I found out that one of my favourite spots in Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace’s extensive gardens, were only 1 hour’s walk away along just 3 streets – no subway tickets, transfers, or crowds. Great discovery! I walked there, spent an hour walking around and sitting in the gusty 15 degree sunshine, and walked back.  I’m glad I had brought my iPhone for a few pics. It was too late for most flowering trees and too early for their impressive flower gardens, but gorgeous nonetheless.

Now it’s the workweek.  Here’s my plan.

  • Daily early morning yoga
  • Daily walk
  • Healthy meals
  • Minimum 5 hours / Maximum 10 hours a day on my Art Empowers Me e-course to redesign my website and tackle the world of online sales (back to the basics)
  • On days when I’m not at school, at least 1 hour doing drawing lessons with YouTube
  • At least 1 day off a weekend
  • Part time studies at The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art:  The trimester started a month ago and both their programming and my budget won’t allow for me to be full-time anymore.  I’ll still attend occasional sessions open to the public or modules that the teachers think I can ease into.  This week, for example, I’m planning to attend
    – Monday & Wednesday life drawing classes (4-6pm)
    – special Sacred Codes lecture on the Gnostic Worldview (Thursday 6:30 – 8pm).1609742_460855427377808_6741084681065134435_n

That’s my plan for the next 3 weeks before my week in Italy.  Enough said – it’s time to get to it. Have a great week!

 

 

 

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Austrian Homecoming – Friends, Culture & Nature

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DLH_3679It’s hard to believe I’ve only been back in Austria for 3 days. I’ve already experienced so much that I want to share with you.  I loved my trip to Bali and It’s good to be back.  Everything felt instantly familiar when I landed, even if the Czech speakers behind me in the customs line-up made it harder for me to come out with anything in German when it was my turn.

  • my 30 hours in transit went smoothly – time for a few movies, a nap, blog writing
  • note: unlike with other airlines, with Qatar Airlines, pre-ordering a special meal (Asian vegetarian) does not mean you’ll be served before everyone else.  You get served a the same time or even after everyone else.
  • the toughest part of the journey: I took the S-bahn + subway + tramway with my wonky old suitcase & carry-on from the Vienna airport to downtown, where I stayed for a night at my school’s directors’ home.  I saved about $60 on a taxi, but quickly became nostalgic for Bali’s affordable driver and porter services.
  • had a wonderful dinner with Florence Ménard, Laurence Caruana, their son Clovis, and  Kuba Ambrose – a friend and former teacher.  So nice to catch up and be amongst loved ones. I felt very much at home.
  • was in bed a little after 9pm, grateful to be lying down to sleep- airplane naps are always hard on the neck.  It’s also nice to brush my teeth with tap water again…
  • up at my usual 5am (I love the fact my brain doesn’t understand jet lag) and edited my Sanur photos until the family woke up. Their cat Zen kept me company.
  • went to the housing office to pick up my key at the prescribed 2pm, went to the bank, and stopped for lunch at the nearby pay-what-you-want Divan Pakistani buffet.  I paid more than the $2-4 meals back in Bali, but less than I would have for a meal that would have satisfied my hunger in a Viennese restaurant.  (Later that night, I listened to a podcast on pay-what-you-want in the art world… I’ve done lots of stuff like this before and the idea of offering a regular karma painting appeals to who and what I am. Loved hearing more about it.)
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  • on my way back with my new key, I saw that the Votive Church had its doors open. I had long wanted to visit it, so I walked in and found myself in the midst of a contemporary art exhibit intermingled with the more traditional offerings of an active church built centuries ago.  The juxtaposition had quite an effect on me and once the theme was explained, I decided to walk through another time.  I found out that the Minister of Culture and the Cardinal had sponsored this show of international artists on the theology of the body and sexuality. Actually, the German word “Leiblichkeit”, I’m told, has no accurate English translation and I won’t attempt remembering what I was told – it’s simply worth a visit if you’re around, plus it’s free.   Because of this project, the back of the church has been opened for the first time in 60 years.  From video screens in confessionals, to bronze skulls chained to coffins, to lighted globes with used up fly tape, to a bronze sculpture of a skinned man holding the scissors that had been used in the Emperor’s failed assassination attempt, to window panes with multiple digital screens, to mirrored halls… some of it was definitely poignant and, as I said before, so much better when you understand the story behind each piece. Sometimes, however, I had to ask myself if what I was looking at was art … like the aesthetically stacked benches and chairs. I asked the security guard and found out it was only storage.  He said folks were taking pictures of him sitting in front of his security screen, thinking it was another digital art display.  Ah, contemporary art… The exhibition runs until June 15th.
  • I don’t believe in coincidences – there’s a reason for everything. I’m still trying to figure this one out.  As I got my 8 pieces of stuff out in front of Florence & Laurence’s apartment to wait for a taxi (2 suitcases, 1 carry-on bag, 2 bags of art and misc., 1 tripod, 1 camera bag, 1 purse), a man crossed the street and said “I thought I recognized you and then you turned around and still had your yellow carry-on tag on your backpack, so I knew it was you”.  In a big city like Vienna, on a small side street, I met the man who sat beside me on my long plane ride back from Asia.  Of German or Austrian background, he now lives in Indonesia and exports teak furniture – one of his stores was right across the street.  Of course, the way my mind works, I wondered why we were meeting again.  There must be a reason. You know, soul mate movie stuff – but I knew this man was married and he had annoyed me a bit on the plane (my issue, not his). I had trouble hearing the Keanu Reeves samurai movie I was watching because of his exuberant conversation with the woman across the aisle.  Also, he was quite overweight and had no choice but to repeatedly enter my mini-on-plane space bubble by leaning his leg into mine. So I decided this “coincidence” was simply an occasion to send good vibes and well wishes his way instead.  I’m glad I had this chance to correct my karma within such a short time frame.  His extroverted friendliness was actually quite welcomed this time around.
  • I moved into my new residence room – exactly like the previous apartment (same Ikea furniture, same bedding, same dishes, etc.), but at the end of the walkway and a few floors up. The only mind-bending aspect is that one of the walls follows the contours of the building at a slight diagonal instead of the previous straight wall.  I’ve caught myself a few times needing to reassure myself that I wasn’t seeing crooked – I’m just in a new apartment. The different view out the windows quickly snaps me back into real time. 🙂
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  • May 1 was a holiday here – something like Labour Day. What a perfect day of culture & nature and a welcomed opportunity to see my classmates again.

    I joined the group for a field trip to the Austrian countryside to visit Peter Gric, a famous visionary artist and nice guy.  I recognized one of his pieces from the Phantastenmuseum, but knew nothing about his work (not surprising – I’m not one to know other artists much).  I’d heard his name though – in class and even in Bali…
    DLH_3631We had a great visit.  Peter explained his process and demonstrated how he spends weeks creating worlds on the computer that he then collapses and studies as they’re collapsing.  He can see the inside of the buildings he’s created from all sorts of angles and then decides on perspectives for paintings.  I don’t do his process justice. It’s truly fascinating!  Again, understanding the process and hearing him talk about it helped me appreciate his work even more.  You can see some of the videos we watched on his YouTube channel.

    After a few hours in his studio, we went for a hike up the nearby mountain.  Beautiful views.  It took a while for me to stop imagining I was looking at rice fields.

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  • After taking the train back to Vienna (about an hour), I had dinner and rejoined the group and some of my other teachers/ friends for another cultural excursion.  De Es was having a party in his studio – a huge warehouse off Mariahilffestrasse (that huge shopping street a few minutes away from my place).  Wow!
    DLH_3756I was familiar with his big man sculptures – there are a few in the Palais Palffy, where the school is.  Again, he’s a big name in the visionary art world, but I knew nothing about him.  His early work was more what I’d expect from a visionary artist.  His newer work, however, spoke to me so much more – worlds conveyed in a more abstract style on a huge scale in a huge space.  Do you remember when I talked about using 3D glasses to see my paintings pop?  Well, you don’t need 3D glasses for these – it’s as if you were wearing them just looking at his work.  Of course some pieces resonated with me more than others –  passages into fantastic worlds of colour. What a great day!  I felt more social than I had in a while.  Nice.
  • On Friday, I registered my new address at the magistrate’s office, stocked my fridge with food from Denn’s organic market, and cooked a batch of soup and a batch of salmon/veggie stir fry on white rice (sigh, I miss brown rice, but it’s not good for Pitta imbalances) – my first time cooking in a month!  I successfully fought off my recurring urge to go out and buy chips (only time in Bali was at the airport) … I must break that addiction if I want to heal my skin – no good being a health food nut with a chip habit. Within a day of my return, my eczema started up beneath my eyes and my hands got worse too -my hair also tangles up after showers –  it’s so much drier here than Bali and the water seems harsh (albeit drinkable).  No worries – it’s just a reminder that certain locations are more conducive to certain people – it’ll be humid again when I return to Newfoundland in July – without the unbearable heat of Bali (which so many love).
  • my email inbox is empty for the first time in a month – trust me… such a relief 🙂
  • It seems that my super immune boosters and healing treatments in Bali spared me from anything serious while there, but I did catch a cold that started with a bit of a sore throat on the plane. After a day of nothing, it has moved into my sinuses, so I’m staying home today (at least I’m hoping it’s just a cold and that I won’t hemorrhage to death in my sleep tonight from dengue fever… oh, ooops… drama.  Rewind – cancel.  Hee hee.  It’s true, some symptoms are similar and manifest days after a mosquito bite, but I’m not worried – just the sniffles. No high fever, soreness, or headache.  Just the sniffles.  All is well. 🙂  I just might get a couple of movies in instead of a full work-day on my art business e-course.  My new apartment came with an Internet cable that reaches all the way to my bed – bonus!  It’s raining out anyway – perfect for a home day.  It’ll be good to have a day of rest after so much running around for over a month.  Ah, so many blessings!
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Magical Manifestation – Cycling in Vienna

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Have you seen the movie “The Secret“? I really recommend it. I already believed in the power of manifestation before I watched it, but it was refreshing to see it so clearly visually represented. I even know a few skeptical businessmen who were really affected by this movie when it came out in 2006. Anyhow, this past week has been a great reminder for me about the strength of intention in our lives.

IMG_6358 copyI mean, being here in Vienna and heading to Bali in a few hours for more art workshops are both huge examples of manifestation (thanks to the support of the Universe and so many of you!). It’s the smaller examples, however, that remind me daily of the potency of our thoughts and feelings.

DSCN3322Take this week, for instance. You’ve already read how I had wanted a haircut and asked my friend in the Czech Republic for a recommendation while on the way to visit friends I hadn’t seen in over 20 years. Within a couple of hours, sitting in their living room enjoying everyone’s company, I got a great haircut from their now-grown-up daughter who happened to be a hairdresser. That was a super-speed illustration of ask-and-ye-shall-receive. Thanks again Petra!

Well, my last day in Vienna provided me with quite a few more examples / reminders.  Here’s how manifestation works. While in the Czech Republic, a few friends talked about going cycling together in May or June. I got so excited and gave a big internal “yes!”. The place they described sounded fantastic and I hadn’t biked since I got to Europe. It was on my wish list. Apart from walking, cycling has been my main mode of transportation for decades. As part of my fundraiser to come here, however, I had followed through on guidance to sell “Baby”, my men’s 10-speed bike that I had had for 31 years and the only possession I shed tears for when it came time to let it go.  It had been my vehicle to so much joy,  freedom, health, and savings after all, but I hadn’t used it much for 2 years because of all the hills in St. John’s. Anyhow, I put it up for sale online at a really high price and sold it within a day – a clear sign it was meant to be. Keep this cycling story in mind as I take a little detour.

IMG_6335On my last day in the Czech Republic, my friend Lucka suggested we go pick wild garlic to add to our lunch. The idea of picking fresh food in the forest thrilled me, but time ran out, so we used some she had picked the day before instead.

Back to Vienna. I woke up yesterday not expecting to do much except finish packing, bring a last little bag of stuff for storage at school, and meet a couple of folks for lunch. I had put out an invitation to classmates and teachers to join me at The Reform House,  a healthy restaurant that serves mostly vegan food: one hot dish and your choice of 3 amazing salads for 7.50€. One of my classmates goes regularly by tram or scooter, but since I didn’t have a transit pass, I never had time to make it there and back to school on time by foot. I would always ask him to report on his choices, however, and kept telling myself I’d go one day. Lunch at the Reform House was definitely on my wish list.

IMG_6373So that’s what I did. I met Timea and Rachel there and had a delicious hot spinach pastry with beet & bean salad, Waldorf celery root salad, and potato salad. Delicious!  My original plan was to go back home after that. You can imagine, therefore, how thrilled I was when Timea invited us for a bike ride. OK, well, actually,  my first thought was “I don’t want to risk getting hurt before Bali, and most folks here don’t have helmets. Plus I’ve seen how dangerous tourists are when they walk unknowingly across bike paths in the core… I was one of those!”. So, as often is the case, I didn’t say a huge “Yes!” right away. Believe it or not, I’ve always had trouble adjusting to changes in plans and often see the potential danger of things at first. See, it’s all about feeling the fear and doing it anyway. It’s about stretching comfort zones and realizing that Hey! I had asked the Universe for this in the first place through my joy at the idea of cycling just a few days ago. So after a minute of humming and hawing, I did say “Yes!” and had a most magical day!

IMG_6338IMG_6332Timea had 2 bikes, so I took one of those and Rachel registered for the rent-a-bikes that are all over town. Once you’re registered, they’re free for the first hour, and 1€ for the second hour, etc. So from thinking I was only going to stay home and pack while waiting for the next day to arrive, I found myself atop a most comfortable bike (I like sitting up straight – much better for my neck and back than Baby – my next bike will be more like this), cycling on Vienna’s superb bike path network through the city and across the Danube canal, through the Prater Park, and along both the new and old Danube rivers. I should mention that cycling on the Danube Island had been on my wish list since last September when I realized it was way too long to walk. Needless to say, I grinned most of the afternoon, thrilled at the sites along the way, the sunshine, the company, the feeling of zooming down a huge spiral ramp, etc. I even got to help a lady get her friend’s dog out of the river, where it was determined to get itself killed by a couple of equally stubborn swans. Quite the chaos!

It was only when Timea turned onto one of the many dirt paths in the Prater Park and stopped in a field of wild garlic that I realized I was living the power of manifestation in triple (Reform House, cycling, and picking wild garlic!). I believe that my simple “I’d love that!” feeling in Omice on Wednesday opened up this opportunity with Timea. I wanted to pick garlic, and I did. Perfect!

What a magical day indeed! As we sat near the new Danube river, me with a cola popsicle (something I hadn’t had since I was a child – so good, especially since I haven’t even had a Coke in years), and them with beer and pastry, I marveled at the law of attraction.  Joyful thoughts and feelings coupled with clear intention and letting go had once again led to what I wanted, as well as to deep gratitude (part of the cycle). Thank you Universe, Czech friends, Timea & Rachel, and Higher Self, who helped me get past the initial “No, I’m too scared” feelings that almost stop me from living my life at times. What a great reminder as I head off this morning for my big adventure in Bali. All is well indeed!

So here I am at the Vienna Airport –  6 hours early.  OK, I’ll admit, 6 hours is really early even for me, but I was ready and waiting at home anyway and no longer had my Internet cable. Plus the public transit system is amazing here! So now I can use the free wi-fi, people-watch, and ensure I won’t miss my plane due to some unforeseen event or long line-ups at security….  I don’t mind sitting around, especially after all that great exercise yesterday.  I can daydream, meditate, set intention, pray, and think pretty well anywhere.  Time to manifest a great month in Bali.

What thoughts and feelings are you projecting out to the Universe?

 

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Happy Equinox!

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I had no idea that the Equinox wasn’t always on the 21st.  It was actually at 5:57pm today (about an hour ago as I write this) here in Vienna.

Spring has definitely sprung in Vienna – big time!  My lunchtime walk to the pay-what-you-can Pakistani buffet, Deewan, was probably my favourite lunchbreak of the whole trimester!  So many signs of Spring (if not summer!):

* first day with open-toed sandals,IMG_6140* couples getting their wedding photos done outdoorsIMG_6139* the flowers have been planted and the trees are in full bloom


* the parks are busyIMG_6155* the terraces are too


* the fountains have been turned on


* the rose bushes have been uncovered and the chairs brought out in the the Volksgarten


* the number of tour groups clogging up the streets (yes, I’m talking like a local) have quadrupled


* and so have the number of services catering to tourists

What a glorious day indeed!  I’m glad I had my iPhone with me to take pictures.  Oh – and the lunch was great!  Tomorrow, we celebrate the end of our trimester with an Equinox Party & art exhibition – if you’re in town, do drop by.  Lots to see and do!

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Vienna City Hike #6 – Zugberg-Maurer Wald

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The sun is definitely shining down on us here in Vienna.  It may not have been out all day, but it wasn’t forecasted at all, so we were very lucky yet again.

DLH_6866Martin, Rachel, Nora and I met at the Hietzing subway station at 11am.  The digital display already showed 11C as we hopped on tram 60 to its end station in Rodaun.  That’s where City Hiking Path #6 starts.   It’s longer than the 5 paths I’ve done so far.

DLH_6772DLH_6826It took us 5.5 hours to complete this 12.5km hike, but that included a lunch break at the Wiener Hutte.  I ate my packed lunch outside, but then joined my friends and gratefully sampled their excellent bread dumplings in Gorgonzola sauce (overpriced at 12.50€) and crepes in chocolate sauce.  Nice!

DLH_6936Of the 6 trails I’ve done so far, this was the least visually stimulating for me, but I still managed to take 200 photos. The visual landscape was quite different near the beginning with all the pine trees providing a soft path to walk on. The colours may have been much more muted (although I played with some of that in Photoshop), but the concert we were privy to the whole way was amazing.  Song birds everywhere!  Near the end, the oranges and purples started appearing in the forest – so beautiful! Another highlight were the  clusters of yellow and purple wildflowers everywhere.  This is definitely a strange February for Vienna.

Although we missed the Wotruba Church, we did find the Star Garden, a planetarium that can be used by day or by night. It would have been even more interesting if we had understood it better.

Enjoy the photos.  A lot of them were created in-camera (with some of the colours saturated after the fact), like this one.

DLH_6928I also had a bit of fun with some of them in Photoshop afterwards -like with this mirrored image of tractor tracks in the mud – all part of how I experience nature.

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