DAY 49

About a dream...

What is your biggest dream?

For the sake of this conversation; if a Miss World contestant were to be asked the same question, she would likely reply, "World peace."
After all, who's going to vote for someone who says "To be desired by every man and envied by every woman."?

Deep down, we are all soulful beings.

For the moment, let us set aside the dream of a big house, hot spouse, fancy car and a bank account full of money. There is a time and a place for superficial dreams, but not today.

Participate In Your Dreams
by Kleoniki Vanos

What makes your heart sing?

Nothing can quench your soul's thirst quite like active participation in your heart's dream.
Only you will recognize the song because it was written on the pages of YOUR heart before you were born.
No one can tell you what it is or what it sounds like.
It is your own internal music.
Crank up the volume and sing it with great gusto!
How marvelous!
How fantastic!
You are magnificent!

Conscious participation in your hearts song is where you will find motivation for your journey, courage for the challenges, perseverance through the storms, and rainbows with colours that no one has ever seen before. The promise you will find there is; YOU ARE LOVED!

You Are A Song
by Kleoniki Vanos

You are a song

Don't give up on your song and always remember that no mistake can undo God's handiwork of true perfection in you.

Don't stop the music...

DAY 48

Conversation with a butterfly...


Wondering through the woods one day, I found a moss covered log in a serene secluded spot, and decided that this would be the perfect place to sit and reflect. Through gaps in the branches above, I could make out that rain clouds were beginning to gather, but it would be a while yet before they were to release their contents. Whilst in this repose, my gaze fixed upon a butterfly. Spellbound, I observed it playing in the sun kissed breeze, and doing its happy dance across the sky. In that magical moment I wondered... "where do butterflies go when it rains?"

The butterfly came and sat upon the log.

"The Soul Is Like The Eye"
by Kleoniki Vanos
As the sun allows your eyes to have sight, the good in the intelligible realm give understanding to the soul.

Mystically I was transmuted to the edge of a rainbow bridge. It unction-ed me to step onto it, and as I took the first step, the bridge unfolded itself before me and seemed to have no end. Slowly things started coming back into focus. This was when I realized that I was in the firmament. I fluttered, sputtered, and found myself falling through space at an alarming speed. I was in a panic, and screamed for help. That was when I heard the butterfly, from the forest, quietly speak. It was a beautiful sound, something like a flute. The sound calmed and soothed me, and in that magical moment i asked... "which way shall i fly?"

"Into Me You See"
by Kleoniki Vanos
Our spirit is awakened for intimacy with God. Life flows spirit to spirit and is ignited with freedom.

At which point I was transported to the center of all being, and connected to the source of all being, Instantaneously linked, and one with the source of energy and life. I immediately understood that we are created free and free we must remain.

"Intellectualizing The Soul"
by Kleoniki Vanos
Reason or science cannot supersede the legitimate expression of the fundamental movements of the soul.

The teaching of the butterfly:

"Grounded"
by Kleoniki Vanos
Joy, wonder, discovery, and adventure in life are experienced when we are open and receptive to our earth and soul journey.

butterfly: "Hello."

me: (flustered and trying to find my bearings, I hesitantly replied) "Hello."

butterfly: "Are you enjoying the sunshine?"

me: "Yes, thank you." After some careful deliberation, I decided to throw caution to the wind. After all, this was a magical place, and this could be a dream. " May I ask you something?"

butterfly: "Sure, that's why I'm here. As you may well have realized I am no ordinary butterfly, so I can speak to you from both worlds."

me: (a little more confident) "I was wondering, where do you go when it rains?"

butterfly: "We often sense the approach of rain before its arrival, and take shelter well in advance." 

me: "Mmmm. In human terms then, how can we acquire the sense of life's approaching storms ?"

butterfly:"By cultivating awareness you become sensitive to impending danger. This sense can come to you in the form of dreams, visions or feelings. You can also be forewarned by the noticeable change in the energy vibrations around you, i.e. aggression, hostility, sudden drained energy, melancholy or resistance. If you are attentive to these signs you will know what to do."

me: "What do i do once I'm aware of the storm's approach?"

butterfly:  "In that moment of awareness you can do a quick reconnaissance on your own inner state of being, and if you are feeling exposed, fragile and vulnerable, consumed and preoccupied with cares, then the best thing you can do is cover yourself with love and wait the storm out. It would be counterproductive to expose yourself with no strength, protection or plan of action. It's also possible that this particular storm is not yours but someone who needs to overcome some negativity within themselves.

Based on the assessment of your inner state; if  you are strong, focused, at peace and content then you are equipped for the storm, so prepare yourself for victory and taking of new ground. Embrace that which presents itself as an opportunity to grow and strengthen. Now you will learn about something far grater than the limited perception you have of yourself... the power of  infinite and transformative love. From this vantage point you will realize that there is no need to fear challenges."

Me: "How do I know if I have made the right choice?"

Butterfly: "False alarms and mistakes do happen and it's okay. You may have sought shelter when you should have faced the storm or vice versa. Never the less, you are human, and many factors play a role in how clearly you hear, and accurately respond. Remember you are never alone. Keep in mind that love is powerful, gracious, gentle, patient and wise to guide you in your weakness, and makes all things work for your good. This will give you the strength and vitality you need to continue your journey."

"Messengers"
by Kleoniki Vanos
One angel, armed with the power and glory of God, is stronger than a whole nation. They keep all our bones, spirit, soul and body, and we are strengthened, assisted and protected.

I felt a raindrop splash on my nose, another and then another. Before I could say any more, I found myself back on the moss covered log, just catching a glimpse of the butterfly as it disappeared into a patch of flowers, growing wildly and freely. No good bye's were necessary, for the butterfly and I were linked, and one with the Source. Conversations would ensue freely and frequently between us in times to come.

The rain started coming down in buckets and intuition led me to ask, "Self, where are your strength levels now?" And proceeded to make the necessary decisions for the coming storm.

Our soul takes a lot more knocks than our physical body can handle. This makes me stand in absolute awe at the majestic restorative power that resides within us. Restoration of the soul can sometimes take place in an instant, magically, miraculously and gently, and give us the power to live more effectively and love more deeply. And other times, restoration needs time, patience, and kindness but the end result is just as empowering.

Having wisdom in infertile soils, where thought is danger, is something to be sought after with great ferocity.

"Conversation With A Butterfly"
by Kleoniki Vanos
The world is one huge playground of love, fun and adventure, and you don't need to remain captured any longer.

LIVE AND PROSPER...

DAY 47

run and dance naked... oops not what you think but rather; the old self is gone, and the deep self, the naked self, is the powerful wanderer.

"Paying Homage" by Kleoniki Vanos

"Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone as a mark of respect and loyalty."


when truly being and embracing YOU the following begins to happen...

you look at what you see and not what you think you see!

you hear truth and not someone else's version of your truth!

your thoughts become centred, balanced & controlled!

your ego no longer plays havoc with your emotions!

your inner voice becomes crystal clear!

your heart begins to heal and though the scars will always be there you know that pain no longer controls your life.

you know that the work will never end and that's okay because you love the growth and depth you see within yourself!

you no longer feel alien because you know that the arms of the universe embrace you!

you are honest with your darkness, shining the light of unconditional love! 

you embrace your potential and ideas as valid, no longer allowing the messages of, "it's/you're not good enough, you cannot make a difference, no one will understand, it's stupid."

"7 Pillars" by Kleoniki Vanos

                                                                 Deep contemplation
                                                                 Transformation
                                                                 Inner resource
                                                                 Intuition
                                                                 Faith
                                                                 Perseverance


you work with what you've got:

grow - allowing your psyche to feel sunshine, cloudy days and rain. allowing the wind to come and blow away all the unnecessary debris, letting things wither and die and letting life begin afresh. closing old chapters and beginning a new; "once upon, right here right now..."

"From The Outside Looking In" by Kleoniki Vanos

 "When I reflect upon self, a stranger from the outside looking in, upon further contemplation I find self on the inside looking out."


stretch - challenge yourself to go beyond the boundaries of "what is normal?" find out if you believe in "normal" and if so what is normal to YOU?

"Maximise" by Kleoniki Vanos

"To underestimate the power of maintaining the core of your soul is to euthanize your truth."


dream big - dare to think the unthinkable! those dreams that you said were too big for tiny little you. take them off the shelf, dust them off and let them out. meditate on them, feel them, listen to them, share them. your dreams are only as real as you allow them to be!

"Silver Clouds" by Kleoniki Vanos

    "Let every step take me to the place where dreams come true and clouds have silver linings."


reach - reach into the dark, and even though you cannot see, believe that whatever you grab hold of will be safe, loving and guide you to your next step. i say "grab" because sometimes this is all we can do to prevent us from falling into the eternal abyss of despair.
IN LOVE WE TRUST!

"Love In A Concrete World" by Kleoniki Vanos

                                                   "It is written: Love will conquer fear."



create - creativity is a language that the soul uses to communicate and you are the transporter, the suspended bridge between the visceral and literal. there are no two people that are the same thus no two similar messages to communicate. tapping into this language is your creativity.

"Dance of Life" by Kleoniki Vanos

     "The definition of poetry in motion: express your unique interpretation or it will never exist."


learn - be hungry for wisdom, soul food and knowledge, in that order.
wisdom comes when love reigns supreme and aids us to discern between predators and angels.
soul food nourishes and strengthens us for the journey,
and knowledge helps us to apply what we've learnt.

"Giant Healer" by Kleoniki Vanos

"I will fly till my healing comes and I will not give up"


venture - into the unknown, here I come. motivate yourself to try new avenues. when a new idea comes, process it, don't just throw it out because it's different to what normally fills your head, and follow it through. there is an old idiom: don't throw the baby out with the bath water. an avoidable error by which something good is eliminated when trying to get rid of something bad.

"The Race" by Kleoniki Vanos

"We are all in training, preparing for the moment when we are called to step up to the plate, knowing that the result at the finish line will depend upon whether we had the courage to run.'


discover - discover yourself. don't be a stranger to your talents and gifts.

"Multiverse" by Kleoniki Vanos

'"I am of this world and I am not of this world."' This means that it is possible for you have a relationship with your own universe"


dive deep - don't let fear hinder you from reaching your inner core. work with as much fervour as you can muster. go through your spherical shells, work through them for the work will be well worth the discomfort.

"Passion" by Kleoniki Vanos

              "When genuine passion moves you, say what you've go to say and say it hot."


breath - medically, conscious breathing gives immediate stress relief benefits as well as deep psychological advantages. deep breathing creates a healthier calmer state and preserves the bodies immune system in terms of general well-being and biochemical balance.
spiritually, you gain a strong sense of inner strength, feel closer to the Source of all life, have a stronger inner knowing, and gain access to more creativity.
and this one is important! let go of your thoughts while you breath!

"Incoming Breath" by Kleoniki Vanos

 "Sometimes all we are required to do is breath and wait while the mould is broken from the outside."


listen - quiet your mind for a moment and listen to your heart. your heart understands all dimensions of soul life, removing doubt and double doubt. over analysing is a @#*? and will leave you in a greater mess than you started with.

"Over-Reasoning" by Kleoniki Vanos

"If you could take a picture of your thoughts, this is what over-reasoning would look like. Noise and restrictions are not conducive to a creative and free thinking process."


cry - crying is good, it keeps your inner world moist otherwise you will break. let the tears roll down your cheeks and allow them to carry their message to the angels.

"Rain" by Kleoniki Vanos

        "Let the rain of love and forgiveness wash away the smog that hinders your sparkles."                                        
                                  "When I humble myself the flowers rejoice." Khalil Gibran.


find peace - in the midst of a storm it is possible to have peace. peace comes when you accept that there are cycles of growth, giving, being used up and creating new seeds.

"Challenges Embraced" by Kleoniki Vanos

"Embracing fractures will aid you to enthusiastically embrace the creative process of revealing the masterpiece within."


SMILE - are you conscious of your first smile for the day? did you know that it takes 26 muscles to smile? giving yourself a grin is the best medicine because it transforms negative energy into positive energy. each time you smile, whether forced or from the heart (of course smiling from your heart is best but let's start somewhere), reinforces happy neural pathways.  SMILE with your DNA,  etc.

"Confusion In A Smile" by Kleoniki Vanos

                                                  "A smile confuses an approaching frown."


fear less - fear less and love more. be alert, when fear breaks down the door and forces itself in like an intruder, don't entertain the invasion but, send it packing by inviting love in. when love is invited it saturates and fills to overflowing, leaving no room for fear to breath. fear has to leave but will try again so remain vigilant.

"From Here To There" by Kleoniki Vanos

                        "Courage is not the absence of fear, rather it is moving on despite fear."


build - build a relationship with your best friend - YOU. come to know that nothing and no one can make you as happy as you yourself.

"My Best Friend" by Kleoniki Vanos

forgive - "forgiveness is an act of creation," it does not mean surrender it means keeping your heart light and free from impurities and pollution that will eventually cause stagnation. i choose to be free, don't you?

"Walk Away" by Kleoniki Vanos

"Walking away doesn't necessarily mean giving up it may simply mean that it's time to leave your encumbrances behind."


LET GO - remembering to remember to let go! it is of no use to re-run the pain over and over again in your mind and in your heart. i have found that the best medicine for "heart pain" is acknowledging the pain, where it came from, who it came from, how it made me feel, what destructive message was communicated and then inviting love to replace ALL. i am now free to let go!

"Blood and Fire" by Kleoniki Vanos

 "Life cannot be ignored.
Blood is the life force coursing through our veins. It acts as the transporter of life, fights to keep destruction at bay and regulates internal harmony.
An ever living fire is the harmony of life of the upward and downward paths.
These internal forces are the cycle of life and death."


wait - give yourself a break, you've done all you can do, now rest. your invested energy is not in vain. the seed is germinating and soon you will reap the fruits of your reward but you cannot rush it, not force it, just be patient and wait.

"Things Hoped For" by Kleoniki Vanos

 "Transformation is a growth process. It does not happen all at once, but gradually in the present tense."


move - though challenges may occasionally slow you down, let them never stop you. i will not camp out and die where the obstacle and i have crossed paths. i will find a way around it and continue my journey.

"3 People Painting the World and Bridging the Gap" by Kleoniki Vanos

"Done with the past, busy with the present. When old meets new there will be a link but no connection."


wisen up - harden, make sturdy, robust and strengthen the sweet little naive spirit that believes all are good and love purely. this does not mean that you loose yourself and compromise your beauty it simply means to approach with wisdom.

"Self Protect" by Kleoniki Vanos

 "I am safe in love!
"Often times I have hated in self-defence; if I were stronger I would not have sued such a weapon." Kahlil Gibran.


attract good energy - stop for a moment and think about what you're thinking. is it negative, eg. "i am lonely" or "i need people to make me happy?" positive thoughts would be; "i am my own best friend" and "i am responsible to cultivate my own happiness." the latter is investing in good energy.

 

"Writing On The Wall" by Kleoniki Vanos

"A busy mind drowns out the voice of the heart. Listen to the truth your heart speaks for therein lies the balance of the mind."


beautify - choice! what do i focus on? destroy or build, love or hate, forgive or begrudge, peace or aggression, hold on or let go, etc. i can choose either to beautify the world by embracing my journey or make it an ugly place that i want to leave a.s.a.p.

cultivate consciousness - the antidote to your complexes is consciousness of your foibles and gifts so that the complex is unable to act on its own.

 

 

 

"Take a Deep Breath" by Kleoniki Vanos

"Everything is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth" Aurelius.


endurance - keeping in mind that there is a purpose for your life will give you the power to keep pushing on. sometimes leaping and bounding over hills and mountains, and sometimes licking your wounds; all the while reminding yourself that there is a destination, there is a goal, there is a good reason for everything under the sun and beyond.

"Standing" by Kleoniki Vanos

                                                "Standing after all that was, is and will be"


"the pattern is this: in all dying there is uselessness that becomes useful as we pick our way through it all. what knowing we will come to will reveal itself as we go along. in all living kind, loss brings a full gain." C.P Estes, Woman that run with the wolves."

"... people universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck. but that's not how happiness works.  happiness is the consequence of personal effort. you fight for it, insist upon it and even sometimes travel around the world looking for it. you have to practise relentlessly in the manifestation of your own blessings." E. Gilbert, Eat Pray Love.

"Both Ways" by Kleoniki Vanos

 "People come and go out of each others lives, so why is it such a big deal when someone leaves? Because they didn't try equally hard?

DAY 46

in a dream,
i received a message from my subconscious that created an awareness:

"Reaching Out" by Kleoniki Vanos

i was in a coffee shop; people were talking and socialising. there was a woman pointing to a 3 year old little girl standing to one side. she proceeded to tell everyone that the girl was a menace to society because she had stolen food the previous week. touched by the dejected look of the child i went over and struck up a conversation. she proceeded to tell me that her father was on his death bed in hospital, there was no one to look after her and she was hungry. i picked her up and cradled her in my arms to give her some reprieve from the harsh reality. i asked two woman to cover her legs and shoulders but they did this half-heartedly which caused anger to rise up within me.

she fell asleep in my arms. i walked into an outside square and sat down. she woke up. next we were in a public mode of transportation and the same woman who pointed out the childs' shortcomings was there relaying the story to whoever would listen. they expressed their distaste and this was where i stepped in. i could no longer sit idly by and listen to their heartless and blind hypocrisy. i asked: "do you know that the child is on her own with no one to look after her?" i could see their attitudes change toward the child, based on the new awareness.

my heart asked the question: "who will take care of this child?"

"Synthesis" by Kleoniki Vanos

i awoke, consciously unaware of the dream, and started my day creating positive energy, as was my usual practise before i got out of bed. suddenly, consiouness of the dream came rushing in at full force. i started to weep but couldn't understand why it had touched me so deeply. i asked for an interpretation and as the day progressed the answer came.

"Confusion in a Smile" by Kleoniki Vanos

 
society is the social setting.

the child is the inner child in me, the child in you.

accusation and judgement based on superficial and short sighted ignorance is a quick and easy, hit and run attitude. if we would take the time to take a closer look it would enable us to better interpret, love and see beyond actions. this does not mean that we approach all situations with ignorance; intuition will always be at the ready to assist in making necessary and accurate judement.

"Universal Loving Kindness" by Kleoniki Vanos

you have been tried and found guilty, not only by others but by yourself, based on ignorance of the true meaning of love and grace.

loving yourself is knowing your inner truth. trauma and healing are truth. love yourself back to wholeness and shield yourself from external influences until you have found healing and recovered from instinctual survival mode.

public transport affirms, once again, the fact that you are in and part of the world. caring about peoples' opinions of you, just going along for the ride and accepting ignorance will not lead you to your destiny. protect your truth and live it.

 self nurturing is imperative for growth, sustenance and perseverance. external affirmations will come at the right time but waiting for them will waste precious and valuable time.

"Poetic Love" by Kleoniki Vanos

in conclusion: an orphan mentality prevents you from accepting your true identity i.e. that you are free. you are free to make a way for new truths and remedy old mind sets.

"Childlike" by Kleoniki Vanos

 

DAY 45

on maintenance...

"Talking To Myself" by Kleoniki Vanos

"you can do it! don't give up on your dreams! keep going, victory is on her way!"

there are various types of maintenance that must be applied to ensure optimal functionality in any given arena. i will mention a few for the sake of the content of this blog.

condition based maintenance is done when the need arises. this is performed when there is an indication that something is going to fail or there is deterioration & it is the right time to perform maintenance.

corrective maintenance is the task to identify, isolate & rectify a fault so that you can be restored to the state of your intended functionality.

planned preventative maintenance is used to avoid any unscheduled breakdown.

predictive maintenance requires you to be attentive to your intuition. the key is "the right information at the right time". Maintain yourself whether you think you need it or not.

preventative maintenance i.e. are you tired? ease the pressure by adjusting your attitude. assess whether there is something you can do about your current situation or whether it requires you to be patient & embrace time as your friend. faith is the key, if it is the latter, or you will not be able to enter into a state of peace. replace negative energy & expectations with light, truth & love. this is an important process because it will prevent the wheels from coming off in the future, when you most need them to propel you forward into new enlightenment.

"I Don't Want To See" by Kleoniki Vanos

"i fooled myself one too many times before by refusing to see things for what they are. why do i keep wrestling with the truth?"

at this juncture, i would like to bring in the five languages of love to impress upon you the significant importance of investing in yourself by way of keeping abreast with your interanl world.

spend quality time with yourself, like going for a picnic. pack a basket; fill it with your favourite things, a blanket,a good book & find a nice spot under a tree. take time to show yourself the sky & the way the breeze plays with the leaves in the trees. close your eyes & listen to the birds, the insects flitting about & the sound of the wind. eat, drink, read & enjoy "you" to your heart's content.

do things that you want to do for yourself like kicking off your shoes & walking on the grass. pick yourself a bunch of flowers & arrange them the way you want to or burn some scented candles. whatever it is that you do it should be something that, if someone else did it for you, you would have tears of gratitude flowing over your cheeks.

spoil yourself by taking a leisurely stroll through a street market, preferably over the weekend when you have enough time on your hands. look out for that ONE thing that catches your eye. deliberate the connection & then move on. when you have reached the end of the market & you find you are still thinking about that thing  you saw, turn around & go back to the stall where you saw it. splurge on yourself & get that gift. trust me, it feels amazing.

say & think good things about yourself. be kind to yourself. you need not wait for people to say nice things about you. here are some suggested meditations:
"i really like me"
"i can be so funny sometimes"
"i'm never too much"
"i'm always enough"
"i love life!"
etc.

when you find yourself in repose, consider the beautiful healthy body that you have been given. thank each part for its perfect functionality. gently acknowledging each one as you express your gratitude.

"Amorphous" by Kleoniki Vanos

 "the desire to be fulfilled is a continuous journey in fertilising the soil of your soul. maintain it well for you will reap the reward."

love starts with you & you deserve to love yourself. stop the cycle of self-neglect & you will have so much more energy to do your life successfully.

be intuitive, be truthful, be aware of your internal word & keep maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself so that you can be a happy you.
TAKE TIME OUT OF THE RAT RACE.

"Magic Carpet Express" by Kleoniki Vanos

 "throw your arms open, hold on tight & let me take you to a place where the birds sing of hope, the breeze speaks of courage & the sun shines with rays of love."





  

DAY 44

dear unique,

"how would your life be different if... you stopped making negative judgemental assumptions about people you encounter? let today be the day... you look for the good in everyone you meet & respect their journey." steve maraboli.

victory by kleoniki vanos

"victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long & hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival." churchill.

am i who others say i am or who i really am?
seeking the answer to this question is the beginning of the transformation journey toward becoming a love & life filled individual.

consider this: someone who interacts with you experiences only a fraction of who you are, so for the viewer to make assumptions about you will only deprive both from giving & receiving the gift of unconditional love.

how can this distortion of love be prevented? take the time to get to know yourself.
this means acknowledging & embracing your strengths & weaknesses, taking responsibility for your actions,  accepting that there are things you can & cannot change, & allowing yourself the grace to make mistakes.

there is another truth to consider, ie, you are not responsible for how others act or react, so busy yourself with your own life. if you did take responsibility for other people's actions you would be taking away their power to grow & giving yours away. an attitude of self love doesn't mean that you don't care, quite the contrary. in fact, loving yourself first is an unselfish act. if you don't love yourself you will not be able to love others.

here's to the journey toward loving yourself.

DAY 55

it has taken 3 weeks of research, processing & formulation to analyse the concept of fracture & how it affects our daily lives. the journey of life includes fracture caused by sustained trauma, but even in that pain there is beauty & healing.

"Underground Rehabilitation" by Kleoniki Vanos

  

"Psycho Osmosis" by Kleoniki Vanos

"surrendering to the moment by moment healing process will allow the scars, failure, disorder & distortion to turn into a thing of unparallelled beauty."

"but if you love & must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
to melt like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
to know the pain of too much tenderness.
to be wounded by your own understanding of love;
and to bleed willingly & joyfully."
khalil gibran, the prophet.

"things just happen in the right way, at the right time. at least when you let them, when you work with circumstances instead of saying, 'this isn't supposed to be happening this way,' & trying harder to make it work some other way." benjamin hoff, the tao of pooh.

"Running as the Dark Horse" by Kleoniki Vanos

"when fracture occurs between people they suffer a depleted sense of self worth & identity: dehumanisation is the consequence common to both." psychology today.

in quoting this portion of the article on fractured people i would like to add that, there is not only fracture but also healing & strengthening that takes place. an unfortunate injury to our psyche can certainly slow us down, but it can also be a wake-up call in many ways.

"Extrapolation" by Kleoniki Vanos

"wisdom ,happiness & courage are not waiting somewhere out beyond sight at the end of a straight line; they're part of a continuous cycle that begins right here. they're not only the ending but the beginning as well." benjamin hoff, tao of pooh.

i believe that part of the reason we experience these challenges against who we are is to establish our own identity. this is very important because if you are not pressured into being someone you are not you cannot find your own true identity.

"you'd be surprised how many people violate this simple principle every day of their lives & try to fit square pegs into round holes, ignoring the clear reality that things are as they are." benjamin hoff, tao of pooh.

"i think perfection is ugly. somewhere in the things humans make i want to see scars, failure, disorder, distortion." yohji yamamoto, fashion designer.

"usually we strive toward perfection to compensate for a sense of inadequacy. typically this is caused by messages we received earlier in life that we weren't good enough. the only perfection is being present, yet the perfectionist is never present." mel shwartz, psychology today.

"Over-Reasoning" by Kleoniki Vanos

to be fully present means that there are no distracting thoughts, measuring or grading ourselves & this allows us to really be in the moment. "it's in that moment that we are truly alive."

"Illumination" by Kleoniki Vanos

where there is a fracture there is room for light to come in. light is essential to see where you are & where you are going. you must be imperfect & weak for the fracture to occur. so, you see, we need to break, be pulled apart, ripped, scratched & rubbed up the wrong way so that we can be illuminated from within. not only will we benefit, but also those who are around us.

triboluminescence - " the current theory is that upon fracture of asymmetrical materials, charge is separated when the charges combine, the electric discharge ionizes the surrounding air, causing a flash of light. research  further suggests that crystals which display triboluminescense must lack symmetry (in order to permit charge separation) & be poor conductors.

triboluminescence is an optical phenomenon in which light is generated through the breaking of chemical bonds in materials when it is pulled apart, ripped, scratched, or rubbed." hobart king, geologist.

"oh, lord god, have mercy on me & mend my broken wings!" khalil gibran, broken wings.

a broken wing can be healed:
in nature: if a wounded bird with a broken wing is found, catch him, being careful not to further injure the wing. wash any open wounds, then gently hold the broken wing in its natural position against the bird's body. wrap the broken wing with gauze around the bird's body. let the wing heal. it takes approximately 4 weeks.

in life: when we sustain a sudden trauma & are catapulted to the ground the impact is sometimes so great that it breaks our "wings" & whilst lying there, reeling from the shock & pain, thinking: "this is where i will die," the healing has already begun. someone comes along & cleans your wound with an encouraging word. another binds up the broken "wing" with a soft touch. you see people bringing you nourishment in the form of friendship, until one day you suddenly become aware that you are flying again.

"De-focus" by Kleoniki Vanos

"the surest way to become tense, awkward & confused is to develop a mind that tries too hard - one that thinks too much." benjamin hoff, tao of pooh.

FRACTURE IS THE TITLE OF MY NEXT EXHIBITION. IT IS SYMBOLIC OF THE FRACTURES IN OUR LIVES THAT MAKE-UP THE WHOLE OF WHO WE ARE AT THIS VERY MOMENT IN TIME.