Still No Internet, here's my next Wisdom Card-Maintain the Balance

In this next card, I reveal the inspiration behind Maintain The Balance.  I hope you find something that resonates with you.  Much love, Jules xxx

Maintain The Balance:

  

Maintain the balance in your current situation. Incorporate healing practices into your life that help you come back to centre.

Background to the card:

Inspired by my Australian friend Gaille, with very strong and ancient Scottish roots she was propelled forward to leave her native Australia and begin her life in Scotland. It didn’t happen swiftly, there was great change and upheaval, but her soul yearned for her Scottish Land and soon enough, she found her self immersed in the heart of North East Scotland, in the grounds of an old Castle.  Gaille’s profession as a forensic anthropologist sees her traveling all over the world to scenes of devastation.  In such an emotionally draining job, she maintains a calm and centred presence.  One minute she’s in the midst of carnage, the next she’ll be still in meditation.  It isn’t an easy practice for her to manage, but it is a necessity. 

The meaning behind the card:

If this card has fallen into your card reading, it is asking you to maintain the balance in your current situation.  The message that you hear may be different every time this card appears.  At times, it may nudge you to incorporate balancing practices in your life.  If your job is hectic and fraught, how can you balance this with something that brings you back to centre?  Maybe, Meditation, Music, Dance, Performance, Art, DIY, Sport?

The importance is for you is to maintain a balance and become realigned.  Perhaps you’re feeling a pull to a different way of life, the wisdom behind the card prompts you to explore the options and find small ways to move closer.  This is not about jumping and leaping, it’s relating to equilibrium and integrating a practice that allows you to re-calibrate. 

How to use this card:

Use this powerful image in quiet meditation or some solitary time will be very balancing for you.  Her eyes hold your gaze and by looking in them you can begin to feel a sense of balance.  It is almost like gazing at a mirror where she invites you to quieten your mind, breathing consciously and notice what you find in the image.  There is nothing to distract you except her beckoning, balancing eyes. 

Note down how you’re feeling in reading this wisdom.  Do you feel a pull to trace your past, or explore an ancient family town, city or area?  Do you feel a tug to incorporate or learn meditation? What is calling you?  How will you respond to this call?

Look into the eyes of this Celtic Goddess and feel your body respond.  There are swirls of energy underneath the canvas, whirls of movement, yet they’re balanced and symmetrical.  The metallic blue of the background is the blue that responds to your throat chakra, the centre of communication.  Remain centred and balanced, express your thoughts to yourself in your writing.  

* * * * *

I'm creating a set of 44 Wisdom Cards and Book -  each card will be inspired by someone who has meant something to me, someone who has inspired me or taught me something.  They could be people I know, or people I don't know, living or passed over. They may be people I have seen from afar.  They may also be animals and elements from the planet around me.  They may also be from dreamtime and with symbolism that I can’t recognise.  What I know for sure is, it will all unfold.  If you'd like to read more about this project, click here

Jules xxx

PS Text may change in final copy.

All photographs and text copyright of Jules Dolly/Julia Dolowicz 2012

Take A Small Step - Another Jules Dolly Wisdom Card Write-up

While I'm creating my Wisdom Cards, I have my note book next to me where I write down the wisdom that is appearing from the painting.  I am now writing up my 'words' and wanted to share my second card with you.

Take A Small Step

  

We share our planet with all sentient beings.  We are all responsible for each other, whether we walk on two legs, four legs, fly or swim.

Background to the card:

This card symbolises the love and compassion of Linda and Paul McCartney.  Together they dedicated their life standing up for the life of sentient beings.

It was 25+ years ago when I saw a documentary featuring Linda and Paul. In the film, Paul explained how it had suddenly dawned on him that he was eating the very same animal that he cherished outside his window.  At this point he stopped eating meat, fish, birds and joined Linda in her quest to change the eating habits of our culture.

Their commitment was, to not only one another, but also the animals around them.  This was inspiring for me.  I didn’t know why exactly at the time, I just knew ‘something.’   Growing up in a 'meat household', it was a transition for me. 

* * * A    t r a n s i t i o n * * *

It was not an overnight change, but a progression. 

Aged 16, Lamb was first to go and gradually over time, I stopped eating anything with eyes.    Linda and Paul's journey was one that I admired.   This was not about The Beatles but about The Couple.  It was their kindness, determination and action that rubbed off on me.  I'm thankful and grateful to them for this insight.

The meaning behind the card:

If this card has appeared to you today in a reading, you will know what it’s saying. It will resonate. Perhaps you've been considering stopping eating one type of meat, birds, or perhaps fish. Do you think that your life would be healthier if you made just one change?   It only needs to start with one choice and Linda and Paul are testimony to that.  She built her vegetarian business by suggesting that people just swap one meat meal for a vegetarian option. 

If this card jumped out at you, perhaps you want to cultivate a new way of eating, or it may be nudging you to take a stand for animal welfare and ask the right questions and refuse certain farming methods.  We always know that it always starts with the smallest step.  

This could be, the very first step.

Linda never forced her way of eating on Paul, but her way of life had a ripple effect.  Be courageous and take a step, even if it causes ripples.  Take note that their example will support you. 

Linda's legacy lives on and I was inspired to create this card to honour her. 

How to use this card:

Sit quietly and close your eyes.  Notice any thoughts flying around your head, acknowledge them and continue to quieten your mind.  You may want to find out more about eating less meat/birds/fish; seek out a cookbook that can support you; develop a healthy meal for your family with new ingredients or sample something different that contains no animal products. You may need to speak to someone already eating this way, or visit and support your local vegetarian café.

This card asks you to look closer and think deeper and take a small step.

* * * * *

I'm creating a set of 44 Wisdom Cards and Book -  each card will be inspired by someone who has meant something to me, someone who has inspired me or taught me something.  They could be people I know, or people I don't know, living or passed over. They may be people I have seen from afar.  They may also be animals and elements from the planet around me.  They may also be from dreamtime and with symbolism that I can’t recognise.  What I know for sure is, it will all unfold.  If you'd like to read more about this project, click here

Much Love

Jules xxx

PS Text may change in final copy.

All photographs and text copyright of Julia Dolowicz

Blog Meddling

I thought I was really clever today - technically speaking that is.  I have been thinking for a while now that I wanted to change my blog name to www.julesdollyart.blogspot.com and I discovered a way to do it.  Only to then re-discover that it has completely deleted my juliadolowicz version.   Just like that.  Kapoof.

So it got me thinking.  Shall I leave it as it is?  Will it cause confusion in blogland? I did achieve my follower goal, which was to try and get 2 by the end of this weekend.  Would it really matter if I changed my name?  I could always tell all 4 followers (I have 5 followers but one of them is me, so that doesn't really count does it.)

You see, I've always been Jules Dolly.  Tho' not normally outwardly so.  I have always been a Dolly, well my name does possess a kind of Dolly in it. My dad's best man always called him Ruby Dolly.  So I'm not bigging myself up here. The Jules, obviously comes from Julia.  I was named after my grandpa Julius, also knowns as Jules, my mums father, who unfortunately I never got to meet but I feel I know as she has kept him alive in our hearts and mind.  So I love being called Jules.  It reminds me of him.  

Add to this I am a mixed media artist and well, it just all goes together like rama-lama-ding-dong.  

So I think I'll stick with it.

Happy Mondays.

xxx

My grandpa Jules
and his daughter

Work in progress

Have been working on the little lady above on birch plywood.  She's not finished yet but coming along nicely I think.  It's all about layering.  It doesn't just happen and takes a while to build up the layers, adding and subtracting, the rise and fall of the piece.  Got her hair to think about, not sure what's going to happen with this, I'm feeling pony tails!

Mixed Media days

For these past few days I have been doing some mixed media art and really enjoying it.  Working with different textures is pretty meditative - makes my mind drift off to think of other things.   I have been doing writing every day and picking a sub-topic, just letting my mind unfold and reflect on the experience I was recollecting.  Recently I was writing about the support group experience I had when I was newly diagnosed with M.E/CFS when I was in my early 20s.  It really was an eye opener as I recall the lady who came to see me, to tell me about the support group meetings, she walked in, or should I say, hobbled in, on walking sticks.  She could barely walk and told me that she had been ill for 20+ years. She was in her early 60s (I think, though don't quote me).

How I did not want to hear this?  At 20, it wasn't what I wanted to listen to.  I wanted to speak to someone who had got well, who had overcome it and re-healed.

And so this is what I was writing about in my pink book.  It made me realise, in that moment all those 21 years ago, that I wanted to read about the success story of a young person - I wanted inspiration and hope.  That's what made me want to write this book ... and that's why I will keep on with it, hoping it will see the light of day, in whatever format.  To help and inspire someone else who was newly diagnosed.   I feel lucky to have come through the ill health and only now, all these years later can turn back to write about it. 

It has been a beautiful day here in France, the sun shining and the forests full of wildlife.