Kuan Yin is on display successfully

This is just an update to let you all know that my Kuan Yin collage is hanging at the entrance to the dining hall and I've received wonderful feedback. It's almost a little scary.  Now I find I'm tending to worry if my next piece will be as well accepted.  Pointless, bothersome anxiety.  Below is my current collage hanging and my next one in progress, which is quite different.

"Wild Mind" - current collage in process

There's quite a lot going on here, but I like it.  It is one that is fun to study all the little corners and pieces.  It will have a large, turquoise frame that will help contain all the energy of the piece.  I have other collages in process but the above is the one closest to being finished.  Anyway, thanks for everyone's support and appreciation.

Kuan Yin Collage

Tomorrow I am signed up to hang a piece of my art for two weeks.  There is a small wall opposite the entrance to the dining hall where one or two pieces by a resident artist are hung for several weeks.  I intend to hang a collage that has a focal image of Kuan Yin, but also has other images including the Buddha and the Madonna of Guadalupe.  I am a little anxious because I have heard that they won't hang any art that is religious in nature.  I don't consider my collage religious--more a depiction of the sacred through iconography.  We'll see.  Below is an image of the piece.

Original collage

My aura is recovering

I was told today by a reliable source that my aura was weak and had holes in it when I first arrived at the Manor in June; but now my aura is clear, although apparently it does not extend far from my physical self.  I wonder how Billy's aura is doing.  The aura reader did not comment on Billy other than he was a beautiful, fat cat.  Billy did his part by nuzzling my visitor and rolling onto his back so his ample tummy could be rubbed.

I am doing well and appreciate being here.  "Here" is a retirement community, Friendship Manor, in Isla Vista, CA close to UCSB.  I have a small apartment with two rooms connected by a bathroom.  The complex was originally built for student housing so this apartment was meant for two students sharing a bathroom.  I use one room for my bedroom and the other for my work space. Here are a couple of pictures of my bedroom and workroom:

Corner of workroom, view from where I sit

 


Kwan Yin altar in bedroom

  

Bedroom wall of beads



View from workroom



Three meals a day are provided and coffee, tea and lemonade are always available in the dining room.  There is a movie theatre, library and swimming pool.  About 200 people over the age of 62 live here.  There is an abundance of poets, writers and artists.  There is a revolving resident art exhibit once a month in the WiFi lounge.  There are numerous gardens here that are maintained by the residents.  Below is a picture of the rose garden.

I am doing a lot of beadwork (can be found on http://www.etsy.com/ under Sajuno), collage and writing, and some photography.  My days consist of napping with Billy, reading, writing and working on some art project.  I knew I always wanted to be retired.  I knew this at 18. 

Movies to recommend: Mother and Child. 

Books I'm reading:  The Realm of the Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Mate.  This is an amazing book full of wisdom, intelligence and compassion.  He has written other books on parenting, the mind-body connection and ADHD. 

        

Hope all of you are well.  Thanks for visiting my new blog.  I am still trying to figure out how to format it.