The Universe Is Smiling: "CARING"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:
Q: What is today's wisdom?
 A: By caring for nature, we take care of ourselves.
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
- Leo Buscaglia
"When the road gets dark
And you can no longer see
Just let my love throw a spark
And have a little faith in me."
- John Hiatt

The Casual Observer: Finding the Buddha

Dear Visitors,

I am back from a three week stay in Cologne, Germany, and I am also back for regular postings of  drawings and observations. Let's start with this one image of a 12th century Maria, photographed at an exhibition at the Kolumba. I was struck how the shadow of the figure resembled a silhouette of a meditating Buddha. The Buddha is everywhere :)

"If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything."
- Shunrya Suzuki
"Cultivation of tolerance for other faiths will impart to us a truer understanding of our own."
- Mahatma Gandhi

The Universe Is Smiling: "Rhythm"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:
Q: What is today's wisdom?
A: Live your rhythm with a smile :)



"To live is to be musical, starting with the blood dancing in your veins. Everything living has a rhythm. Do you feel your music? - Michael Jackson

"Rhythm is the basis of life, not steady forward progress. The forces of creation, destruction, and preservation have a whirling, dynamic interaction." - Kabbalah

The Casual Observer: Holland - a Moment in Time

Dear Visitor, you may be wondering when to expect the next drawings but my pencils are stashed away for a little while. I am in Germany for a couple of weeks and have replaced the pencils with a camera. As a casual observer I will report in pictures what strikes my eyes of curiosity, imagining that you might like to join me in these observations.

Every country has its specialties that make it unique on this planet. On my way from New York to Germany I had a short stop-over in Amerstam, Holland, one intriguing hour on Schipol airport to take note of the country's display with my German/American eyes of curiosity. Let's take a little walk through the airport before boarding the plane:



Impressions




Flowers - of course :)








The spirit isn't far


The attraction is immediate


Tempting

Fun to be a kid

Tesla Globe


Kundt's Tube
 




Art en passant





Modern Times- ad for electric cars

Relaxation





Some lonely luggage left behind



Wind mills


Close to Frankfurt


Arrived



The Universe Is Smiling: "Knowing Yourself"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:
Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: "Know thyself", says the smart fox :)
"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover, will be yourself."
- Alan Alda
"The only journey is the journey within."
- Rainer Maria Rilke  

The Casual Observer: "New Paltz in CHALK"



What's a dog to say about that?!




Meanwhile a band is adding delicious soundbites to the visual experience


 
Helio Chalk Pad




Hey YOU, how are you doing?


Splash it!
Lady and legs
Coming up
Don't you remember?

It's a beautiful day on planet earth.








And if you feel inspired pick up your colored pencils, crayons or chalk and let it draw without a care in the world :)

The Universe Is Smiling: "ILLUSION"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:
Q: What is today's wisdom?
A: "Things are not what they appear to be..."
"Things are not what they appear to be: nor are they otherwise."
- Surangama Sutra
"When one does not understand death, life can be very confusing."
- Ajan Chah
"Time is our present breath."
- Ajan Chah     

The Casual Observer: "New Paltz Action"


New Paltz on a Tuesday morning on my way to the bookstore: a sunny summer day, my camera in hand, just in case I come across something "BLOGwhile". And - voila - I see huge lamps lining the street, obviously some filming is going on. New Paltz is a pretty town but film crews are not a regular sight. Who wouldn't be curious now?! I am :)

I turn the corner and it's all happening at BARNER BOOKS, the second hand book store. I ask the extras who are standing next to the store: "What's the movie about? Who is the director?"
"I don't know", one woman shrugs her shoulders. "It has something to do with kidneys", volunteers another woman. "I think, it's about a woman needing a kidney transplant and then she falls in love", says the third. LOL - now that sounds like a great plot :)




Coming up the street
 
On my way to the book store on Church Street





Things are happening here, but what is it exactly? :)


The actress in action, rushing down to the book store a few yards away
Asking other extras I get some more information: The director is Helmut Metzger and the movie is supposed to be a German/American production. The scene I am witnessing is a German actress driving in a red convertible to the bookstore, getting out in a huff and storming into the store.

"What's that scene about?" I ask someone. "I think she is upset, because she is losing her apartment." Ha! .... well that makes a lot of sense ... I have gotten lots of advice in book stores.

Next day, evening scene, director and camera man (on the left) are discussing the next steps

 A day later: The film crew is gone and the clean up begins:

Barner Books had turned into "Vivien's Book Shop" for a few days


On the way back to normal

The peace has returned

And what is the movie about? I'll let you know, if I'll ever find out.