DancingSun's Xanga

ARTISTS: PLEASE TAKE NOTE!

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:46:00 GMT

Please take the time to read the information below regarding the Orphan Works bill. I hope you will be inspired to protest the passing of this bill by contacting your local member of the House of Representatives. A link at the bottom of this page makes it easy to do!

From The Illustrators' Partnership Orphan Works Blog

SEPT 27 Yesterday, in a cynical move, the sponsors of the Senate Orphan Works Act passed their controversial bill by a controversial practice known as hotlining.

With lawmakers scrambling to raise 700 billion dollars to bail out businesses that are “too big to fail,” the Senate passed a bill that would force small copyright holders to subsidize big internet interests such as Google, which has already said it plans to use millions of the images this bill will orphan.

With the meltdown on Wall Street, this is no time for Congress to concentrate our nation’s copyright wealth in the hands of a few privately owned corporate databases. The contents of these databases would be more valuable than secure banking information. Yet this bill would compel creators to risk their own intellectual property to supply content to these corporate business models. That means it would be our assets at risk in the event of their failure or mismanagement.

As David Rhodes, President of the School of Visual Arts has said, the Orphan Works bill would socialize the expense of copyright protection while privatizing the profit of creative endeavors. Copyright owners neither want nor need this legislation. It will do great harm to small businesses. We already have a banking crisis. Congress should not lay the groundwork for a copyright crisis.

– Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner, for the Illustrators’ Partnership

NOW FOR PLAN B

We MUST try to stop the House Judiciary Committee from folding their bill (HR5889) and adopting the Senate version.

PLEASE EMAIL CONGRESS TODAY.
If you’ve done it before, do it again!

It takes only a minute to use our new special letter.
Click on the link below, enter your zip code, and take the next steps.
Thanks to all of you who heeded the call to action yesterday.

http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/issues/alert/?alertid=11980321

Over 70 organizations oppose this bill, representing over half a million creators.
Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, songwriters, musicians, and countless licensing firms all believe this bill will harm their small businesses. The Illustrators Partnership Capwiz site is open to professional creators and any member of the image-making public.

Divine Wisdom and the Power of Women

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:50:12 GMT

Power of Women Mandala - (Mandalas for Peace Project series) - © Sue O'Kieffe 2008
source image - escallonia flower

I don't often write about my images. I like to let the images speak for themselves. My intent had been to create a mandala with 9 rays, but it turned into 18. Next time I'll know how to do it. Still, the power of nine remains prevalent in this image.18 in Tarot is the Moon (authenticity, mysteriousness, integrity, openness). 1+8=9 is the Hermit(introspection, completeness, resolution, recognizing what is heartfelt and meaningful). When I create my mandalas, there is always some voice, some nudge that calls to me. Intuition beckons me.

I am honored to be participating in the Mandalas for Peace Project, a collaborative effort conceived over at the Mandala Oasis. A group of us will each be creating a series of nine images based on nine different themes over the next nine weeks. A webring for the project is in the process of being birthed.

So what is it about the number nine that is so powerful? In her book Creating Mandalas, Susanne Fincher writes:

Nine represents a band of angels, careful synthesis, and the enigma of human existence. Jung writes that by ancient tradition nine represents "a company of gods." The Bible mentions that there are nine choirs of angels. The most mysterious element of the Trinity, The Holy Ghost, was symbolized by the number nine. Nine has been a traditional symbol for benevolent spiritual beings...the number nine symbolized truth in mystic Hebrew tradition. (pp.106-107).

Kate Jobe, a member of the Project, told us 9 was the number of the Divine Feminine.

Being a knowledge- seeking woman, I decided to dig a bit deeper. In his painting of The Creation of Adam on the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo portrays Sophia, Divine Wisdom, as being present at God the Father's left hand side when Earth was created.

From the Greek Old Testament Septuagint (circa 285 B.C):
For wisdom, which is the worker of all things,taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit,holy, only one, manifold----”
( Septuagint Wisdom VII: 22 )

and from the Bible:
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding, for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profits better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Prov 3:13-15
(from Holy Spirit Divine Feminine)

Other information on Sophia:
Sophia: Goddess of Wisdom and God's Bride
The Sophia Foundation of North America
Sophia: Hidden Goddess of the West
-------------------------
The Power of Women
...Strength, Wisdom, Mystery...
......Breast, Womb, Blood......
.........Nurturing, Healing, Restoring.........
............Creating, Birthing, Releasing...........
------------------------

I thank Holy Spirit and the Wisdom of Sophia for helping me create this gift for peace.

A Doodle a Day

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:11:59 GMT

Ya. Like that.
All I know for sure is doodling is good medicine
Blood pressure lowering
Calming. Centering.
Om… Om… Om…

Ya. Like that.

~suedoodles~

Bill Moyers Journal

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:40:02 GMT

Is an imperial presidency destroying what America stands for? Bill Moyers sits down with history and international relations expert and former US Army Colonel Andrew J. Bacevich who identifies three major problems facing our democracy: the crises of economy, government and militarism, and calls for a redefinition of the American way of life

www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/09262008/watch.html

edit: it is well worth the time to watch this 23 minute interview...i post this kind of information for myself as well as anything...the history referred to in this interview is within my lifetime, which makes it a bit more in my memory's grasp...

a few years back i remember listening to an interview by american philosopher sam keen. he talked about our country's shift from working hard for what we wanted and living with delayed gratification (1950's era and earlier) to wanting everything and needing everything immediately. keen thought it no accident that the sexual revolution and the first visa card happened at around the same time in the mid 60's. anyway, if you have the time, be sure to watch this video.

~sue

And now, in a slightly different vein...

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:55:35 GMT

The past few days I have enjoyed walking through the neighborhoods witnessing the change of color. Even though our autumn leaves are not as brilliant as what you might see in the Midwest or New England, coming upon the maples overhanging the boulevards with the sun shining through their leaves is simply breathtaking. Cherry trees that earlier displayed sweet pink flowers now vibrate with red and gold foliage. Wise gingko shimmers yellow. And the pumpkin spiders hanging out in their exquisitely woven webs harken the approaching cooler nights.

I do love showing off the beauty of where I live.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:28:07 GMT

You are Strength

Courage, strength, fortitude. Power not arrested in the act of judgement, but passing on to further action, sometimes obstinacy.

This is a card of courage and energy. It represents both the Lion's hot, roaring energy, and the Maiden's steadfast will. The innocent Maiden is unafraid, undaunted, and indomitable. In some cards she opens the lion's mouth, in others she shuts it. Either way, she proves that inner strength is more powerful than raw physical strength. That forces can be controlled and used to score a victory is very close to the message of the Chariot, which might be why, in some decks, it is Justice that is card 8 instead of Strength. With strength you can control not only the situation, but yourself. It is a card about anger and impulse management, about creative answers, leadership and maintaining one's personal honor. It can also stand for a steadfast friend.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

This is actually quite accurate in relation to how I am feeling today ... calling on my internal wisdom to get me through some challenging emotional upset. It's all good. I haven't done one of these tests for quite a long time...just one of those little sign posts of life!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:44:44 GMT

L00K!
B&W doodle, digitally painted

L is for Look Who’s Making Eyes at Me!

L is also for Life, Love, Lips, and curly Locks

as well as Lavendar, Lilac, Lapis

Loops, Lines and Leaves.

L is for that fluttery Lepidoptera

and Lots and Lots and Lots of Laughter.

~suedoodles

Doodling the alphabet one letter at a time

Friday, September 19, 2008

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:39:28 GMT

Peace Mandala - © Sue O'Kieffe 2006

An older mandala posted for this week's Art Rage Challeng e prompt BLUE
and for September 21st International Day of Peace

The United Nations' International Day of Peace - marked every year on September 21 - is a global holiday when individuals, communities, nations and governments highlight efforts to end conflict and promote peace.

Established by U.N. resolution in 1982, "Peace Day" has grown to include millions of people around the world who participate in all kinds of events, large and small.

Keeping it Simple

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:13:36 GMT

rhythmic doodling…swirl, twist, half circle, straight line, dip, scroll, dot…melodic, contemplative, simple, sweet, like ice skating at night under a full moon ..whooosh whooosh…

remembering embroidery..in out in out, twist around needle, pierce fabric, french knot, pierce fabric, turn hoop, in out in out…satisfaction

so simple

~suedoodles

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for the past two years i have been on xanga, someone has anonymously gifted me with a year's subscription. the first time, my secret pal finally came forth and admitted to the gift...this past year i have no idea who bestowed me with such a generous kindness...i say thank you , again, if you still read me. those are moments not easily forgotten.

i knew that subscription time was ending soon (it did sometime last month). i have been pondering whether i would continue here. yesterday i purchased a subscription for myself. after five years of relative poverty, being able to take care of myself in these very simple ways is humbling. i won't ever forget.

i like the idea of paying it forward .

im not here alot, and certainly not as chatty as i have been in the past. but tonight im feeling a bit sentimental (might be the wine i had with my belated birthday dinner). some of you have kept me going when times got tough. some of you energetically held my hand in the dark of night when i woke up alone and afraid.

how could i leave this? i know someday it will happen, but not today. i'm here for a while at least. you are part of my tribe.

blessed be.

~dancingsun

YOU ARE WORTH THE TIME

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:22:02 GMT

(turn down your music/tv in order to listen to the audio soundtrack...)