Shortly after returning from a Chopra Center Meditation Retreat, I got thevision to do paintings with words on them, where the words were thedominant feature of the paintings. Literally, I woke up, sat boltupright and was told to do these paintings with sacred words. I said,”What words?” It answered, “You will be told. Inthe meantime, figure out how to do these paintings.”
It was a struggle for me – how to honor this vision. I have come to believe that when I meditate, answers and information come. If I havethe feeling I am being told to act by my conscience, then accordingto what I have learned, that is inspired action and will bring a benefit if I follow it. Since I was not sure how to begin, but wanting to start, I jumped in, using Sanskrit mantras from the Oprah and Deepak 21 Day Meditations. Namaste is not a mantra. It is a Sanskrit word with a gesture that means I bow to the divine in you. I like that, so I included it. It feels right and makes me feel good to include it with this project.
The Mala Project
I have wanted to make jewelry for years. Kind of wished I majored in jewelry design instead of textile design at FIT, Fashion Institute ofTechnology, in NY. And certainly wished the family diamond business had not stopped with my grandfather. But oh well. Here we are anyway. I have been a rock hound since I can remember. The first drawings I ever sold were on rocks. I have carried a crystal in pocket or purse forever. Now, back to the Chopra Meditation Retreat, during the breaks, vendors sold their wares. One of the vendors was selling malas. I learned that malas can be a meditation aid. I loved them. Iwanted to make them. A few months after returning from the meditation retreat, I carefully purchased beautiful crystal and natural gem and semi-precious gem stone beads, and took a knotting class. I consciously make these malas, with a special awareness to healing and regenerative and uplifting and calming energies of the crystal beads I use. I infuse my malas and all of my work with the intention of bringing joy and healing, harmony, and prosperity, and blessings.