Sunday's Stillpoint

Good morning authors and creative sisters and brothers. I am new to this business of blogging, and you are probably new to my perspectives, which come out of almost two decades of studying Jungian psychology. Last Sunday, I did not convey my idea well, so there were two brave souls willing to question what I was trying to say. Perhaps I can try again because I believe it is an important topic – the idea of finding our balance as a creative, growing, introspective individual. Let me back up and give a little foundation on the idea of holding the opposites. My apologies!

Most of us have grown up in a culture that would prefer to divide and categorize things into dualities, making life easier instead of considering the complexities of a middle way. Examples readily understood are black/white, good/bad, right/wrong, joyful/painful. We can understand that there is more gray area in life, than true black or true white. People are not all good or all bad. We’ve all done bad things and good things and we all have good qualities and not so good qualities.

Similarly, our life circumstances are rarely, if ever completely positive or negative. Good things usually come out of overcoming of a bad situation. We become stronger in the broken places. A painful ending always begets a new beginning, and that is an exciting and growth-full time. This is the spiraling way of the Feminine aspect of consciousness. In this way, the rhythms of paradox are circuitous. Spiraling is very different than the black/white paradigm. As a writer, it is helpful for me to remember this. If I can remember this during the hard times, the stuck times, I will not give up or feel paralyzed in my feelings or my fears. Knowing that something new is coming helps me hold on and accept what is right now.

So, now, the question for reflective writing today is this: imagine something that you consider to be problematic with your current situation, your life, your habits, your body, your writing. Chose something that feels immovable, stuck, something you don’t like to think about. Once you’ve found that place, instead of seeing only the negatives about this condition, write about all the ways this circumstance might help you see new territory. Consider all that might potentially transform out of this, or what is helpful about it right now. The turning point comes out of considering the alternative view of the current condition. In this way, we experience the richness of life. We allow ourselves to experience darkness and light.

7 Facts Award

APA has been given another award! This comes from BK Walkers's Immortality and Beyond Blog: 

http://www.immortylcafe.com/2011/02/7-facts-award-thank-you-sally-from.html?zx=7bd344dbf73b394f

Upon receipt of the award, you are to divulge 7 facts about yourself and pass it on to 7 other bloggie friends. How could I possibly choose seven bloggers out of the many I follow, read and are friends of the APA Blog? Well, considering it is a personal award, for this I have chosen blogs that I read that speak to me, personally. If you are a friend, a follower and a reader and would like this nifty award, please feel free to participate. So it is to the 7 named bloggers and all our bloggie friends! 

(1) I am a classic introvert. Which means, I find things like this, incredibly challenging. And a favourite quote comes to mind: "Hardly anybody ever writes anything nice about introverts. Extroverts rule. This is rather odd when you realise that about nineteen writers out of twenty are introverts. We have been taught to be ashamed of not being 'outgoing'. But a writer's job is ingoing."
Ursula K. LeGuin"

(2) I love my job. Yes, you may take that as a shameless plug, but I really do love providing authors and publishers with great publicity for their books. What you may not know, is I also work with women-entrepreneurs and provide them with publicity for their business' and this is growing to be my speciality.

(3) The colour blue, is my colour, and by that I mean, I am absolutely blue-obsessed.

 

 (4) I love the sky and stars and magic and myth. 

 

(5) The APA Blog has been a labour of love for me but lately it has felt like more labour. I am always open to hearing suggestions and thoughts from others. If you have any interest in running a weekly feature, let me know at: apasuggestions@gmail.com 

 

(6) I am an avid baker-from-scratch and love creating new recipes and experimenting in the kitchen.Absolutely hate the clean-up. 

(7) I am also a writer, who is trying to write a book for publication and you can follow along on my personal blog here: http://cschamberlain.blogspot.com/

The 7 Facts Blogger Award, I pass on to these 7 Bloggers: 

1. A Room with A View, Nancy Parra
   http://nancyjparrawebsite.blogspot.com/ (a very thoughtful blog from a great writer)
2. 
   Introverted Wife-a blog I follow through my personal blog that speaks to my introvert soul)
   http://www.introvertedwife.com/
3. 
   Carol Oats (wonderful writings and a great blog)
   http://www.caroloates.com/
4. 
   Sarah Butland (one of the most intelligent writers' blogs I've ever read)
   http://sarahbutland.com/blog/
5. 
   Nicole Zoltack (a blog from a mostly fantasy writer)
   http://nicolezoltack.blogspot.com/
6. 
   Wondrous Women (the incredibly inspiring blog from Amy Lance)
   http://www.wondrouswomenworldwide.com/
7. 
   Many Faces Art (my husband, the artist)
   http://manyfacesart.blogspot.com/

Sunday's Stillpoint

Good morning fellow authors and artists! Last week’s topic was silence – how do we find it so that we can hear our inner voice more clearly? I hope some of you read that and considered it even if you didn’t respond back. My intention with Sunday’s Stillpoint is to offer food for thought; prompts for reflection and response, and when possible, an ongoing dialogue. Soon, I plan to have a link to a Psyche's Journey blog so the conversations can continue there as well. I hope you will write back with your thoughts, questions, and experiences!

Today, I wanted to share with you a question, asked of me on many occasions by a great woman, Jungian Analyst, Marion Woodman. I now ask myself this same question when I am stuck, have no energy, when I am struggling or ambivalent or unhappy. The question is this: if you were to use only two words to describe the two sides of your current condition, the imperative concern of the moment, your current state of being – what would those two words be?

Take some time and let that question sink in – take time, consider where you are right now; in your life, in love, in your work, maybe even a writer’s block. Time time, hold the silence, and isten for your inner response.

Your stillpoint can be found somewhere in between these two points. This is the idea of holding the tension of the opposites, so find your authentic truth. This is the tension that keeps us growing and changing and it is often a finely discerned tightwire act! The point is to listen, and not ignore those tensions within the self.

Today, my two words would be: strength and desire. These two words serve a lot of areas in transition at this moment. I know that if I can hold this tension, these seeming opposites; a third way will come. Most likely the authentic answer will be something I could not have thought possible from either of the two polarities. It requires not taking the easy path of either extreme. It requires holding still, until the third way presents itself. It is often a surprise…

What would your two words be today?

Guest Author Shiela Stewart

Romantic Couples

Happy Valentine’s Day one and all. Hope you’ll be spending it with the one you love.

Tina-Sue has graciously allowed me to take this day for lovers and share my latest release with all of you. Plus, I thought I would share some of my favorite romantic couples in movies and TV’s. Below is a list of my favorites. I would love to hear if you have any favorite couples in movies, TV or books.
X-Files

One lucky commenter will win a free ecopy of Horsing Around. Please leave your email addy to be eligible.

Fox Mulder & Dana Scully (X-Files)

It seems to me that the best relationships, the ones that last, are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with.

Jack Dawson & Rose Bukater (Titanic)

Rose: I love you, Jack.

Jack: Don't you do that, don't say your good-byes. Not yet, do you understand me?

Rose: I'm so cold.

Jack: Listen, Rose. You're gonna get out of here, you're gonna go on and you're gonna make lots of babies, and you're gonna watch them grow. You're gonna die an old... an old lady warm in her bed, not here, not this night. Not like this, do you understand me?

Rose: I can't feel my body.

Jack: Winning that ticket, Rose, was the best thing that ever happened to me... it brought me to you. And I'm thankful for that, Rose. I'm thankful. You must do me this honor. Promise me you'll survive. That you won't give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless. Promise me now, Rose, and never let go of that promise.

Rose: I promise.

Jack: Never let go.

Rose: I'll never let go, Jack. I'll never let go.

Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Will Turnner: [during the final battle] Will you marry me?

Elizabeth Swann: I don't think now's the best time!

Will Turner: Now may be the only time! I love you. I've made my choice. What's yours?

Elizabeth Swann: Barbossa!

[Will shocked because of her 'choice']

Elizabeth Swann: [to Barbossa] Marry us!

[Will is relieved]

Barbossa: I'm a little busy at the moment!


Casablanca

llsa: can't fight it anymore. I ran away from you once. I can't do it again. Oh, I don't know what's right any longer. You have to think for both of us. For all of us.

Rick: All right, I will. Here's looking at you, kid.

Ilsa: [smiles] I wish I didn't love you so much.

Romeo and Juliet

"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?

Deny thy father and refuse thy name.

Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love

And I'll no longer be a Capulet."

Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara: Gone With The Wind

Scarlett: [pleads with Rhett as he is about to leave to join the Confederate Army] Oh, Rhett! Please, don't go! You can't leave me! Please! I'll never forgive you!

Rhett Butler: I'm not asking you to forgive me. I'll never understand or forgive myself. And if a bullet gets me, so help me, I'll laugh at myself for being an idiot. There's one thing I do know... and that is that I love you, Scarlett. In spite of you and me and the whole silly world going to pieces around us, I love you. Because we're alike. Bad lots, both of us. Selfish and shrewd. But able to look things in the eyes as we call them by their right names.

Scarlett: [struggles] Don't hold me like that!

Rhett Butler: [holds her tighter] Scarlett! Look at me! I've loved you more than I've ever loved any woman and I've waited for you longer than I've ever waited for any woman.
[kisses her forhead]

Scarlett: [turns her face away] Let me alone!

Rhett Butler: [forces her to look him in the eyes] Here's a soldier of the South who loves you, Scarlett. Wants to feel your arms around him, wants to carry the memory of your kisses into battle with him. Never mind about loving me, you're a woman sending a soldier to his death with a beautiful memory. Scarlett! Kiss me! Kiss me... once...
[he kisses her]

Horsing Around: Bk 1 in the Carnal Desires series

Blurb:

Carnal Desire’s: We've got a match for all your sexual pleasures.

Sara Miller needs a real man. One who can give her what she desires in and out of the bed. So far, none have met her expectations. She’s hoping all that will change after submitting her application to Carnal Desire’s Web dating service.

The owner of several prize-winning horses, more money than he knows what to do with, Andy McDonald has it all. Except for the love a good woman. He’s sick of flighty bimbos wanting only his money and not satisfying his sexual desires. After a friend pressures him into looking on line for a woman, Andy gives in and submits his application.

Sex takes on a new twist when Sara and Andy get together and nothing is taboo.

Excerpt:

Sara’s heart was beating so hard, she was sure Mistress Bella could hear it. She could very well turn tail and run. Why did she need a man in her life right now, let alone someone she might consider for the long haul?

Then the door opened. Before her stood the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen.

He wore nothing more than a towel around his hips, dipping low enough to reveal a thin line of hair from his navel down. His chest was glistening with moisture from the shower he’d obviously just stepped out of and was firm and muscular. His sandy blond hair was damp and messed up. He had a bit of stubble on his face, which made the ruggedness even more prominent. And when he smiled, those big blue eyes twinkled. He was definitely yummy. His picture didn’t do him justice by any means. Sara nearly swallowed her tongue.

Then he spoke.

"Well howdy, ladies."

Her heart calmed. His slight Southern drawl, with its deep resonance, was soothing and somewhat relaxing. And very arousing. She loved a man with an accent, and even though Andy’s was faint, it was still enough to turn her on. Between her legs, her flesh began to swell and moisten.

"Good afternoon, Andy. Looks like we caught you in the middle of your shower."

He stroked the damp sandy-blond hair from his face and Sara nearly swooned. "I just stepped out. I’m running a bit behind, I’m afraid." He turned his attention to Sara and her pulse pounded in her ears. "Pleasure to meet you in person, Sara."

She took the hand he held out to her; he completely surprised her when he turned her hand over and brushed his lips across her knuckles. "Pleasure’s mine." Like tiny electrical charges zapping every sensitive nerve in her body, he had her quivering with that one simple gesture.

"Well, come on in and make yourself comfortable while I go change."

He stepped aside to let them in and as Sara walked past him, the scent of the woods after a light rain shower wafted off of him, like fresh, aromatic greenery touched by a kiss of sunlight. She was going to have no problem at all being with this man.

She and Bella headed to the sitting area of the suite while Andy headed to the bedroom. It was spacious, and came complete with a mini kitchen, sitting area, TV and plush sofa and chair. Almost identical to her own suite.

"Pretty easy on the eyes, isn’t he?"

Sara smiled at Bella’s comment, taking a seat on the sofa. "I’m not having any trouble looking at him."

"And what better first meeting than to see him practically naked." Bella winked and beamed a huge grin. "Well, I’ll leave the two of you to get acquainted now. If you need anything, you know where to find me."

"Thank you so much, Mistress Bella."

"I love making people happy. I’m heading out, Andy," she shouted at the bedroom door.

"Catch you later, sugar." He stepped out of the bedroom, dressed in jeans and a dark blue t-shirt just as Bella left the suite. "Looks like it’s just you and me now, doll."

God, he was going to make her come, just by speaking. "Looks like.” She got to her feet. “So…how should we start this?"

"Let’s start with this as an opener."

He swung his arm around her waist and she gasped when he yanked her against his chest.


Places to purchase: Breathless Press http://www.breathlesspress.com/

Shiela’s Website: http://www.shielasbooks.ca/

Carnal Desires Website: http://carnaldesiresdating.blogspot.com/

Sunday's Stillpoint

Hello fellow authors and other creative folks! Welcome back to Sunday’s Stillpoint. I trust you’ve had a creative week!

The topic of silence is coming across my path in various forms lately. As I open to write about finding our stillpoint, I find the theme of stillness and silence jumping out of my reading, my music, my poetry. It is very affirming! Silence in the life of an artist is necessary in order to hear and allow our own authenticity coming through. Often to create silence we must exile the inner critic, eliminate the incessant lists of what else needs to be done, and find a way to focus on opening the creative channel.

In his daily e-journal, a favorite artist of mine, Rod MacIver, writes:

“Quiet, quiet is the refuge of the artist. We seek to manifest our own special song, and for that we need to hear it.



I build room for silence in my life so I can listen. I build room for daydreaming. I’ve been on a multi-year plan to remove distraction, to reduce the number of moving parts in my life.
”

Cleemckenzie responded to my initial post last week, with a personal favorite of mine; clearing the mind with time in nature. She writes:

“My silent space comes when I'm not anywhere near my desk--a forest trail, a long and empty beach--those are the best places, but my garden works as well if I can resist digging in the dirt.



What I find is that when I take myself away from what I'm "stuck" on and set my brain on autopilot, I return to my writing with so much to set down on the page--so much that I'm not aware of until I see the words flow across the screen.”

This morning, I would like to focus even more specifically on the body as an avenue for silencing the clutter in our minds, whether it is critical self-talk, or other thoughts that derail our focus on creativity. My mentor, Marion Woodman, taught me at the age of 42 to consciously live in my body. I was living primarily out of my head before – always thinking, planning, judging and missing out on my own experience! Marion Woodman is a Jungian analyst who has uniquely expanded upon Carl Jung’s original psychology, emphasizing the importance of the feminine aspect of consciousness. Responding to the era in which Marion has lived and taught, as well as the necessity to heal herself, Marion has excavated the wisdom of the body as key to psychic wholeness. My work in Psyche’s Journey (www.psychesjourney.org) is dedicated to this wise woman’s life work. I want to provide the wisdom of the feminine to those who seek balance.

Feeling the movement in music, dancing, walking in the woods, or even a quick trip outdoors to breathe in the fresh air and feel the sunshine on my skin allows me to RE-MEMBER. A fresh channel seems to open up in me when I move into my body, a channel that shuts down with all the clutter of too many thoughts. I tell my Obsessive clients the same thing – move into the body and out of your head.

Last week, I asked you to write in about how you move past striving; today, I’d like to think a little more about creating space for silence, for authenticity. I would love to hear your tried and true means for clearing space in your head! So, how do you find stillness, the inner silence, your open channel?

Here is some inspiration for being alone with yourself: I love this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7X7sZzSXYs

Finally, I send each of you a Soul Valentine.

"I am your moon and your moonlight too, I am your flower garden and your water too. I have come all this way eager for you, without shoes or shawl. I want you to laugh, to kill all your worries, to love you, to nourish you. Oh sweet bitterness, I will soothe you and heal you. I will bring you roses. I too have been covered with thorns"

~Rumi, written in adoration of his God

May we each love our souls this much, that we would cherish and nourish our silence, to allow our creative channels to open.

I look forward to hearing from you! Breathe deeply and be well, Dorica

Book Feature: Chosen By Blood, Virna DePaul

Author Links: http://www.virnadepaul.com/books_paranormal.shtml 

http://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Blood-Para-Ops-Novel-DePaul/dp/0425241548

Five years after the Second Civil War ends, humans and Otherborn— humanlike creatures with superhuman DNA—still struggle for peace. To ensure the continued rights of both, the FBI forms a Para-Ops team with a unique set of skills.

Leader of an Otherborn clan, half-breed vampire Knox Devereaux would do anything to find a cure for the anti-vamp vaccine slowly starving his people into extinction. When the FBI contacts him about leading a team of hand-selected Others on a mission to reclaim the stolen antidote, Knox accepts. His new assignment places him in direct contact with Special Agent Felicia Locke, the beautiful human he’s craved since their very first meeting.

Book Feature: Princess of Las Pulgas, C.Lee McKenzie

Author Links:
http://cleemckenziebooks.com
http://writegame.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/cleemckenzie

We have a beginning.

Last night I pleaded with Death, but he turned a bony back to me, pushed Hope into the corridor and shut the door.
So what’s it about?
Carlie Edmund has everything: a loving family, good friends, a perfect home and wealth and status; then in her junior year of high school all of that changes. How will Carlie take on the challenges of living in a different world, a world where she doesn't "fit" and where nothing is as it should be?

"C. Lee McKenzie paints beautiful pictures with words in a story about losing everything and finding it again in places you least expected. From the first page you'll be drawn into the poignant world of Carlie, The Princess of Las Pulgas, falling in love with her as she deals with the loss of her dad and then almost everything she thinks is important. A must read for lovers of finely crafted contemporary fiction."
- J.E. MacLeod, author of Waiting To Score


 "Princess of Las Pulgas is a beautifully written, meaningful, young adult novel. Carlie Edmund will jump off the page and pull you into a  poignant and timely story of loss and ultimate gain. She'll take you into a world where stereotypes are shattered and truth is discovered deep beneath the surface."
 Francisco X. Stork

"C. Lee McKenzie’s new novel begins with loss (“Last night I pleaded with Death, but he turned a bony back to me …”) and draws the reader into Carlie’s crumbling world. Once the beloved daughter of two parents in a house by the sea, death has taken her father and debt has taken the house. Now Carlie’s broken family must try to survive in squalid “Flea Town.” Throughout the story, small but glittering details illuminate the prose, and perfect turns of phrase keep the reader right next to Carlie as she struggles (“I wonder if you can be arrested for driving while sobbing?”). Full of heart and hope … a beautiful book." L.K. Madigan, author of the 2010 Morris Award winner FLASH BURNOUT

Sunday's Stillpoint

Hello everyone! Today is the debut of Sunday’s Stillpoint on the APA blog, and I look forward to your comments and feedback. Tina-Sue graciously introduced me this week, but in case you missed it, I am a writer, artist, single mom, and clinical psychologist living and working in Connecticut. I have been working for 22 years post grad school, studying Jungian/Woodmanian psychology intently for the past 12 of those years, and I am particularly interested in bringing more understanding of the Feminine aspects of consciousness into the world.

As you may know, the term “Feminine aspect” is a Jungian term, and refers to the lesser-known half of our dual nature. Within each individual are both masculine and feminine qualities. Both are important for authentic living, though our culture overvalues the Masculine aspects in both men and women, such as thinking, taking initiative, and the linear path to achievement. Over-emphasis of the masculine aspects undermines the awareness and development of our feminine qualities, such as honoring the wisdom of the body, following our inner knowing, allowing ourselves to follow the normal cycles of growth, death and rebirth. We try again and again to follow the straight line to our goal, deaf to our inner voice and blind to our true path.

I believe that sharing these ideas with artists, writers and all kinds of therapists is the optimal way to reach people, because our work is about stimulating people beyond where words can take us. Our work is with the psyche. The authentic and honest voice of our soul’s expression, resonate with other souls. Most artists are driven to create. Most are in touch with voice inside that inspires, guides, even beguiles us to create. It is in that creating that we learn about ourselves. We need to create space and silence to be able to hear that voice. We need to make space for our own inner knowing to come forth. I don’t know about you, but I have to create the space for silent reflection, so that I am in touch with my soul’s voice. I suspect that is true for most artists. That is what I’m hoping Sunday’s Stillpoint will help us do – create the silent space where we can again connect with our inner muse. I want to share the knowledge I have worked hard for, and I want to learn from you.

Perhaps these thoughts of ours

will never find an audience

Perhaps the mistaken road

will end in a mistake

Perhaps the lamps we light one at a time

will be blown out, one at a time

Perhaps the candles of our lives will gutter out

without lighting a fire to warm us...

Perhaps when all the tears have been shed

the earth will be more fertile

Perhaps when we sing praises to the sun

the sun will praise us in return

Perhaps these heavy burdens

will strengthen our philosophy

Perhaps when we weep for those in misery

we must be silent about miseries of our own

Perhaps

Because of our irresistible sense of mission

We have no choice

~ Shu Ting ~

(Translated by K. Kizer in Cool, Calm & Collected)

Q: When you find yourself striving to create, how do you restore your inner knowing, allowing your authentic voice to rise up again?

I look forward to hearing from you! For more about my publication, please take a look at: www.psychesjourney.org

Breathe deeply and be well. Dorica

Book Of The Month: Horsing Around, Carnal Desires Series, Shiela Stewart

Carnal Desire’s: We've got a match for all your sexual pleasures.

Sara Miller needs a real man. One who can give her what she desires in and out of the bed. So far, none have met her expectations. She’s hoping all that will change after submitting her application to Carnal Desire’s Web dating service.
The owner of several prize-winning horses, more money than he knows what to do with, Andy McDonald has it all. Except for the love a good woman. He’s sick of flighty bimbos wanting only his money and not satisfying his sexual desires.  After a friend pressures him into looking on line for a woman, Andy gives in and submits his application.
Sex takes on a new twist when Sara and Andy get together and nothing is taboo.

http://www.shielasbooks.ca/