Lotus of Light

Almost 9 months ago, I decided to try my hand at blog writing with WordPress.  Like cells in an embryo, this little space has multiplied and grown in terms of categories, tags, topics and readership.  It has grown from a small place in my heart that ached to express itself to whoever might glean inspiration from an ignited spark of imagination, such that we might ponder and muse upon Life’s journey together.  I have taken alot of pleasure in making this area an outlet for my creative process and I have enjoyed sharing these (and other Life moments) with many of the friends that I have made here. 

Speaking of appreciation and inspiration, I went to bed last night (sometime after splashing some paint upon a new canvas…and yes…it was after midnight) thinking about some of the many people whom also whittle away at their own special places here in the Blogworld.  In trust and good faith, many of you have allowed me access to your minds, your hearts and your souls.  We have shared laughter, tears, discussions, debates and differences.  We have pondered, mused and rambled along our roads together.   At times, I may not have commented at all, but smiled and savoured your words and thoughts as an appreciative lurker.  But, most of all, we have given each other new eyes with which to view the world.  We all have different gifts, talents and perspectives to offer and there is an eon of experience, ancestry and kinship shared amongst our hearts and souls.  I thank each and every one of you for helping to make my journey a special one.

As a token of appreciation, I created an avatar this morning.  I call it the Lotus of Light avatar.  The Lotus has deeply symbolic meaning in many cultures (Egyptian, Hindu to name a couple):

~in Hindu mythology, a lotus blossomed from a primordial ocean which was created upon the resonance of Om (the sound of Om is one of the most grounding and connecting harmonics in our Universe).

~lotuses represent the bridge between the physical and spiritual world (they have long stems reaching deeply into pond mud as their bright petals worship the sun).  Amanda Rooke sums this up nicely:  “They [lotuses] relate to creation, regeneration, and the state of the initiate and higher beings, all of whom travel through life’s vicissitudes and trials to become at one with the creative source of life in order to return and spread its light to other receptive souls.”

~just as lotus petals open and unfold to reveal the magnificence of an entire flower, each of us has the potential to open and unfold in our own unique ways; revealing our gifts and treasures as we do so.  We may not be overtly spiritual, but as Bloggers, we use writing as a creative tool to bridge the physical and realms of the artist…the writer…the seeker…the dreamer…the observer….and this is Spirit enough.

[Resized for WordPress sidebar...Please see Awards and Embellishments page for larger version if you want a slightly larger avatar]. 

So I offer this gift up to you (to resize, reuse and recycle) as a small, hand-made token of my appreciation of the shining Light within you.  This is not meant as an “award” per se, or as a token representing a popularity contest of any sort.  It is merely a small gift of appreciation to be given to people that are making a difference with their words.  It can be given by anyone, to anyone, with the intention of Love, Peace and Understanding.  It is also meant to be a reminder of the joy, beauty and peace found in creation and a bridge connecting kindred souls.

If you see anyone that isn’t on the list, but would appreciate a ray of Lotus Light…please contact me and I will send them an avatar (or you can direct them here).

Seekers, Mystics, Observers and Poets

[in no particular order]

Grace – The Wild Pomegranate – For your wisdom, zest for life and….grace.

Simonne – Cliterary Fiction – For your brilliant Light and literary talent.

Ruby – A Bit of Peace and Quiet – For your peace, understanding and…love.

Pixie – Urban Pixie – For your soulful insight.

Karen – Observant Bystander – For your gentle wisdom and humour.

Venus – Between the Gutter and the Stars – For your heart and soul.

Red – For your sassy, red-headed spirit.

Signmom – For your soulful Goddess spirit.

Claudia - Um jene mutigen Schritte über die schmale Brücke zu machen.  [For taking those courageous steps across the narrow bridge].

Anthony – Beyond the Blog – For your energy and your ability to strum up good discussions.

David – Authorblog – For your kindness (towards others) and your brilliant photographic eye.

Poetman - For your soul, spirit and inspiring poetry (I lurk here frequently).

Bill – Dying Man’s Daily Journal – For your courage and your love of Life.

You – Yes…”you”, whoever ”you” may be.  If your name isn’t on this list, but the thought of Love, Peace and Understanding (thanks Ruby) resonates with you…then take up the Lotus of Light and be inspired by it’s beauty.

If anyone has problems with the avatar, please let me know and I’ll give you a hand (I’m not much of a techie, but I’ll try).  If you don’t want to accept the award or display it, I won’t take it personally…but do know that I appreciate you just the same. 

Love and Lotus Light to all!