CROCHETING FRIENDSHIP INTO A MANDALA

I have three special women friends in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We met several years ago at the Club Europeo. They were in my "So To Speak" English conversation group. Often I was asked by others, "Patt, you speak English well. Why are you here?" Well, besides the fact I was extremely welcomed and valued at the Monday meetings I had another reason for attending. I wanted to gain knowledge about the Argentine culture in a language that I could understand. I could ask questions and get understandable replies all while being helpful by correcting their English. And ther was another HUGE added benefit. I could make friends.

Those three women and I became Las Rebelas (The Rebels). When the club shut from late December to March for summer holidays we continued to meet at my apartment or hang out for dinner downtown. And even when we all stopped our club memberships our deeply rooted friendship continued through new babies to job changes, boyfriends and long trips away.

They call me Swami Patt for all the sharing of angel cards, dowsing rods, spiritual teachings and grounding techniques through difficulties. But most importantly, they call me their friend.

They gave me this crocheted mandala when I left Argentina. It now hangs in the kitchen of my BoHo MoHo Boo in Central Florida. I feel the warmth of their friendship each time it catches my eye. Many times I have attempted and failed to crochet something similar. I don't know why it is but I am a complete disaster at crochet. Youtubes do not help. I need someone to gently guide me and my hands, in person, with the buena onda (good vibe) of an old friend.

So how about it? Are you near Leesburg, FL? Are you patient and kind? Can you teach me how to crochet a mandala? We can do it in English :). or ....

Would you want to teach a group class at the Leesburg center for the Arts? :) <3 Please let me know.

Besitos y Abracitos
Swami Patt

WHEN ART CREATES ITSELF THROUGH YOU

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays. I just wanted to jump on for a second to wish you a wonderful day. I am currently in Lake County, FL and not traveling for a change. I am at my own home (thank you Universe) and am helping out a neighbor who went up north to be with family for the week. I am taking care of his dog.

No, this is not a photo of Slippers from next door. This photo spread is from one of my books NATURE MANDALAS WITHIN AN URBAN LANDSCAPE - BUENOS AIRES. I came upon it while pulling some images for the lecture that I am giving on January 10th at the Leesburg Center For the Arts. The red of the ceibo flower (cockspur coral - the national flower of Argentina) is so vibrant it made me think of Christmas. The dog is a former neighbor from when I lived in Cabillito, a barrio of Buenos Aires. Oh those eyes... they sure know how to pull at your heart strings.

The two images, nature and cityscape, worked perfectly. The red of the flowers and of his collar, the shape and color of the corner leaves and his ears, the straight lines of the cut reeds and the lines of the paneling mirror one another. It wasn't planned. The entire book was not planned. The pairing up of the small nature mandalas made in the urban parks with photos of my adopted city just created itself. I will be talking about the aspect of art and intuition and flow on the 10th. Yes, in the right circumstances you are the instrument AND you are the music - you are the art.

Enjoy! I hope to see you very soon.

HOT OFF THE DIGITAL PRESSES

I haven't been posting for a few weeks as I have been busy creating a new website and book. I will share about the website another day. Today I want to shout out the book. The book is a compilation of images of the nature mandalas that I have made in the urban parks of Buenos Aires, Argentina contrasted against city scenes. You can view the complete book by clicking the link below the cover photo or by going to the top of this blog. I have embedded the viewing link in the blog's top border.

Making Mandalas in Urban Parks

LINK TO BOOK

(wait for the photos to load)

I hope you enjoy it.

In less than two weeks I will be on USA soil again. I have enjoyed my time here in Argentina and am looking forward to getting back into my New England woods.

Until soon....
Patt

PS: I will shout it out later but for the impatient ones here's the link for a sneak peak at the new site.
getin2nature.com

Chau 4 Now....

GIVE US MORE

There are more ways to connect to nature art. I have been busy creating social media pages. We now have this blog that you can subscribe to (I am putting that in red...the subscribe option is on the right sidebar>>>) and you can also subscribe to the YOUTUBE channel. Last week I added a Facebook Artist Page. Please check it out. Hit the LIKE button and invite your friends to do the same. I will be posting video links, photo images and more beauty and inspiration. Plus each TAPPED IN TUESDAY I will be highlighting another environmental artist that is tapped into the flow. There are so many amazing artists bringing their own style and sense of wonder to this important work that connects humanity back to their roots in nature. I am truly excited to be a part of this movement. Just scroll down the FACEBOOK page to find the Tuesday posts. Last week I highlighted Andy Goldsworthy - a master site specific artist. Look for the link to a full HD documentary and click in - tap in.You won't be disappointed.

MANDALA*EARTH*ART FACEBOOK PAGE LINK

MAKING THE WESTPORT MANDALA - SPRING 2014

I have a few media projects in process. I am editing some short videos. One is about making the WESTPORT MANDALA last year. Also as I am winding down (or up) in Argentina I am compiling the photos of the smaller earth art creations that bloomed here. I also am putting together a WOMANDALA video. That may have to wait to be finished in May as it involves recording a narration voice over. It is easy to stay busy.


Earth Day is April 22nd. I am looking for area artists to participate in a larger work. I am also pulling people together for evening group paint. Did I write I was winding down? Actually I am gearing UP for my New England return. I want to hit those woods running (rather foraging) muddy hiking boots and all.

I want to wish you all a Happy Saint Patrick's Day. I was named after St Patrick. My birthday is so close (March 21st - the first FULL day of spring in New England). I am also wishing my kinsmen and women some snow melting and sunny warm days.

ERIN GO GREEN!

HASTA LUEGO!

UNTIL NEXT TIME!

tumbler coming soon...

IF A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST...

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"
The other day I was in an area of Buenos Aires known as Lago de Regatas. I was on my way to an ART SHARE meeting and took extra time to walk around the lake and look for items to forage. I settled on a spot and let the energy express itself.

The following day I posted the below photo on my personal facebook page and it began a lovely thread. I am taking the liberty to put some of the comments here.

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Your artwork with my morning coffee. Makes me smile!

Fantastic! Thank you for the wonderful feedback. Art is meant to be shared. Otherwise it is the tree falling in the woods... does it make a sound if no one hears it?

Does art have meaning if it is not seen?

I believe that Patt's art has meaning, even if not seen, and deep in the forest. Having worked with the Earth's energy for many years, I know she is creating power spots and opening portals with particular vibrations with each mandala that she creates. This one, I feel, is for combining the female and male in each individual...those who need it will be drawn to this spot long after the creation has disappeared.

 I'm getting a fertility vibe from this one.

It feels very healing. just sent a copy to a friend who is struggling with cancer. I hope that's ok!! It truly brings me a feeling of peace.

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It is so wonderful to have feedback. Between the ART SHARE group meeting where I shared photo images of my work and the history of how I began to make earth art and the feedback on my personal facebook page I am once again juiced.

THE MALE VERSION?

I invite you to leave comments here on the blog and also to subscribe. Look to the right side bar for the FOLLOW BY EMAIL - SUBSCRIBE field and insert your email address. Each time I make a new post you will receive notification in your email inbox.

Soon I will be creating a separate YOUTUBE CHANNEL and FACEBOOK PAGE for this joyful and healing artwork. Please share the blog and it's images and messages to those in need of an energetic boost in their day.

Thank You.

777 ROCK HEARTS

I took a little break from the big city of Buenos Aires and headed over the river to calming Uruguay for a week. I spent the majority of my time climbing up and down the hills in and around the coastal town of Piriapolis. I had fantastic weather and had hoped to make some nature mandalas in the hills but this year the season is very dry and except for the eucalyptus leaves there was little to forage from the ground. I did however hike along the rocky coast and created a few mandalas out of mussel shells.

On the last night in town I meet up with an old friend and we went to see Guillermo Busch's art exhibition "777 Piedras Corazon" (777 Rock Hearts). He has been gathering heart-shaped rocks, stones and pebbles for many years. Spirit surely inspires and guides this artist. I especially loved the installments that looked into little environments of colors, light and shapes. What a lovely sense of whimsy and love of nature. I feel so happy that I went to the exhibit. I was allowed to take photos and I am including my favorites below. I have watermarked them. I thought to make Valentine's Day cards out of them as tomorrow is that LOVEly day but today it seemed a bit schmaltzy so I am leaving them as I shot them - perfect!

 

 

If you are in the area check out the show. It is at the

Pabellón de las Rosas

Until next time - Let Nature and Art Recreate You.
WIFI NOT NEEDED!

Stay tuned for more information about Meditation and Mandala Making Workshops coming in New England's late spring. After all that snow melts.

DID THE PATRIOTS MAKE ME HOMESICK?

CONGRATULATIONS PATS - WELL DONE :) The New England Patriots won another Super Bowl last night. I caught the game at a local watering hole here in San Telmo. I am still searching for my physical voice this morning.

I have been busy making mandalas and playing in the few natural spaces here in the area. In just two days I head off to Uruguay for a week. I am hoping for great weather as the last few times I have visited things were pretty rained out, such as roads! There is a town on the coast named Piriapolis with a big hill called the Cerro San Antonio. I hope to climb up it. I will tell you of the legend in a future post. Wish me some dry days to get to the top. In the meantime, here are some pretty little mandalas made on the costanera sur here in Buenos Aires. I have also entered them in the NATURE GALLERY page (link in the right side bar).

EUCALYPTUS LEAVES & SYCAMORE SEED PODS

Below one of the elements I happily found were leaves from the Tulip Tree. The first time I knowingly encountered a tulip tree was at Borderland State Park in Easton, MA where I created the seven foot mandala art installation last fall. There's one tree on the main trail by the farm house and another by the Ames Mansion. Check them out if you live nearby. Bring snowshoes or cross country skis. Actually you better wait. It is s deciduous tree. You would have a hard time finding the trees without their distinctive leaves or tulip like flowers. 

 

I admit that I have been - hmmm - not sure if this is the correct word or not - HOMESICK for my native New England woods but in all practicality they are under snow and more is on the way. Please hold up the fort for me and watch your back. Warm up those muscles before and after you shovel!

I will be back soon, after the melt!

Need some help with that back? Check out my other blog for my private practice and workshops. This is a post to help you with that back spasm. Click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by! Hasta Pronto - Until Soon.

FOCUS & PERSPECTIVE

Yesterday I went down to the Ecological Reserve to the river. There isn't a sandy beach there. Instead there are man made rocks or in other words chunks of broken buildings, bricks, pavements and unfortunately a lot of washed up trash. Still amongst all the plastic bottles, papers, broken doll parts and goodness knows what beauty can be found and compiled into a nature mandala.

I pose to you a rhetorical question... the fact that I could find the beauty and enhance it, is that a matter of focus or perspective? Think about it. So many of us spend so much time watching, listening and reading the news, facebook posts, web headlines and more and we feel insecure and fearful of the world around us. Is that because of our focus or perspective? Does our focus create our perspective or does our perspective create our focus? You choose both in one way or another. I chose the cockspur coral tree flowers and incorporated what used to be broken bottles. The turbulence of the river smoothed and rounded out the green glass pieces. They are easily touchable now.

Some words to think about. But please don't think too hard.  Just get away from the news and fear tactics the media uses to hold your attention and breathe in some of mother nature's fresh air. Take the time and refresh your spirit.

ANYWAY... I have added some new images to both galleries. Please take a look. The pages are listed on the right sidebar. Click on in and enjoy.

New WO-MANDALAs have been bubbling through my fingers to help you connect with the spirit of cooperation, community and unity and...hope. It has been so much fun being part of the process. 

Here is a preview. There's more - siempre (always). The womandalas are also featured in the 2D gallery.  ENJOY and SHARE!

A FUN START

What a fun way to begin the New Year.  The other day I went to the costanera sur and made my first nature mandala of the year.  I have no idea the names of the trees the foraged materials came from so I will need to do a bit of googling in order to label the photos.  What made this mandala extra fun is the Venezuelan tourists that stopped by to see what I was doing.  They instantly started taking photos of the finished piece and INSTAGRAMMING them to their friends.  Then they too had to get into the picture.

I NEED TO GOOGLE THE INGREDIENTS

UPDATE: THE BALLS IN THE CENTER ARE SEED PODS FROM THE PLANE (SYCAMORE) TREE AND THE BRANCHES FROM THE MONKEY PUZZLE TREE.

This is not uncommon.  I think I have only made two mandalas in Argentina where people have not come to look and appreciate the works of energetic art.  One of those times I was alone on the median strip of a busy avenue (hey if I can find stuff to forage I go there) and the other time the surrounding people had already taken cover from the rain.

So I am continueing the good work. It makes me happy. It makes others happy and it celebrates the earth.  Protect and honor her.  It is the only one we have.


As I mentioned in my last post there are now gallery pages and an artist's bio at the blog site.  Look to the right side bar near the top.  >>>

I have new mandala projects brewing including a line of gift cards.  The other projects are still floating around my mind in concept stage.  Stay tuned.


Oh and don't forget to check my other blog!
bebestblog.blogspot.com

HERE'S TO A STELLAR NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

FLOWERS OF THE CEIBO TREE BY THE RIO DE LA PLATA, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

~MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS BE RE-MEMBERED
AND COME TO GLORIOUS FRUITION~

Welcome a new year, new energy, fresh desires and more love.
Thank you all for following me on this wonderful creative path.
I am happy to bring you along.
I have just added two gallery pages and an artist's bio page.
Please view them and make a nice comment.
It is always a pleasure to hear from you.
2015 is going to be stellar!

Blessings,

Patt

ETHEREAL BUTTERFLY

WATERCOLOR AND PERMANENT INK

SEE MORE 2D MANDALAS AT THE GALLERY PAGE

RE-MEMBER WITH YOUR DREAMS

I WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO WISH EVERYONE

A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON. 

GREETINGS FROM BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

FLOWERS FROM THE COCKSPUR CORAL TREE

THE NATIONAL TREE OF ARGENTINA

RE-MEMBER WITH YOUR DREAMS

We are a week away from 2015.  People are making resolutions, goals, plans and reviewing past desires. Just a few minutes ago while walking the streets of Buenos Aires coming back from the bakery with a package of yummy things, I smiled bright inside and out re-membering something far sweeter than the pastries in my bag.  I had one of those quick playful nudges and an AH HA moment.  "Haaa - I am living it - again."  No, not deja vu.  I was plunged into the memory and the present moment at the same time.  You see when I was 23 years old I had a life dream and I put that dream aside for many years.  Now I live it.



 TIMBO OR EARPOD TREE



In 1980 while traveling Europe with a backpack I made a statement to myself (and the Universe but people didn't use that phrase back then).  I stated that in this lifetime I wanted to live in a foreign country and learn a second language. Well as they say, "life happens" and for many years I dis-membered myself from my dream.  I had taken it out of my day to day, month to month and year to year thoughts yet my soul never forgot.  And then in 2005 at age 48 I made a major shift.

I didn't make the shift through major action.  That came later.  First I re-connected to the deepest parts of me through meditation and quiet alone time.  Soon the signals, connections, emotional and mental breakthroughs spontaneously appeared.  I ended up in Argentina on a solo five week vacation and while out west in the canyons I felt a deep core connection to the country.  I moved to Buenos Aires (the Paris of the South) in 2006 and lived here full time until 2012.  I now visit whenever possible. I speak Spanish and totally love living a European lifestyle.  I am so happy that I listened to my inner guidance and opened myself up to the synchronicities.

JACARANDA SEED PODS AND FLOWERS

JACARANDA AND TIPA FLOWERS

Can constructing or drawing mandalas help you to re-connect too?   Absolutely!   Imagine your mind as a peaceful flowing stream free of negative chatter.  How wonderful would that be?  As a therapist and teacher of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Hypnotherapy I ask my students to imagine a simple garden hose.  When the spigot is off and no water is flowing out it is easy to fill the hose up with pebbles and dirt.  But when the valve is open and the water is flowing out nothing else can go in. The same is with your mind.  Turn on the spigot of creativity and of the FLOW and the entire being, body, mind and spirit experiences wonderful positive energy.  In that flowing stream lies messages just for you.  You just need to turn it on and get the dirt out of your ears.


I am setting up new international workshops for 2015.  Please email me and I will notify you when the next workshop is scheduled.  gilmore444 @ gmail.com My therapies/workshop website is BEBEST.COM  I will be posting a 2015 schedule soon.

SALUTI!





TIMBO OR EARPOD TREE

TRANSITIONING

I arrived safely to Buenos Aires on Tuesday morning and am adjusting once again.  I am out of the woods and into city life.  Here there are many parks and most are kept meticulously clean of foraging materials but yesterday I did cross through a small park where tipa trees had shed their flowers and workmen had not yet swept them away.

I think it will take me another week to get into FULL BLOOM energetically and be more in the rhythm of city life but for now here is a quickie tipa mandala.  The winds kept the heat down yesterday but it meant that I had to work fast. I am hoping for continued breeziness today and tomorrow as my air conditioning just decided to go on vacation until Thursday.  Well - one needs to be like the bamboo - FLEXIBLE.  Yes grasshoppers - be like the bamboo.  Everything is easier that way.

I am closing with this photo. In my wanderings by the Ecological Reserve I discovered that on Sunday mornings there is an outdoor meditation gathering where you can be guided while communing with nature.  I'm IN.  Come join me if you are local.  I live close by and bring sunscreen and repellant!

Back to transitioning.  NAMASTE and ENJOY!


Stay tuned.....