The inner artist

566-2The time of spring and Easter, for those who celebrate it, is often considered a time of renewal and growth. Unless you live in a tropical climate that hardly changes, you will most likely experience this progression in the seasonal change from the cold, dark winter to the lighter, warmer days of spring. As the days are filled with more natural sunlight, birds sing their hearts out of newfound happiness, trees blossom and the grass is green again, I also become alive. It is not a coincidence that spring is my favorite season. While the results of growth are easier to notice when taking a walk through nature in the spring, human beings also benefit from the personal growth and renewal this season brings.

When I look back at many spring times of my life, I realize that I too have gone through many changes that taught me a lesson and allowed my soul to grow. This year, I have decided to let my inner artist emerge. When we think of art, paintings, music, sculptures or novels often come to mind. However, I believe that art can take many different forms. I also believe that art is the language the universe speaks to us. It is no coincidence that many people call talents God given gifts. I also believe that those gifts are individually wrapped and placed in our hearts and souls the moment we are created and come to this earth to express them.

Everyone has a reason to be here. Many people wonder what it is. I believe that one of the reasons we come here is to share our gifts. Doing so allows our souls to shine and seek fulfillment while on earth. How do you know what your gift is? I think that our passions are our key emotions to answer this question. Our souls long for growth and expression. We can do so by sharing our talents with the world. I have longed to be an artist as long as I can remember. I also know that I was an artist in at least one or more past lives. This year, it is time to let my inner artist emerge and come to the surface. I know that I have been hiding for too long. My soul longs to be expressed and shared with the world. Encouraged and empowered I look into the warm spring sun and feel reassured that, after the cold, long winter, I am ready to emerge from my shell. I wish you all the same growth and newfound happiness that you will find when you start following your passions and express your soul’s wishes for fulfillment whatever form it takes.

The question is, what can you do when fears and doubts appear along the way? On your path, people will criticize you, push you down and tell you that you are never going to make it. Don’t let their egos keep you from growing. Don’t accept their negativity as a sign that you are not going to succeed. It’s like telling an egg in a bird’s nest that no singing bird will ever come out of its shell, a cocoon that it will never change into a beautiful butterfly or a seed in the ground that it will never ever grow into a gorgeous flower. No negativity can stop growth and the expression of the gifts of the universe through art and beauty just as a late winter storm cannot stop spring from coming. So, this spring and beyond, let your inner artist emerge, share your passions, and help make our world a more beautiful and artistic one just as God has intended it to be when it was created.

Love, Barbara

 

Copyright © 2016 by Barbara Bullock, Photo taken at Hotel Dolder Grand Zurich in 2011 by Barbara Bullock

#Love # Soul #March #Easter #Spring #Growth #Artist #Art #Writer #Writing #Butterfly #Flower #Seed #Emerging #Inner #Inside #Mission #Passion #Light #Bird #Sing #Painting #Music #Expression #Seed #Egg #Winter #Storm #Positivity #Negativity #Cocoon #Talent

A thought on Colette V. Paul’s Butterflies Dance in the Rain, a collection of poetry and prose

 

Butterflies Dance in the RainDear friends,

As many of you know, I try to live my life in truth and honesty. When I tell you that I love you, I mean it. When I tell you that I don’t, I also mean it. When I review a book, I won’t tell you what you want to hear so you’ll buy it. I won’t tell you the story in an objective, journalistic style. However, I will tell you what I feel, hear and see when I read it – from my heart to yours. Be inspired by my review of Butterflies Dance in the Rain.

To be honest, I don’t remember how I know Ms. Colette V. Paul. What I do remember is a video of her that I had come across on the Internet. As I listened to her speaking one of her poems, I realized that the way she spoke reminded me of someone. Colette’s soft yet strong voice articulating words of wisdom resonated with me immediately. Colette’s outer beauty is a reflection of her inner world of love, faith, hope, and the wonderment of life. Colette has a light around her that shines brightly and enlightens everyone who knows her. However, as Butterflies in the Rain shows its readers, this wasn’t always so. Lessons of life likely propelled Colette into higher spheres of her own spirituality.

I believe that Butterflies in the Rain reflect that to the point. Filled with the sadness of a broken heart, Colette is a true artist with an understanding that there is a higher power we can all call upon in times of distress. Dear God Letter is the quest of such search for healing. It opens the poetry collection and leads me, the reader to the realization that we are all eternal and a part of this higher power whatever name one wants to give it. As Colette realizes that she is a part of this eternal power, her spirits seem to lift and carry me to the next poem. Many poems read like Japanese haikus when so much can be expressed in just a few lines. Colette seems to know instinctively when this is the case. Stillness, aspiration, intuition, love, renewal, music and human tragedies are described boldly without complications as they do not need more words but the recognition that only one thing is needed – love.

Back to reality and everyday problems, Another year feels rushed at first suffocating me, the reader, with stress, disturbance and problems. However, the last three lines free my mind and entail the deep message that I found buried under the problems. Cursed is another favorite of mine and deeply touches my soul. It is as if I almost can feel Colette’s soul crying out for help and freedom. Now the poetry collection gains in speed and depth as I learn more details on Colette’s life changing experiences, newly given responsibilities, facing prejudice and difficult circumstances in I’m Doing Just Fine. Colette puts into words what others cannot express. Suddenly, I knew who Colette reminded me of in the video. I am Woman is a masterpiece filled with dignity and strength of a woman. Elevations and Vibrations bring me back to my memory of watching the video and help me realize that, Colette is, as Dr. Maya Angelou would likely call her, a Phenomenal Woman.

Indeed, Colette is a creative soul on a journey. Life might have knocked her down a couple of times. However, her gift of words lifts her high and let her soul fly freely through life’s turning points and complications. I call Colette the next Dr. Maya Angelou. I don’t say this lightly. I mean it with my heart and my soul. Let Butterflies Dance in the Rain take you to higher spheres. Follow Colette on her journey here:

https://www.facebook.com/cocopoet1

To Colette: Next time, look up into the clouds. I am sure Maya would be proud of you. Perhaps she’ll put a rainbow in your clouds.

Love,

Barbara

 

Copyright © 2015 by Barbara Bullock

Photo credit © 2015 by Colette V. Paul

Works cited:

Paul, Colette V. Butterflies Dance in the Rain. Atlanta : Southern Butterfly Publishing , 2015. Book .

https://www.facebook.com/butterfliesdanceintherain

https://www.facebook.com/cocopoet1

Dr. Maya Angelou www.mayaangelou.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barbara-Bullock/277533425653786

#ColetteVPaul #Poems #Poetry #Soul #Love #Writer #Review #MayaAngelou #ButterfliesDanceintheRain #butterfly #butterflies #rain #dance #poet

All views and opinions expressed in this review and other posts are purely personal views of the author Barbara Bullock. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of any person mentioned. My blogs are for information/entertainment only and are not meant to replace any spiritual, psychological, medical or legal advice.

 

 

 

A writer with no words – a tribute to Bobbi Kristina

 

Krissi August 2015
Waiting for my rainbow in the clouds

Dear friends,

“I’m a writer with no words…..Bobbi Kris” Tyler Perry said recently. I was sitting on my balcony enjoying breakfast. Then I turned on my phone and went online. I said: “Let’s see what’s happening in the world”. I can talk a lot you must know. Suddenly, I became speechless myself. The day was July 26, 2015. As I read the news, my throat tightened. I could not believe what I had just read. Bobbi Kris was no more.

Writers were with no words, speakers with nothing to say. The world got darker and colder once again. Each time this happens, my heart breaks; each time I cry endlessly. As tears wash away the pain, I know that each time an angel simply went home. Krissi, I know that you are in God’s hands, your mommy’s arms and hopefully finally at peace. You were just like your mom – beautiful, talented and a sweet human angel, an earth angel. Many people loved you; others hurt you because they were blinded by your bright light. Too many times you were judged, ridiculed, and disrespected. I want you to know, that, today, I don’t want to be someone with no words. Today, tomorrow, and every day, I will write and speak of you highly as much as I can. I did not know you personally, but I did see your light and felt your love. I watched you grow up like a little sister I had always wished for but never had. I saw the butterfly emerge and spread its wings. I witnessed the immense and beautiful bond that you shared with your mom. The eternal bond of motherly love is all there is. While many hearts on earth are heavy now, I know you finally got your mommy back. Your bond could not be severed for long because love is all there is.

Once again the eternal motherly bond has brought you two angels back together again. Keep singing in heaven, Krissi, mommy and the Lord got you. I’ll miss you down here but I look forward to your smile from the clouds. You are the rainbow in my clouds as Dr. Maya Angelou used to say. Your smile always lit up my world. I will always love you. Rest in peace now, sweet girl.

My prayers go out to the family and friends of‪ Bobbi Kristina. May the family and friends be strengthened with love and the wisdom that you have found your peace and mommy again.

I lit a candle earlier today. This candle is for you, Krissi. Fly high with mommy now, baby girl. I’ll see you again, little sister.

Love, Barbara

Copyright © 2015 by Barbara Bullock

Photo credit © 2015 by Barbara Bullock

Works cited: Tyler Perry www.tylerperry.com, Dr. Maya Angelou www.mayaangelou.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barbara-Bullock/277533425653786

#BobbiKristina #Krissi #BobbiKristinaBrown #Whitney Houston #July #2015 #July26 #Death #Love #Missing #Soul #Sister #TylerPerry #writer #Dr.MayaAngelou #RainbowInTheClouds