THE MANDALA---AGAIN.

Today's painting---The Centre---acrylic---24x24 inches---€220

I do believe that symbols have a deep meaning in terms of Life and Reality, and somehow the mandala symbol seems to creep into my paintings very often. Not surprising really, as I know that I am very aware of each person's life as a very unique personal journey to find the Truth, and the mandala as that sacred circle leads in to the very centre of L ife and the very centre of oneself--- to find oneself in Reality. Here we are able to feel complete fullfilment, happiness and peace---the end of the journey!

I use the mandala in my paintings to offer a focus for people; one that is soothing, inspiring, hopefully even healing in a gentle way.They can use the painting for meditation or simple relaxation. Also the Oasis vision that is the centre of my life and living is all about a Way of Life that leads to that real Peace, so ofcourse I try to share this vision in a practical, helpful way.---the paintings are one such way.-----I've thought about working on a Mandala Collection soon,---It should be an interesting project!

THE MANDALA.

Today's Painting---Mandala.---Acrylic on stretched canvas---20x24 inches---€220

----It became increasingly clear to me that the mandala is the centre. It is the exponent of all paths. It is the path to the centre- to individuation---I knew that in finding the mandala as an expression of the self ,I had attained what was for me the ultimate.---

C. J. Jung.

A human is part of the whole called by us the universe; a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest-a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and affection for a few persons nearest to us.--- Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of understanding and compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

Albert Einstein

WOW-----THOSE PINK SHOES!

On this morning's walk we met the 'PINK SHOES'! We met the owner too ofcourse, but he prefers to be anonymous ---and bodiless on this occasion!! -- How cruel people are; they've been teasing him about the style and colour saying how feminine they are ,--- and he very decidedly a 'he' or is it a 'him'?!

Even so he has been singing their praises---(the shoes )--- saying how wonderfully functional they are.Soft, flexible, comfortable,--- and great for cleaning floors.So light too and certainly non-slip.He has decided though, that they will have to go, and he is going off to town to find some in BLACK.

How dreary! the pink shoes certainly brought a bit of lightness to brighten our day,---I will miss them! I'd even offer to buy them if I knew they would be good for dancing----- but sad to say---no such luck!!

POPPY FIELD.

Poppy Field----7x10 inches ---€ 100 ---Acrylic on stretched canvas---textured.



Through the dancing poppies stole a breeze most softly lulling to my soul.



John Keats.

HEALTHY LIVING.

I'm a firm believer in wholesome eating, keeping to a simple balanced diet, with food in as natural a state as possible.I'm certainly not a fanatic about this---I hope not anyway.

Recently when our friends Ruben and Cathy became enthusiastic about the wonder food wheat grass we joined in with gusto and over the month of june we grew trays of healthy stuff,--- bright ,flourishing and so good! I've always felt the importance of chlorophyll,--- one of the few details I remember from school biology classes ! Sad to say though july here has been really hot and our wheatgrass growing has been blighted. No longer that healthy looking green stuff but rather some sparse struggling blades---- and dare I say it, ---invaded by that dreaded mould!

Ofcourse we are positive thinkers, so we appreciate that it is time for a change for a while and so the latest juicing efforts are focused on just about any fruit and veg. we can lay hands on.--- Great practice and challenge for our little hand juicer, and it is entering into this challenge with spirit!

So I am not becoming a neurotic fanatical health 'nut', I'm approaching the situation in a relaxed, way I hope !---continuing to enjoy the present experience, and to keep true to my holistic outlook, believing that real well-being comes not only from the nourishment of food, but more from the peace of mind that comes from a relaxed body and mind working in true harmony with that Spirit of Life, the real source of all the nourishment!---- I must say though I look forward to those cooler wheat grass growing months !!

My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more running barefoot through the grass.

Leslie Grimutter.

GOOD VIBRATIONS.

Good Vibrations---textured acrylic on canvas 7x10 inches---€ 100

I grew up in the 60's,--- a turbulent time in some ways, ---a time of change,--- but it was too a time of lightness, laughter,hope,--- and oh the music!!----That crazy rhythm, that resonant beat, a sense of feeling free, and too the strong emerging social awareness that grew with the Peace Songs.

Is it just that i'm no longer 'with it', is it my imagination, or does today's society offer so much less of the lightness and sense of freedom? --- I'm strongly aware of a heaviness, a sense of fear and restriction, a sense of confinement and resignation that so many seem burdened with.Where is that feeling of optimism, joie de vivre, and that deep intrinsic need to 'do one's own thing'? I don't believe it has vanished,--- it's still bubbling away there!

Anyway my painting today echoes the words of the Beach Boys--- and let's keep those Good Vibrations going!!

Turn your face to the sun and the darkness falls behind you.

Maori Proverb.

PEACEFUL PALMS. TODAY'S PAINTING.

Peaceful Palms---textured --acrylic on stretched canvas- €100

It's lovely working in the studio in the morning; despite the heat there is some sense of freshness here. I can hear the traffic noise quite near but the bird's morning chorus seems to dominate, and the tall circle of palms exudes a strong sense of nostalgia and history, a feeling of peace---I'm happy here!

Man's heart away from nature becomes hard.

Standing Bear.