Gallery Wednesday

theme: Decay vs. The Divine




Please leave a comment if you can't watch the video for some reason.

See all of the Decay/Divine Gallery.

Quote to Ponder

I came across this quote today in my old notebook. Sorry, I didn't write the source! But I had to share it:

Imagination ...[isn't], as some would have it, a dreamer's way of escaping through reality, but rather an active power by which language one reshape[s] the world, overlaying images of alternative possibility and the beauty of change over static images of defeat.

Sound like decay and divine to you? Me, too.

The Decay of Passions

Webster's Dictionary defines "passion" as; a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept.

This week I've been pondering why it is that our passions often seem to suffer the decay of this fallen world. The things we are devoted to deep within our hearts are, many times, not the things we spend the bulk of our days engaged in.

What I'm not talking about are fads. Florescent socks, mullet haircuts, poodle skirts, catch phrases and Hollywood diets are fickle trends. They come and go as quickly as the sun rises and sets.

What I am thinking of are the gifts, talents and passions that our Creator has placed within us. The things that stir us up to heights, quicken our heart beats, occupy our thoughts all day, and come out of us like a native language. Writing, painting, composing music, contemplating, prayer, meditation...


Click here to read how Abby, at Credo ut Intelligam, stretches herself against her creative decay.

How have you seen your own passions suffer decay?

Gallery Wednesday

theme: Decay vs. The Divine


"No matter how many times you check the pockets, a tissue always ends up in the wash. This was my first card. I joked about using dryer lint on it. Without any other ideas, I did just that." - Rhonda


See all of the Decay/Divine Gallery.

New SPS Mini-Group: Decay Vs. Divine

Introducing the next mini-SoulPerSuit group, running exclusively here on SoulPerBlog for the months of January and February:

Decay Vs. Divine

For the remainder of January, our SoulPerSuit team reflects on the first half of this conundrum:

Decay

Shuffle the Deck for Decay: Take a picture of something in your life that is decaying. Take a picture of the same object everyday for a week. Compare the pictures.

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If you'd like to join us in reflecting on the contrast between decay and divine, post your thoughts and artwork on your own blog and then leave a comment here so we can link to you.
If you'd like to reflect (or lament) on decay in quiet anonymity, please be sure to come back and enjoy the other offerings of fellow SoulPerSuiters.

Gallery Wednesday

theme: Decay vs. The Divine


"Today my son, Will, lost his pacifier at nap time (not lost, I took it away). He is so sad, he loves it so much. So I'm really feeling the affects of "why can something we love be bad for us?". "Why do I have to take it away?" Screaming in rage for half an hour he said, "I'm not big, I'm not big."" - Jodie

See all of the Decay/Divine Gallery.

FYI

All you artsy spiritual people: You need to check out this artist. And this, too:

Gallery Wednesday

theme: Decay vs. The Divine


"My first card simply represents contemplation about this project - what Divine/Decay means, how I will represent it and different materials I will use." - Melissa

See all of the Decay/Divine Gallery.

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Today is the first day of our new feature, Gallery Wednesday where we will post one of your SoulPerSuit cards.

Our theme for January and February is Decay vs. Divine. Using sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound, contemplate this theme for the next two months. Post your thoughts in the comments anytime during January and February. If you write a blog post, include the link in your comment. Also, if you make a SPS card, please photograph or scan it and send it to us. If you do, I'll post it on Gallery Wednesday.

SPS on The Master's Artist

Author Mary E. DeMuth ("Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture") is a regular contributor to The Master's Artist. We were thrilled that Mary wanted to feature SPS in her post today. Hop on over and learn how SPS got started, how it's done, and how it can benefit you as an unique and amazing creation of the Creator.

Contemplative Christmas Wrap-up

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Contemplative Christmas group here at SoulPerBlog. This has been a deep and reflective experience for me, personally, and it provided my family some direction during the often-aimless-and-distracted holiday season. I hope each of you enjoyed yourselves as much as I did! *
(If you'd like to know, our New Year's Eve Asian pot stickers lived up to their name, they stuck to the bottom of the pot completely. 2009 means wok lessons for me!)

As we close down this mini-SoulPerSuit group, here's one more question:
Which of the five Christmas themes was your favorite and why?

If you'd like to read (or add to) our collective thoughts on each week's theme, click the links below:

Week 1: Barn Smells
Week 2: Bright Light
Week 3: Singing
Week 4: Cradled in Arms
Week 5: Lavish Incense


The Adoration of the Magi
Federico Fiori Barocci, 1561-63
Black chalk, pen and brush on blue paper
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

*Rhonda will be here on Wednesday to fill you in on our next SoulPerSuit excursion.

Play Your Hand V

LAVISH INCENSE

See other reflections:
Erin
Schweer's Mom on Family Food Traditions
Schweer's Mom
Erin's Blog Post on Lavish Incense