Seeing Behind the Mask

"I love it when a plan comes together." -- John "Hannibal" Smith, The A-Team

The title of this card is "The Women Behind the Mask." The idea for this card came when I found out that the mask cutout would "fit" perfectly on another cutout of a face. From that discovery came the idea of showing what lies behind the mask. And what lies behind this woman's mask? A melange of women who represent the feminine in each of us, men included. (Side note: Michel's first comment when seeing this card was: "It's all women!") ;o)

I put the quote at the beginning of this post because that's how I feel about this card. One little discovery and an entire card results. How great is that? So here's my paraphrase of the quote: "I love it when a collage comes together!"

--Vicky :o)

"The Women Behind the Mask"
Intuitive Collage Card
© 2008 Vicky Lynn Macchione

Field of Grace

Today, I am posting a poem I "received" on January 14, 2008.

A Life's Purpose

To live in Beauty of the night,
To walk each moment not by sight,
To change illusions without might,
To utter "Thank You" despite my plight;
To raise awareness as I go,
To surrender will to Divine Flow,
To rely on Truth not what I know,
To walk this path is my goal.

©2008 Vicky Lynn Macchione

This page from my collage journal is entitled "Field of Grace," a phrase I saw recently in a Caroline Myss newsletter. What does this phrase say to you?

--Vicky :o)

"Field of Grace"
Collage Journal Page
©2007 Vicky Lynn Macchione

My Own Measure of Magic

After I finished Julia's card (see yesterday's post), I was doing a lot of thinking about Magic and how I see it in my life. So I created this collage in my collage journal. (The date is when I made the collage.)

I just noticed today that my "tape measure" is held within the sun; it is the base. That makes sense to me because I am a Leo and the Sun is my ruler. (Do you see the double meaning there? Ruler=King; Ruler=a measure) When I discover a realization, insight, or message like that in a collage, for me, that is real magic. Now, I can ask myself how the sun in my life (what is the sun in my life?) measures magic: now, I can discover a new way to look at how magic operates in my life.

Another image I love in this collage is the nest of "hands." Although one could look at this sculpture and see the parallel between a mother bird and her babies in the nest and a mother's hand and her children's hands, what I see is God/Source/the Universe and all of us. All of our "little" hands reaching our to join the Eternal Hand of God. For me, that reaching out is magic.

Finally--although there is always more to discover--there is the "eye" in the flower and the "eye" in the peacock feather. One exists in imagination; the other exists in Nature. Which is more real? For me, imagination and seeing life as a dream and dreams as reality is magic.

"Whether we name divine presence synchronicity, serendipity, or graced moment matters little. What matters is the reality that our hearts have been understood. Nothing is as real as a healthy dose of MAGIC which restores our spirits." --Nancy Long

"A deep man believes in miracles, waits for them, believes in magic, believes that the orator will decompose his adversary; believes that the evil eye can wither, that the heart’s blessing can heal; that love can exalt talent; can overcome all odds." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

--Vicky :o)

"My Own Measure of Magic"
Collage Journal Page
©2007 Vicky Lynn Macchione

Do you believe in Magic?

"... for magic to happen in your life, you must believe in magic."

--Grandmother, quoted by Lynn Andrews

I created this card for my friend Julia to celebrate her birthday in October. She's a very unique individual, and we have been friends for 10 years. We met at work and grew our friendship from there. Some friends are in your life for the duration; Julia is one of those, and I'm grateful to have her!

I would say that Julia's "magic" is of the practical variety, which may seem a paradox to some people but she carries it off with style and grace! This card illustrates the paradox and demonstrates the touch of magic that she is--exampled by a tree growing a chair or roses emerging from stones!

I used the quotation by Lynn Andrews in conjunction with her card. Grandmothers are so wise! No matter how pragmatic you are, if you believe in magic, if you look for magic, if you cherish, inspire, and create magic, Magic will appear in your life. This is the message the card brought me. What message is the Universe sending you?

--Vicky :o)

P.S.Here are some additional "magical" quotes to think about.

"Intuition whispers true: We’re not dust, we’re magic!" --Richard Bach

"The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." --Eden Phillpotts

"Magic is believing in yourself; if you can do that, you can make anything happen." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Magic is not a practice. It is a living, breathing web of energy that, with our permission, can encase our every action." --Dorothy Morrison, Everyday Magic

"Heart of Magic"
Intuitive Collage
©2007 Vicky Lynn Macchione

The "Eyes" Have It

In light of my intention to look at everything as a message from the Universe, I have been hyper-aware of "eyes." Not only have my "real" eyes been in my conscious awareness due to sensitivity to light and a feeling of itchiness, but "eye" pictures (eye of Horus, God's eye in the galaxy, a photo of an eclipse that looked like an eye), "eye" words (insight, clairvoyance, clair-obscure, clair-0btuse, vision, obvious), "eye" functions (seeing, not seeing what is obvious, reading) keep showing up in my waking and dreaming life.

One instance of this "eye" influx is in a new friend's blog, Art in Every Day. She had mentioned this recurring image that was occurring in her drawings, and because of the reference she used (the Lemony Snicket movie), I knew that the mandala she mentioned she was going to post would have the image of an eye! And, sure enough, it does.

So what do I make of all these "eyes?" I'm not clear other than to say that the Universe has got my attention! (And, I am paying attention to the parallel "sound" message of "I" as well!) To illustrate my willingness to hear, see and understand, I am including a page from my collage journal entitled "Enlighten Me" that I created in September of last year. Thank you for the messages; please enlighten me!

--Vicky :o)

"Enlighten Me"

Collage Journal Page

© 2007 Vicky Lynn Macchione

Happy 2008--The Year of Fearless Living!

So one year has ended and another begun! I was very happy to see 2007 depart. For me it was a long year full of facing fears; in fact, I named 2007 the Year of Fear. My biggest fears have always been about being sick or having some serious disease. However, I discovered those fears reduce down to one--death.

That realization was a surprise to me. I always thought my fears were about being sick or suffering while being sick, but I discovered that my fears were also about not finding out I was sick in time, which meant I would die. Or making the wrong decision about a symptom or illness, which meant I would die. Or (and this is rather laughable) having both of the above occur and then have people shake their heads in pity or disgust and say that I should have known better; I should have followed the current medical opinions; I should have done this or that so I would not be facing death. Ultimately, they would say it was my fault. And, of course, that is another type of death--death of the ego!

So as 2008 begins, I intend to acknowledge my fear of death, which I am doing right now, and to see it as a symptom of an energetic imbalance in my life. In addition, I intend to look at each moment--each situation, symptom, problem, etc.--as a message from the Universe, which it is and always has been.

As I begin a new year, I decided to include a collage I created during the summer called "Soul Compass." (I made the collage in response to an exercise in Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way.) I assembled the collage on a piece of wood shaped like a bread board (or pizza board). The words on the collage are from Isaiah 30:21 ". . . your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way: walk in it.'" How appropriate and relevant those words are when considering my intention for 2008. Once again, I stand amazed at the wisdom of the Universe who inspires my Soul to create collages whose message become relevant at the perfect moment!

--Vicky :o)

"Soul Compass"

Collage on Wood

©2007 Vicky Lynn Macchione