If you’re interested in book and paper art, particularly pop-up art, then you already know about Robert Sabuda.  However, if you don’t know of him, consider this a little window into his talent and a wonderful opportunity for you to make some delightful cards for many occasions.

One of the cards I made recently was the birthday cake card.  It was easy, fun, and well-received, which makes it all worthwhile. 

This past weekend, our church hosted another insightful McMichael Lecture, with guests Bishop Larry Maze and Rev. Susan Sims Smith (more info).  Both speakers are influenced by Jungian psychology and their personal inner work.  Their topics this weekend focused on such inner work, relying heavily on dream work, but offered an insight into my own behavior and dreams, too.

I’m in a Jeep being driven by my (male) priest.  He’s driving fast, and the gravel road is rough and bumpy.  But he’s happy, smiling, assuring me nonverbally that it’s fine.  I’m holding on to the bar above me.  (The top and doors are off.)  It’s a sunny, beautiful day.  Finally he pulls off to the side of the road where there’s a gravel pull-off area.  We’re standing outside the Jeep but elevated enough to look out.  He motions his hand across our panoramic view of the lush, green, tree-covered hills and the beautiful expanse of lake.  He says, “Here it is.  The presence of God.”

Understanding that we all have masculine and feminine sides, our dreams share as much and often illustrate for us how balanced or out of balance we are.  Our masculine side is usually the task-manager, the goal-oriented aspect of ourselves that gets things done.  But think for a minute about the masculine side getting things done in a “non-striving” manner, as Sims Smith proposes, as my priest does in the dream.  Our masculine steps back and opens the gate for the feminine wisdom to come through, for intuition to speak.

In my dream, I think my masculine was telling me to listen, to be aware of God in the beauty all around me.  My gate was open to receive, and in the time since the dream, I’ve been working heavily on listening to the feminine energy — even if I’m just now realizing it.

Now, it’s time to listen to the dreams again (the above dream was from a year or more ago), to awaken early enough not to have distractions so that the dreams are fresh and present.

What are your dreams telling you?

That’s what I hope for this weekend — to enjoy myself and time with others.  I hope my dearest friend has a joyous birthday today, the merriment continuing throughout the weekend.  Yesterday was my brother-in-law’s birthday.  A healthy baby boy was born this week. . . . There is just so much to be grateful for.

I’m not under an illusion of security.  I hear the statistics.  I know the reality of suffering and its many faces. Yet each moment we choose whether we feed the fear or fuel the love.  Today, even in my complete spaced-out-ishness, I choose to love, to be loved.  Hopefully that choice will ease the suffering of someone in this world, even if it’s just my own.

I send love to you and yours, and I sincerely hope you do have a most wonderfully enjoyable weekend.

Here’s a link to something I think is absolutely wonderful.  Would you have the faith to have strangers into your home?  Would you be open to this kind of radical hospitality, even if money weren’t involved?  What if the guests weren’t doctors/artists/clean-cut types?

But think of all the creative possibilities, which is why I post it on a craf-T day.

Oh, and let me know if you do something like this yourself.  Also, be sure to check out her other interests, like the green driveway. 

Today marks one full year of blogging, sharing my life, stories and reflections.  I hope this year has brought you closer to everything you love in life, and I look forward to continuing the journey together.

(And please pardon my absence this week as I’m off to witness the miracle of birth, a doula’s reward.)

Photo from everystockphoto.com