Flowers

Life Cycles – Leaves, Queen Anne’s Lace and Us – Picture to Ponder – vol 5 – issue 38

by Sheila Finkelstein on October 22, 2009

– NEW -  4 – Week Telecourse Starts November 9th or 11th
Click on image above for details

I am excited. As you can see from the very top image, the header for the new Point and Shoot Photo Course for Moms, I am launching a new program. My earlier Photo/Creativity, then Through and From the Lens courses, will now be delivered under the umbrella of Point and Shoot Photo Courses. The material and philosophy is similar. Working with specific groups will further solidify the community experiences participants love, while enhancing learning and bonding with subject matter.

In terms of today’s Picture to Ponder, for whatever reason, I felt the need to feature autumn one more time. Though the fall season stays with us until December 21st, the visual aspect of it will soon be gone. When I speak of the visual, I refer to the assumed colors of autumn.

Neither of today’s featured photos is a “striking” photo. Yet each kept popping out at me as I was searching photo file folders. They did “seed” some interesting thoughts, turned queries, and compositionally the pictures do hold together.

TODAY’S PHOTOS
The upper photo is of Fallen Autumn Leaves blanketing gravel at the edge of a parking lot in Syracuse, NY. Given the overall feeling of Nature, the gravel appears as if it could almost be blueberries. I like the array of colors, representing the full range of the life cycles of the leaves we see.

The lower photo is a close up of a dried up Queen Anne’s Lace flower which, I discovered when I googled it to check spelling, is edible. Given that the developing theme today seems to be “Life Cycles”, I especially like the circular shape of the full flower and those at the end of each of the “spokes” radiating out from the center.

SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES –
Today’s photos are rich with contrasts and also represent the cycles of our seasons… both in the Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer, as well as our own life cycles… seen even in our individual projects and activities.

I invite you to consider the contrasts and cycles in your life. Are you able to easily be with the transitions? Or, are there challenges for you? Do you operate out of “being” with whatever stage you’re in at the moment?

If the latter is difficult at times, have you developed “coping” mechanisms? Are you aware of what they are so you can “call them in” on demand, when needed?

If “coping,” are you able to go beyond with “tools for transformation”?

Sometimes/oftentimes, it’s helpful to simply remember that whatever space we are in at any point of time, it is part of a cycle.

As you ponder and query today, be sure to identify the parts of the cycle that give you the most pleasure, provide the most fun.

CELEBRATION –
Two of my friends, Marifran Korb and Tomar Levine**, are among 36 other authors who have chapters in the “OVERCOMERS INC: True Stories of Hope, Courage and Inspiration” book launched today, October 22nd.

Marifran and Tomar, having seen an advance copy say that it’s great. I trust them and what I’ve read about the book. I love people’s stories. If you do also, check it out at OVERCOMERS. If it is still the 22nd when you read this, there is time to take advantage of all the bonuses with purchase today.

** You also might be interested in checking out Tomar’s Creativity Support Group forming, first session November 3rd.

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Healing Power of Nature and Echinacea – Picture to Ponder – v5-issue 35

by Sheila Finkelstein on September 22, 2009

TODAY’S PHOTOS
are Photo/Drawings of Echinacea Flowers – the first being “field” of them, the other three being different views from the same garden.

“Photo/drawings” is a term I created when I first developed this process using my photographs, new scanner and a pen with permanent ink to draw directly on the photos. They were the content that made up my original nature web site – Nature’s Playground stating,

“We believe that the world is a playground for personal growth and development; that natural environments – gardens, woods, beaches, rivers, streams – are sources for pleasure, creativity, play and self-discovery; that expanding sensory awareness of natural and man-made environments provides access to furthering creative thinking and appreciation.”

In an empowering interview my friend Adela Rubio did with Dean Shrock, last week, on “Why Love Heals”, he stated that “Nature is probably the purest form of love. Simply being out and appreciating natural beauty, we’ll experience love. Nature literally realigns the molecules of your body in a more harmonious manner, so that the body simply works better.” See SelfcareMastery.com for this quote and Adela’s full summary of the call.

For me, I got a dramatic “Aha” – that this can be the strong foundation on which to stand as I move forward with my work. Certainly the healing power of nature is the crux of Banana Sky DVD!

WHY THE ECHINACEA –
Interestingly, today in my writing group** one of the quotes from which we wrote was “When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it is your world for the moment, ” Georgia O’Keefe.

Responding to this prompt, Susan Jones, group member, wrote: “Flowers have one of the highest natural vibrations. That’s why flower essences are so powerful, so healing. Georgia O’Keefe painted the effect of that vibration on her. An artist does not copy, she shares the soul of the moment. ”

This seemed like such a synchronistic statement for my newfound “stand” that I asked Susan if I could quote her.

In searching for flowers to feature, I decided that the ones I would use here today would be flowers that most of us are likely to know as “healing” flowers. I, at least, always use “echinacea” in capsules or tea form when I feel a cold coming on. In addition, the center echinacea photo/drawing featured here was very much admired by a dinner guest this past weekend. A large poster-size format of it hangs on my patio.

(**Note: Susan and three others of us all first connected in one of Julie Jordan Scott’s writing programs. For those open to it, Julie has a Writing Group starting tomorrow – Wednesday, September 23.

SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES –
For today, I invite you to look at the variations of the same subject, the Echinacea above, and make note of what stands out as differences for you. Then expand this observation into your own life.

Is there an issue, a challenge, or something which you really appreciate, where you might find empowering analogous differences by taking different points of view?

And, in a slightly different conversation, relating to my finding a position of strength I can claim for moving forward in my work, are you clear on the ground on which you are standing in your work? and then in your relationships – both personal and business?

Peace and fun.

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Standing Alone in a Crowd – Find the Strength: Pansies in Picture to Ponder – v5-issue 31

by Sheila Finkelstein on August 26, 2009

Click on Above Image for Information and Testimonials

Excited with the re-launching of BANANA SKY DVD, I’ve been spending a lot of time on creating the “just right” web page for Banana Sky DVD to share the stress and anxiety relief benefits from the healing music and photography that makes up this video. As I’ve been working, I have been getting a lot of great feedback and support from the ELITE FORUM members in Lynn Self-Starters Weekly Tips Forum. I am deeply appreciative.

I am also on my own DAY 8 of a minimum of one-hour of work each day before opening any email, as recommended by Kathleen Gage in the recent Niche Affiliate Marketing System Seminar I attended. This was/is, for me, one of the both challenging and rewarding tips I got out of the weekend. A flash drive with all of the presentations, including Kathleen’s from this conference, plus one earlier in the year, is available on a Flash Drive (coupon code 200aug14) for only $97 as long as the limited number of available copies last.

With my focus being so directed on the best way of sharing BANANA SKY DVD, I have not been out doing much photographing. It was therefore delightful yesterday to simply travel through folders on my computer for this issue of Picture to Ponder, doing a sit-down “discovery walk.”

Today’s photos brought a smile and a feeling of lightness and simple pleasure when I found them.

TODAY’S PHOTOS –
Pansies in the Dallas (Texas) Arboretum at the end of February.

I love the colors of the two pansies in the top photo and they have such a look of elegance.

The yellow and violet-colored pansies, in the middle photo, seem to be dancing freely and joyfully. The intensity of mid-day sunlight adds to the pleasure of the experience of this photo.

As I went back to the original size when saving the latter photo, I was drawn to the center of one of the flowers and decided to focus in and crop it. Suddenly it took on a stately and commanding presence, as if wanting our attention.

SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES –
In the almost five years that I have been publishing Picture to Ponder, this is the first time I’ve featured pansies. One reason, undoubtedly, is that pansies are not quite as common here in Florida as they seemed to be in the Northeast United States, where most of my life was spent.

As pretty as they are when I paid attention to them, they somehow seemed to get “lost” in their surroundings, no one flower really standing out from another. Did the fact that they were so “common” have an impact also, or is it simply that I’ve only gotten much more active with my camera in recent years?

The point to my above comments leads into today’s Self-Reflecting Queries. Once again, I invite you to look into your life.

Are there places where there are people, or objects, that are simply a part of a broad field for you and indistinct for their own attributes? Where you’ve simply been taking them for granted as background “noise”, perhaps?

If you find any of the above fits, I invite you to step more closely into the field at which you were looking. Study the individual components. Then, is there one, or more, that now stands out and has a new presence, as the single yellow pansy in the bottom photo? Or perhaps, you’ll find a pair, as in the top photo.

As always, have fun with this.

As always, remember to have fun with this.

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Orchids for Beauty -Pause, Meditate, Reflect – Picture to Ponder – vol 5-issue 28

by Sheila Finkelstein on August 6, 2009

These orchids from the American Orchid Society Gardens stood out for me as I was selecting photos to feature in the last issue of Picture to Ponder. For whatever reason, the rooster photographs, along with the mystery of the feathers, won out. Today, though I had not yet saved it in the ezine files, it was easy for me to find it.

When I first started PICTURE TO PONDER, four plus years ago, only one photograph was featured in each issue. Somewhere along the line, as I reduced the number of issues per week, it grew to two or three images per issue.

Today I started looking for others, wondering especially if yesterday’s full moon photos would fit. Then I stopped and remembered the value of sometimes staying present to one thing for a moment or two, or more, in our hectic lives.

So, I present today’s photo to you with the invitation to merge yourself in its beauty. Then take a few moments to reflect on the beauty in your life.

TODAY’S PHOTO –
As stated above, orchids from the American Orchid Society Greenhouse. I could research to identify this particular genus and for today I’m striving for simplicity, so I will leave it unnamed.

For those wanting more of my photographs, you’ll see here that  I have done two additional posts, with photographs, on this blog since the last Picture to Ponder post. Scroll down for the previous two subsequent.

SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES –
Above, I invited you to immerse yourself into the photograph above. The orchids might have resonated with you, the colors, perhaps an imagined fragrance. There might be something in the background that has meaning for you. And, perhaps you accepted my invitation and simply allowed yourself a meditative moment or two.

I could ask you to explore, for yourself what it was, and from there you could possibly create a bunch of Self-Reflecting Queries. On the other hand, since I’m suggesting you use today’s orchids photograph to be simply present.

I do, though, invite you to creating some form of trigger, a way to remind yourself of the experience. Perhaps touch one of your fingers to your thumb, visualizing the orchids, or whatever other peaceful image might have surfaced for you. Then use that “trigger” as reminders to pause during chaotic moments.

Remember also to be open to all the different forms of beauty in your own life – in both your visual and interactive environments.

For today, I wish you a gentle, restful kind of fun.

PROGRAMS in which you might have an interest –

For those who might be, or planning on, building a successful Internet Marketing Business:

I am excitedly looking forward to going to Atlanta next weekend for the Niche Affiliate Marketing System program.

One of the bonuses I am looking forward to after the conference is over is receiving a 2 GB flash drive, loaded with all the recordings and PDFs from both workshops 1 & 2. There will be more than 6 days of instruction, 200 pages of PDF text manuals, multiple special reports from more than 20 instructors.

Now you, too, can have this. Though it’s not the same as being there in person, I was delighted to learn of a pre-conference special where non-attendees can get the same flash drive for only $97! You can get one by going to NAMS4U2 FLASH DRIVE

ATTENTION – WRITERS, or WANNA-BE WRITERS – If you are interested in doing more exploration in writing for yourself, my friend and mentor Julie Jordan Scott has the second Summer Writing Intensive Creativity Camp (at Home or wherever you happen to be) starting on Monday, August 10th. See SUMMER WRITING CAMP for details.

ATTENTION for those of you who might be interested in ENERGY SHIFTING –

1 – My friend Amethyst Wyldfyre has a call on Thursday, August 13th – Shift Your Energy, Ramp Up Your Business . She will be sharing information and experiences for her upcoming “Energize to Monetize” program.

2 – My friend Adela Rubio has introduced an Energy Shift Program that has already sold out twice.

Adela asks:
“Are you ready to Master Your Highly Sensitive Nature?

Do you consider yourself to be ‘highly sensitive?’
Does it feel like a burden or a blessing?

What if your hypersensitivity were actually your super power, a gift that provides access to deep connection and intuitive knowledge, a tool that could empower you and your clients?

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Purple Flowers Beautify a Wall

by Sheila Finkelstein on August 4, 2009

Purple Flowers in front of Wall

In my previous post I featured a photograph of a wall in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.  Here is another wall in the same neighborhood.  The difference is this one is the outside wall of a home. The attraction is the display of purple flowers enhancing it.

It’s the aliveness and brightness of the  flowers which draw our attention.  Anything the wall might say is camouflaged by the latter.  This one is bright and clean and provides a great background and contrast.  Added to the visual appeal of the whole scene is the subtle repetition of shapes in the stucco that are comparable in the leaves and flowers.

I could go on, probe, add meaning (my own) and why not simply let it be and enjoy the flowers? Sometimes the easiest and most pleasurable seems to insufficient.   For now, I WILL let it suffice.

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Gratitude and Celebration – AOS Botanical Gardens – Picture to Ponder – v5 – issue 19

by Sheila Finkelstein on June 5, 2009

Voodoo Lily

Today’s issue of Picture to Ponder is about Celebration and Gratitude. For me, the first photo, above, expresses sensuous wonder, Wonder also being a part of today’s message.

Several months ago the American Orchid Society in Delray Beach announced that due to lack of funds it would be closing the Gardens to the public at the end of May. The AOS gardens and greenhouse have played a significant role in my life in the past six and a half years, as well as in your lives, given so many of the Picture to Ponder photos have been from there.

Because I was leaving for Macon, GA for the celebration of my grandson’s Bar Mitzvah**, I made it my business to stop in before I left, to pay my respects to the plants and express my gratitude for what they have meant in my life. Although my camera was with me, I did no got specifically with the intention to photograph and then I started discovering plants I had never seen before, despite my fairly regular visits. See “Once or Twice is Not Enough,” an article I wrote over six years ago.

Amongst the “first-time” (for me) plants I saw this time were the Rattle Box tree, an Ice Cream Bean plant, Princess Earrings and the Voodoo Plant. Too many to show here, I’ve created a separate Picture to Ponder Web page to share them with you. See Tropical Plants-509 which includes a video of one of the waterfalls.

I did spend time pausing and expressing my gratitude and then discovered, to my delight when I returned home, that on June 2nd the Board of Directors had unanimously voted to keep the Botanical Gardens open to the public.

**For those who may be unfamiliar with it, a Bar Mitzvah is when a 13-year old Jewish boy becomes an adult in the synagogue. My grandson Will led services in Hebrew both Friday night and Saturday. He did an amazing job and had us all very proud, truly an occasion to celebrate.

TODAY’S PHOTOS – continued

Curly Leae

Back-Lit Philodendren leaves

Although I found several of the photographs exciting that I included on the Tropical Plants Page I was moved, in particular, to feature these three for the lyrical flow of movement and peace I felt as I spent time with each.

Actually, the first, Voodoo plant, photo also takes on an unsettling quality for me, with certain imagery and contrasts that pop out for me as I go back to it. (If you query this on the blog, I will elaborate there.)

I do not know what the second plant is. The third is a back-lit philodendron leaf. I took several close-up, large leaf pictures so I could truly feel a part of the natural experience on what I thought might be my last visit at the Gardens for some time.

SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES –
I continue to be amazed at so often discovering new images in the “same old places” that I visit so frequently.

Are there visual or other discoveries that you enjoy making in your life in every day places? Do you take time to look newly? To what are you most open? For me it’s color and texture, then I suppose linear movement, as featured today.

Also, do you sense a unexpressed creative core within you that is wanting to burst forth? If so, how does this show up for you? What steps can you take to expand it?

Do you feel constraints? If “yes” or “possibly”, you might consider registering for the upcoming Expand Your Vision, Light Your Soul, Explode Your Creativity Course starting Wednesday afternoon, June 10th.

Within the past two weeks, I experienced joy in family celebrations, including being surrounded by those who came down to Georgia from Philadelphia, in discovering several new plants in the American Orchid Society Gardens and then in their remaining open to the public.

Where have you experienced gratitude and joy in your life during this time? What are you celebrating?

EXCITING PROGRAM for growth and expansion –
Before leaving for Georgia, I registered for the Spiritual Marketing Telesummit, that was held this week, knowing that I would be able to listen to the recordings of the calls. I listened “live” to three of them today.

All three were high energy and, in fact, fit the them of “Energy Shifting.” Geared toward people in business, I started finding more clarity in my soul purpose.

Though the site is scheduled to come down today, calls are over, it may stay up for another week. Later in the year a, perhaps more costly, product package is expected to come out. In the meantime, I strongly recommend your checking Spiritual Marketing to see if you can still register to listen to the MP3s and participate in the Forum.

FINAL REMINDER –
Light Up Your Summer with Photography
You won’t Believe is Yours
Nourish Your Soul
Appreciate, in new ways, the People You Meet
All in the JUNE Expand Your Vision Telecourse

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Contrasts – Courses and Rusty Lamppost and Dendrobium – Picture to Ponder – vol.5 – issue 13

by Sheila Finkelstein on April 14, 2009

rusty lamppost

magenta colored dendrobium orchid

Today’s Picture to Ponder Photos
The upper photo – Nighttime photo of the bottom of a rusty lamppost in a parking lot
The lower photo- A Dendrobium Orchid from the American Orchid Society gardens.

Once again, a seemingly odd combination of photos and both kept cropping up on my computer monitor as I was looking for photos for another project. So here they are.

The Story
As I was leaving an art opening, a couple of weeks ago, the rusty lamppost lamppost in parking lot at night caught my attention. In part, I’m sure, it was more noticeable to me because that night in the show, I had been particularly attracted to paintings, collages and sculptures in the show that were predominately earth tones.

In addition, I think a little of my “competitive” spirit also kicked in. A couple of days before, Joe Gemignani, our interviewee on April 20th, had posted on Facebook the shadow photo (shown on my “Invitation to the Call” page) . He did not describe the photo and I was still puzzling over parts of it a couple of days later. Thus, as I photographed the lamppost, I think I became intent on zooming in myself for some “mystery” photos.

As I was viewing the lamppost photo today, I thought, “What a great writing prompt, it would be.” A very strong, bold photo… is that an “eye.” If so, what might it be revealing, or hiding? If you are so moved, I invite you to write from it.

On the other hand, in contrast to the boldness of the top image, the orchid photo is one of quiet, simplicity and beauty. It also embodies the full cycle of life, with a open flowers, a bud and a flower that’s past its prime.

Contrasts
As the photos today are examples of contrasts, so are the programs being offered, those to which I am referring in today’s Picture to Ponder. All three are related to “seeing” in different ways.

Each of us who will be on the calls have slightly different approaches in the way we view our worlds AND we each have developed the confidence and self-belief to stand for our passions, expressing them in different ways.

It is my intent with these calls, and with the Through and From the Lens telecourse series to offer you opportunities for expanded access to discovering and living in your own voice.

Today’s Self-Reflecting Queries
Given I’ve been writing about “Contrasts,” I invite you to look into your life and your behaviors.

When you come across situations or people that are opposites, do you choose one over the other, or can you find ways to make them both work? Or, do you simply withdraw?

In addition, are there places in your life now, where you could be taking some bold actions and you are holding back? If so, I invite you to take a least one bold action this week.

As, always, remember to bring fun into the queries and actions.

Expanding Vision Opportunities
1 – A preview of YOUR ECO-BLUE PRINT teleclass series Julie will be leading in May, get Information on the f*r*e*e call on “Cultivating a Sense of Awe and Wonder” Friday, 4/17 at 2:00 PM EDT- See FRIDAY’S CALL. Register to get the Recording if you cannot be on the call.

2 – Expanded Seeing – Details take on a new meaning – Interview with Award-Winning Photographer, Joe Gemignani, on Monday, 4/20 at 1:30 PM EDT See MONDAY’S CALL for examples of Joe’s work and to register f*r*ee to call in and/or get the MP3 recording of it.

3 – reflected little blue heron
Experience Life through the Lens of Your Inner Artist

We all have an artist within. You may agree with this or be skeptical. In either case, THROUGH AND FROM THE LENS teleclasses could be for you. Through the use of your camera, group interaction with participants and some suggested writing, classes provide the opportunity for you to start seeing your worlds, both inner and outer, in new and different ways, leading to increased creativity, self-confidence and much more.

Classes take place on a telephone conference call line and by email in a 4 week series – Your choice days – Mondays at 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM EDT, starting April 27th or nights – Wednesdays from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT, starting April 29th – (See WORLD TIME to match the times in your geographic location)

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Celebrating – Lilies, Egret Feathers, Self – Picture to Ponder – Vol 5 – Issue 12

by Sheila Finkelstein on April 7, 2009

Egret with feather spread

Orange lily and chrysanthemums

Today’s Picture to Ponder Photos
The upper photo – A White Egret spreading his Mating Feathers in Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach FL – In addition to the delicate feathers, note the intensified color in the beak of the Egret.

The lower photo- A Lily with White and Orange Chrysanthemums behind it – I particularly like the lighting here. Note the shadows of the stamen on the petal on the left.

Seemingly an odd combination of photos, these both represent this season of Spring and its upcoming holidays.

Today’s Self-Reflecting Queries
Basically, as I ponder it, the essence of today’s Picture to Ponder has become about CELEBRATION – celebrating a book launch, holidays, Nature and life and opportunities for celebrating ourselves.

In choosing to once again lead Through and From the Lens Teleclasses, I’m realizing it’s an opportunity for you to celebrate yourself – perhaps a part of you heretofore unknown to you – AND I’m actually honoring myself by doing this.

When she read my announcement, past participant Blaise Allen wrote, “I’m so happy you are doing this again! You were meant to teach this course.”

I now invite you to take a few minutes to reflect on, “What is it about yourself that you can celebrate?” Perhaps in your relationship with yourself, with others, your talents….You fill in the blanks. What would you like to celebrate? Are there people in your life whom you would also like to celebrate?

What is it that you are meant to be doing? Are you doing it?

And, after answering these questions for yourself, what actions, if any, are you willing to take? And, though it may sound “heavy” in my writing, be sure you include fun in whatever comes up for you.

Lastly, as always, when you’re finished, I invite you to share your experience with today’s photos and writing on the blog. See the instructions below if you need help.

Happy Holidays to all of you who are celebrating one in the next week.

Experience Life through the Lens of Your Inner Artist
We all have an artist within. You may agree with this or be skeptical. In either case, THROUGH AND FROM THE LENS teleclasses could be for you. Through the use of your camera, group interaction with participants and some suggested writing, classes provide the opportunity for you to start seeing your worlds, both inner and outer, in new and different ways, leading to increased creativity, self-confidence and much more.

Classes take place on a telephone conference call line and by email in a 4 week series – Your choice days – Mondays at 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM EDT, starting April 27th or nights – Wednesdays from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT, starting April 29th – (See WORLD TIME to match the times in your geographic location)

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Video Transition Photographs: Rose, Great Blue Herons, Sunset – Picture to Ponder- vol 5 – issue 11

by Sheila Finkelstein on April 1, 2009

rose and sunset video transition

Castera rose and Great Blue Heron video transition photo

Today’s Picture to Ponder Photos
Two of the 44 of my photographs that are the background for Lynn Serafinn’s Video Reading of “Song of the Rose” from her book “GARDEN OF THE SOUL: lessons from four flowers that unearth the Self.” It’s now available on Amazon.

The top photo is a screen shot grabbed at the point the Yellow Rose photograph is transitioning to a Sunset photo. In the second photo Great Blue Herons in Nest transition into a picture of Castera Roses.

“I finally had time to go listen to the Song of the Rose – It’s exquisite – I love the words, the Lynn’s voice, your images, her sequencing of them – the whole thing is a gem! I feel very inspired.” Tomar Levine, Picture to Ponder subscriber

Take a breather, relax, listen and see for yourself “Song of the Rose” and please leave a comment. – (5 minute video on YouTube)

The Story – GARDEN OF THE SOUL Book
According to Lynn Serafinn, Author, “The book, which is a substantial work of over 400 pages, is a collection of inspirational personal narratives, stories and life lessons as taught by four flowers, the Rose, the Iris, the Daffodil, and the Lily, who teach us four spiritual principles: Give, Receive, Become and Be. Each section of the book focuses on one particular principle, and each begins with a poem or “song” sung by one of the four flowers.

“Song of the Rose” opens the section of the book called “The Principle of Giving”. In the book, the Rose teaches us that giving is not just about giving of things or time. It tells us that “Giving” is the process of anything that comes from within you, and expands outwards into the world.

It is your voice, your self-expression, empowerment, vitality, action, drive and energy. Most of all, it is passion, generosity of spirit and claiming one’s life purpose. The Rose teaches us how important it is not to deprive ourselves from giving of our true, authentic selves to the world, for without this giving, we feel useless, purposeless, and passionless.

Again, the book is now on sale at Amazon. I am excitedly awaiting my order being delivered, while holding the receipt to claim the added bonuses that will be available on April 7th.

The Story – Photography and Support
It’s been an exciting week for me.

Friday was the Blog Talk Radio interview in which Katherine Rescke interviewed me and two other professionals on money blocks. You can listen to the Podcast at PASSIONS THAT PAY.

On the weekend I had a couple of Skype conversations with Lynn Serafinn and several emails, as she selected photos from the Picture to Ponder archives to use in the first of four that she’s creating to promote her new book. I love what she did with it AND creating a video was a first for her!

It was wonderful experiencing being appreciated and acknowledged through the act of collaboration. Then there is the thrill of seeing my work used in a different dimension.

In addition I have been receiving wonderful support from past participants in my PHOTO CREAVITY teleclasses, renamed as THROUGH AND FROM THE LENS, as I’ve been developing the information and registration page for the upcoming course.

Julie Ann Turner, creator and facilitator of the CREATORS GUIDE program in which I’ve been participating, has provided invaluable suggestions and support in my fully experiencing and expressing what it is that I have to contribute to the world. Two others of the participants have also been most helpful.

Today’s Self-Reflecting Queries
I’ve covered a lot of ground this week, as you’ve been reading in my sharing in today’s issue of Picture to Ponder.

While pondering the Self-Reflecting Queries for today, “Acknowledgment” once again seems to be the underlying message. There is also the principle of “Giving” as mentioned earlier in relation to Garden of the Soul.

I am so very appreciative of my friends and associates in programs in which I am participating. Knowing I could call or write and count on them for ideas and/or simply for reminders of my own worth has given me the ongoing boosts I’ve needed to move forward with intention and purpose.

I invite you to look in your life and see where you have been, or are, facing challenges. Do you know what it is you can, or will do, in those situations? Who are the people, if any, you have been able to, and can, count on for support and recognition? Have you recently expressed your appreciation for that to them?

How do you show appreciation for others? For yourself? Also look at your own strengths in supporting others? How do you position yourself AND do you acknowledge yourself for what you give in this arena? If not, I invite you to find some way to do so.

For me, I’ve been gradually recognizing more and more my strengths as I’m finally putting myself out there, once again, offering teleclasses. When I think of the “screen shots” and my other technological mini-expertise, I realize how much I do offer even beyond the “basic” curriculum of looking at our worlds in new and different ways.

Please check out the information below, or go directly to the Through and From the Lens page for subscribers.

Lastly, as always, when you’re finished, I invite you to share your experience with today’s photos and writing on the blog. See the instructions below if you need help.

And do have fun with this today.

Experience Life through the Lens of Your Inner Artist We all have an artist within. In either case, whether you know that or are skeptical, THROUGH AND FROM THE LENS teleclasses may be for you. Through the use of your camera, group interaction with participants and some suggested writing, classes provide the opportunity for you to start seeing your worlds, both inner and outer, in new and different ways, leading to increased creativity, self-confidence and much more.

Classes take place on a telephone conference call line and by email in a 4 week series – Your choice days – Mondays at 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM EDT, starting April 29th or nights – Tuesdays from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT – (See WORLD TIME to match the times in your geographic location)

$30 savings for Picture to Ponder Subscribers. Read FULL description, details, bonuses, testimonials and more on APRIL CLASSES.

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Velvety Red-Orange Parrot Tulips and Asking – Picture to Ponder – Vol 5 – Issue 10

by Sheila Finkelstein on March 25, 2009

Parrot Tulip bud - velvety

opening tulip bud

Today’s Picture to Ponder Photos
Parrot Tulips in different stages of opening

The sensory experiences are so strong from these two images that I invite you to simply be with them, without further descriptive words from me.

The APDA and Walk Story
The TULIP, a pink-edged one, is the symbol used for Parkinson’s Disease. Thus in March/April, for the fourth year now, I have been purchasing tulip plants and photographing them.

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month and each year, the American Parkinson’s Disease fund-raising walks are held throughout the United States. All MONEYS raised goes to RESEARCH for a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.

Thus, though not always the “correct” one, I have featured two to four photos in Picture to Ponder and created special Tulips pages with more. Starting with 2006, TULIPS 2006 you can follow links to the issue that year. Links for Tulips 2007 and 2008 can be found at the bottom of that page.

I also used Picture to Ponder and the above-mentioned pages, to offer subscribers to make a Walk donation to Research through an Amazon page. Given that my husband Sam (see Remembering Sam) had Parkinson’s Disease, I remain active in support groups, so intended to offer you the same opportunity this year and I learned that the service offered before is no longer available

I therefore invite anyone interested in supporting research for Stamping out Parkinson’s Disease and the walk to go directly to the South Florida “Make a Donation” page. Simply type “WALK” in the “Person’s Name” space, and or in the “Special Instructions” box, before your final payment submission.

The South Florida Walk will take place in Lake Ida Park in Delray Beach on Saturday, April 18th. Registration starts at 9:30 AM, the walk at 11 AM.

I invite you also the check for scheduled walks in your area in the United States and certainly feel free to make a donation to your local chapter, should you be interested in getting involved and that be your preference. Scroll down the APDA national site page for locations and more information.

Today’s Photos Story
Back to today’s Picture to Ponder photographs. I was thrilled with how these photographs turned out and simply want to take some time to luxuriate in them. Then last night, so you could see more of this year’s tulip photos, and more, I uploaded them onto my Flickr pages. See TULIPS set

Almost immediately I received an email inviting me to add each of them to the Parrot Tulips Group on FlickR. I went to the group and was in awe of many of the photos. I had never before paid attention to the beauty of this particular variety of tulips, though I’ve photographed them in the past.

In writing to the administrator, thanking her, we also gained a new subscriber to our Picture to Ponder community and I’ve made a new friend.

Today’s Self-Reflecting Queries
Part of putting together today’s issue had me looking at my own issues around money, asking for it for my services and asking for it for someone else, or for a charity to which I’m committed in supporting. I would assume that there are many of you out there who have neither of these issues around “asking” or “inviting.”

And, as I write, I’m reminded that the same emotional issues are not even always about money. I’m recalling times that I did not invite someone to do attend a party I might be giving, go with me someplace, or into a myriad of other situations. I make the prejudgment that they would not be interested in my invitation, so I don’t put myself out, take a chance on a refusal. The bottom line result is that ultimately neither of us benefit as I stay stuck in my “fear of rejection.”

I invite you to look and see if you find yourself anywhere in the above scenario. If so, I invite you to take one small action forward in possibly a new direction. To do this, what might you have to give up?

Keep in mind, the action may be something as simple, or perhaps for you not so simple, as saying “Hi” to, or smiling at, a stranger.

I also invite all of you to take a few moments to acknowledge yourselves for strides you’ve taken in your life where none of the above fits for you, or where once some of it did and you’ve moved past those strangleholds.

For what accomplishments can you, or will you choose to, acknowledge yourself today?

As always, when you’re finished, I invite you to share your experience with today’s photos and writing on the blog. See the instructions below if you need help.

And do have fun with this today.

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