How to Overcome Obstacles and Turn Them Into Allies

HOW TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND TURN THEM INTO ALLIES

Musical Obstacles

Article by Cymber Lily Quinn
Photo Credit: Victor of Valencia
Magazine: Issue #17

You know you want to get better at playing your instrument or singing. You know you should get back to music. But there’s something stopping you. You are stuck. What to do chica? 

Stop The Fight

Many of the old ways called for a fight, a push, a struggle as a way to overcome your obstacles. It worked if you were macho enough, but these days, I find it just plain ole’ tiring. 

Make Friends With Your Obstacles

Sounds crazy, right? Who wants to snuggle up to the snarling voices that keep telling you to make your music, and the other voices that tell you all the negative stuff. But one of the most alchemical, gentle, and transformative ways to remove your blocks and obstacles is to befriend them. Make a list of all the blocks you have, all the things that are bugging you right now. Then ask them some questions:

:: When were you created? Why? (Blocks are usually created in childhood to protect you.)
:: How old do you think I am now? (Blocks usually think you are still a kid.)
:: Are you ready to be updated for a new assignment? (Usually they are.)

Thank your blocks for protecting you, then mentally ask them to complete their work, so you can recycle them. Or throw them in the Cosmic Dumpster. 

Replacing Old Beliefs with New Ones

Once the old beliefs are gone, you want to replace them with new ones. These are new beliefs that are appropriate for where you are now in your life. 

Make a list all the new beliefs that you’d like to have...better relationships, more security, better connection with your community, and most importantly, ways back into your music, and ways back into confidence. 

Put this list where you can see it every day,  so you can retrain your mind to notice when you are experiencing your new beliefs. And when you see your new beliefs showing up in your life, make a note of that too. Changes are both slow and fast, depending on which part of your life is ready for change. 

The most magical part of this process, the most alchemical and transformative, is the process of welcoming the blocks, and understanding that they are a natural part of your life. Then you can transform them by updating them and giving them a new assignment.

Artists, Photographers, and the Creative Inspiration of the Muse

ARTISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, AND
THE CREATIVE INSPIRATION OF THE MUSE

Article by Jeannine Chanin-Penn
Photo Credit: Dasha & Mari
Magazine: Issue #30

Artists, Photographers, And The Creative Inspiration Of The Muse

If you look up the definition of a Muse you will find:
myo͞oz/noun
(In Greek and Roman mythology) each of nine goddesses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, who preside over the arts and sciences.
A woman, or a force personified as a woman, who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist.
synonyms: inspiration, creative influence, stimulus; formal afflatus

In more modern times, a muse has evolved to include a variety of individuals that profoundly inspires and influences one’s creative work. Quite typically we think of a muse as an exceptionally beautiful woman like Audrey Hepburn was to Givenchy, the can-can dancer Jane Avril was to artist Toulouse Lautrec or model and heiress Edie Sedgwick was to Andy Warhol. 

Often these are very complex, intimate relationships sometimes resulting in great love, great heartache, or both. With actress Mia Farrow, Woody Allen created a feminine young, innocent and their relationship went from a seemingly strong love to a very complicated mess that ended their relationship personally and professionally. 

Photographer Alfred Stieglitz fell in love with Georgia O’Keeffe’s artwork before falling in love with her. Stieglitz photographed her nude and exhibited the pictures, which caused a sensation. After divorcing his wife and marrying O’Keeffe, the photographer took hundreds more pictures of her.

Though they had their ups and downs, they continued to share their passion for art and each other until Stieglitz’s death in 1946.

And then there are the non-sexual, not classically beautiful women only muses. Martin Scorsese has a unique bond with Robert De Niro a man who he sees as his alter ego. Their collaboration has resulted in numerous award winning movies including “Raging Bull” and “Goodfellas” two of the greatest films of all times. 

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are another iconic duo in Hollywood whose list of films includes “Edward Scissorhands” and “Alice in Wonderland.” According to Burton, they communicate in a way that "wouldn't really make sense to the normal person." “It’s very nice to have someone that you can have a completely abstract conversation with and leave the room, feel like everything’s fine, and then realize that if you pick it apart, you have absolutely no idea what either of you said.”

The list of muses is endless especially among artists/photographers and their subjects, directors and actors, choreographers and dancers, writers and their characters and fashion designers and their models.

Who is or could be your muse? Is there someone whose style, face, essence inspires you? Could they be your model, your protégé…your constant inspiration? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

For now my greatest muse (who is my muse, and doesn’t know it) is my son. Besides being in love with his face, I think the relationship of parent and child is so intense that it is easy to find inspiration in so much of what they do, the expressions they make and in them just being a mirror of ourselves. 

Conscious Creativity: The Secret To Your Creative Edge

The Secret To Your Creative Edge

CONSCIOUS CREATIVITY: THE SECRET TO YOUR CREATIVE EDGE

Article by Jennifer Nesbit Holt
Photo Credit: Nancy Schoenmakers
Magazine: Issue #27

Pause, Breathe, Create (repeat).

Raise your hand if you want to stay connected to your art and creativity for the long haul. No more artistic doubt creeping in, no more paralyzing fear that someone won't 'like' your work!

And how 'bout learning to love your creative blocks and fearlessly creating instead of clawing your way to the top?!

Keeping a creative edge in such a competitive, creative realm is a struggle, if you allow it to take you off track in your artistic trade. Today, everyone is seen. Everyone is noticed and creative theft is at an all time high.

But that doesn't mean you stop listening to that burning intuition that says, “you are meant to do this work!” It doesn't mean you stop taking risks.  

Don't let insecurities derail your career as a creative.

Get Self-Conscious
Key word: CONSCIOUS. Stop comparing yourself to everyone else and surrendering your creative power over your own life! Trust your ability to create YOUR WAY.

Pause...Breathe.  

The art of living mindfully means learning to pause and breathe to realign yourself with what IS; not what 'could be', or what 'was'. When you place energy outside of the tangible moment there can be no hope for conscious creativity.  

Open up space in your world by using the intelligence of a long, deep breath rather than being smothered by a restrictive existence to return to your creative edge.

Take nothing personally
Handle criticism with grace and dignity. You can do anything in this world without someone criticizing you. When receiving criticism..

Pause...Breathe.

Take a moment to reflect and ask if your commenter has a valid point.  

Regardless if the criticism is right or wrong, gain your composure, slip into easeful breath and disarm them with positive acceptance and gratitude for their view, no matter rude or kind.  

You can accept it or you can fight it..which do you think is better for your creative process and life-span?

Choose Happiness
Make a list of 10 things that light you up and do them more often. Learn to love yourself and your beautiful contributions to the world. Fully embrace that anything is possible when we are in a sacred, positive place. Just being YOU is enough.  

Be Amazing, Do Amazing 
Seek truth, be honest and contribute to the world with authenticity. Create the world you desire with your conscious mindset and gifts. Do something amazing by taking an approach no one has considered and fearlessly move full steam (against) the grain.   

Pause, Breathe, Create (repeat). Digest the words your have just read and know that maintaining a creative edge is a choice you have in each and every moment of the day. Conscious creativity is about accepting your unique talents, embracing criticism and change. Open your perception.

Filmmaker David Lynch says in his book Catching the Big Fish:  Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity

“Ideas are like fish. If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you've got to go deeper. Deep down the fish are more powerful and more pure. They're huge and abstract. And they're very beautiful.”

Now go make some beautiful waves!

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Fashion Editorial San Francisco Photo Shoot: Drought

SAN FRANCISCO FASHION EDITORIAL PHOTOSHOOT: DROUGHT

Article by Lisbeth Yekaroma Card  Photo Credit: Joseph Phillips

Photographs by Joseph Phillips
Styling and Production by 
Yekaroma Card, Marisa Llamas and Alex Venegas
Starring model Vanesa Dzevdetbegovic
Hair & Makeup by Martin Mendoza 
Photographer Assistant - Kira Thompson

There, where the sunrise brings a promise of a new start; where the breeze of the ocean whispers good things to come; where the sunset kisses you and holds you in its arms; there, is the hidden gift waiting for a glance of our sight.

Everyday, I wake up wishing for a better world; a place where human beings are more connected with nature and each other; a place where words like ‘love’ and ‘compassion’ are more appreciated. Everyday, I strive to develop goals that will make a difference and positively impact our world; a world that continues to fall apart; a world that needs more love and attention from all of us. 

As a fashion stylist, I search for inspiration through my surroundings and environment, as most artists do. Even the most insignificant, less appreciated things have the ability to give you the most beautiful and groundbreaking ideas.

One day, my fellow friends and fashion stylists, Marisa, Alex, and myself, decided to put together a low-budget fashion editorial that communicates one of the most harrowing issues our planet is facing today; drought. We were inspired by David Bowie’s brilliant performance in the 1970’s classic film, The Man Who Fell to Earth. The story follows David Bowie as an extraterrestrial who visits Earth, seeking a way to ship water back to his dehydrated planet. We loved the story and believe it tremendously relates to today’s reality. Life on Mars, arrival on Earth, and searching for water, the latter being incredibly symbolic to saving the planet, are the three elements behind the story of our editorial.

The editorial was shot in the abandoned remains of Sutro Baths in San Francisco, California. The location is a reminder of human materialism and destruction. 

Our model, Vanesa Dzevdetbegovic, was styled in earthy, sleek lined, monochromatic clothing, to appeal to the modern and down-to-earth, yet edgy audience.

It may be unclear as to how drought and fashion relate, but I believe we can use a fashion editorial as a wake up call by delivering important themes and worldly issues to an audience, using not only photography and styling, but emotion, mood, and story, as well. I believe the resources we have at our disposal today will become scarce and potentially obsolete for future generations, if we do not take care of our planet now. We must love our home in order for it to love us back.