There is a powerful connection between our emptiness and our ability to welcome it. Henri Nouwen. Friday used to be family day in our home but now it is our friendship day. Whatever brings you joy I hope that you will experience those comforts; be it family, friends, or some special ritual that uplifts and … Continue reading Friday Comfort:
Meditation
Reflection: Observations about growing older: ears and eyes.
Jasper, Canada, photo by Derek Noffke, 2014 Athabasca Falls, M Noffke, 2014 Being able to see and hear the sights and sounds in my life bring me joy. I am grateful for sight and hearing and don’t ever want to take it for granted. These are senses that most of us are given from birth; … Continue reading Reflection: Observations about growing older: ears and eyes.
Sitting quietly is a gift.
I acknowledge the long unexplained silence As I sit upon my patio Gazing at my foresty-garden: Autumn rains it's leaves in gusts of winds Pitter-patter to the ground In the lull, like the in-breath, a leaf drifts Down to touch the ground Like a little foraging bird. Leaves leaving the branch akin to letting go. … Continue reading Sitting quietly is a gift.
What is art and can you call yourself an artist?
Many people ask: What is art? When I was studying art we spoke about high art and low art. I think it was a highbrow or snobbish way of thinking and people believed that only high art mattered. Low art included crafters and hobbyists. Even nowadays there are people who talk about insider art and … Continue reading What is art and can you call yourself an artist?
Feedback About My Course I am Attending: Part Two
For the first two weeks we explored our image we chose as our symbol. Mine, as you may recall, was the butterfly wings and the metamorphosis cycle. It was mostly using one's intellect in researching meaning, ontology and considering how it could speak to us. We also were given questions to consider about what we … Continue reading Feedback About My Course I am Attending: Part Two
Know yourself
Chalk Pastel drawing of Calla lilies, by Morag Noffke. This is an edited post from 2018 which I wrote to myself as a reminder of how I want to live. Reading it today, I feel that it is still very true for myself now. It is easy to get caught up in life's business and … Continue reading Know yourself
Sailing: Inner Grounding
Sailing is fun. I used to go sailing with Fritz Nebe, when I was a teenager (+/-1978 - 1981). I learnt all about sailing and adventure, thanks to him. We sailed from Simon's Town to Hout Bay; and from Hout Bay to Saldanha Bay. There we spent many weekends sailing and swimming in Langabaan Lagoon. … Continue reading Sailing: Inner Grounding
Shells
Letting go. And so as spring returns to the southern hemisphere so does my spring-cleaning continues with renewed fervor. At the same time my mind creatively processes my life from beginning to end. I collected shells and dead insects from when I was in junior school till recently. Oddly insects are also like shells, they … Continue reading Shells
The ups and downs of life.
Joy lies in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved, not in the victory itself"Mahatma Gandhi I have to admit, as a creative individual I have experienced ups and downs of emotions, which over time, I have come to learn is quite natural and useful in creativity; yet after suffering depression I found … Continue reading The ups and downs of life.
I Love Life.
I have written about growing older recently, here at My Aging Autumn Years , but that doesn't mean that we feel old or feel sad about getting older. It means that we are preparing for a meaningful retirement when it comes because we love life. We want to embrace life. So in order to live our … Continue reading I Love Life.
Morag Noffke 