Angel Snakes

Why Ask Why?

This article by Kevin Eikenberry has a surprising #1, on a list of ways to re-energize your brain.
 
He writes:
 

Our brains are wired to be curious. As we grow up and "mature" many of us stifle or deny our natural curiosity. Let yourself be curious! Wonder to yourself about why things are happening. Ask someone in the know. The best way to exercise our curiosity is by asking "Why?" Make it a new habit to ask "why?" at least 10 times a day. Your brain will be happier and you will be amazed at how many opportunities and solutions will show up in your life and work.

 
That is easy.
 
The Angel Snake's favorite question is "I wonder why . . . ."
 
Wings Up!!!
 
Nela -- The Practical Muse

Prompts for Writing and Drawing - Set 6

We have seen that folks are downloading the prompts. We can only home they are being used.

If you have any great things to share from your writing and drawing adventures, please let us know.

You have not finished your work as writer or artist until you have made it public.

Wings Up!!!

Nela - The Practical Muse

PS: Here is the link to Set 6 or go to the Prompts Page to download any of the sets of prompts.

The Lizard Lurks, Lulling You with Lies

"Ida, The Lizard" - Paper Sculpture -- 1.5 x 8 x 2 inches  by Gay Pogue

Lizards are our friends who more than anything else want to keep us safe. We can relax a bit when a Lizard is around because she will warn us when danger approaches, or we are getting ready to get ourselves into trouble.

The problem with Lizards, though, is that they have a hard time telling the difference between "real and present dangers" and imaginary ones.

It's those imaginary ones that usually get in the way of a Human's doing things that make a difference.

Think today about this "Lizard Lie": people will laugh at you.

Now if you are a stand-up comic, you may want people to laugh at you, but most of us are not. If we do something out of the ordinary and our acquaintances decide for some reason that what we did was not acceptable to them, then they might begin a cycle of making fun of us. They will point and laugh, mimic and laugh, deride and laugh, until everyone around them is doing likewise.

In Kindergarten the laughter will be to our face; as we get older the laughter will be more behind our back. But still they will make sure we know that we are being ridiculed. Because we have been "ridiculous," or so they say.

Watchful Lizards will be sure to warn us when we are on the verge of doing something worthy of ridicule--like painting a large painting in bold colors, or saying we are going to find a cure for cancer, or writing and performing a new song, or standing in front of the class to read our poem, or speaking out for someone who has been unjustly treated. The list goes. I am sure you can provide examples from your own life.

What to do?

1) Listen carefully for a while so that you know when a Lizard is talking to you.
2) When you hear the Lizard's voice, stop for a moment and evaluate whether the danger she is announcing is a life-threatening one, or not. Of course, you respond immediately to the life-threatening ones.
3) If she is squalking a "Lizard Lie," then tell her to be quiet and let you get on with your work. 

Wings Up!!!

Nela - The Practical Muse

PS: Maybe you should have a discussion with an Angel Snake. We have a long history of dealing with Lizards.

The Brain in Motion

Click here to go to Dr. John Medina's website. Then click on the video "Exercise -- Brain Rule #1." Take the three minutes to watch it.

He shows in graphic detail that our offices and schools are designed to get the least amount of brain function from workers and students. Hmmmmm. 

Of course, Angel Snakes do not have regular classrooms. We mostly sit in trees and take slithers out to some nice hot rock and visit along the way. Poor Humans.

Wings Up!!!

Nela

PS: If you want to boost your brain power, exercise!!!

PPS: We do hope you are still doing your Super Brain Yoga every day. Gay is. Her quads are also getting stronger.

In a Creative Rut? Spark Your Brain!

Maybe it's the moon or the stars, maybe it's the feng shui of your studio, maybe it's the brand of coffee you are drinking, but sometimes you may feel in a rut with your creative ventures.

The Angel Snakes have found that you need to do things on a regular basis to get yourself out of the rut you are in, so that the rut does not become any deeper than it already is. Our right brain loves this sort of thing.

Julia Cameron suggests "artist dates" in her book "The Artist's Way." We highly recommend it. What's an "artist date"? That's a time when an artist intentionally makes herself do something different, go to a new place, meet with new people, try a new activity, to stir up the imagination. Do it! Once a week!

In addition, we offer you the writing prompts. Pick a different one each morning when you sit down to write and somehow use the phrase. If you are a visual artist, draw to the prompt somehow--something small, each day. Shake things up.Here is Set 5. Down load it. Print it out. Use it. 

Wings Up!!!

Nela - The Practical Muse

PS: Go to the Prompts Page to access all the sets and a page of blank Artist Trading Cards.

PPS: Beware the Ides of March. That's tomorrow.

The Lizard Brain

Seth Godin tells it like it is. Read his thoughts from his blog here. 

Your "lizard brain" keeps you safe -- too safe -- and then keeps you from being what you could be.

Do read what Godin has to say. It will help you understand US better. And the lizards.

Wings Up!!!

Madilla, Ace, Nuncio, Nela, Lila, Claudius, Flash, Bolt, Alfred, Hiram, Prunella, Gertrude, Sting, Buttercup, Lucinda, Carmen, Dylan, Ralph, Astrid, Amber, Mr. Ornament, Cowboy, Carolene, Larry, Mickey, Demetrius, and all the other Angel Snakes.

PS: Do your Super Brain Yoga!!!

PPS: Every day!!!

Blank Artist Cards

Several folks have asked for a blank template for the Artist Trading Cards. Here is the link. It will stay on the Prompts Page.

Wings Up!!!

Nela -- "The Practical Muse"

PS: These are what Gay uses for her prayer cards.

". . . Fried to a Crisp . . ."

            We all love fried foods, the crispy parts and the greasy, drippy parts. Our bodies crave the fat and want to wallow in it. Ace is addicted to it. At the Mardi Gras festivities in Galveston, Ace found the booth where fried things were created and sold.
            Funnel cakes were the mainstay of the booth. Metal rings sat in the steaming, smoking pool of oil waiting for the rich batter which would instantly solidify and begin to brown as soon as it was poured. Fried to a crisp, it would be pulled from the oil and covered with sugar. The huge cakes are often too much for one person to eat quickly; cold leftovers get tossed away.
            Wandering around in the mayhem that is the last Saturday of Mardi Gras, Ace found a few partially eaten funnel cakes dropped behind the tents. He even found a large piece of fried Twinkie. What a mess! Of course, he knew at the time he would regret having eaten all that, and he did. Sgt. A. had warned him.
            That is the way of addictions: you know it is wrong and you will regret it, but you do it anyway. You just cannot stop yourself.
            All the grease and sugar ruined his body paint. When he arrived back here, he looked “rode hard and put up wet.”

            Finally, he has gotten it together and redone his body paint. Gay is putting him on a low-fat diet for a while.

Wings Up!!!

Madilla

(This was written to a prompt from Set 2.)

Prompts -- Set 4

Have you created something beautiful today? I hope so.

Here are this week's prompts. Draw or write something every day about one of these ideas. Or, let these words take you on a journey. Draw or write what happens.

Prompts for Writing or Drawing - Set 4

Wings Up!!!

Nela -- The Practical Muse

PS: Let us know what you create. We love hearing what others are doing.

Super Brain Yoga

Angel Snakes do not need this, but humans do. Watch this video and then click on the link to see a chart about how to do the exercise. It will make you smarter.

Click here to see a chart showing exactly how to do the exercise.

Wings Up!!!

Nela

The Practical Muse

PS: Gay is doing it every day and teaching it to her students. She says she can tell a difference in some of her activities.