Hi Everyone,
This week, during the sacred season of rebirth and renewal, Christians & Jews the world over are observing Passover, Easter and Greek Orthodox Easter. For those who walk in faith, it is a time for remembrance, reverence and reflection; an opportunity to allow our hearts to become open to possibility and to invite awe and wonder to take root in the deepest recesses of our souls. A time for Miracles to be acknowledged and appreciated.
Miracles is the theme of my 2018 wall calendar. I think they’ve selected this design as the calendar cover:
Passover began tonight (Monday) at sundown. I wanted to share a prayer I wrote for someone who led a Passover Seder for the first time. I hope it helped put the participants in an appropriate frame of mind. You are welcome use and/or share this prayer. I know the print is tiny, so I’m including the words below the visual.
Eternal Source of Light and Love, Turner of Seasons,
As we gather around the Seder table, may each of us find meaning and purpose in retelling the age-old story of the Exodus from Egypt.
As we journey through bondage to redemption, may we be filled with wonder and gratitude, and the understanding that the Hagaddah (Passover prayer book) holds more than history; it is a tangible connection to our heritage.
Aren’t we all wanderers in a desert which seems increasingly bleak? Don’t we all yearn to part of something greater than ourselves? How do we hold on to hope? How do we discover our purpose? Why is THIS night different than all other nights?
This night is different because we are here, together, having made the commitment to remember and recount. May we be present and open to the mysteries which are about to unfold.
ON THIS NIGHT may we feel a connection to community and to one another.
ON THIS NIGHT may we be inspired to work towards understanding and enlightenment.
ON THIS NIGHT may everything we say and do be a reflection of our best selves.
ON THIS NIGHT may our souls cry out against indifference, injustice & inequality, and may we discover new ways to combat them.
ON THIS NIGHT may we grow in compassion and courage and in our ability to bring hope and healing to those in need.
May this be the year that we discover that LOVE is the answer; Love is always the answer; and may that discovery fill our hearts, our homes and our world with peace.
The Passover story concludes with the words “Next Year in Jerusalem”, and I incorporated those words into a card design featuring the holy city.
Click the link below to download a FREE PDF of the Next Year in Jerusalem card. CC_Next_Year_in_Jerusalem
And, for those of you who love Zenspirations® Dangle Designs, here is a Dangle Cross card I hope you’ll enjoy:
Click the link below for your FREE DOWNLOADABLE PDF of the He is Risen Cross design.
As we move towards our 3 year ‘Blog-versary’ later this month, I’m still trying to decide how best to celebrate. A number of people expressed interest in a FB Live, and during the Creativity Weekend I hosted last week I asked a few people to help me test a virtual meeting platform called www.join.me. Using this platform we can have 50 people participating in a group conversation. 10 of us can share the screen in these little ‘bubbles’, I think the rest would be able to watch what they do and type messages to one another, but not having tried it yet, I’m not sure. Here is a screen shot of the conversation that Mary Anne Fellows, Gail Beck and I had with Jill Suzanne Hatcher, Toni Popkin and Leitha Hunt.
To use this program you’ll need to have access to Google Chrome, along with a reasonably fast internet connection; otherwise you may not be able to hear and see everyone.To be able to include as many people as possible, I’m thinking about scheduling get togethers on different days and times. If you are interested in participating, please leave a comment letting me know whether you would be interested in an afternoon or evening session, and whether you’d prefer a weekend or weekday. Also please let me know if you are willing to be a Guinea Pig and help test the software to make sure it works.
Before closing tonight, I wanted to share a ‘rainbow tree’ design I’ve been working on.
Isn’t this sacred season a wonderful time to Celebrate Life?
Stay Zenspired,
Joanne
Comments are closed.
As always, I am inspired by you’r words of faith and color ! Thank you, once again for your words of encouragement and generosity of sharing your wonderful art ! ! If only we had faith the size of a mustard seed…..
Hi Joanne!
Blessed Easter and Passover greetings to you and everyone! He is Risen indeed! I would like to participate in the video chat, sorry I missed the last one! Most evenings are best for me, I’ll be a guinea pig, too. Your rainbow tree is amazing as always, just like you! Thanks for sharing!
Love and hugs!
Terri
Joanne,
Thank you for all the gorgeous artwork, and the free downloads.
I’m wishing you & yours the very best, and am grateful knowing that you do the same for me & my family.
Of course I am here to help with the group video chat.
I actually have done this before & may have some useful information for you.
And I will also be your lab rat so you can test the handling of communication with everyone before it actually matters.
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you I am always here for anything you need help with.
I must go back to working I my Easter Cards.
Thanx again for this blog, your art, and your heart.
Happy Passover!
Jamie
Happy Passover Joanne. I’m impressed that on the night of the first Seder you were still able to write a beautiful and thought provoking blog.
Yes, I’m willing to be a tester to see if we can expand the join.me group. Especially because I kept loosing the connection on my iPad. Would like to see if my pc does better with a mic attached.
As to time for me late afternoon, evenings, or weekends are good. Excited to see how it works!
Love, love, love your “Celebrate Life” tree. What a wonderful message!
Love you my friend,
Toni
Hi Joanne, as always I enjoyed this week’s blog. I would like to participate in a live session with you and others in our group. I am pretty open as far as times if day or days of the week and would be glad to be a guinea pig.
Happy Passover Joanne!
Evenings and most days are better for me. I am willing to be a guinea pig too. 🙂
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE your Celebrate Life tree! It is just beautiful! and meaningful.
Love and Hugs always friend <3
It is truly a wonderful time to celebrate life. Well done. Jill. If you need a tester I am available. Jill
Thank you, Joanne, for generously sharing your talent with us!
Thank you for your generosity sharing so much with us. I hope you have a blessed Passover. With kind regards, Sue
I would be interested in testing afternoon sessions & to be involved in afternoon sessions. Thank you for this opportunity!!!
Joanne,
This is so beautiful visually and spiritually! Thank you for your encouragement of hope today. Many blessings to you. Valerie
Joanbe,
I wish you and your family a healthy and happy Passover. Thank you for sharing your beautiful prayer. I will add it to our Passover tradition.
Best wishes.
Joanne,
I wish you and your family a healthy and happy Passover. Thank you for sharing your beautiful prayer. I will add it to our Passover tradition.
Best wishes.
I would love to be your guinea pig. 🙂 I love the rainbow tree speciffically the one that has blue purple and pink. Love ya bunches and miss you tons. Kim.:)
I always look forward to your posts, and as always this one is beautiful and inspirational. I am so grateful for all you do
Love is the answer.❤️Thank you for that beautiful blessing and sharing your new designs. That last tree-wow!
I would love to be part of a group FB event. Weekday evenings or weekend afternoon or evenings would be best with my work schedule. May you and your family be blessed with all the connection, inspiration, courage and healing called forth in your prayer.. Happy Passover and Happy Easter to everyone in the group who is celebrating!
Weekday evenings work for me. It would be so fun to chat and see you and some of the ladies!! Love your Celebrate Life tree!!
Hello dear friend! I am happy you are home safe and hope that your time in Colorado went well. You and Sam have been in my thoughts and prayers all week.
I love the gorgeous prayer, the stunning artwork, and the love and care you put into both! I am absolutely available, for any testing you need to do regarding a group phone call. My time is very flexible, and I can avail myself whenever needed.
Sending love and big hugs!
~m
Thank you for sharing your beautiful blessing. Love the celebration tree of life and the Easter bunny card. Both messages made me stop and think. I would be grateful if you could share the line drawing of the tree. I would love to colour and hang near my art corner for daily affirmation of how blessed we are. Thank you Jianne for inspiring us all through your art and inspirational blogs….♥️
Happy Passover and warm wishes and thank you fir the beautiful all-encompassing message Beautiful!