CASIMIRA

CASIMIRA
HERstory through ART
With words and images, I am telling my story.

Through art, I am remembering HERstory...

I've been blogging daily since 2007.

Follow me on HERE and HERE for daily posts...

S H O P online...original artwork, prints, totes, and more...


SHOP ONLINE

SHOP ONLINE
original artwork, prints and more...

Updated Daily: January 2007 - February 2020

SEARCH ARCHIVES

Wednesday, August 31

evolve


"There are many teachers who could ruin you. Before you know it you could be a pale copy of this teacher or that teacher. You have to evolve on your own."

- Berenice Abbott (1898 – 1991)

Tuesday, August 30

aztec king dressed in dreams

el rey azteca se vistió de mis sueños,

cantó de cristales y piedras con sedas y palabras,

el arte es aire

from an ongoing series of writings

Monday, August 29

after morning meditation


"I see people in the world throw away their lives lusting after things, never able to satisfy their desires, falling into deep despair and torturing themselves. Even if they get what they want, how long will they be able to enjoy it? For one heavenly pleasure they suffer ten torments of hell, binding themselves more firmly to the grindstone. Such people are like monkeys frantically grasping for the moon in the water and then falling into a whirlpool. How endlessly those caught up in the floating world suffer." - Ryōkan Taigu (1758–1831)
a quote that found me after morning meditation

Sunday, August 28

living the dream


...Though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.

It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

Do you have a dream?  Are you living your dream?

Saturday, August 27

pearls of wisdom through dreams

She poured stars into my hands and asked me to WISH.

She explained the sacred beauty of stones and told me to DARE.

She blessed the pen and paper and begged me to CREATE.

from my journals

Friday, August 26

of wings and kings

"I have dined with kings,
I’ve been offered wings,
And I’ve never been too impressed."
- Bob Dylan

Thursday, August 25

more compassionate


"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves."
- Carl Jung (1875-1961)


Years ago, when I first read this, it changed my life. I became more compassionate, not only with others, but also with myself.

Wednesday, August 24

box of treasures


“Affirm to yourself as you sort through your things, “It’s safe to let go.” Clearing clutter is about letting go and trusting the process of life to bring you what you need when you need it. Anything you are keeping “just in case,” you are keeping through fear.”

- Karen Kingston

Tuesday, August 23

the earth quakes


toddler art


she released energy through a deep sigh...Mother Earth moving in sudden waves...



Monday, August 22

reading to my little prince this morning



But it so happened that the little prince, having walked a long time through sand and rocks and snow, finally discovered a road. And all roads go to where there are people.

"Good morning," he said.
It was a blossoming rose garden.
"Good morning," said the roses.

The little prince gazed at them.
All of them looked like his flower.

"Who are you?" he asked, astounded.
"We're roses," the roses said.
"Ah!" said the little prince.

And he felt very unhappy. His flower had told him she was the only one of her kind in the whole universe. And here were five thousand of them, all just alike, in just one garden!

......he said to himself, I thought I was rich because I had just one flower, and all I own is an ordinary rose. That and my three volcanoes, which come up to my knee, one of which may be permanently extinct. It doesn't make me much of a prince....And he lay down in the grass and wept.

- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Sunday, August 21

ask for what you really want

He whispered a sweet song to me early this morning:


"The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.

Don't go back to sleep.

You must ask for what you really want.

Don't go back to sleep." - RUMI

Saturday, August 20

Papa-Coco de mis sueños

nací siendo la primera nieta de

Antioco Sacasa Sarria

mi Papa-Coco de ojos azules



Papa-Coco quien me contaba cuentos

historias reales

leyendas maravillosas

con guitarra y voz dulce



Papa-Coco siento su mirada en cielos celestes

Papa-Coco escucho sus consejos con amor,

ya que siempre nos encontramos en mis sueños




Beloved Grand Father,

How I wish you were still walking this planet, holding my son's hand.

Although, I am certain you are already great friends.

Mi Papa-Coco de mis sueños...

Friday, August 19

invented truths



el cuello
pilar del templo
de donde salen verdades inventadas
voz de cuento
canción de amor

from a series soon to be published in print

Thursday, August 18

choose today, this moment


I found a box of old love letters, photographs and sentimental mementos from years ago. I could spend all day reading and sorting, but instead I plan to spend this sunny day exploring, dreaming and discovering...

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER."

- Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Wednesday, August 17

dreaming


"I dream a lot. I do more painting when I'm not painting. It's in the subconscious."
 - Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009)

take time to dream today

give yourself time to dream tonight

Tuesday, August 16

dear mother


BELIEVE

in miracles

in healing

in peace

in love

in prayer

in forgiveness

BELIEVE

if you cannot believe,

I promise to believe for you...

Monday, August 15

life-force

"There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost."
- Martha Graham (1894-1991)

Sunday, August 14

celestial blue

desperté con la sombra del águila en la frente,


con ideas de brillantes azules y diamantes celestes


I awoke with eagle's shadow upon me,
with brilliant celestial diamond blue ideas

after morning meditation today...

Saturday, August 13

walk gently & know beauty

" may the SUN


bring you new energy by day,


may the MOON

softly restore you by night,


may the RAIN

wash away your worries,


may the BREEZE

blow new strength into your being,


may you WALK

gently through the world and know

its beauty all the days of your life. "

- APACHE blessing

Friday, August 12

the soul of the soul


Oh soul,
you worry too much.
You have seen your own strength.
You have seen your own beauty.
You have seen your golden wings.
Of anything less,
why do you worry?
You are in truth
the soul, of the soul, of the soul - RUMI

Thursday, August 11

I love the queen in me

- mixed media on paper -
"In every woman there is a Queen.  Speak to the Queen and the Queen will answer."
- Norwegian Proverb

She does not believe in failure, only obstacles which make her stronger.
Her kingdom is her imagination.  Her loyal subjects are her talents.  I love the queen in me.  I respect and honor her.  I also fear her just a bit...

originally published in December 2007

Wednesday, August 10

happy home



Fame and fortune does not mean anything if you don't have a happy home.

- Ava Gardner (1922-1990)


I am so happy to be home...and blessed to have a happy home...

Tuesday, August 9

one of my favorite voices


Somebody's on my mind
Like an old sweet song, "The Lasting Time"
Somebody's on my mind
So I'm walking on clouds on a silver line
To dream my dream could be my mistake
But I'd rather be wrong
And sleep right along than wake
Love may be blind I'll take my chances
That it cares this affair, my real romance
That's why you'll find somebody's on my mind

- Billie Holiday (1915 – 1959)

Monday, August 8

los aposentos de la diosa blanca


El enano era un galán. Entró al Salón de Escudos como un sultán. Dos tigres, una avestruz y seis jabalíes lo escoltaron a los aposentos de la Diosa Blanca. El enano le traía las mejores Mariposas Maravillas para adornar sus cabellos de plata.

excerpt from a short story written in 2007

Sunday, August 7

Estrella Maruca

a story about a little star who dreams of becoming a mother:

Un día, una estrellita muy bonita fue hablar con el Padre Sol, pidiéndole un gran favor.

- Padre, yo sueño con ser Madre. Quisiera vivir en la tierra para sentir y amar hasta llorar.

--- Estrellita, hija mía, tu lugar es en el cielo, de donde puedes alumbrar y atravez de esa luz, amar.

- O, Padre Sol, te pido que me dejes caminar el mundo. Prometo llevar conmigo el manto de nuestra Madre María, ya que es por Ella que sueño con ser Madre un día.

excerpt from "Estrella Maruca" © 2005 written for Grand Mother, in her honour

Saturday, August 6

casimira & warhol

Andy Warhol and I are friends...I call him Andres. He wears CASIMIRA and likes to photograph me when I dance...

"Everyone must have a fantasy." - Andy Warhol (1928 – 1987)

what is one of your fantasies?

Friday, August 5

adventurous

"I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened, and I'm not afraid to look behind them."
-Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011)

Thursday, August 4

medicine man wisdom

The Native American Medicine Man handed me these commandments:

Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.

Remain close to the Great Spirit.

Show great respect for your fellow beings.

Work together for the benefit of all mankind.

Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.

Do what you know to be right.

Look after the wellbeing of mind and body.

Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.

Be truthful and honest at all times.

Take full responsibility for your actions.

Wednesday, August 3

exceprt from a story soon to be published in print


The Once-Great-King would travel for hours on horseback to consult an unassuming crone who had studied with renowned healers in India.

The wizened old woman lived on a cave-like secluded farmhouse amidst herbaceous vegetation known for its medicinal and supernatural properties. She concocted magic perfumes and potions from her enchanted herbs.

The petite soothsayer was in direct communication with the spirit world and the Once-Great-King trusted her predictions and visions with his life and his kingdom.

One strange day, when the moon and sun were both presiding over the skies, a swarm of butterflies appeared, attaching themselves to every living tree in the land. The flutter of countless wings created a humming chant that reached the Once-Great-King’s ears in waves...he understood the time of great change had finally arrived...

- excerpt from a story I began writing years ago

Tuesday, August 2

one of my favorite poems

"Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

...You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable."

- Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

PHOTOGRAPH, copyright CASIMIRA

Monday, August 1

three, a magical time


my little prince is three years old today...

motherhood blesses, changes, challenges, transforms...