Heart Wisdom © Susan Morrison Sims
24″ x 32″ acrylic on canvas
click on image twice to zoom
~~
The less you open your heart to others,
the more your heart suffers.
~Deepak Chopra
~~
Forgive me for being away so long. I have been busy with life things. I tried to get around to visit some of you, but once again I am behind. :O It worries me, and I thought of not posting anymore, because I have trouble keeping up with blogging and all it entails. Yet, here I am talking to you again…for I am attached to all of you. Though this means you, my darlings, are interfering with my hermit ways. hee, hee
How can I be a total recluse…Deepak’s quote is so true. A closed heart is a suffering heart!
I painted Heart Wisdom last week. I know, I know another heart painting..I can’t help myself. It’s one of my quick paintings (revealing itself in about 30 minutes), and I think it is almost finished. I am not going to go into a long boring explanation about all the symbolism in this piece. I will tell you about the butterfly though…it is symbolizes all of you, and I think you know why. :)
**An update and a few messages from Ringo, dog guru.
Here are some pieces in a recent Peace and Unity show…pieces most of you will remember.
I changed a title and went back into them as I told you I probably would. As I said, most of you will remember them, but if some of my new visitors wish to see them or read the stories behind the pieces just click on the images or the title links. Of course, you know I always have a story..right?
Peace and Unity Show, St Augustine Florida
Song of the Universe 
The Seeker
Last but not least…my beloved Ringo, dog guru. He has been bugging me to tell you a couple of things. So here are a couple of messages from…
Ringo, dog guru
First of all, a few weeks ago Ringo Starr, of the Beetles, said he no longer wanted fan mail. Did you see that? Anyway, Ringo, dog guru, wanted me to tell all of you that he welcomes fan mail…including Ringo Starr’s. In my book…Ringo, dog guru, is the real star..a bright shinning one in my life!!!
Secondly, but most importantly..Ringo thinks our new President Obama and his family should select a rescue dog for the White House! What a wonderful and loving thing to do…bringing awareness to rescue animals and the shelters for them. Ringo feels he has a platform for speaking about this matter, as he is a rescue dog himself! He is thankful to the Safe Animal Shelter here that provided him a safe place to live until his beloved humans came to take him home. Where he has resided for the past three years…happily busy teaching them about love, patience, loyalty, laughter, and LIVING IN THE MOMENT!
Well, enough from me (and from Ringo) today. I will answer your sweet emails and be around to visit your blogs very soon.
Thank you for BEing a part of my world…
and for your gentle reminders to keep my heart open.
Once again,
my heart
is full of love.
Butterfly kisses to all of you,
~gypsy-he♥rt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My dear friend gypsy…. I missed your words… they radiate an energy I only receive when I visit here…
I love The Seeker…. but then again I love most of what I see here… <3 Lots of Love and Light …I hope you rest and be well… until we “speak” again… Sending my energies and thoughts of sunshine and flowers from my rainy haven in NY…
*Thank you Enreal…you are such a jewel. You always remind me why I enjoy the blog.
Good energies and love and light to you too.
Hi ya Gypsy and Ringo!!
*slips Ringo a nice rawhide chew toy*
That painting … is powerful. It nearly defies words. The barbed wire and scarring nearly frightens me to think what it could mean.
On the other hand I love the expression on the black bird sitting on the sunflower… inscrutable but teasing.
*hugs you butterfly softly*
*Good Evening Iggy. Ringo thanks you, and so do I! :)
Sorry the barbed wire frightens you…it can mean many things to me, but it is not nearly as wicked as it appears.
Ah yes, the inscrutable but teasing crow…what would you think if I told you he carries the same message as the barbed wire. :) It’s a needed message..but a good one.
*hugs you butterfly softly* back to you!
oh gypsy, this painting speaks volumns to me, the feelings of a heart chained, bound, and the freedom gently whispered as a reminder it is only in the mind. I have been worried about you and an email was forthcoming TODAY. Not that I want to pressure you, only noticing a fleeting “feeling” for you within my own heart-mind.
I Love your Ringo and would send him fanmail if I could find the time with traveling and visiting all the blogs “I think” I should visit so Ringo will be patient as dogs usually are.
many many blessings to you, dear one.
*Good evening Linda
Thank you and I like your interpertation! :) I appreciate your kind concern..I just had some life issues. Some of them were difficult..but life moves on.
I’ll tell Ringo..don’t worry he has already moved on to other things. You know how dogs have perfected “living in the now”…if only we could do the same!
many many blessings to you too!
Oh, I like this painting. But it probably doesn’t mean to me what you might have had in mind. I see it as a box of chocolates that is being carefully guarded. However, I’m going to get in and help myself regardless of the pokes I’ll take.
*Glad you like it wrJ. I like your interpretation too. After all what’s that line..”life is like a box of chocolates” (or something like that). :)
Who would gypsy-heart be, if she didn’t paint hearts??? :-)
This is a thinking piece, but a map too, a guide for those with hearts that are locked, a way of seeing that very imprisonment, and thinking about how to become free.
Keep sharing, Gypsy. Do not worry so about those blogs out there – they will be there when you get to them. And never stop blogging out of guilt, only if your own heart says it gives you no pleasure.
*Well, I like what you see too. I always love hearing what a piece reveals to everyone.
I will try to heed your advice, Bo. Often my heart battles, with my head.
Don’t forget: It’s your space, so your timing is perfect. (That’s how I explain my LONG silences sometimes – works for me!) :)
*Ah thank you Preacherman..I am finally learning that! :)
Good Evening Dearest Gypsy-Heart~
First, my wonderful friend….
…never, ever worry yourself about when you post here and when you visit my blog.
Blogging is different for all of us, and there should be no pressure on HOW and WHEN we do it.
Blogging is the FREEDOM to express ourselves however we feel comfortable.
I allow people to come and go on my blog as they wish.
I love WHENEVER you visit and expect nothing else.
So I guess what I’m saying here is…BE as you feel!
And secondly….I LOVE this piece!!!!!
OMG…and just as Linda has shared…it speaks VOLUMES!
I love the contrast between the harsh barbed wire and the delicate butterfly.
It’s AWESEOME!
ooooh…and about Ringo’s suggestion for a rescue dog for the White House….WOOF!
(that means yes!)
I agree with him totally! Good going Ringo!
Thank you my fabulous Capricorn friend!
I always love coming here and receiving you gifts ANYTHING!
Ok…now I’m going to finish my glass of red wine!
I KNOW you’re enjoying yours!
Love ya!
*Good afternoon, my dear friend! I SO appreciate your kind words and all the inspiration you give me and all those that come in contact with you. Have I told you lately what a blessing you are? Well, you are.
Love ya!
It’s good to have you back! We’ve missed you!!!
*Thank you Rachel…I’ve missed being here and in your blog worlds too. :)
The image fits my current state of the heart perfectly.
With regards to the proposal of having a rescue dog in the White House, President Obama is too cautious to make such a bold move. :)
*Leafless, thank you for leaving a note. I hope your current state of heart is contemplative, and not hurtful.
As for the white house dog..Ringo has accepted that a rescue dog it probably won’t be..since allergy issues are involved. That he understands..he too, has a few allergy issues. :)
Dont stop posting :( I love you!!!!!!
*Not to worry Kaylee..I won’t stop. I just need to do it when I can, and not stress over it in the mean time. I just don’t want to let anyone down…not only in the blog world, but out here in this world.
ILY too!!!!!!
I love all of it! My understanding is that Obama does want to adopt a shelter dog with the provison he can find one his daughter isn’t allergic to.
Love the Deepak quote. Currently I’m reading The Third Jesus and in a study class on the book.
Love the paintings–as always.
*Thank you April.
Yes, I heard Obama say that after I posted this. Ringo understands and is sympathetic to the allergy issues He has some himself.
Your book sounds very interesting. Will you post something on it? I hope so.
You are most kind…as always. :)
PS Love Ringo the guru dog! He must be like my Sophy who likes attention all the time and thinks she should get it from everyone.
*Oh yes..your Sophy and Ringo are much the same. I’ll tell him you love him..he’s ALL about the love thing..especially when he is on the receiving end!! hee, hee
I am so down with this painting! I love heart imagery, partly because it’s something I try and work on in myself – an open heart, one full of love and deep compassion, and not closing it off in pain, frustration or just overload. I try to remember to walk through, not just over.
I really love the Sacred Heart to of Mary images – a heart that’s on fire and circled by blooming roses. Just amazing… And, only recently, did I begin to understand that Sacred Heart of Jesus image with the crown of thorns. It’s that suffering that we experience that often brings us closer to compassion and love for others. Because, at first, we often recognize humanity through common expressions of grief, breaking down those walls between “them” and “us.”
I try to remember that blogs don’t have to be a tyranny. This is a pleasure to be done at our leisure (this rhymes nicely if you go for an anglicized pronunciation of “leisure”!).
*Thank you for all your sweet words and for your insight Greg!
I must remind myself of your words:
“remember to walk through, not just over”
I SO agree, suffering is our best teacher…I think the most unforgettable teacher too!
gypsy: you paint/create hearts whenever you like……if that is what shows itself to you, so be it!!! And, this one shouts at me, it has so much to say……. I am really smitten with this one; I am one who creates hearts frequently when I do draw, which comes second to writing, which is my first love…..
I have had that “blogger guilt” I guess that you describe; when I get busy and cannot get to writing, or reading, I feel like I am letting people down…. but then I get back to basics, and try to realize that we each blog for our own reasons and motivations, and let that feed me and my intentions….
anyway, in any case, so glad to see this new work…… peace and blessings to you!!!!!
*Thank you Vanessa!
I am glad you felt a connection to this one. My dear, you are creating hearts..through and within your writings! :)
Wow what a beautiful painting. I see lot’s of symbolism here. How wonderful it is when the heart transforms; such freedom, such peace! Ringo, dog guru, – I love that name – is a great poster child, um…dog for the Rescue Dog program. I used to have German Sheps. I just loved them; and they loved me too! Mine were rescued too. I rescued my last dog one day from her being put under. She brought much joy and love to me and my family. After Macey died, I haven’t got another yet due to a change in situation. But one day . . . .
Blessings of butterfly kisses to you dearest Gypsy Heart!
*Thank you CordieB. There is a lot of symbolism in it…not darkness or scary ones as some may see it. We each have to view images through our own heart and eyes though..right? :)
I do hope you will be able to adopt again someday. You are so right…much joy and love they bring!!
Blessings back to you, my dear friend!
I’m feeling the pain from your barbed wired heart!
I hope Ringo’s (your dogs) fan mail doubles, or triples.
As for the white house thingumy, I don’t really have any passionate feelings but, why not?
xx
*Oops..I did not intend to make you feel pain. Though, sometimes pain is a great teacher of lessons…do you agree?
Ringo thanks you for the good wishes..to be honest, he takes too many naps for a lot of fan mail. In fact, he is napping at my feet now. :)
I don’t think it is necessary to feel passionate feelings about the White House dog. You can understand why Ringo does though..right? He is for the working class dog. hee, hee
xx back!
The best thing that can happen to our hearts is to have passionate feelings for a worthy cause. Hope you don’t mind me asking support for such individuals in your blogsite.
http://novice101.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/
Please pass this along to your friends.
*I very much agree with your words Novice, and I thank you for stopping by and leaving them. :)
OK, first, how could I NOT read this post given the title? 8)
Ringo is a smart and compassionate dog, if not a smart and compassionate man. I hope Ringo the man reads this and directs his fan mail to Ringo the true star.
*AND a long title it was..too long, I fear. :O I thank you for your patience in the title and the long post that followed.
Ringo wanted me to thank you and to tell you that he whole heartedly agrees with everything you said! :)
Thanks for sharing your hearts.
Is it necessary to visit to have an open heart? Perhaps. Perhaps not. But the decision must come from the heart, not the barbed wire.
*I thank you, Mossy…for taking the time to view them and leave a note.
Hmmm…I like how you think.
I think it depends on the heart, and what the barbed wire represents…eh? :)
Gypsy-heart, did you drop your paint brush?
*Only briefly, wr, only briefly. One can only do without that “heart medicine” for so long.
I have some commissioned work to begin next week so I have to pick those brushes back up. Of course, I think you will agree…that is not a chore, but a privilege!
Thank you for the nudge though..it was sweet of you! :)
Wow, Gypsy – I was looking over some of the other’s comments (something I rarely have time to do any more) but I am delighted that you too are a Capricorn! That’s another thing we have in common – wow! Although I’ve found that appreciating another’s differences is priceless! I kind of felt you were a Cap!
Again, PLL, CordieB.