just keep creating

when you think it’s already been said and done

when you wish you were better at it

when you are stuck in a rut

when you’re afraid it isn’t good enough

when others tell you it can’t be done

when you tell yourself you can’t do it

the artist's driving force is the desire for expression. 

tell your truth. 

so many unanswered questions

{the answer to everything is to simply slow down}

balance and beauty

as much as we aspire to live our lives in balance, it will never exist.
there will always be one more thing to-do, ta-da, ta-dum.

alignment is what we are looking for; it's the feeling that how we are living our lives is in accord with how we want to feel. in that moment. for that period of time. within the context of what is going on in our lives. when our mind, body and spirit is in synch, no matter how much chaos circles around us out in the world.

let the scales ebb and flow, and allow your heart to go along for the ride. hang on tight, or get off. a wild adventure or time for a rest. remember, you get to decide.

stand still and listen

much of our life is focused on moving forward, making things happen, keeping up with the rest of the crowd.

what if what we really needed to do was to simply stand still and listen?
listen to that inner place where knowing comes to the surface.
what do you hear?

listen to what you love.  

within this conversation, within one's Self, is where the holy grail lives.
the longing itself is our prayer.

the other side of our longing is being able to express it.
it takes courage (heart and maturity) to put ourselves wholeheartedly out in the world.

stand still. listen.  let us see the beauty of what you love.

sometimes it only takes a moment

hello lovely, he whispered to her behind blue grey dark glasses with shiny gold rims
that was enough to make her day.

seeing things differently

what do you do with your day?
she asks herself bravely
knowing that just by the asking
everything must change

love.

love is generous and understanding
love is relentless and compassionate
love is as simple as a smile or a soft touch on the arm
love is salty tears of anguish and pain for those who can't cry for themselves
love is as profound as one kind word or taking a moment to listen, really listen
love is being here for another, in the moment, for a lifetime
love is everlasting and it may only last a moment
love cracks us open and breaks us apart
love is courageous and makes us weak in the knees
love is mysterious and full of unabashed wonderment and joy
love is what connects humanity. you, me, all of thee
love is what heals the seen and unseen scars
love is speaking up for those who can't say what needs to be said
love is the unspoken offerings of beauty that the universe bestows on us everyday

make room for beauty

we make room for so many "things", but do we make a space for beauty in our lives?
it's the everyday extraordinary things that feed our spirit and sooth our soul...

• the way the moon arcs over the skyline at dusk
• a rainy afternoon with no where to be
• the swirl of black ink on a blank page
• honeybees gathering for gold 
• the last bite
• the touch of my beloved wrapping an arm slowly around my waist
• a matinee movie, alone. with popcorn. and soda. 
• the feel of warm sand between my toes
• a furry child sleeping at my feet 
• an unexpected apology 
• the gift of a good day

give thanks to the gods. they bring you beauty everyday.
are you looking? do you see?

Take time to be

why are we always running around as if the world is ending tomorrow?
frantic and frenetic, racing to get everything done.

take a lesson from the europeans who know that life goes on for centuries and all things do not change at the speed of technology.
RELAX.  permission granted.
enjoy the day.  do something that warms you from the inside out.
if there were no tomorrow, what would you do today?
do that NOW.

dare to let go

when we hang on to what we don't want to give up, it can feel like the greedy grasp of child.
we'd rather stay with our familiar knowing than the uncertainty of the emptiness and gap that it might leave.

letting go is a generous gesture. it allows the world to offer us what we really need (and perhaps didn't know we really wanted).  it also offers us and others a side benefit of naturally being more generous with others.

letting go is a leap of faith. we have no idea that if we let go of this, what that might bring us.
what are you ready to let go of? ready or not, jump!
I dare you.

don't be afraid of who you are

true bravery is about being who you are. exactly as you are.
it's the beauty you bring to the world.
even with all of our afflictions and contradictions we have something to offer that is uniquely divine.

look at your experience to see how you serve yourself and others.
even in the midst of obstacles and adversity, we have something to share.

beauty & bravery.  kindness and compassion.
see how heroic you can be with small everyday actions?

elegance & ease

even when we don't feel elegant, we can act as if it where so.
good manners, compassionate communication, mindful activity.
when we slow down from our speediness, we begin to see that elegance is really just that simple.

when we are acting elegant, we begin to relax, we start to feel at ease.  spaciousness changes our perspective.  we take time to connect to our feet to the earth, our souls to our SELF.

when we act with elegance and feel that ease, effortlessness is inherent.

survival and celebration

{There appears to be a conflict between survival and celebration.  Survival, taking care of your basic needs,  is based on pragmatism, exertion, and often drudgery.  Celebration, on the other hand, is often connected with extravagance and doing something beyond your means. For the warrior, ruling your world means that you can live in a dignified and disciplined way, without frivolity, and at the same time enjoy life.}

In the dictionary, the definition of discipline is based on the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience. 

The word discipline becomes beauty-full when we approach it from a new perspective. 

Discipline comes from the root disciple. Disciple means to be a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher. Whether we are an apprentice to another or act as our own teacher and student, discipline helps us have mastery in the world. 

In today’s fast-paced and frenetic world, just getting the most basic daily routines done can leave us exhausted and empty at the end of the day. We need discipline to do the work required, to get the results we desire. And yet, there has to be more to just getting things done to get what we desire. 

This commitment is called DEVOTION. 

Devotion to our work.
Devotion to our relationships.
Devotion to making our deepest dreams and desires come true. 

When we look at discipline as devotion, discipline is no longer the gut-wrenching hard work that we were brought up to believe. It's a kind of discipline that is inspired by an intense internal desire. It’s a sacred commitment we make for ourselves that nurtures and nourishes us wholly (holy. 

In order to master the art of any craft, our daily activities require repetition and relentless commitment to practice for perfection. That kind of perfection takes practice. 

Practice is our prayer.
And prayer is beautiful.

*quote by Choygam Trungpa, The Sacred Path of the Warrior 

love list 2013

my love list for the new year:

mantra:

live life as if it were a work of art

No. 1  work. as. art. 

re-imagining roles & responsibilities    

• give myself permission to do what I love. 
• artist. intuitive alchemist. 
• supporting team at the table 
• work where inspiration & motivation thrives (that would be out of the office).

strategy & plan for vision - - > reality 

• where do I need to change & expand?  
• how can I encourage and empower others to help me fulfill these dreams? 
• what is the timeline to make my vision a reality? 
• alchemize obstacles into opportunity. 
• devotion to making my deepest desires & dreams come true
• steer clear of anything or anyone that does not support the current vision & mission

 No. 2   a new vehicle for artistic expression

                                                                                            {coming soon...}

     www.alisabarry.com          

inspiration, art & enlightened business   

        

           

ENSO

book, contemplation cards, original art

letterpress posters

EBOOK FOR ENTREPRENEURS

business, beauty & a new way of  looking at the bottom line

  the art of entrepreneurial enlightenment 

                                                                                                               a simple guide to soulful success

No. 3   courage to live up to my dreams 

                                               

• {see No. 1 and 2}
• don't hesitate, procrastinate or be intimated by the appearance of others' expertise 
• set aside the suffering from fantasy and fear and DIVE IN
• allow spaciousness for surprises  
• the road map is what is in front of me.  

No. 4  daily devotion is my discipline

meditateYOGAlongwalksinthePARK

cookandeathealthyfoods

5 rhythmsMOVEMENTmeditation

sparklingbeverages

    LOVE.

organize//everything. at all times. 

say an emphatic "YES" to what matters. say "NO" to that which does not. 

no resolutions to be made. only life to be lived. 

NOTE TO SELF

  

{The true novelist, poet, musician, 

or artist is really a discoverer.}

- rosamund harding

Each one of us is a unique work of art, a divine expression of beauty.  

Sadly, most of us live our lives immersed in our daily to-do’s merely longing for experiences that awaken us from our auto pilot activities and promise to propel us into a place of discovery.  Although we can transport ourselves from time to time with an isolated experience, we find it difficult to sustain that kind of soulful sustenance in our everyday lives.

How can our everyday ordinary lives be a perpetual pilgrimage that inspires awe and aesthetic arrest?

Here are 10 ways that might inspire you to live life differently this year.  Create your own list of inspiration and let it take you to an outer edge of where you normally reside.   

No. 1   Say “YES” to one big thing you’d love to do but have been afraid to do. 

You’ll know what it is when it arrives, because it will make you want to run like hell in the other direction.  Not because you don’t want it, but because you do.  Allow your self the chance to explore and expand out of your usual comfortable cocoon.  The confidence and satisfaction you’ll feel for having done it, whatever the outcome, will be reason enough to be glad you did.

      No. 2  Take notice of nature. 

  How often do you ignore the sights and sounds of what is in front of you?  When you step outside your house today, open your eyes to the sky,  feel your feet on the earth, breathe in the  ethers of the air.

      No. 3   Get out of your head and  into your feet.   

Whether you’re dancing alone in your own room, in community or just enjoying a momentary abandonment of your self -conciousness in pure physical play, moving our bodies is a liberating way to let go of the habitual mind games we play with ourselves.   Freedom at its finest.

      No. 4  Give yourself permission to do something different.  

   We don’t always have to be and do what we and others expect of us.  Dare yourself to do something you haven’t done before. No need to make it an effort.  It’s often the simple things that surprise and satisfy us unexpectedly.

        No. 5  Go see some art.  

          The more unexpected and unusual the better.  
          When we can learn to be open to anything, our perspective changes about what we know our    
          world to be.

       No. 6 Eat good food.  

       Life is too short to eat crap.  You’ll look better, feel better for sure, but how about the enjoying the pure pleasure of eating a sensuous sumptious bite.        

  

                   No. 7  Less is more and enough is enough.

         Whether it’s the clothes you wear, the food you buy or the work you do, make it a question of     quality not quantity.  Over consumption and a plate too full to enjoy will only give you indigestion.

      No. 8   Lighten up! 

      How and when did we learn to be so hard on ourselves and others?  let go and learn how to enjoy.  

     No. 9   Love more.  

      Yes,  love is complicated and disappointing and heartbreaking. It’s also liberating and exhilarating and allows us to really feel our hearts in this heady world. Dare to love freely. Without expecting anything back.  That is all. That is everything.

    No. 10  Trust your intuition.  

       It is god acting on your best behalf.  So when you get that nudge, follow it home to where you need to go. Hesitate, and the moment is lost, the gift is gone. 

 Another year has already come and gone.  

                   What  are you waiting for?   

power and possibility

we forget that we have the power to create new possibilities for our lives. we don't have to stay stuck. we can become that person we wish ourselves to be.  we only need allow ourselves the freedom to let go of who we've been.  more importantly, we are already that person.  we simply have to have the courage to live it.

best case scenario

who told us that we had to work with  "worst case scenario?"
forget that nonsense!

i'm putting my bets on BEST CASE SCENARIO, no matter what the naysayers say.

fail or fly, get in the game like you really want to win.

this holy longing

an emptiness that sears a hole in your soul
an aspiration that seems lofty or aloof within this reality we must take responsibility for  
a calling that was once a whisper, that now feels like a silent scream
hum, drumming, coming  from your heart of hearts
it echos back that which you already are, that which you want to become 
it's all the same, all there
unearth this golden godly treasure buried deep some time ago
dare to shine brightly now
the line has been crossed to where time starts ticking down 
dont wait any longer for the longing

live it. 

time for a detour

what got you    here,        
won't get you there. 

be - u - t - full

B E A U T Y    ain't always pretty.  
aesthetic arrest is what i want.




copyright 2012 Alisa Barry

perfectly imperfect

forget trying to get it all right, right away.
just focus on being better today than yesterday.
each step everyday added up is a  L E A P somewhere further down the path.









copyright 2012 Alisa Barry

state of grace

this sacred place you seek is right at your feet.
it is called "daily life".

follow your heart.

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

- quote by steve jobs

ruffle a few feathers

the day has come to set aside the certainty for the unknown
release the notion that we always need to know where we are going
take an unexpected detour to nowhere, somewhere, wherever
be willing to get completely and utterly lost
it is there, in the dark alleys and undiscovered alcoves, that you will begin to find your way

eyes wide and heart open. discovery brings the real riches we have been longing for.
imagination, inspiration, art & awe.

time to be bold and daring. do something, anything, different.
this is where the path begins.

note to self.

what are you waiting for?
there's no perfect time or perfection or enough time to perfect.

creativity is what's calling.
make  S O M E T H I N G,  it begs of you.

like a child longing for your time, creativity doesn't care what you make, just that you take time to create.

all of the projects sitting on the shelf,  compartmentalized in some far corner of your mind,  a long ago written idea on a now tattered page.

pick one.
TODAY.

don't wait any longer.
some day, there won't be tomorrow.






copyright 2012 Alisa Barry

give it all up

throw it out the window, toss it to the wind.
anger, resentment, jealously, fear.

they have no place on the path to freedom and finding our holy grail.

keep the things that matter most.
heart, hopefulness, vulnerability, belief.

once you've had the simplicity of emptiness,
you'll never want to clutter or confine again.

stop looking

when we stop ourselves in our tracks and settle into the silence,  only then can we really begin to see.


{you can't see if you don't look}



truth is not to be found, it must reveal itself.


 copyright 2012 Alisa Barry

Inspiration is sometimes anonymous

Do not doubt that though you cannot see, someone, somewhere, is inspired by your light.
When you hesitate to share what you have to offer, remember that even one person's life may be influenced, inspired, perhaps even radically changed for the better because of your generosity.







copyright 2012 Alisa Barry

finally i see.

{you, me, all of thee.} 




copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

be who you are.

radianceENCHANTMENT

dare to be different

dowhatyoulovewhatyoudo

bask in your brilliance

be unwavering on behalf of your best self 

honor your intuition

improvise as a daily practice

be the curator of your dreams.

become vulnerable   dive deep{er}

followyourheart 

tame, train, transformradianceENCHANTMENT

dare to be different

dowhatyoulovewhatyoudo

bask in your brilliance

be unwavering on behalf of your best self 

honor your intuition

improvise as a daily practice

be the curator of your dreams.

become vulnerable   dive deep{er}

followyourheart 

tame, train, transformcopyright 2011 Alisa Barry

artist at heart

creation
collaboration
exaltation





copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

dream request - day one

before you drift off to slumber, ask for a message.


{live life fearlessly} 



copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

some time ago

it's been quite a while now, I can hardly remember how long

startled upright out of bed,  not knowing if I was  awake or still asleep.  something being offered to my soul.

glittering gold emblazoned on the empty sky with bold pomegranate red lettering spelling out words I had never  heard.

"mystical allegory" it sang. loud and triumphant, but clearly only for my ears to hear.

it was a gift, a grail, of that I was sure, despite the fact that I had no earthly idea what it meant.
like most curiosities to investigate, I headed to the keyboard and dialed in my request.
Plato arrived. the cave. the darkness. the light.
where was I?  where was I to go? no where, was the answer. right here.  sitting still and suspending time.

years later, not quite sitting still, but somewhat suspending time.   knowing that some day, divine timing will reveal  this magical mystery.

a momentary reminder and repose.


copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

longing

wanting, wishing, waiting.

romantic, perhaps.
dangerous, for sure.

it ensures we are not in the present moment with what we already have or
living the life we've got.

aspirations are admirable, but not at the expense of everything we already have.
would you give up everything for something else?

live what is before you push it aside for what you imagine.
no longer longing....living.



copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

more or less

more or less is usually a casual statement that you really don't care one way or the other, you're not sure or it really doesn't matter.

when you add intention to those words, here's what you get:

more of what I want.
less of what I don't want
definitive clarity

instead of being blase', it becomes an empowering emotional commitment;
a discipline that isn't about drudgery, but  rather devotion.

put that intention into action and you are unstoppable.







copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

follow your dream

if i knew where the dream lives,  i'd put myself on the path
everyday a detour
to somewhere unknown
and not yet knowing

attendere. 

wait. attend to. incubate.

this is the only place i need to be right now.










copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

quiet contemplation

morning dark
full moon

my breathe finally slowing down to a sane pace

creativity saunters in
clear, concise, open

what do we want to make next?






copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

L.O.V.E.

{is all we need.}



copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

live between the two worlds

there's a beautiful ambiguity
about our fractured identity

don't spend a minute more fretting about.
we are not supposed to choose between the two worlds.











copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

it's time.

are you ready to fall in love with your life?

what must you do to make it so.








copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

meta view from the mountain top

it's so easy to get caught up in details or mired in the minutia.
take a hike and you'll see a whole different perspective from a higher vision, a meta view.





copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

just like water flows

everything is constantly in motion, even when we feel solidly stuck.

remember the cleansing of a warm rosewater-scented bath or a soothing shower; droplets descending upon us  until we can't tell the difference between our tears and the tumbling waterfall from the spigot above.

remember playing in the pool or frolicking through the sprinkler.
or the thirst-quenching taste of cool water from the summer spring.

like our memories, we carry on, grow up and pass on.












copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

what is the REAL work to be done?

we wake up, go to our computers and think about what must get done today.

FORGET IT!

what is the REAL work you must do?

{The object is not to make art, but to be in the wonderful state, which makes art inevitable.}

how can we prepare ourselves to live in the world this way?

 rituals. devotion. discipline.

pave a path with practice and the art shall pour forth like a font of food for the gods.






copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

allow yourself to be broken open

sitting here on sunday
falling asleep listening to another's revelation
while dreaming of my own revolution.

drifting off and diving in.

my heart is broken, wholeheartedly open.
now it can finally breathe in the ethers of love wafting through the world.













copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

declaration

for so many years, I have put aside, away, out of reach
those things that i am afraid to declare for myself
for fear of loneliness, being alone, being wrong, being left out in the cold


the soul is funny that way.
it allows us to go traipsing around as if this life were our own
waiting patiently for us to return to gather the tattered pieces that we've strewn about
here and there


a trail we've left for ourselves to find our way home.


it's where the comfort comes from knowing that what we have never owned anyway no longer needs to be ours
it's the place where we stand up for our convictions with confidence, no longer shouting with forced fists closed, but singing softly our humble hymn.
it's a space where emptiness is not a void, but a vessel where we can finally rest with nothing without missing anything. 


this declaration looks like nothing i've known.
it's gentle and kind
and quiet and content


"welcome home, " it offers, as I enter the portal to this new place.



copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

ego or art

sometimes it's hard to distinguish
whether we are creating from our he{art}
or if it's the masterful ego who simply wants attention. adoration. admiration.

and then there's the answer.
without adornment or accomplices.

speaking the bare-naked truth.
you know how it feels when it hits you hard.

no matter, keep going. wherever it comes from
keep creating your art.


copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

red is love

red is love
red is conspicuous
red is daring and bold and outrageous
red is compassion
red is protection
red is frivolous
red is sexy
red is wanting to be seen
red is an accent
red is a splash of thunder
red is sensual and seductive
red is forbidden
red is comforting
red is life coursing through my veins
red is the hurt and wounds that won't heal
red is a warning sign, a red flag that something needs attention
red is luscious lips
red is my beating heart
red. is. love.




copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

stay open to surrender when the shadows loom

luminous and luscious
life's ebb and flow
moving, changing, guiding us on the path

broken open and falling apart
lost and not knowing even the next step
of where we are to go
of who we are going to be.

allowing the uncertainty.
embracing the unknown.
giving gratitude for the mystery,
knowing that behind the veil
there is a universe conspiring on our best behalf.










copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

finding our medicine.

{give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.}










* quote by david whyte

copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

finish & focus

i'm finalizing
and finishing
and getting ready to focus.....

on my art.

{mission. mantra. motivation.}

moving in a new direction.
declaring a new way of being.
being with what and who I really am.
letting go feels good.
declaring feels daring.
defining what this is.

no more hesitation anymore.
this just feels right. finally.






copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

birth day beginnings + a few of my favorite things

today is for favorite things. rosewater bath, pho + a foot massage, matinee movie. red wine with my love. 


happy birthday to me.








copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

honoring the emptiness

sometimes there is no better place to be than no where.
just here.

no wandering or running
in search of something or someone,
distractions or to-dos.

being content with just being.
allowing the space to not have to be filled up.
what a relief.










copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

beautiful benediction 2011

{May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art – write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. 


May your coming year be a wonderful thing in which you dream both dangerously and outrageously. I hope you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and you will be liked and you will have people to love and to like in return. 


And most importantly, because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now – I hope that you will, when you need to be, be wise and that you will always be kind. And I hope that somewhere in the next year you surprise yourself.}


* quote by neil gaimen via open culture + the improvised life 




copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

early morning rising

the day is dark
and the birds are the only ones yet awake

car engines hum in the background,
tires swishing by on the hard pavement road

it's quiet.

if only i could have a few more hours of this emptiness.





copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

1.1.11

{one.} 

you, me and all of thee.

wholeheartedly. vulnerability.  courage, connection + compassion

 no resolutions to be made. only life to be lived. 










copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

champagne celebration

thank you soul sister

for friendship + fun
and frivolous folly

for totem talk
and spirit songs

for sharing your heart
and baring your soul.

i treasure our friendship,
be we near or far.





copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

so simple

the secret to everything is to simply slow down.





copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

love list 2011

{my top 10 for the new year} :
1.  gotta get my house in order.       
physical. financial. spiritual. 

2.  Help from the he{ART}  


T for Tibet.
 a non-profit fund-raising opportunity to honor + preserve Tibetan culture. hand-stitched T-shirts to benefit a favorite philanthropy, Tibet House in NYC .

3.  everyday life as art. 

enso ink. pocket prayers. beautiful books. movement. music. 

4.   all seeing.  wisdom.  warrior. 

 intuition. confidence. faith.  practice.

5.   the art of entrepreneurial enlightenment   comes to life. 

6.      laughter, love + loveliness. 

7.   nourish + nurture:  begin THE BOOK   

{the devotion of delicious rituals in our daily life.}   

8.   travel. adventure. opportunity. 

manka's mystical fishing lodge.  PARIS.  la bella villa in umbria, Italia.  rumi's  sacred space in kona, turkey. artist friends in abiqui.


9.   www.  A L I S A  B A R R Y . com   
designs in the work by my favorite urban zen designer, coolgrayseven. 
looking forward to sharing what i love.

10.  monthly retreats at our sweet little northern california cottage. 

writing. cooking. loving. dreaming. r e la x i n g. working.  eating.  painting. gardening.   FERRY PLAZA FARMER'S MARKET.  italian lessons + bocce ball.

mantra  2011: 

{i give myself permission to do what i love. i give myself the responsibility to serve others with that love.}

copyright 2010 Alisa Barry