Listening to Spirit: Finally some good news!

After a difficult summer and fall and learning to calibrate
my listening to spirit, with disastrous results...

the tide is finally turning.

I struggle with decision making. It seems that
all choices are good and valid. But now I am
learning to listen to the choice that makes me
CALM, CENTERED, WHOLE.

Listening to my higherself, my body, my calmed mind.

I had forgotten about a photgraphy show/competition
that was coming up. I had been planning to go to a salsa
class. It was cold and snowy, the idea of staying home to
work on producing and framing a couple of photographs
was more appealing than going out to salsa. But I LOVE
salsa. It makes me feel so alive and I feel great out there
dancing with a good lead, last week, i felt like a feather
with this one guy during the free dance. I wanted that
feeling again. I even called someone to help me talk
over the decision, they said "go to salsa, you'll have a ball"
I thought i could do the photo stuff when I got home.

But I knew if I did that I Would be stressed about the photo
stuff not enough time to give it the attention it deserved.

And so I went with that calm feeling. Staying home and warm
and working on these photos.

I selected 2 images from 2 different shoots (there has to be
a better word) that I did with my friend Kate.

One she was 6 months pregnant and the other was 9 months.

Printing was a bit of a challenge
since I was doing it at the last minute and not as familiar
with this printer. It didn't come out as well as I'd hoped
and then I tried for a creative fix and printed on Watercolor paper.
This was FANTASTIC!

Pregnancy is a very emotional topic for me. I am 38, I do not know if
I will have children. I do not have a mate, and he is not on the
horizon. I have some other health issues so I am not even sure
it's a good idea to have kids. With the right partner it might be ok.
(One who really wanted them and who wanted to be very involved
in their care and raising of a child.)

When my sister was pregnant she was reluctant to have
me photograph her. I spent two half days with Kate and I hardly
knew her, but we became like sisters, to share this intimate time.

The nude shot is a very unusual angle which makes her
body look like a vase and is not too revealing. (Titled Earth Vessel)

The other is a side view at 8.5 months at the ocean
a sweeping vista titled "Amnion"

Spirit told me good positive things about the Vessel piece.

I was nervous about showing her breasts and so I did a
second copy after muting out some of the details, but
it ruined the shot. I took it with me anyway in case I
wanted to swap it out afraid that it might be rejected
from the show.

I showed it to my mom and she didn't really like it,
but she said "well, it's artsy" LOL. But we agreed
that the details needed to stay.

This was a regional show call from all over New England.
We were only allowed two entries. I was only going to submit
one because I didn't want to do two pregnancy shots.
But the director laughed out loud at the Amnion piece.
Because it looks like a space ship. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
And so I went with it.

There were 48 entries.

Only 23 were jury accepted for the show.

Both of mine were accepted....

AND the nude won 1 of two honorable mentions!!

I am absolutely ECSTATIC!!!

I can't wait to tell Kate, but she is asleep right now!

I am so glad I listened to SPIRIT speaking to me
strongly, and spirit even hinted I would win something
with the Vessel piece, who knows!

I hope you will be listening to your inner spirit voice, higher self
more and more as well.

Love and light to you,

Samantha