Welcome to the May edition of Highlights. I am a bit later than I anticipated but I have good reason - My book arrived back from the printers this week! It is in good company as there are few book releases this month being celebrated as you will read. Joachim Wolffram is another celebrating the release of a book and joins us as Featured Author to talk about this. Teka Luttrell is this month's Featured Artist. Teka's work expands boundaries and a visit to the Soul Connection site is like a journey. Both these creators give amazing insights into creativity through their sharing. From the message board I am highlighting a delightful poem by Gary Dodd. This month's theme celebrates the work of Van Gogh. His use of colour and sense of movement in the most inanimate objects make his paintings seem alive.  His first quote is so true to the new energy despite being made so long ago. The doubts and fears within our minds can be so limiting but when we can silence them and bring them into balance then our creativity can soar.

"If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."

Featured Author; Joachim Wolffram What areas of art do you play with? I love to play with my breath, to play with boundaries, to play the piano, to play with words, and to play with computer programming – the latter actually became my profession. At some point, years ago, I noticed that from an interior perspective there is no real difference in what outer expression or “art” I chose to manifest the inner sight. It seems to me that there are periodical shifts occurring that change the prefer erred outlet. But no matter what that outlet is in a particular moment - playing the first tone, writing the first word, typing the first statement, or just taking the one breath – it all carries the same magic of birth. How did you get started and at what age? I remember well that when I was at primary school, the third or forth class or so, my favorite thing was to write essays where the teacher had given some words that were to be used, i.e., one had to create a story around those words. I really loved that. However, moving on in my school career, I completely lost the taste in writing – most probably because of the teachers that were so focused on petty grammar rules and giving their grades. So in my school time I concentrated on making music, playing drums in a band and piano in my room. My main subject at the Gymnasium was actually music and we frequently had to create some small compositions. One particular moment comes up to my mind: I must have been sixteen or seventeen when I worked on a homework that required composing. I was completely immersed into my inner sphere of tones and let my hand flow. When I finished I thought, “Wow, this is a complete cycle – the creation and vanishing of a whole universe!” Then, looking at my sheet of paper, I saw there were just two times. I was really surprised and thought, “Hmmh, seems it does not take too much to create and dissolve a universe.” However, it seems to be a characteristic of me to constantly try to get down to the core, getting rid of the attachments. Describe how you create? This varies. When I need to create an addition to the software I make my living from then first there is the idea. If it is a complex work then I let that idea simply settle in my mind. Somehow it starts working on its own. Once in a while I take a look at it and feel if it is ready to come out. If not I simply wait. That could take a week or six months. At a certain moment I simply know “Now is the time” and I sit down, let the complete design flow out and do the actual programming. When it comes down to writing this is a bit differently. At some point I feel the urge to sit down and write about something. Before starting the work on “For You” my favorite was to take some very ordinary scene from daily life - watching a guy reading a newspaper, or taking a bath in a pile of soap bubbles – and then to shift the perspective and to discover some deep spiritual meaning in that. (Did you ever dissolve like the soap bubbles do, but still being present?) What was the inspiration for your book "For You – Records from Your Lives"? Can you share what it was like to write and publish it? When I wrote those “daily life” short stories I always had the impression someone, a reader, is watching me somehow and thereby influences me. It felt that I had to make concessions to that imaginary reader so that he could understand, or accept, or acknowledge the work. So at some point I decided “Stop that. You need to write just for you”. Another important point was that I feel the need to express spiritual insights without referring to whatever tradition. As soon as an explicit reference is made people tend to get lost in the past or to switch into some “learning” mode. Now, spirituality is a delearning, so why confuse people? I wrote the chapters of “For you” over the course of a year or so. At some points I felt that urge to sit down, most often very early in the morning, and to start writing. In a sense I did not choose the topics myself and I was always surprised about what I finally had to say. Interestingly enough I often felt a kind of fear and even tried to resist the urge to write. What are you creating or working on now? in the future? Currently I have no specific plans. I continue to write my “daily life” spiritual stories – not sure if they will make their way into a book. In the depth of my mind I’m playing with the idea of creating a CD with some piano improvisations combined with stories from “For You”. Maybe at some point it will knock at my inner door and asks for release.

"The only time I feel alive is when I'm painting."

Featured Artist; Teka Luttrell Creator of The Soul Connection Network website and the Stories for Transformation energy project. What areas of art do you play with? I play in the inner fields of energy, imagination and holographic imagery. The luminous realm inside myself is the original canvas. I design my creations in there.Then, those areas find expression in three dimensional reality. I translate my inner creations into words, symbols, art ... and also in the garden. My creations in art and words are created with the help of computers. They are primarily designed to be seen, experienced and absorbed through the global technological medium.   How did you get started and at what age? I am 55 and have loved visual art all my life. My soulful artistic skills went underground from around age 7 to a few years ago. One could say that my visual interests were commercialized during those years, as my creativity fell in line with the status-quo of modern society and business. I became reasonably good at it through massive quantities of experience. I was an art director of a magazine for over a decade and during a 2 year period of time, I won 8 first place design awards in national competitions involving over 350 publications.   In regards to writing: as a child I always did poorly in English and language. Until a couple years ago, I had no idea that I could write something of interest to others. My family and friends always ridiculed me for the way I talked and the way I attempted to describe things. And so, there was no external encouragement. If I aligned to their energy, I would never of written a single word. But once the Stories for Transformation project came to me on the wings of inspiration, I cast my concerns to the wind and let my inner navigator guide my creations.   Describe how you create? I create from the inside out. I use modern technology as a favorite medium for expression. I translate the inner reality into external energetic packages that can be seen, shared, felt and absorbed into the inner worlds of beings all around the world.   Again: my creations are energetic packages that are meant to be assimilated through the senses. They are seen on a computer screen ... and travel as light, sound and energy into the inner world of the observer. In there, they cast a benevolent, expansive, inspirational and harmonious influence across the ultra-subtle vibrational fields of the participant's heart and mind.   What inspires you? I am a natural gardener and love everything from a single blade of grass to the stars. Most inspirational is the inner reality of the soul, the heart, and the mind. I adore the stillness of the Universe. You can say, I have a love affair with It. I am also fascinated with the finer details of the creation of personal and group realities, and how an individual can deliberately shape her own, and human, evolution.   What are you creating or working on now? in the future? All of my creations will be seen through The Soul Connnection Network website. I am currently expanding its New Psychology section, and I will be adding a new area to the KNOW THYSELF portal, titled "The Soul." I'm also working on the next 5 stories and visionary art that will be added to the Stories for Transformation project. SFT is a one-of-a-kind easy-to-use human energy transformation project that is online and free to one and all. It is also available as a book ... a book like you've never seen before.   My creations are never just in words. An important part of each creation are the symbols and art that the viewer sees as they absorb these gifts.   Visit Teka's amazing site at http://www.soulconnection.net

"I dream my painting, and then I paint my dream."

Book Launches! It's a pretty big month for launches here at NEWF! "You Don't Have Problems, You're Just Bored!" by Marisa Calvi with Kuthumi Lal Singh. My very first venture into writing and publishing is now available. To read some reviews and buy a copy head to My Kuthumi Book! "For You - Records From Your Lives" by Joachim Wolffram. A gorgeous gentle book that holds some amazing ancient energies. The words flow with love and compassion to share with and teach the reader. Available at http://www.lulu.com/content/799080 "Choose to Live" by Carol Walczak Returning home from her son's funeral Carol connected with his spirit and they wrote this book together. To read more and purchase go to www.carolwalczak.com.au/books.htm Please drop by the Books page to read more about these books and other releases.

"Many painters are afraid in front of the blank canvas, but the blank canvas is afraid of the real, passionate painter who dares and who has broken the spell of `you can't' once and for all.”

From the Message Board Gary Dodd is a self published poet who has been sharing some of his work on the message board. To read more about Gary head to www.anodandasmile.com The Weather People There are some people amongst us who know more about the weather than most. While some are involved in forecasting, many of them are just ordinary people like you and me. The remarkable thing about these people, is that their bodies tell them of changes in our weather. One man that I know, can tell you when rain is imminent. The arthritis in his hands starts to inflame, as the weather changes. Sure enough, within a day or two, rain can be seen falling over the area. While I am sure this man would prefer not to have his forecasting ability, it is still an accurate guide. The other person, a young lady, is actually a weather forecaster. Besides viewing the vast amounts of data generated for forecasters, her body re-enforces this information. Any imminent weather change is reflected in a pain in her lower back. To confirm this trend, she finds that her hair also becomes curlier, as a change approaches. These simple signs can bring great value to all of us. For one, you never have to check the weather forecast. All you need to do is ask one of these people how they are feeling? Mind you, it is a little insensitive to only be asking of their health, for a weather indication. Silly things entertain simple minds. Then again, just may be, there is something more to all of this. Just may be, we can all forecast the weather through our bodies. It might not even require an illness or discomfort. Our bodies, the weather, connection, understanding. One of the many amazing opportunities of live to discover. Gary

Thanks for dropping by. Namaste! Read past editions of Highlights