ahhhh so much "work in progress"! I figured I might as well post some of it... maybe it will even help to finish something.... or decide that it's good enough...  Then again I've also been moving to Northern Cal. and it's been an amazing and interesting journey all around...
Hope your journey has been amazing and enlightening and fun.............
        .....::****** Blessings ******::....

www.sofiabogdanovic.wordpress.com
completely redone website with lots of new art and a blog!!!!!!!!!!!

Please come to Mystic Garden Gathering in S. Oregon if you are near!
[link]

Hello,
Please check out my new website:
[link]
There is a lot of new art there ...

Greetings and Welcome!

I didn't write this but I love this Invocation and it's very powerful for opening portals to awakening, so here it is:

"THE GREAT INVOCATION"

From the point of Light within the Mind of God
Let light stream forth into the minds of men
Let Light descend on Earth.
...
From the point of Love within the Heart of God
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men
May Christ return to Earth.

From the centre where the Will of God is known
Let purpose guide the little wills of men
The purpose which the Masters know and serve.

From the centre which we call the race of men
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out
And may it seal the door where evil dwells.

Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth
∞ One Love ∞

Well I am glad to be home in Boulder after one week of breathing eating and swimming in desert dust at Burning Man. Experience of a lifetime to be sure, for me once in a lifetime is enough. Coming back to Boulder I heard there is a raging fire that they are still trying to put down near here in the foothills, people loosing their homes and being evacuated. Where I am is ok but it smells pretty bad at night when there is no wind. Weird, from dust to hellish smoke back home.
I was very glad to be part of the sacred spaces village, a spiritual camp that was providing something of a refuge from all the chaos, in the form of it's eight domes representing different chakras, and many different workshops and rituals were held in each dome. The eighth one was the unity dome that was also serving as the dining hall for the whole community. Two of my prints, Turtle Island and Ash Tree 2 were in the root chakra dome, or the "temple of the red root" representing the west and the north altair/portal. I was very pleased and honored to have contributed in this way to the altair of the Mother. I was very happy I met and made a connection with Motherbear who is the Elder Priestess that was facilitating the Red Root Temple.  Another print of mine (the orange one with the hot dragonfly mama and the boobs rising from the ground like mountains) was in the second chakra dome. The second chakra represents sacred sexuality and it was surely the most popular dome with the most attended workshops. And a print of my painting Earth Mandala was in the Unity dome. There was a lot more amazing art by awesome visionary artists in all the domes. Though I wish that I got to meet some of the other artists and had a chance to talk to them.
I thought I would be more interested in all the workshops but getting my period and having to deal with survival in this extreme environment kept me real and focused on the most essential. I went through the whole spectrum of emotions sometimes annoyingly at the same time. I was disappointed when a  workshop I was going to lead did not happen due to someone highjacking the third eye chakra dome for their unscheduled prolonged sermon. But oh well thats burning man, anything can happen.
Actually what saved my sanity was the music. Part of the sacred spaces village was the bhakti garden stage featuring some of the most beautiful devotional and instrumental music around and it was facilitated by my friend Janis Kelly who is a totally awesome spiritual musician herself. I did not expect the music to be the highlight of my experience at BM but it was. I was glad I heard bands like Here ii Here, Rising Apalachia, Mama Crow, Eostar & Mathias (Fearless Love) and others.... in contrast to the techno being pumped out everywhere else on the playa...
Also there were some amazing sculptures out on the playa that you could not see anywhere else... and lots of crazy art cars, so many that the most extraordinary ones look almost ordinary. The Temple was pretty amazing and cathartic. It was shaped like a beautiful organic structure made of wooden boards. I was not aware of this aspect of BM prior to going there but every year there is a Temple, which is dedicated to grief or loss, and it gets burned on Sunday. Anyone can write on it or grafitti or paste pictures of their lost loved ones. I brought pictures of my mom and my family and the moment I got to the Temple I knew why. I broke down and spent a lot of time there, another highlight of my experience at BM, recognizing and sharing everyone's loss collectively. Although we had to leave before the Temple burn, the time I spent at the Temple made everything worhtwhile.
So there you have it, that's all I have to say about that.

Just came back from Burning Man, pretty impressive... will write more when the playa dust settles....

Hello All! Thank you for looking and for the faves and watches! Apologies if I do not seem too communicative but I really appreciate all the positive feedback. I decided to finally upload some of  the "old" photography from my sailing years on the Eastern Pacific (California that is), one small reflection of the beautiful blue marble we find ourselves living on. There may be more photography coming since it is something I always love to do...

I would really love to find and get in touch with the person who "bought" my painting Earthmandala from the store called Boulder and beyond on Pearl street mall in Boulder. Please contact me if you by some neat chance read this, I would really appreciate it. I would like to take a better image of this painting so that I can make high quality reproductions. That's one thing. The other thing is, I need to say that you just don't bargain for a piece of art, period.  This is not only "handmade", it's blood sweat and tears, heart and soul. It's not like buying carrots at the market. I am outraged that someone would do that and that a store owner would just throw in a painting for free, because you're buying 3 other (much cheaper) ones, so it's like 4 for the price of 3, without consulting me, without honoring our clearly written agreement, or without checking what the price was.

Now my fellow artists, do you sometimes feel like we are expected to be "levitating bretharians"? It's that certain beautific state of being that's achieved once one learns to take all sustenance by slowly breathing in and out while in motionless suspension several inches off the ground, thus conquering gravity, flesh, and all things that get in the way...
To hell with the starving artist syndrome...  And onward to the more prosperous abundant and loving shores... Someone said that you can tell everything about a society straight away by the way they treat their artists, since WE are really the the visionaries and shamans of the society.

REQUEST FROM THE GRANDMOTHERS  

"You Are Desperately Needed"
Today the Grandmothers woke me with this message and asked me to send it out. Please forward it on so we reach as many people as possible.
"We ask you to cast, anchor, and hold the Net of Light steady for the Gulf of Mexico," the Grandmothers said. "This crisis is affecting the entire world, and humanity is asleep. Wake up!" they cried. "Animals are dying, plants are dying, and your Mother is writhing in agony. If you hold the Net of Light steady at this time you will help stave off further catastrophe.
"You have been lulled into a false sleep," they said, "told that others (B.P.) will take care of this problem. This is not so," they said. "And this is not the time for you to fall into oblivion. Determine now to stay awake, and once you have made that commitment, think of, cast, and hold the Net of Light. Hold it deep and hold it wide. Amplify its reach to penetrate the waters of the Gulf and dive deep beneath the crust of Mother Earth. Anchor it at the earth's core and as you hold it there, ask it to unify with the mineral kingdom of this planet. It will do this and will harmonize with all the solid and liquid mineral states on earth-including oil and gas. The Net of Light will call these minerals back into harmony. Men have wreaked havoc. They have abused the kingdoms of life on earth for many years, but this time their destruction has reached crisis proportions.
"Whatever human beings have damaged, human beings must correct," the Grandmothers said. "This is the law. We repeat: This is the law. You cannot sit back and ask God to fix the mess humanity has created. Each of you must throw your shoulders to the wheel and work. We are asking for your help. Several years ago we gave you the Net of Light so you would be able to help the earth at times like this. Step forward now. This is the Net of Light that will hold the earth during the times of change that are upon you," they said.
"First move into your heart and call on us. We will meet you there. The Net of Light is lit by the jewel of your heart," they said, "so move into this lighted place within you and open to the Net of which you are a part. Bask in its calming presence. It holds you at the same time that you hold it.
"Now think of magnifying your union with us. We, the Great Council of the Grandmothers, are with you now, and all those who work with the Net of Light are also with you. There are thousands, even millions now connected in light," they said. "Along with this union, call forth the power of the sacred places on earth. These will amplify the potency of our joint effort. Then call on the sacred beings that have come to prevent the catastrophe that threatens to overwhelm your planet. We will work together," they said, nodding slowly.
"Think of, cast and magnify the presence of the Net of Light in the Gulf of Mexico. See, imagine or think of it holding the waters, holding the land, the plants, the sea life, and the people. Holding them all!" they said. "The Net of Light is holding them steady; it is returning them to balance. Let the love within your lighted heart keep pouring into the Net of Light and hold, hold, hold. Calmly and reverently watch as the light from your heart flows along the strands of the Net. It will follow your command and continuously move forth. As soon as you think of it, it will happen. We ask you to practice this for only a few minutes at a time, but to repeat it throughout the day and night.
"We promise that this work with the Net of Light will do untold good," the Grandmothers said. "We are calling you to service now. You are needed. Do not miss this opportunity. We thank you and bless you."
Note: To lean more about the Grandmothers and the Net of Light, go to grandmothersspeak.com.

I went to Peru this May and stayed at a place called Temple of the Way of Light, that facilitates Ayahuasca healing in the Sacred tradition of  Shipibo people's Shamanism. This is my testimonial for them:

The Earth is my religion and what I love the most. As I walk, I often feel my feet kiss Her, sending love, in gratitude for her love and having me here. I feel very connected to the Planet and am very sensitive to where I am and to particular energies of specific places.  My mind however is highly symbolic and visual and I see myself as something of a spiritual explorer, largely through my art, which is my language. As I go on and grow in understanding, I am always generating a current "working reality" until it is ready to be disposed of, as a new one takes place. The newest, but truly ancient reality is to do with giving precedence to my heart, as the heart is really what manifests all our reality anyway. The sooner we consciously use our hearts wisdom and intelligence, the sooner we'll be able to live the reality that we desire and that is the challenge we all face at this special time.

I first heard about Ayahuasca about 10 years ago and started reading everything I could about the subject. When by a combination of synchronicity and determination, I discovered the website of the Temple of the Way of Light, early this April, I knew that I had finally found the place for me to experience this Medicine. I went there in the second half of May and experienced a twelve day retreat that included seven ceremonies. The location, the energy, the colors, the sounds of the critters in the jungle are all magically beautiful and made me feel at ease and close to the Earth as I've always wanted to live. The overall vision of the Temple, to be self sustainable by 2018 through application of Permaculture design and volunteers input resonates and does justice to Mother Ayahuasca and her guardians and emissaries Maestras and Maestros. These people are from the Shipibo tribe, a very special people who have been guardians of this tradition and it's secrets probably for some thousands of years and need to be cherished and protected by all of us. I felt that these are some of the gentlest yet most powerful people on the Planet that we have the good fortune to interact with. I knew I had to go to the Temple because of the number of the female healers. The overall long term vision for the Temple includes ways of protecting and reviving Shipibo culture and heritage, educating the young people to be proud of their tradition, etc.

I feel that the Temple of the Way of Light is a very special place on Earth where the Goddess is very much present and is re-birthing those that visit and are willing to go through this birthing process. The qualities of forgiveness, inclusiveness, nurturance, kindness, compassion, partnership and community with all Life, and many others are the domain of the Goddess or the feminine nature of God.  Since I've been seeking and following the Goddess, this has been the most affirming and deepening experience and I feel that I can gradually let go of so much programming, trust that I am loved and guided, and create the life I really want. I've been told that back home I have work to do with "healing relationships".  I've been shown many things, and I experienced myself, a human being, as just one of many forms of life, and was totally humbled. I met or intersected with many other forms of life, as shown by the mother Ayahuasca, such as Plant, Insect and Animal intelligences, Gaian soul, all intermingled, together, merged into one, kaleidoscopically dissolving into many, and then traveled through the Cosmos together with my family, saw how it is all merges and distinctions are hard to make, everything is so fluid and ever-changing.. There is nothing linear at all. Multiple dimensions are ever present when we perceive them and when we don't. It all intersects in the now through the lens of the heart, and the mind's ability to clearly interpret heart's messages. In fact, there are many dimensions, and many worlds, but there is one reality, one truth: LOVE

Ayahuasca makes you suffer as she demands your complete and honest surrender, and in that suffering teaches you to have compassion for yourself. The compassion is imprinted in the nature of the suffering. It is like a meeting of seemingly not so complementary forms of life. Imagine that all of a sudden you and all the cells in your body are fused with some albeit compassionate plantoid-insectoid-yet-cosmic-deity, which is painful to your programmed human responses and your predictable monkey nature and monkey brain. There is naturally some resistance there, that's unavoidable. This is where the mystery comes in. She works on every level, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. In fact, all levels are actually one, while you are in this body. What ties all the levels together is the energy, as we are energetic-spiritual beings and all imbalances are at their core energetic and spiritual. On the physical level, she makes you purge on both ends, or you could say, on all ends, since the skin is actually the largest organ of detoxification through sweating. Emotionally she can often make you face your deepest fears or lift you to unimaginable heights. All kinds of things can surface, seemingly out of nowhere, the pain of so called past lives, or flowing as one with all Life. Mentally she illuminates the contents of the mind so that you yourself can see just how crazy they are or recognize what works or what doesn't and can be disposed of. Spiritual dimension ties it all together.

I felt very safe, protected, loved, and guided at the Temple. I totally trusted the Maestras and Maestros and felt that to be the most important element that allowed everything else to unfold. I felt the power of the group energy and the way Maestras can direct it like a river current. We were all in it and hopefully riding this current, and that allowed the individual healings to be so effective. The current was sometimes quite swift or sometimes more gentle. There were some ceremonies that were incredibly intense for all involved and sometimes we all needed a break and pleasanter journeys. Most of the time I felt like I was being sung back into life and into rememberance of who I am and of the promise I made aeons ago, to wake up. At first the whole experience was too overwhelming to notice the ikaros or the songs as something distinct, but as the journeys progressed I was able to see or hear how the ikaros completely directed my journeys and triggered the experience to be more intense, more cleansing, more peaceful or more uncomfortable when purging was the only option. The beauty and awe of the singing is impossible to describe, these must be the most ancient songs that can ever be vocalized, and totally piercing through the veils and illusions, there was no way to hide from them. They guided me to be re-born, so my shell, my cosmic egg finally cracked. I was a star-seed and now I am a young hatchling. I don't know if the dying-birthing process has to be so difficult every time, but I have to say that it was. And I will do it over and over again. Except that this time learned something by direct experience. That is, the energy you put out is basically what you'll get back. If I am aggressively pushing for some kind of change in my life, the nature and quality of this change is going to be aggressive and harsh and may prevent me from experiencing the softer side of life. If I treat myself with gentleness and respect, it will determine the way I experience life and relate to the world. I feel that I got in touch with more of my true nature that is in fact gentle, kind, peaceful and feminine. I embraced my inner child, the one that still hurts (sitting in some hospital lobby waiting to be punched in the vein and the blood sucked out). I have felt that I did not have a normal childhood, regardless of being in a loving supportive family, due to early and long childhood illness. It's clear now that this "illness" has been more than just physical, and served a purpose when I needed it. I felt my mother's presence like a soft angelic light as supportive as she had always been in life. She crossed over five and a half months before I went to the Temple and going here allowed me to feel more at peace about this. I have much grieving and integration yet to go through but I feel that my family and I are not alone and I am grateful for all the help I received, and am receiving.

This is a powerful catalyst for spiritual transformation, and so all the other spiritual and self-help skills you've ever learned become extremely useful when exposed to it. You have to do the work before, during, and after this experience. I think it is not for everyone and it is not to be done all the time. You know when it's the right time. There are many approaches to personal growth, and I believe in seeking a balance between the ones that resonate with me.

I would say that if for any reason, you are intrigued, curious, or hopeful about what this experience can provide for you, consider the possibility that there are some very large forces at work and that you are being called to this place to work with these amazing healers and sacred medicine. It's also best to drop all or as many expectations as possible and to try to surrender to the mystery before you even embark on the trip. The magic is always here.

As one participant has said,

Bon Voyage,

Sofia Bogdanovic

You can see some images from the Temple and my subsequent visit to Machu Picchu here:

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"The majority believes that everything hard to comprehend must be very profound. This is incorrect. What is hard to understand is what is immature, unclear, and often false. THE HIGHEST WISDOM IS SIMPLE AND PASSES THROUGH THE BRAIN DIRECTLY INTO THE HEART."
Viktor Schauberger, Visionary Inventor of Earth-friendly Technology

if anyone wants prints, please contact me directly, there is an email on my website - any size high quality prints and regular prints and greeting cards. Thanks!

My Manifesto:
Earth is Our Home
All Life is Sacred
We are All Caretakers
of Our Planet
Balanced in the Universe
Nurture Earth Our Living Home
And with Joy We Live in Unity