sides of the sun

the sun waves its hand in my face
stark and blinding
yet i see through its rays
To another side of light.

It smiles upon my face
and tickles my ears
Its comfort holds me in
and yields me to its unforgiving power
Another side of strength.

It teases and flairs my freckled limbs
its markers and manifestations
cradles my presence
balancing the seen and unseen
Another side of life

Eyes Open Wide.

Love is in the Detail.

Beautiful Life.

Bliss.

Rising to the Occasion.

The Mentor (inspired by a professional dedicates himself to mastering technique, pg 84).

In life, you will cross paths with very few mentors that will leave a mark on your soul.

A very fine art to paint your knowledge and wisdom, never being afraid to share your colors.

Never really knowing how this ingrained into the palm of another's hand, empowering them to do their best and believe in themselves.

In pursuit of inspiration, found in the blessing of one person, one professional, one creator, one teacher, one friend.

Life is not about being competitive or at the top, but about learning and growing to be the best you can be.

You believed in me, my work and my potential and now its time for me to say thank you.

Thank you for your inspiration, patience, your knowledge, your vision, your focus, your time, your investment, your kindness, and most of all your energy that radiates in your everyday work and now mine.

Nothing goes unnoticed in the universe, your work that shapes others on the path of their destiny.

~ A great tailor does little cutting. (Tao Te Ching).

Susan Husband, 16 February 2012.

Why I Love the Rain

Raindrops suspend on the railing,

like suckerfish under the belly of a whale



My imperfect reflection takes shape in their perfect form.

One hundred eyes looking back at me.

Their glassy top coat catching the overcast glow of the puddle pools nearby.



Their dangling defiance holds me in

as another minute passes.

Each pod preserving the remains of last nights storm

and the beauty of the morning after.





(by Michelle Hatch)

Inspired by 'Resistance is Fueled by Fear' (p.16)

More > Fear / Resistance

The more I move, the more I want to

The more I love, the more I want to

The more I live, the more I want to

The more I resist, the more it wants me to.

by Michelle Hatch

(Jan, 2011)

Inspired by 'Resistance is Insidious' (p.9)

An Excerpt

Lay your thoughts to rest, about me.

For my eyes can't see what you see.

It's craving you hold,

the mold so deep

that its pattern knows no other stillness.

You offer to break my silent calm,

and then expect me to buy.

Yet my soul won't be sold.

My life. Played for keeps.

By Michelle Hatch

(June 2008, Tulum)

Inspired by 'Resistance and Unhappiness' (p.31)

My Vertigo Ascends

The thick cavernous morass

has me every which way but loose.

And if I move, I fear that I might take the plunge,

off the cliff with no net.

I'm scared of heights.

I'm even scared of the view.

My safety scarf unravelling in the breeze

the further i fall.

I don't hope that someone reach out to grab it.

I'd prefer to land on my feet and hands

that are quick and nimble.

Free falling was never an option

And breaking into a million little pieces

has already been done.

I prefer the climb with its lose worn ground,

precariously placed rocks and muddy footprints.

For the mountain binds them together

and paves the way.

If you let it.

My vertigo, long gone with the ascending.

(By Michelle Hatch)

Inspired by 'A Professional Recognizes her Limitations' (p. 94)

Positano

(June, 2010)

Dance I Said

If we learn to dance,

and we craft our own steps,

to enable and to be enabled,

the lines will blur between your space and mine.

Dance, I said.

If we start with a slow song,

and let each other take the lead,

my strengths becomes yours

and yours become mine.

Our weaknesses left in our steps wake.

Dance, I said.

If we step on toes and our rhythm slows,

we can always stop,

and cast a beat to our own drum.

If we practice our synchronicity

others join us on the floor.

Chairs left empty around the world.

Dance I said.

by Michelle Hatch

(Jan, 2011)

Inspired by 'Resistance and Fundamentalism' (p.33 )

Why Are You Here?

It's one thing to be in the room,

It's another to be invited.

It's one thing to be invited,

and another to have stories to tell.

It's one thing to have stories to tell,

and another to be interested in others stories.

It's one thing to be interested in others stories,

and entirely another to be here

to recreate others,

and your own.

One conversation at a time.

By Michelle Hatch

(Jan 2011)

Inspired by 'Resistance and Rationalization' (p. 53)

It Takes One to Know One

I can see you, you know.

I know you think you're cleverly disguised,

in my rational misguidance.

But I see you dangling the carrot

of tomorrows and next times before me.

You've been on this journey the entire climb

and with everybend in the road

you try your tricks on me.

You know I see glimpses of the fruit and bounty

through the trees beside me,

and you use those signposts to drag me off course.

Yet you underestimate my will to forge ahead.

And when I do, you are left alone.

A distant memory, your trek marks left for dead,

in the crusted earth ready for another day of mine.

By Michelle Hatch

(Jan, 2011)

Inspired by 'Resistance Never Sleeps' (p.14)

"My fathers hands" by Michelle Hatch

Starnberg, Germany (2010)

An Artists Hands

My hands look like an artists hands.

Like they've been marinating in a draw

full of old pencil shavings and dried paint.

Filled with surprise colour spectrums and

dimly lit crannies of lead.

Used, dirty, fingernails and rough splotches,

joining the dots on the tops of my hands.

I'm growing fond of my bodies masterpiece.

Yet if I was to wash the canvas clean,

I can pretend that the

setbacks, knockbacks and drawbacks of an artist

will not become me.

And still the draw beckons

and elicits a response far stronger,

than the clean backs of my hands and fingernails

could ever be happy with.

By Michelle Hatch

(Jan 2011)

Inspired by 'Resistance and being a Star' (p.43)

Legacy

If you set this flame alight

Set it to burn so bright

As if it does not know how much quik remains

or when the next gust of wind will hit

or when will be its last breath

Until its waxy remains,

have all but used up

its legacy

By Michelle Hatch

(Jan, 2011)

By Michelle Hatch

June 2010 (Rome)

Inspired by ' A Professional does not Hesitate to Ask for Help' (p. 85) and MLK Day

The Dreamer

I can dream in colour,

if you want me to, she said.

Her eyes

wider at the thought,

more welcoming than the biggest grin,

largely intrigued by a concept too big for her breath to hold.

If I can dream in colour, she thought

then can't they all dream in color too?

her breath

slower, with precision

conscious, of the growing consciousness

waking her from years of the deepest slumber.

By Michelle Hatch

(Jan 2011)

Bavaria

Inspired by 'A Professional Endures Adversity' (p. 89)

Buoyancy I

Take a ticket

Pass it on

Watch it

Try it on

Feel its to's and fro's

See into its futures

And forget its pasts

Sail on its weightlessness

and be guided by the breath that carries

but never hide under its decks

For fear of the limits of its surfaces

Buoyancy II

Draw on it

And make conclusions

Channel its detours

and say yes to its offers

Know that its not a free pass

but it will guide you to freedom

And rest,

assured,

with reckless abandon

that its contents are abundant

and expiry; certain.

By Michelle Hatch

(Jan, 2011)

Inspired by 'The Artist's Life' (p. 165)

A Munich Gallery (by Michelle Hatch)

(Jun, 2010)

The Art of the War of Art

Doing is an action word.

Doing is the only way things get done.

Yet the artist wages his war,

on the nay say,

here say,

do as I say.

But what would you say?

by Michelle Hatch

(Jan, 2011)

Inspired by 'A Professional is Prepared' (p. 82)

"Sunrise on Hamilton Island" by Michelle Hatch

(Sep 2010)

Stars vs Candles

Are you a candle in the wind,

or a branch that moves with the seasons hues?

a tree that grows as the spirit flexes and fros,

A sea who's tides know

when its time to stay and when it's time to go

The moon is a puppet,

the tides its strings.

The sun its creator,

the life it brings.

No sun without moon,

No moon without stars

The stars hold the soul

Their journey mirroring back who you are.

by Michelle Hatch

(Dec, 2010)

The muse awakes (inspired by a professional re-invents himself, page 95)

Be still, create and re-invent yourself.
(Photograph: the temple of home).






When I create, I dream
and when I dream I fall
Into the unknown,
the infinite

Breathe in all encompassing colour
Painting life through my vision.
Beauty becomes who I am
and everything i see, it illuminates with love.

Magic and mystery unfold
as i wait for nothing to arrive it arrives.
Everything that surrounds me is re-invented in this moment.

Susan Husband, 10 January 2011

Inspired by 'Resistance is Invisible' (p. 7)

"Lightbox" by Michelle Hatch

June, 2010 (Germany)

The Invisible Breath

I forget to breath.

Throughout the day I forget to breath,

I resist to breath,

and yet, it could save me from myself.

This one simple act of letting go

The idea of breathing is not foreign to me.

It visits me at times during the day.

Reminding me from within,

building a response from outside

Recreating ever cell.

With or without my presence

By Michelle Hatch

(Jan, 2011)

Inspired by 'For Love of the Game' (p. 73)

"Riveboats" by Michelle Hatch

Berlin (June, 2010)

The Game Itself

It's no ones game

to have it mastered

for the master

will always find an opponent

the opponent

will always be hungry

and the hunger

will fuel the game of life itself

by Michelle Hatch

(Jan, 2011)

Inspired by 'Life and Death' (p. 132)

"Ferris Wheel" (by Rebel Neary)

Santa Monica, California, Jul 2010

Carnival of Egos

The world will spin, so why not dance with it

rather than sit in the corner and hold on for dear life

and pretend

that it's gravity that holds you down.

This is not side show alley

although you could be the clown

your head moving side to side

mouth wide open, ready to receive.

Waiting for the next, ping, pong

You could win

but you'll probably loose

You both will

the ego can't catch what the soul throws

when the soul observes

the ego lets go

(By Michelle Hatch, Jan 2011)

Inspired by 'A Professional Reinvents Himself' (p. 95)

"Sunset in Regensberg" by Michelle Hatch

Germany (Jun 2010)

What Your Soul on Fire feels like

you strip me down

inch by inch. and leave me raw....

my sides burning from the inside out.

you creep down and get settled

then strike when you know i'm not

you push me, and try me, and make me try you on

and i wanted it, and i got it, and i asked for it.

its like back burning in the deepest summer months

when it heals, i'll have new skin - thicker, alive, renewed

my back burned

now my souls on fire

and so its starts again

(by Michelle Hatch)

You are the way (inspired by, a professional plays it as it lays, pg 81 and the Tao Te Ching)

Your path to beauty ..
(Central Coast, NSW - Australia).

The Tao is the great way of life,
the seeds of our soul.
The laws of nature uncontrollable,
all that you are fused to the infinite universe.

Our cup fills us each day with new essence,
the good and the bad;
triggers sharp and soft.
You offended or not?
....empty or full...

Turn the wheel and let go.

Thoughts manifest into form,
the seeds you choose to reap.
Ugly or beautiful, accept your truth.
Resistance futile.
This is a maze not to be figured out.

Each new turn use to your advantage,
discover and embrace you are here.
Gratitude for this moment,
Breathe into it and release it with no strings.
Your eyes laying open to your purpose.
Nothing can penetrate the depth of what you feel.

Always love.

Susan Husband, 12 January 2011

Inspired by 'The Artist and the Hierarchy' (p. 150)

"Scarf on the Spanish Steps" by Michelle Hatch Rome (June 2010)









The Pulling Thread

The hierarchy
not reality

for no one knows who pulls the first string
and where unravelling creates the hole

No one knows, the power, the force
of one, of you, of me
but it will run with the unravelling string
and it will run its course

Its course will go where you couldn't see
until the lesson is learned
and you're being who you've always meant to be.

(by Michelle Hatch)

Adversity - misfortune or a blessing? (inspired by, a professional endures > adversity - page 89)

He who suffers the pain and endures life, will never go without

Enter with freedom
Love open
Hurt deep
Discover the unknown
Create something meaningful
Make a difference
Exit with freedom

Loving and feeling life with an open heart, bang you are knocked down another set-back? Surface level or deep all the same touch-points as each knock closes you off to the world piece by piece, yet another slap in the face...so it seems? The spotlight is now on you yet again to deal with yourself in the mirror. Run away and hide from sitting still that uncomfortable uncharted territory. Analyze this and analyze that as you go around in that never ending circle we all feel comfort. Our resistance sets in like the sun going down, as darkness overcomes our internal light that never fades.We fight against ourselves and that darkness will follow and find us in every corner. We succumb to accepting a life of hardship, being the victim. Up come the barriers and walls of fear stopping us in our tracks, journey ended - no destination in sight.

Flip a coin, what is so bad about being pushed so hard out of your comfort zone you might feel something that makes you uncomfortable? Reflecting on the essence of who we are will only bring us closer to what we want, the people we want in our lives, what we will settle for - our values, our purpose and highest potential. We are truly blessed in a universe that supports us in every moment with opportunity to move forward with new light and creativity. Allowing ourselves to open and connect with others, those who are less fortunate than us and those who will just love us for who we are. Why do we fear what we feel when what we strive and fight for is right in front of us, etched into the very palm of our hands.

In every moment we have a little thing called choice, that empowers us to release the non-existance of yesterday. A new layer to open to love that surrounds us from with-in and touches everything around us. Beauty can be found in the smallest moment, through someone eyes touching or natures calling, our very own story. If we listen, we will find our faith and take responsibility in our actions to create the future that is already here in this very moment. Choose to see things from a different angle, be abstract and relinquish our attachment to lay in the mystery and miracles that will follow our lives in every moment.

Be true to yourself and you never go without.

Susan Husband, 6 Jan 2010.

Inspired by 'The Artist and the Territory' (page 156)

'Kangaroo Island Post Office' by Michelle Hatch

South Australia (Sep 2010)

Letters to the Universe

The beauty, sadness, joy and awe that this world brings, joins
together the pieces of love, compassion and generosity that binds the
soul, and binds souls together.

Your mysteries have me in awe of the marvels to come in my life and
through my life, through me, the only me on the planet.

You and me are one in the same. I move through you without time and
space, and you move through me with your grace. We dance, our
movements are so as one, that it appears we both take the lead.

Eternally on your dance card.

(Michelle Hatch, Dec, 2010)

Inspired by 'Invoking the Muse' (p.110)

Bavaria, June 2010

(By Michelle Hatch)

Something Big to Hold and Grasp Onto

Last night i asked the Universe for a gift, some direction, a light, something big to hold and grasp onto. And God gave me a letter to the universe. I don't know from where its words came, but it flowed through me as quickly as a storm hits. It flowed from The universe, through me and back to the universe. Like it was having conversations with itself. I was the messenger, the delivery man. And when it was gone, it was gone. But it came back the next day and took hold of me again. Wanting me to take pen to paper and join the dots. The dots to my life...and without thinking to much about it, I let the words float onto the page, from one to another without perfection. Perfect in its imperfection. Too complete to be toyed with. To whole to worry about what was missing. Enjoying themselves as they are.

(Michelle Hatch, Dec 2010)