A Z U L

...I will find the balance inside of myself.
It is my society, the one that bore me, that set me in this restricted environment, thus causing me to look deeper. Looking beyond and living life authentically I shall slowly come full circle, and hopefully, someday, master both ways.

•

Sometimes I think that if I
was better able to feel and show compassion
that I would be happier and more free.

•

I will break free.
I will give myself a voice and speak for all those without one.
I will educate myself in every way possible and help those in need.

L I G H T  O N  B R O K E N  S H A D O W S

...it wanted to be like this,
and so it is.

I suppose every person with the will to live has a saving grace. Sometimes, when the ocean that is my mind becomes too turbulent, I retreat to he who is my emotional messiah. One may find him sitting in the same place, always with open arms, at the bottom of a really peaceful but steep ravine,
filled with the sounds of the sea, or a flowing stream.

•

Our world can take a toll on the delicate awareness that I embrace.

•

As my inner truth slips out of the oyster shell; the epitome of physicality that anchors me to the earth, I catch glimpse of his eyes looking up toward the sky as they reflect the wondrous beauty of that which is beyond. Mingling with his essence there is something that can be found nowhere else on this Earth; wisdom that can calm the most burdened of souls.

L I F T E D  U P  T O W A R D S  T H E  L I G H T

...I have no point,
except the candles... they were so beautiful.

It reminded me of when I used to go to church, and most of the churches I attended were Catholic. As I would space out during each mass I would let automatic responses drift from me...

Priest: Lift up your hearts.

Everyone, in monotone voices: We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

(The voices of the people reminded me of the brainwashed or hypnotized.)

Parish: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

(There were a few passionate people though, with enthusiastic voices they lifted up their hands and swayed back and forth in the air.)

•

Restraining is not nurturing, letting go is not saying good bye.

I'm learning... I'm reaching inside...
I am smiling at these "absurdities" you hear me speak of.

•

And somehow, at the end of the service I would always feel as if I had done good, that I was "right." In a way, it was the case. But the faith just wasn’t there. Sadness approached with the sudden urge to find my Self; to study truth and the anatomy of life. This is when the church did not 'save' me. All that I felt was guilt for sinning. Lord knows all we need is guilt driving our resolutions. Maybe I’ll go back one day, and observe from a "newly born perspective".

T H E  B U D D H A  S I T S

...you are helping me find formlessness through form.

"The Zen master questioned, "Who binds you?'
The seeker of liberty answered, 'No one binds me.'
The Zen Master replies, 'Then why seek liberation?'"
-Zen Mondo

•

Bittersweet moments have made way for manifesting my dreams.

•

I know the future is my own. One could wait forever...
if they so desired... or if they did not desire to at all.
My time is now.

...putting on my shoes.

Light,
~Kate~

© Kate DuBrava, 2005 All Rights Reserved

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Kate DuBrava was born in December of 1987 in Hartford, Connecticut. Currently she is a senior in high school and very enthusiastic about education. She desires to learn as much as possible in this lifetime and is thinking of either double majoring in law and psychology and finding a profession that involves both, or getting her Psy.D. in clinical psychology. At this time she's interested in the field of social work.

Kate enjoys spending long periods of time in deep thought and is interested in Buddhism. She has taken classes in things such as Reiki and finds it to be very interesting. One of her greatest dreams is to travel abroad, as she wishes to see everything and meet everyone!

Kate enjoys many of the “little” things in life; dropping coins on the sidewalk purposely so children find a suprirse; seeing people go out of their way to be kind to each other, offering genuine smiles. Playing scavenger on the beach is also one of her favorite experiences. She finds the ocean to be wondrously enchanting, offering transformational moments of self reflection.

Kate loves macro work and enjoys taking pictures of everything, but nature is where her heart is. Photography gives her a sense of satisfaction and happiness. Please visit her gallery at: http://xkate.deviantart.com/, or contact her by email at: KateDuBrava@hotmail.com.