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Four Hearts Mac Worthington Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, cover artist Mac Worthington cites a number of powerful influences on his bold art, from a creative upbringing to his experiences in the military. Worthington’s father, John “Jack” Worthington, was well-known for his bronze sculptures; specifically, busts of movie stars and sports figures in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in Canton. His mother, Marion Worthington, was skilled in enameling and silver work. Serving in the jungles of Vietnam at age 19, Worthington interpreted the emotive experiences of war into powerful expressions of art, further influenced by the music of the 1960s. A self-taught welder, Worthington uses steel, iron and aluminum to create massive outdoor sculptures. Worthington has participated in more than 100 exhibits across the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain and Germany. He maintains a prominent gallery in the arts district of Columbus, Ohio, as well as a sculpture park at his private estate in rural Delaware County. View the artist’s portfolio at MacWorthington.com. 8
Collier/Lee Counties
reveled in a bliss-filled meditation this morning, which isn’t always the case. Some days, I struggle to let go of a busy mind in order to be present in the moment. I’m glad that with my New Year’s resolve to be more disciplined with a daily meditation practice, my pathway into stillness and divine presence has become a bit easier. Sometimes, like this morning, I am in sore need to have my cup refilled. Intense focus on print deadlines and other pressing priorities pulling me every which way have left me feeling off balance. I’m also missing my mom, who recently passed, and feel a lonely yearning to hear her voice. Plus, I ask, “Where’s my soulmate to greet me each morning and fill my loving cup?” Filling up my own cup with inspiration, benevolence and peace during meditation always reminds me of how we are all connected and that love is the necessary glue holding us all together. In fact, love is all there really is. So why do so many of the relationships that color our lives, nation and world seem more problematic and conflict-ridden than ever? Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle teaches in his book The Power of Now that relationships are not here to make us happy or fulfilled. If we seek our salvation through them, we’ll be disillusioned again and again. But if we accept that each relationship is here to make us conscious, instead of happy, then it becomes a key to our spiritual practice. Tolle suggests that whenever a romantic or other partnership is not working and brings out the “madness” in both participants, we should be glad that what was lying unconscious is being brought to light for healing. “We were born to love,” states Barbara Fredrickson, author of Love 2.0: How Our Supreme Emotion Affects Everything We Feel, Think, Do, and Become. “It’s vital to our health and happiness, affecting our brains and bodies at the cellular level.” Love, she points out, is less a smooth, solid path than momentary experiences of connection. With the big-hearted love celebration of Valentine’s Day headlining February, we shine a special light on love in our Enlightened Relationships issue. Writer Judith Fertig’s feature article, “Happily Coupled: Creating Loving Relationships that Work,” illustrates the value of consciously fostering deep connections in couples’ own words (page 44). Today’s romantic partnerships rarely look like anything most of our parents or grandparents knew; each generation creates its own models that better express authentic, individual styles of love. It warms my heart to look through these pages and see photos of loving friends and the shared wisdom of people I’d like to meet. It reminds me that we are all on this journey together, and each of us has the power to help create a more loving world. Here’s to spreading the love,
Sharon Bruckman, Publisher swfl.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com