N.O.W. - N.E.W. - Naturally Open Wonder - Now Evolve Ways - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

N.O.W. - N.E.W. - Naturally Open Wonder - Now Evolve Ways - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Yesterday is gone. So sing a new song. Life is an endlessly eternal moment of now. The ever present is that burning tip of awareness, which is the ever new nowness of your life. Now is the only time to dream. And now is the only time to find your life's cream. So celebrate that you can create a way to generate some magic for your life. Discover the Isle of View that is saying, "I love you!" Simply shift & give yourself the gift of vision's uplift. "We are the ones we've been waiting for." -Russell

G.L.O.W. - Grant Life's Opening Wisdom - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

G.L.O.W. - Grant Life's Opening Wisdom - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Slowly we get glimpses of the secrets of the universe. But inner knowledge of your luminous mind is the ultimate insight, since the totality of our lives takes place only in our mind. Every thought, feeling, & sensation is experienced as a conscious experience. Take away your mind, & your life disappears. So let your inner glow allow you to flow into the evolving wonder of your life. Grow from your glow & you will know. Let go of constant desire & you can rest by your inner fire in the warmth of your own contentment. At each instance there is never anything more, so sit on the shore & let your mind soar. This moment is eternity is you know.

B.U.D.D.H.A. - Bodhidharma's Unattachment Discovered Delightful Heart's Awakening - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

B.U.D.D.H.A. - Bodhidharma's Unattachment Discovered Delightful Heart's Awakening - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

One of the basic beliefs of Buddhism is that our suffering & discontentment is caused by our attachments & desires. We think we need something more to be OK or to be fulfilled. But the irony is that there is never any more than there is at any given moment. So we have to learn to be fulfilled in this moment. And this just happens to be the only place that we ever experience our life, in this eternal nowness. The only difference between the enlightened person & the ignorant is how they see & be in the world. So to move beyond the false premise that you need something more to be OK, is the transmutation that will take you to the Pure Land. Thoughts & feelings & desires & everything else comes & goes like the clouds in the sky. But you are not these fleeting impressions. You are that luminous, conscious cognition behind the clouds. This moment is perfectly as it is. Accept it & find peace. Want it to be different & deny yourself the magic that's in store. A.B.C. - Acceptance Brings Contentment - Russell

L.I.S.T.E.N. - Life Is Short - Timelessly Enjoy Now - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

L.I.S.T.E.N. - Life Is Short - Timelessly Enjoy Now - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Take a moment & take a deep breath & appreciate the miracle of life. Who knows when you will have your last breath? So take time to step out of so many mindless endeavors. Let your mind unwind & feel that vast luminous mind filling everything. Take a ride inside & discover that there's no need to hide. Find time to find yourself. T.I.M.E. - Trust Indestructible Mind's Eternity - R. McDougal - Russell

F.L.O.W. - Find Life's Opening Wonder - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

"F.L.O.W. - Find Life's Opening Wonder" - R. McDougal/Isle of View I was on the go, in a slow flow in Santa Fe, New Mexico last summer. The magic is all out there strutting it's stuff, just waiting for us to see & appreciate it. This photo is of a gate by a Sushi Restaurant. Just open your mind & magic you will find. The wonder of life is shining, when we finally stop whining. Let go & flow into the wonder & appreciation of your life's dream. Aloha! -Russell http://www.facebook.com/IsleofViewInsights

M.A.G.I.C. - Mind's Alchemy Generates Illumination's Charm - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

M.A.G.I.C. - Mind's Alchemy Generates Illumination's Charm - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

You're alive & have the opportunity to thrive. But you have to wake up to the possibility. There is a magical world of luminous fulfillment just waiting to be discovered. The more you know, the more you grow. The more you know, the more you glow. The more you know, the more you can flow into being part of life's luminous heart. Do your part to awaken the art of being a part of One Mind's heart. Let go of attachment & find conscious contentment. Let love's warm way melt your troubles away. Be the One & shine like the sun! - Russell

M.Y.T.H. - Make Yourself The Hero - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

M.Y.T.H. - Make Yourself The Hero - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Everyone admires the hero. Somebody has to step up and be the hero. You can
be a hero. The ball’s in your court. If you know how lucky you feel when someone helps you, when you’re in need, then you can be the “hero” that reaches out and helps someone else. To give is to live. It’s so right to help, since this is your world. And when we focus on being a team player, we minimize thinking about our own problems. Carry the hero’s light that shines so bright. Someone has to care.
Someone has to share. Start here. Start now. You already know how. Spread your heart's warmth & generosity. Happy Holidays! - Much love, Russell

G.L.O.W. - Giving Love Opens Wonder - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

G.L.O.W. - Giving Love Opens Wonder - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Go with the flow! And go with the Glow! Wake up to the spirit of love & giving. That's really living! Be the one. Live your own mythology. M.Y.T.H. - Make Yourself The Hero. "Love never costs as much as it pays." - Jeff Cain & J. Corbitt...Happy Holidays! Much love, Russell

S.T.O.R.Y. - Surrender To Openness's Reawakening Yourself - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

"S.T.O.R.Y. - Surrender To Openness's Reawakening Yourself" -R. McDougal/ Isle of View People all over the world have different ideas & stories about spirituality. Rebirth is certainly one of the common themes of most spiritual traditions. And they say that the Winter Solstice celebration at this time has been observed for over 10,000 years since the Neolithic time with Stonehenge & others. I try to focus on awareness or consciousness, because that's where all these ideas of spirituality take place. Your mind's luminous awareness is what your experience is. If one was born in India, you would most likely believe as a Hindu. Look behind all the stories & try to discover where these ideas & feelings take place. My first book was entitled, Mirror of Mind. What you think, is what you get. " What you are looking for is what is looking." Discover your luminous essence behind your story. Celebrate the joyous miracle of your blossoming life! Everyday is a holiday! -Russell

E.A.R.T.H. - Evolve And Resolve To Harmonize - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

E.A.R.T.H. - Evolve And Resolve To Harmonize - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

On this winter solstice may we celebrate the endless potential that we have. Although things are really dark in some ways, we can choose to create a world of harmony & sustainability. But we have to reclaim true human values to return earth to her glorious abundance & harmony. May we start returning to the light. May we start returning to what is right. May we start returning to a world of love & delight. - Russell

L.I.F.E. - Let Illumination's Flight Empower - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

L.I.F.E. - Let Illumination's Flight Empower - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Life is a flight of illumination's evolution. Let your flight into light ignite your awakening. May your surrender into the One shine like the sun! - Russell

S.H.I.N.E. - Simple Happiness Ignites Natural Enchantment - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

S.H.I.N.E. - Simple Happiness Ignites Natural Enchantment - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Shine on! Here comes the sun! Find in your own mind that place of grace that radiates happiness & truth. We all matter. We have to transmit our love & warmth to melt the hardness of fear & illusion. We have to show that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Reach out & transmit your warmth & caring. Now it's all about sharing. As the Hopi Elders said, "We are the ones we've been waiting for." You are the one who can shine like the sun!

F.L.O.A.T. - Finally Let Openness Awaken Timelessness - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

F.L.O.A.T. - Finally Let Openness Awaken Timelessness - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Find a quiet place & slowly drift into the space of openness & clarity. Just for a few moments let your troubles float away. Your openness is a celebration of the illumination of your open mind. Sit in the park until you connect with your spark. You are silently gliding & gently guiding yourself into the joyous timelessness of being. It's all about seeing. It's all about freeing.

L.O.V.E. - Let Others' Visions Exist - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

L.O.V.E. - Let Others' Visions Exist - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

S.T.A.R. - Shine To Awaken Reality - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

S.T.A.R. - Shine To Awaken Reality - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

May we reawaken our blue bird of happiness & shine on! May we find the love & compassion that touches others' hearts & help others see that we can have a brighter world. We have to create a global harmony that shows that a world of trust & cooperation is better than a world of have against have nots. For our planet earth to survive, we must act now to create a sustainable world where all can thrive. So open your heart & do your part to make a start to reclaim love's art. "Love never costs as much as it pays." -Russell

O.P.E.N. - Occupy Perfect Egolessness Now - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

O.P.E.N. - Occupy Perfect Egolessness Now - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

You can open & occupy the selfless space of infinite, luminous mind. Your mind is not divided. It is one mind. So put down your fear & hesitation & relax into the vast space of your being. It's all about remembering & freeing. O.M. - Open Mind O.M. - Open Magic -Russell

C.L.U.E. - Celebrating Life Unlocks Enchantment - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

C.L.U.E. - Celebrating Life Unlocks Enchantment - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Don't postpone joy! Time is flying & our short lives will be over soon enough. So appreciate & celebrate the miraculous life that we have. The seeds of life keep blossoming our existence, acting out our charade in life's parade. May you seize the potential & realize a little magic for yourself. The ultimate power is to see & free yourself into the heart of harmony. You are a shining facet of One Mind's infinite jewel. How utterly cool.

S.A.N.T.A. - Share And Nurture Trust's Awakening- R. McDougal/ Isle of View

S.A.N.T.A. - Share And Nurture Trust's Awakening- R. McDougal/ Isle of View

The idea of Santa Claus is one of my favorite myths. To me, he's a generic & non-religious character who is the embodiment of generosity. And he doesn't wait around to get praise. He selflessly gives to everyone because it'd the noble thing to do. Why don't we all do a little selfless giving this holiday season & help restore a little faith in mankind. The more you give, the more you live. G.O.L.D. - Give Others Love Daily - Russell

J.E.W.E.L. - Joy's Enchanted Wonder Emits Light - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

J.E.W.E.L. - Joy's Enchanted Wonder Emits Light - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Your mind is the jewel. It is that luminous space that reflects your life. It is the totality of your experience, yet ironically, it is nothing at all. And since it is no-thing, nothing can harm your mind, since nothing can harm nothing. Complete confidence & trust is born in this knowing. So let your mind start freely flowing into the grace & space of your awakening dream. Your inner knowing will open your inner glowing. So joyously shine on & light love's way!

“Creativity is the defeat of habit by originality.”

Here are a few quotes from my favorite book on art, design, philosophy, & all things cool. The book is called "The Art of Looking Sideways" by Alan Fletcher (Phaidon Publishing)

B.Y.O.B. - Build Your Own Boat - R. McDougal/Isle of View

"B.Y.O.B. - Build Your Own Boat" - R. McDougal/ Isle of View If you want something to happen, then start putting the pieces of the puzzle together, so it will move toward fruition. It's usually a matter of will power. Just start & you can learn to develop your life's art. As Lao Tzu said, "The journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step." Let go & start your flow. You can do it. We're always either winning or learning. Good luck! -Russell McDougal http://www.facebook.com/IsleofViewInsights

S.U.R.E. - Simply Unmasking Reveals Everything - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

S.U.R.E. - Simply Unmasking Reveals Everything - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

If we can only take off the mask of fear & ego. Nothing can harm your mind, because it is nothing. It is no thing. Mind is luminous space. Mind is your life. Take away your mind & you disappear. So there is nothing to fear, because everything is a magically moving mosaic arising & then passing away. Your task is to take away the mask & be sure in knowing that you are here for glowing. So start flowing into eternal mind's endless blossom. You need nothing more than to open & soar. -Russell

H.E.R.O. - Happy Endings Really Occur - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

H.E.R.O. - Happy Endings Really Occur - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Life can be great, and is great, when we learn to see it in that special way. Everyone wants to know that “happy endings really occur”. We don’t live in the past or the future, so make your happy endings and happy beginnings happen today, since today is all that we have. Happiness is here for the taking. Create your happiness today, and you can sail away. Being a hero or being happy is a choice. Life is just as wonderful as you think it is. So, think it is. - Russell ( reading from Isle of View HERO card )

D.R.A.M.A. - Daylight Reveals All Men Acting - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

D.R.A.M.A. - Daylight Reveals All Men Acting - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Everyone is in life’s movie. We are all acting out our parts in life’s grand pageant. You’re the leading actor of your life, so why not make it fun and make it great? We all have good things in our lives, and we all have bad things in our lives. If we can slow the race to a sane pace, then we can connect with the balance and harmony of life. Do the best that you can with what you’ve got, because we’re only on life’s stage for a little while. Find a style that lets you smile, mile after mile. ( from Isle of View "DRAMA" card reading ) -Russell

S.A.V.O.R. - Simply Appreciate Vision's Ongoing Reward - R. McDougal/ Islw of View

S.A.V.O.R. - Simply Appreciate Vision's Ongoing Reward - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Take time to savor the unique flavor of this moment. Find the shift that let's you enjoy your life's luminous gift. Replace constant judging with appreciating this moment as the unique expression that it is. Slow the race, so you can connect with natural grace. The magic is already here, when we step into the clear. Just let it be & you will start to see. P.L.A.Y. - Puppy Love Awakens You -Russell

F.L.Y. - Finally Liberate Yourself - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

F.L.Y. - Finally Liberate Yourself - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

You can really fly, when you learn to untie. Let yourself go into the flow.

It's all about your choice to maintain ego's fear & duality or merge into the Oneness of One Mind. "As long as there is one to suffer, he/she will." It's all about attachment or letting go. S.O.A.R. - Seeing Oneness Awakens Revelation - Russell

C.O.O.L. - Calmly Offering Our Love - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

C.O.O.L. - Calmly Offering Our Love - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

We have to stay calm in the rush. We have to stay in balance & not get bent out of shape. Hopefully, we can stay cool & reflect the sanity & love that it will take to carry us through stormy times. Hopefully, we can even find a way to connect with the very ones who are behind so much fear & greed, & get them to see the possibility of a better world. We have to move towards a world of harmony & love or try to weather the storms of our own distorted creations. Stay cool. Offer everyone the sunshine of love's warm offering.

C.O.O.L. - Choosing Oneness Opens Life - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

C.O.O.L. - Choosing Oneness Opens Life - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Put the idea of self on the shelf & merge with One Mind's unity. Mind is not separated unless you create the division. Self & other is only an illusion. All is your mind's moving mosaic endlessly painting a picture of nowness. Open & see. Open & free. Open & let yourself be the infinity of One Mind's dance.

"T.R.I.B.E. - Trust Reawaken In Brotherhood Embrace" -R. McDougal/ Isle of View

"T.R.I.B.E. - Trust Reawaken In Brotherhood Embrace" -R. McDougal/ Isle of View May we find that common bond of human experience. When we create trust, we create the bond of community & family & trust. We are all in this together, so let us find the integrity to honor & help our fellow earthlings & all life forms. Buckminster Fuller says, "Either man is obsolete or war is." We should need no bribe to surrender into being a tribe. "Love never costs as much as it pays." -Russell

M.Y.T.H. - Mind's Your Transforming Hero - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

M.Y.T.H. - Mind's Your Transforming Hero - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

Let your mind's hero spring into action! You'll never be younger. Your life is the result of what you are able to perceive & conceive. Let your imagination awaken a sensation of the dawning of new possibilities. Finally decide to climb up & ride & find your stride in the unfolding of your life's dream. Open your mind's door & let your life soar. M.Y.T.H. - Manifest Your Timeless Harvest

H.O.P.E. - Heart Opens - Protecting Everyone - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

H.O.P.E. - Heart Opens - Protecting Everyone - R. McDougal/ Isle of View

May heart's openness show you the love & appreciation to enjoy life's gift. Ideally, with our love we can find that common denominator that it will take to unite us to reclaim a world out of balance. Communicate with friends & strangers & demonstrate that there really is a love for the common wealth. Life is a gift worth nurturing. Love is a value worth pursuing. But it's up to you. As the Hopi Elders said, "We are the ones we've been waiting for."