Refusing to Fly

Last week I started an ASTAR course where we will be working with “ARCHETYPES” and the roles we play in our lives.

According to Carl Jung, founder of analytical psychology, Archetypes are ancient, universal patterns of behaviour that are embedded in the "collective unconscious."
It is believed that every person has been encoded with a set of 12 primary archetypes. Four of these are universal archetypes related to survival: the Child, Victim, Prostitute, and Saboteur. These four Archetypes are said to be vital to our growth and functioning as adults. The other eight are drawn from the vast storehouse of archetypes dating back to the dawn of human history. They play valuable roles that relate to our work, relationships with individuals and society, as well as to our spirituality, finances, values, and our highest potential.

Author Caroline Myss has created a unique set of Archetype Cards which we used in this process art class. Each card is designed to provide the basic Light and Shadow attributes of the different Archetypes. We started by each choosing a card from the deck. The card I pulled, the Saboteur, read, "Highlights your fear of self-empowerment and the changes it would bring to your life" and "Induces self-destructive behaviour".
I could totally relate to both.

 

We worked in clay in this first session. We held the ball of clay in our hands and did a lovely, relaxing, guided meditation which always helps you to get into the session and to leave your busy day behind you.
We then had about 2 hours to created our sculpture. Working freely without any preconceived ideas or plans, my sculpture started off as one thing and then change direction and end up as something else. My tall, confident, standing figure ended up as a kneeling angel, with exaggeratedly long arms which were folded in her lap.



 

At the end of the session we took time to reflect on each person's work, leaving them a short message on a piece of paper.

When reflecting on my own work I wrote, "I have been given the wings of an angel but I am refusing to fly."

 

I called this work "Refusing to Fly"

 

   ...

From the Caroline Myss website:

"The Saboteur"
This may be the most difficult of all the archetypes to understand, because its name is associated with betrayal. Yet the purpose of this archetype is not to sabotage you, but to help you learn the many ways in which you undermine yourself. How often do you set new plans in motion, only to end up standing in your own way because of the fears that undermine those optimistic plans. Or you begin a new relationship and then destroy it because you begin to imagine a painful outcome. You begin a working relationship with another person and find yourself once again in a power struggle that could be settled peacefully -- but you fall into the same destructive pattern because you fear the other person.
The Saboteur's fears and issues are all related to low self-esteem that causes you to make choices that block your own empowerment and success. As with the Victim and Prostitute, you need to face this powerful archetype that we all possess and make it an ally. When you do, you will find that it calls your attention to situations in which you are in danger of being sabotaged, or of sabotaging yourself. Once you are comfortable with the Saboteur, you learn to hear and heed these warnings, saving yourself untold grief from making the same mistakes over and over. Ignore it, and the shadow Saboteur will manifest in the form of self-destructive behaviour or the desire to undermine others.
To learn how to become aware of the action of the Saboteur within, ask yourself these questions:

• What fears have the most authority over me? List three.
• What happens when a fear overtakes me? Does it make me silent?
• Do I allow people to speak for me?
• Do I agree to some things out of fear that I otherwise would not agree to?
• Have I let creative opportunities pass me by?
• How conscious am I in the moment that I am sabotaging myself?
• Am I able to recognise the Saboteur in others?
• Would I be able to offer others advice about how to challenge one's Saboteur? If so, what would it be?

   ...

If you are interested in reading up further about Archetypes, I can recommend visiting the Caroline Myss website where she has a list of over 70 archetypes, including a detailed description of each. There is also a section that can help you to determine your own Archetypes.

The Colour VIOLET

In the Colour Energy Course that I attended last year, we did an in-depth exploration into each spectral colour. Each week we focused on a particular colour and it's associated energy Chakra. We explored the colour's energy through senses, meditation and painting using only the tones and hues of that colour.
 

For each class we were asked to dress in the colour we were exploring that week. A still life, made up of various objects in the colour was set up in the studio. Little bottles of essential oils associated with that Chakra and colour were set out on a tray for us to smell. Even the food and drink that we had during our tea break was in the colour we were exploring.

The Colour VIOLET

The session where we explored the colours Blue and Indigo made me cry.
This session, exploring the colour Violet, made me laugh out loud! :)

The Crown Chakra (Sahasrara), situated at the top of the head, is the seventh energy centre in the chakra system. It is associated with the colour Violet and is often pictured as a lotus flower with a thousand petals. The crown chakra connects us with the universe and the Divine source of creation.

Purple and violet are not my favourite colours, but I did find the still life that was set up in the studio very pretty. The colour purple is often associated with royalty and nobility and can create an impression of luxury, wealth and extravagance.

We took time to soak up the colours, shades and tones of violet and purple and smelled essential oils like lavender, jasmine, frankincense and rose geranium.

 

The still life that was set up in the studio.

 

 

 

During the meditation we were asked to draw a circle, using one finger, on the very top of our head. Slowly, moving our finger round and round, we visualised creating an opening that wold allow a beam of light to shine upwards and connect us with the 'source', to our 'creator'.

After the meditation we used the six shades of violet paint that we had mixed earlier and painted freely onto our canvas page.  Painting round and round, I made a number of swirling brushstrokes, followed by some splashing of water and stamping of wooden printing blocks to add some texture onto the page.

 

Splashes of water and wooden printing blocks were used to add texture.

 

When we stopped for tea, I saw something in my picture that made me laugh. It seemed a bit silly at first, but I decided that after tea I would add to the painting and help 'bring out' what I could see.

 

And here he is... my little purple alien :)



 

Final painting for the colour Violet

 

Close-up of my little alien :)

 

So...

Violet.

The crown chakra.

Connecting us with the universe and the Divine source of creation....

 

hmmmmm

Do you think they speak Huttese?

lol

 

 

 

The Colours BLUE & INDIGO

In the Colour Energy Course that I attended last year, we did an in-depth exploration into each spectral colour. Each week we focused on a particular colour and it's associated energy Chakra. We explored the colour's energy through senses, meditation and painting using only the tones and hues of that colour.
 

For each class we were asked to dress in the colour we were exploring that week. A still life, made up of various objects in the colour was set up in the studio. Little bottles of essential oils associated with that Chakra and colour were set out on a tray for us to smell. Even the food and drink that we had during our tea break was in the colour we were exploring.


The Colours BLUE & INDIGO

I have been struggling to write this post about Blue and Indigo. This session was a very emotional one for me. It left me questioning many things... I've been struggling to find the words...

We combined the Blue (Throat Chakra) and Indigo (Brow Chakra) sessions because when mixing paints in various shades and tones of Blue and Indigo there is an overlap in the colours, Indigo being a dark blue reaching towards purple.

The still life was beautiful as always. It made the studio feel cool, calm and relaxing. If you closed your eyes you could imagine walking through a gentle mist, or into the darkness of the night. Some blue shades could leave you feeling a little sad or 'blue' however.
 

 

 

 

 

We sat around the still life soaking in the colours and smelling essential oils like Cypress, Eucalyptus, Myrrh, Patchouli, Pine, Geranium and Peppermint.

We then mixed up our paint, making six different shades and tones of Blue and Indigo.

 

After our meditation I started off by painting quite calmly, covering the canvas paper with lovely teal and light turquoise paint. When I started adding the darker shades (Indigo) my brushstrokes became more frenetic. I then, rather energetically, added all the shades I'd mixed, creating a lot of texture and movement on the page. I grabbed the wooden printing blocks and a plastic scourer and continued to add even more texture onto the canvas. I was working freely and loosely, with intuitive spontaneity, just as we were meant to.

 

Texture added using the wooden printing blocks

 

After our tea break, it was time to take a look and see if my painting had anything to 'reveal'. I saw a face and a seahorse. They didn't make a very good composition so I turned the page 90 degrees. And again. And again. And again. I had to then remind myself that this wasn't about a pretty picture with a carefully considered layout and composition. I needed to paint what I saw. So that is what I did.

My final painting

 

 

At the end of the session we did another meditation. We had been given a piece of paper and were asked to write, without thought or hesitation, the first thing that came to our mind. Like a message from the universe.

 

I wrote: "Meet me down at the bottom of the deep blue sea."

 

We then had to go around the class and, stopping at each person's work, do the same for them. So without thought or hesitation we wrote the first thing that came to mind when we sat in front of their painting.

The messages that had been left for me by my classmates were:

"Holy Communion"

"Beauty and serenity can be found"

"Looking intensely"

and "Serene beauty - your spirit guide"

 

We took turns to share our 'messages' with the class. One person said that my "spirit guide" made her think of the clay sculpture I'd made in my first Astar class 9 months earlier. As she said it, I experienced a wave of emotion and could not hold back the tears. (It was rather embarrassing, I must say)

My clay sculpture had been about a dear friend who had gone missing at sea in March 2010. His boat and his dog, who was still alive, had been found two weeks later but he was not on board.

 

Detail of the seahorse

 

When I got home that evening I did an internet search to find the symbolic meaning of a seahorse.

This is what I found:

"The seahorse is thought to have mystical significance among the Ancient Greeks, Europeans and Asians. The Ancient Greeks and Romans believed the seahorse was an attribute of the sea god Neptune and as such, the seahorse was considered a symbol of strength and power."

"Chinese cultures believed that the seahorse was a type of sea dragon, and as such they were revered for their power and thought to be symbols of good luck. Sailors have long viewed the seahorse as a good luck charm too." (source)

 

And then I read this, and my tears returned...

 

"The ancient Eurpeans believed that the seahorse carried the souls of deceased sailors to the underworld - giving them safe passage and protection until they met their soul's destination."

 

 

Blue is the colour associated with the fifth Chakra, the Throat Chakra. It deals with issues of communication, expressing our own personal truth, creative expression and symbolic thinking.

 

The colour Indigo is associated with the sixth Chakra, the Brow Chakra. It is also often referred to as the third eye or the mind center. As the 'source' or center of psychic knowledge, this Chakra produces our Dreams and Fantasies, as well as such advanced psychic states as Clairvoyance, Telepathy, Clairaudience and Spirit Communication.

 

 

xxx For Paul. In loving memory. xxx

The Colour GREEN

In the Colour Energy Course that I attended last year, we did an in-depth exploration into each spectral colour. Each week we focused on a particular colour and it's associated energy Chakra. We explored the colour's energy through senses, meditation and painting using only the tones and hues of that colour.
 

For each class we were asked to dress in the colour we were exploring that week. A still life, made up of various objects in the colour was set up in the studio. Little bottles of essential oils associated with that Chakra and colour were set out on a tray for us to smell. Even the food and drink that we had during our tea break was in the colour we were exploring.

The Colour GREEN

 

 

 

Once again, the still life that had been set up in the studio was absolutely beautiful. It made me feel relaxed and at peace. I had a strong urge to disappear into a forest or somewhere where I'd be surrounded by nature.

Of the lovely essential oils that we smelled, Clove, Lavender, Sandalwood, Rose, Cedar Wood, Peppermint, Basil, Geranium and Pine, Peppermint was my favourite.

 

We sat quietly around the still life soaking in the colour green. 

After a short meditation, we mixed up our paints in six different tones and shades of green and began to paint. 

I applied a base coat to my canvas paper and then found myself painting many wavy lines in various shades and tones. They soon began to look like blades of grass. I painted a circular shape in a lighter green, almost like a sun. The blades of grass seemed to all reach up to it. I grabbed a couple of the wooden printing blocks that I love. One of them looked a bit like a flower, so I started stamping flowers onto the page. I felt like I was lying in a field of flowers looking up at the sky. In my mind a white butterfly fluttered by. So I painted it in. 



 



My painting of the colour green.

 

Detail added with the wooden printing blocks that I love so much.

 

At first I wasn't sure how my painting related to the Heart Chakra at all. Was it the butterflies in your tummy when you fall in love? Flowers given as a romantic gesture? It seemed a bit silly. So I took time to read up about the Heart Chakra and the symbolic meaning of butterflies.

A butterfly is most often associated with symbolism of change and powerful transformations. Elevation from earthly matters, turning into emotional or spiritual.

In many cultures the butterfly is a symbol of the soul or soul world. For the Japanese, a white butterfly symbolises the soul of the departed ones.
 

In Greek mythology, Psyche (meaning "soul") was often depicted as a butterfly winged goddess. She was linked with love as she shared an endlessly passionate bond with Eros, the god of love.

Green is the colour associated with the fourth Chakra, the Heart Chakra, also known as Anahata.

It is located in the heart and chest area. The purpose of the Heart Chakra is to give love, to receive love and to find balance. It deals with issues of self-love, relationships, intimacy and devotion.

This fourth Chakra is also the middle point of the seven chakra system.

It acts as a bridge between the lower three Chakras which deal with the physical world (earthly matters), and the higher three chakras which are to do with expression and spirituality (soul).

So it seems that my painting does in fact tie in with, and illustrate the purpose of, the Heart Chakra quite nicely. :)

Links to my blog posts about colour: RED  ORANGE  YELLOW GREEN BLUE&INDIGO VIOLET

The Colour YELLOW

In the Colour Energy Course that I attended last year, we did an in-depth exploration into each spectral colour. Each week we focused on a particular colour and it's associated energy Chakra. We explored the colour's energy through senses, meditation and painting using only the tones and hues of that colour.

For each class we were asked to dress in the colour we were exploring that week. A still life, made up of various objects in the colour was set up in the studio. Little bottles of essential oils associated with that Chakra and colour were set out on a tray for us to smell. Even the food and drink that we had during our tea break was in the colour we were exploring.


The colour YELLOW

I was never a huge fan of the colour yellow until my son was born 7 years ago. Right from when he was a baby it was clear that yellow was, and still is, his favourite colour. Because of this I have over the years bought him yellow toys, items of yellow clothing and a bright, sunshine yellow bath towel. In the meantime, I have fallen in love with (certain shades of) yellow to.

The still life that was set up in the studio for our exploration into the colour yellow was an uplifting, energising, warm and happy sight.

 

 

We took time to smell some essential oils like Bergamot, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Cedar wood, Clove, Geranium and Lemongrass (my favourite).

We mixed up our six shades of yellow paint. I found it hard to get tonal variations without going too green or too brown.

After a short meditation, I painted my canvas sheet with a warm sunshine yellow. This then lead me to painting a large, round sun in the top right of the page shining down onto a landscape of yellow hills. I was going to stop there but we weren't even half way through the class yet, so I decided to add some texture using the Indian printing blocks that I love so much.

I started to see a close-up of a sunflower in my picture. At first I resisted changing from my original landscape. But the sunflower wouldn't go away, so I decided to go with it. The sun became the centre of the flower and the landscape became petals. My end result, a bright, sunshiny yellow sunflower.

 

 

I love the textures that the Indian printing blocks add to a painting.

  

It's not surprising that I ended up with a painting related to something "sunny".
The third Chakra is also called the SOLAR Plexus Chakra.

solar¹

ˈsəʊlə/

adjective

adjective: solar

1. relating to or determined by the sun.

   "solar radiation"

   • relating to or denoting energy derived from the sun's rays.

     "solar heating"

The Solar Plexis Chakra is located between the navel and solar plexus. It is your power centre - your Core Self - and is all about who you are. It is the centre of your self-esteem, your willpower, self-discipline, as well as warmth in your personality. By consciously harnessing the energy of the Solar Plexus Chakra, it helps you to be proactive rather then reactive or inactive. You have the power to choose. You can choose to achieve your life purpose.

 

The Sunflower has been adopted as a symbol of happiness and strength. The flower always turns its face to the sun and is therefore considered by some to be a symbol of faith. Some believe that the sunflower represents a constant search for light, or enlightenment.

It reminded me of a saying that I used to love and often wrote in cards and letters to friends and family...

 

 Always turn your face towards the sun

and the shadows will fall behind you.

 

Maori Proverb

 

 

 

 

Links to my blog posts about colour: RED  ORANGE  YELLOW



The Colour ORANGE

In the Colour Energy Course that I attended last year, we did an in-depth exploration into each spectral colour. Each week we focused on a particular colour and it's associated energy Chakra. We explored the colour's energy through senses, meditation and painting using only the tones and hues of that colour.

For each class we were asked to dress in the colour we were exploring that week. A still life, made up of various objects in the colour was set up in the studio. Little bottles of essential oils associated with that Chakra and colour were set out on a tray for us to smell. Even the food and drink that we had during our tea break was in the colour we were exploring.

In the second week we explored the colour ORANGE.

 

The carefully put together still life of various objects in shades and tones of orange was once again breath-taking. We sat around the still life soaking in the colour and smelling essential oils like Geranium, Cinnamon, Mandarin, Ylang Ylang, Clary Sage, Jasmine and Sandalwood. I used to love the colour orange, and still like it, but not as much. On this day it made me feel warm and inspired. There were a couple of people in the class who absolutely hated it.

 

After mixing up paint in six shades and tones of Orange and a short meditation, we began to paint with 'intuitive spontaneity'. I covered my entire canvas sheet with a medium shade of orange, and then found myself painting bright flames dancing up the page. These flames soon turned into a swirling mess which then transformed into what looked like the close up of a peach that had been sliced in half to reveal the pip in the middle.

The peach pip then transformed into the belly of a pregnant woman.

 

 

I made a decision at the start of this course not to refresh my memory by reading up on the different colours and Chakras. I had learnt a bit about chakras many (more than 7) years ago when I practised yoga, but could not remember exactly what each Chakra or colour was associated with.

Needless to say I was pleased to see (but not completely surprised) that my end result did in fact tie in with the colour orange and the associated Chakra, the second Chakra.

 

The second Chakra, also known as your Sacral Chakra or Swadhisthana, is located about 2 inches below your belly button. It is the seat of emotions and deals with issues of self-worth, creativity, relationships, empathy, nurturing, movement, change, pleasure and sexuality. The associated body parts are the hips, lower back, sexual organs, bladder, kidneys and bodily fluids.

For interest's sake I also looked up the significance and meaning of the peach. As it turns out, in eastern mythology the Peach is a symbol of immortality, female sexuality and fertility. :)

I also came across a Japanese Folklore tale about Momotarō, a boy who was born out of a peach. 

 

 

 

Links to my blog posts about colour: RED  ORANGE  YELLOW



The Colour RED

In the Colour Energy Course that I attended last year, we did an in-depth exploration into each spectral colour. Each week we focused on a particular colour and it's associated energy Chakra. We explored the colour's energy through senses, meditation and painting using only the tones and hues of that colour.

For each class we were asked to dress in the colour we were exploring that week. A still life, made up of various objects in the colour was set up in the studio. Little bottles of essential oils associated with that Chakra and colour were set out on a tray for us to smell. Even the food and drink that we had during our tea break was in the colour we were exploring.

We started with the colour RED.

Red governs the Base Chakra, also known as the Root Chakra or Muladhara, which is situated at the base of the spine. It is associated with basic survival, grounding, security (financial, career, home, physical safety, basic needs), vitality, stability and courage.

When we entered the studio on this day the sight that greeted us took my breath away. Red is my favourite colour and the beautiful and carefully put together still life had me in awe. I felt warm and energised.

 

 

 

 

It was interesting to witness other peoples reactions to this strong and energetic colour. There were only two of us that loved it. The others found the colour overwhelming. Dizzying.

 

We sat around the still life soaking in the colour, observing the various shades and tones of red.

We smelled essential oils like Cedar, Patchouli, Frankincense and Myrrh.

We then mixed up some paint making six different shades and tones of Red.

During the meditation I kept seeing images of a younger me, energetic, fit and healthy, riding my bicycle in foreign lands. :)

When we began to cover our canvas paper with paint I started to panic. I didn't know where I was going. It felt like I was making a big mess. The idea was to paint with intuitive spontaneity. I do find it hard to work freely and loosely without trying to paint a 'picture' or anything in particular. I used an Indian textile printing block (I LOVE them) as well as some bubble wrap and a piece of plastic mesh to apply paint and add texture to my page.

  

Marks made using an Indian textile printing block.

 

After our tea break we had a look to see if any shapes or figures were emerging from our work. I turned my page 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees and then back to the way it was. Nothing.

It was only when we had about 10 minutes left to paint that I saw the shape of a snake's head appear. The texture that I'd created with the plastic mesh and bubble wrap looked a lot like snakeskin.

I have always believed that I can't draw from my imagination but in this instance, with no reference pictures of snakes available,  I had no choice. I closed my eyes and tried to picture a snake curled up and raising its head. I wasn't sure which way a snake curled, inward or outward, so I just painted what I saw in my picture by adding a few shadows here and there.

 

'Snakeskin' texture created by applying the paint with a piece of bubble wrap and a piece of plastic mesh.

 

My final painting. A RED snake.

 

 

As I sat looking at my painting, I remembered that a coiled, sleeping serpent was the symbol of the Kundalini - the latent female energy believed to lie coiled at the base of the spine. It was something I'd learnt about many years ago when I practised Yoga regularly.

I immediately thought, "How predictable. How obvious. How contrived."

But thoughts of a serpent, Yoga or Kundalini hadn't entered my mind while I was painting. It wasn't something I'd purposefully done. It really was the result of painting freely, intuitively and spontaneously.

The other thing about my painting was that the serpent was not sleeping.

It had been awakened from its slumber. ;)

 

About Kundalini Energy:

"Kundalini is a dormant energy within most people.
In Hindu mythology, Kundalini is a serpent goddess who lies asleep at the base of the spine, coiled three and a half times around the first chakra.Her name is Kundalini Shakti, and she represents the unfolding of the divine Shakti energy, the energizing potential of life itself, a living goddess who enlivens all things.
Under certain circumstances, the Kundalini energy awakens and begins to rise through the body, piercing and opening the chakras as she moves in her undulating, snake-like fashion. As Kundalini releases stored and blocked energies, her movement can be quite intense, sometimes painful, and often leads to mental states that seem out of this world.
Circumstances that stimulate Kundalini awakening are many and varied, but are usually triggered by such things as extended periods of meditation, yoga, fasting, stress, trauma, psychedelic drugs, or near death experiences."
Source: http://www.reiki-for-holistic-health.com/kundaliniawakening.html



Links to my blog posts about colour: RED  ORANGE  YELLOW

 

 



Colour Energy Course

I love coincidences and synchronicity.

I've just come across one of my old forgotten notebooks from 2006. In it I'd written down some ideas and made rough sketches for paintings and other creative projects that I wanted to do. One of the ideas was to do paintings of the SEVEN Chakras, each one in the colour associated with that Chakra.
(I never took the idea any further at the time.)



My forgotten notebook from 2006



 

And what do you know!!!

We recently did exactly that in my process art classes! SEVEN years later!!

I've been falling behind on my blog and am finding that the longer I leave it the harder it becomes to start writing again. Finding this old notebook has given me a “kick up the butt” and inspired me to get back to it :) So here goes...

 

COLOUR ENERGY COURSE:

 

The flyer advertising the ASTAR Colour Energy Course

 

"Colour is a form of energy that has the power to affect us physically, emotionally and mentally. Our use of colour expresses how we feel and think. The colours we surround ourselves with can have a huge effect on our mood. Colour can raise spirits and self-esteem, enhance surroundings, reduce stress and help view life more positively.

 

In the Colour Energy Course we will devote a three-hour in-depth exploration into each spectral colour, exploring the colour's energy through senses, meditation and painting only in the tones and associated hues of that colour.

Each week we focus on a particular colour, moving through the Chakra system, painting with intuitive spontaneity. We explore the colour nuances where, week by week, you are encouraged to integrate each colour into your daily lives.

 

This wholistic experience of each colour is a unique and very exciting journey."

- from the flyer advertising the ASTAR Colour Energy Course

 

 

I did the ASTAR Colour Energy Course at the end of last year (2013).

I was very excited to take part in the course because I'd had an interest in colour energy and the chakra system in the past and was keen to find out more.

The course helped me to reconnected with a part of myself that I seemed to have left behind somewhere along the way. Our home used to be filled with colour, but it was also full of clutter. In an attempt to de-clutter our space and to make it less busy I replaced colour with, what I thought would be, calming neutrals and a lot of white. There was also a trend at the time to have All White, minimalist interiors. I never got the minimalist thing right. My hubbie and I just collect too much STUFF!
Doing the course has made me fall in love with colour all over again. Even colours that I was not keen on before, like yellow and purple, now excite and inspire me.
The course also ended up being more profound than I'd ever imagined it would be.
All in all, I LOVED it!
...

Links to my blog posts about colour: RED  ORANGE  YELLOW

Knight's Castle - made from recycled boxes

One day, driving home after a play date, my son (then 5yrs old) told me that he would LOVE to have a Knight's Castle like the one his friend has. (It is a large, impressive plastic castle with all the accessories)

Christmas was only a couple of months away so I suggested that he include it in his letter to Santa. After a thoughtful moment he said excitedly "Or I can MAKE one!!".
Which he then did the following day (with a little help from mom).
I was delighted, and so proud of him.

 

 

 

 

 

He then wrote a letter to Santa and asked for a Knight (or two) on horseback.

And Santa delivered :)