Messages from the Canvas

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Isolation is a Dreamkiller. Barbara Sher

                                                                                                                                                   

The Motherload

 I have purple paint under my fingernail. In my mind, I'm still dancing with glitter paint and painting flowers. Paint, paint, paint. I sit at home doing my artwork and wondering, who will like this, who will connect to this, who will care? I suspect that it is the same for many artists.

The choice to go check out an intuitive art class wasn't a conscious one. That was a soul choice, rising up from within, clamoring for something deeper. I was nervous. So used to feeling out of sync with the dynamic in a room. Awkward. The warmth of my welcome was not lost on me. Hmmmm...... I was hugged, I was greeted kindly, I was listened to.

This isn't an art class on a typical level. You aren't there to learn how to draw or paint better. The purpose is get into the work and listen to your inner guide. It is so easy to forget that there is so much wisdom within us. Our inner guides, our intuition has so much to say.

Painting in a quiet room filled with other people is liberating. Knowing that there is someone there to help if you need creates a sense of peace that is needed when getting deep into the process. Which I did. These shifting waves that began in March are still tumbling over me. Still opening me.

And then came a message from the canvas. While I am ready to create more space, this is not a practice I have much experience in. Clearly my subconscious is letting me know that it is time to create something new. It is both exciting and terrifying.

My takeaway from Chris Zydel's Intuitive Art class? That out of syncness doesn't have to exist. This is not a competition. The only person I need to get really vulnerable with in that room is myself. And that is possibly the greatest challenge of all.

Turtlenecks and naps

Last week I once again fell down on the job when it came to self care. Stress levels have been high and self love quite a bit low. My big takeaway from the week is that it is essential to have something to look forward to like my upcoming trip but also my weekly tea date with one of my good friends.

And I did quite a bit of art, too, which helped. I even took the time to do a blank space page in my vision book. During Spirits of Joy I remembered how much I love the whole cutting, pasting, dreaming aspect of vision journals and having prompts was perfect to keep me on track. Some of us need little rituals to help us do the things we know we need to for ourselves. Which is fine as long as we remember to create them.

This week I also wrote my first mini course, which needs to be edited and run through my proofreader before I kick it out for beta. !!!!

 I have no idea what I did here....and I really wish I did. The more I look at her the more love is felt. She is something really special. And out of the ordinary for me!

This week, make sure you take a time out to rest, relax and replenish. Your body will thank you for it!

I Move in Joyous Abundance

the art in my office

What makes you feel joyful and abundant?

How can you create more of that?

Coming Clean

I spent most of the week hunting down a check and trying to figure out how not to take a job I didn't want.

I am seriously hoping that the check issue will get worked out today and I was saved from the bad job by a good job. The reason I am telling you all this is because this week, I had some serious trouble avoiding the voices in my head. The ones that kept telling me I needed a job asap in spite of the fact that if you want to be  technical, I currently have three.

Or the voice that reminded me that 19 days from today I will be 37 and have nothing to show for it.

And then I made a shift.

Because I really do have three jobs. Sure they are just beginning, mostly on call right now, but I have them! I also have some really amazing people in my world who rallied around me the other day when I most needed people to do just that. When breaking it all down, I am not only lucky I am downright blessed.

'Bubbles' (C)2012 S.M. Raven

Last week I lost my glasses, oh the crisis, oh the angst! And again, two of my friends offered to pay for news and another offered me one of her extra pairs. This doesn't really sound like I am living a life of lack, though yes, there are many times when I feel that way.

There is nothing wrong with days when you are feeling low. Just don't let them drag you down to the bottom of the depths. Allow yourself to see and be buoyed by all the love that comes to you, which sometimes isn't actively acknowledged.

What shift do you need to make right now to make the rest of this week better for you?

Wordless Wednesday: In The Meantime

This lovely painting needs a good home. Give a shout if interested.

In progress....

also in progress.....

My First Etsy Sale and Daylight savings

I made my first sale on Etsy! I am pretty excited that the buyer bought what is truly one of my favorite pieces. You know how much I love things that sparkle & shine! And it feels good to have made my first sale!

 Last week was rough because everyone has been sick. Weirdly being sick made more focused so I did four paintings and started a crochet bag as well as working on my crocheted baby sweater. I sadly had to scrap one of the paintings due to the paper but that is still the survival of three I am really happy with!

I am also convinced that I am the only person I know who is excited about daylight savings time. For me it is a time of more light which equals more freedom. When I was younger I had to drive mom around in the winter due to her night blindness. It meant that my winter was never my own and the early dark still makes me a little sad. I never feel like I have lost an hour so much as I have gained more time over all.

My neighborhood at sunset

What successes are you celebrating this week?