Creative Life: Week 25 2024 - Connecting and Moving Forward

Week 25: Momentum - I will take one step forward every day. (SoulSistersToo: Creative)

Intention Setting: Spirit, please help me notice the steps I need to take to move forward.

Connecting and Moving Forward...

This week spirit guided me to connect with friends and family through a variety of ways;

• Visiting them for the day
• Catching up over a cuppa in a cafe
• Texting messages and sending photos
• Phone calls
• Chill out time

When I connect with these special people (people who build me up) I am reminded that these interactions are inspiring and supportive. This was a message I truly needed after so many months working alone on preparing my art exhibition. 

In sharing with loved ones what I've been doing (reflecting) and listening to what they have been experiencing I have discovered a new feeling of momentum. Now, I have a pathway to move towards what I'd like to achieve in the remainder of this year and even in future years. (I find myself thinking about the next exhibition, even though I don't have any new artworks yet.)

Spirit also showed me that sometimes inspiration can come from browsing in a bookstore. I just love bookstores and seeing what delights can be found inside. Unlike last time I went book shopping when I entered the shop this time I didn't have any titles in mind, but soon, two books caught my eye.

Creative Life: Week 24 2024 - Music Is Joy

Week 24: Musicality - Today I will listen to or play music. (SoulSistersToo: Creative)

Intention Setting: Take joy in all kinds of music that your hear or create.

Music Is Joy... 

For me music is joy. I love to listen to music all day long, espically when I create art.

I listen to the radio or to CDs

I sing

I create music on the piano

I listen to bird song 

I hear the sounds of nature and the city - songs of the environment

Music makes my soul soar

Music moves me into flow

Music is life

Last weekend I listened to ABC Classic FM to see which songs were voted as the top 100 feel-good classics. My favourite song was number 7 on the list - The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins.

I wonder where your favourite song ranked?

Creativity: Week 23 2024 - Passion Celebration

Week 23: Passion - I choose to do my passion now. I will not wait. (SoulSistersToo: Creative)
Intention Setting: Enjoy the fruits of my passion by sharing my artwork in my solo exhibition.

Passion Celebration...

After not publicly displaying my artwork since the beginning of the covid pandemic it was time to embrace my passion for creating art and to take joy in sharing  my artwork in my first solo exhibition. 

Thank you everyone who helped me celebrate my passion by visiting my exhibition. And thank you  to those of you who chose to take some of my art home with you. And finally a big thank you to hubby, who attended the exhibition everyday to keep me company and to assist me as required. 

Creativity: Week 22 2024 - Dream Celebration

Week 22: Clarity - I am happier and stronger when I follow my dreams. (SoulSistersToo - Creativity)
Intention Setting: Celebrate and take joy in all the steps you took to manifest your dream, hosting a solo art exhibition.

Dream Celebration... 

On Friday I am setting up my exhibition, Interweaving: Gerringong and Beyond at the Gerringong Library and Museum Gallery. 

Open 31 May to 6 June 2024.

Holding a solo exhibition is one way for me to celebrate my dream of being an artist. This seed of an idea was born 36 years ago. I've taken the windy journey to get here. Sometimes I came across obstacles that took me on detours for many years. These journeys were so long, that I even forgot my dream at times. But spirit always put signs along the way enticing me back to following my dream. 

Creative Life: Week 21 2024 - Answers Are Inside Me

Week 21: Support - I will talk to someone I trust about my fears. (SoulSistersToo - Soulfilled)

Intention Setting: Use the tools at hand to move beyond your fears, trust yourself, trust spirit and your support network.

Answers Are Inside Me...

Reflecting upon this week's affirmation made me realise that over the years I have built a great network of trustworthy people who I can to talk to about my fears;

• My husband
• Mother
• Sister
• Friends
• Psychologist
• GP Doctor and Nurses

But I can also seek assistance and tools closer to home. I can trust myself and I can trust spirit.

Creative Life: Week 20 2024 - Discovery and Fun

Week 20: Playfulness - Today find time to connect to the child within me. (SoulSistersToo - Creativity)

Intention Setting: Spirit, please show me ways to connect to my child.

Discovery and Fun...

While my chores and work do list is long, there is always time -  even if only for 5 minutes - each day to connect to the child within. 

What does it mean to connect to your inner child? I think it is about connecting to the joy of play, discovery and doing things just for the love of it, that children innately do. As an creative noticing what I love is important because that is what inspires my art.

Mmmm what can I do to connect with my child within? To start I could do some of the following;

• colouring-in
• drawing with textas or crayons
• collecting something from nature
• seeing how many different coloured leaves I can find - especially as it currently autumn

What ways can you connect to what you liked to do as a child?

Creative Life: Week 19 2024 - Tea Time

Week 19: Priorities - I choose to put myself first. (SoulSistersToo - Creativity)

Intention Setting: Spirit, please show me ways I can put myself first.

Tea Time...

This week's affirmation is a great reminder to for me to take time to connect with my body, mind and soul while I finish off all the small jobs in preparation for my upcoming exhibition. 

And one way to do this is by drinking Earl Grey Tea from one of my special teacups, saucers and teapots while I journal. One of these tea sets was my Great-Nanny's. Grace was an artist, so I feel the bond of her spiritual creative energy when I sip tea from a cup she used. 

Other ways I can also take care of myself during the last stretch towards the exhibition are;

• get enough sleep
• take an afternoon nap if needed
• take breaks from desk work - stretch or walk
• drink enough water
• eat when hungry
• get some fresh air
• and to take time out to go to a cafe, watch a movie or spend some with family and friends.  

Creative Life: Week 18 2024 - Let my hair down

Week 18: Commitment - I need to spend time on strengthening relationships. (SoulSistersToo - Creativity)

Intention Setting: I will make choices to strengthen my relationship with others, myself and spirit.

Let my hair down...

One way I can strengthen my relationship with myself is to take time to connect to music - using the mode shuffle. I love the unpredictability of this mode. I could be listening to classical to rock, country, pop, techno or rap.

I love to sing; it is enjoyable, makes me smile.

It feels freeing. 

I find myself moving to the beat which makes me feel alive from head to toe.

I can let my hair down.

I let my voice be loud!

Feel uninhibited.

Feel like me.

Creative Life: Week 14 2024 - Mindful Music Listening

Week 14: Listening - Listening to music gives me comfort and pleasure. (SoulSistersToo - Living) 

Intention Setting: Make time each day to listen to some music in a mindful way.

Mindful Music Listening...

I listen to music every day. 

I put music on for background noise while I work. 

I play music for creative inspiration.

I play music in the car.

Sometimes songs pop into my head as a response to the world around me. For instance when I watch the sunrise I think of the songs; Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles or The Morning Has Broken by Yusuf / Cat Stephens.

I pop on the radio when I have an afternoon rest or before I go to sleep.

My days are filled with music 

BUT

I do not tend to stop and listen to the music and the words 

SO 

This week I have set aside time to...

Listen to music in  in a purposeful and mindful way. 

To notice the bird songs I hear.

To be still and listen to music without doing other tasks.

To listen to a song's lyrics...and sing them too.

To feel the music's beat within my body.

To move my body with the music's rhythm.

To hear music consciously.

Creative Life: Week 13 2024 - Replenishing Energy

Week 13: Replenish - I give myself permission today to do nothing, so I can replenish my energy. (SoulSistersToo - Living)

Intention Setting: If I feel low energy I will replenish my energy rather than push through the feeling.

Replenishing Energy...

The wise woman within reminded me that I don't have to push on trying to do things when I have low energy. Instead I can take moments to nurture myself, recharge my batteries and then when I feel more energised I can continue with my to do list.

This week I have replenished my energy through;

• a home facial - replenishing my skin
• meditation - replenish my soul and rest my body
• painting - replenishing my creative spirit
• watching something funny, laughter - reducing stress
• reading and completing a word puzzle
• watching the sunrise and sunset
• listening to music and podcasts
• journaling

Creative Life: Week 12 2024 - I Choose Me this Week

Week 12: Authenticity - I choose an authentic life. (SoulSistersToo - Soulfilled)
Intention Setting: Spirit, May I share my authentic self this week, where I do me, not what is expected of me. 

I Choose Me this Week...

This week I am choosing to listen to my authentic self. 

I choose to create or write right now, not in 30 seconds time because the bed "should be made". 

I choose to read rather than do the laundry chores.

I choose to replenish my energy with a nap or watching, The Real Housewives of Orange County, rather than doing items on my to do list.

I choose to have my main meal at lunch and not at dinner time because that's what we've always done.

I choose to spend extra time reflecting in my journal when I have an art exhibition to prepare for.

I choose to answer emails once in the am and pm, rather than answer emails as soon as they arrive in my inbox.

I choose to make connections with family and friends, and follow rabbit holes of my choosing, rather than following a social media thread selected by algorithms. 

I choose to create as my career.

I choose to work towards my first solo exhibition. 

I choose who I want to connect with.

I choose to listen to my inner child and follow the joy in life.

I choose a clam and slow path, rather than a busy lifestyle.

I choose to listen to my internal wise woman rather than external voices and seek external support when needed.

I choose the real me. 

I choose to make myself happy. 

Creativity: Week 11 2024 - Flower Drawings = Joy

Week 11: Delight - I choose to do things that make me feel happy. (SoulSistersToo - Creative)

Intention Setting: Spirit assist me in doing things that make me feel happy and to notice what things bring me joy. 

Flower Drawings = Joy

Every now and then I do some little stylised drawings of flowers, both real and imagined. Drawing simple flowers like these brings me so much joy, I begin to move into a feeling of creative flow.

I encourage you too to play with a pen or any mark making materials you have nearby and see how many different flower drawings you can create.  

Creativity: Week 10 2024 - Discovering Through Play

Week 10: Discovery - Today I will take the time to discover something new. (SoulSistersToo - Creative)

Intention Setting: Spirit please assist me to be open to discovering something new.

Discovering Through Play...

This week I've been discovering or rediscovering a range of different things; new music, re-tasting food and new creative explorations.

New Music: I listened to the Oscar nominated songs I have not heard before and I went down a rabbit hole listening to a music style called Bardcore. Bardcore is revamped popular songs using medieval style  music. I listened to quite a few songs by an artist known as the Canadian Hildegard von Blingin' eg. Jolene, Painted Black, Wicked Game, Holding out for a Hero and Bad Romance.

Re-tasting Food: I am in the process of feeding my gut biome a larger range of foods. This week I re-tasted sardines and artichoke hearts after years of not eating them.

Creative Explorations: I also took some time for intuitive creative play in my sketch book, while listening to bardcore music. Drawing lines and shapes with a gel pen*. Trying washes of light coloured acrylic paint. And playing with a red fineliner^ pen and unactivated Scribble Sticks*^, a water-soluble pigment, like a woodless pencil or crayon.

I hope that you too can discover something new this week or something you haven't done for a long time. 

* Uni-ball Signo Line Gel Pen 0.7 black

^ Staedtler triplus fineliner brilliant colours

*^ Dina Wakley Media Scribble Sticks, water-soluble pigments by rangerink 

Creative Life: Week 9 2024 - Grounding

Week 9: Health - I choose to live a healthier life. (SoulSistersToo - Living)

Intention Setting: Spirit, May you continue to guide me in choosing healthy life choices for my body, mind and soul.

Grounding...

When hubby and I are at our coastal home we often spend some of the evening by the ocean, watching the waves. This week while sitting at the picnic table I took off my shoes to feel the grass between my toes. Grounding is something that I have to consciously make time to do because when you live in an apartment you are surrounded by humanmade surfaces, with little to no opportunity to feel the earth with your bare feet.

For me it is easier to live a creative life when my body, mind and soul feel balanced, heard and acknowledged.

Health - Being outside taking in the fresh ocean air. Breathing is Grounding. 

(There is the belief that being barefoot on earth - earthing - can have a wide range of health benefits.)

Mind - Watching waves with your feet on the natural ground is meditative and inspiring. Feeling Nature is Grounding.

Soul - A connection to mother earth, nature and energy. Spiritual Grounding.

I hope that you too can find time to feel grounded with your bare feet on the earth, balancing your body, mind and soul.

Creative Life: Week 8 2024 - A Turning Point

Week 8: Reverence - I choose self care. (SoulSistersToo - Living)
Intention Setting: Spirit, May I remember to take moments of self-care as I strive to achieve my stepping stones. 

A Turning Point...

What does this book have to do with living a creative life? Knowledge and the unleashing of creative energy.

Four years ago (actually its really 15+ years but that is a story for another day) I had a goal to live a healthier life because I wanted a body that could support me in achieving my creative dreams. This year when I brainstormed my Ease-filled Stepping Stones, one goal regarding my health was to learn more about food health and menopause. I wanted to move my creative life forward without my health being an obstacle. 

At the end of January I received a medical test result that was the jolt I needed to finally move the dial to full blast, choosing a louder healthier creative life rather than the quite life of an ill artist. 

Creative Life: Week 7 2024 - Feeding the Creative Soul

Week 7: Breathe - I will take a moment to center myself and breathe. (SoulSistersToo - Soulfilled)

Intention Setting: Each morning may I breathe and centre myself to listen to my body, mind and spirit about how I can live an ease-filled day achieving my stepping stones.

Feeding the Creative Soul....making a spiritual connection with a friend.

I work alone and at home so it is easy to become isolated - other than seeing the people you live with or a weekly phone call with your mother.

So when I wrote my ease-filled stepping stones I added one labeled, visit friends. This week I set aside time to see my bestie - we've been friends since we went to kindergarten together. We debriefed, shared, laughed and talked about art. 

It's like a feeding of my creative soul, a spiritual refresh when living a creative life. And after she left I had energy to play with some materials I rarely use.

Creativity: Week 6 2024 - Wardrobe Dilemma

Week 6: Caring - I choose to care for myself. (SoulSistersToo - Soulfilled)
Intention Setting: Spirit please assist  me to say yes to stepping stones of health, creativity and spiritual connection so I can care for myself in a ease-filled way.

Wardrobe Dilemma...how to turn self care into a joy filled creative moment.

Creative Life: Week 4 2024 - Activating My Senses

Week 4: Guidance - I will ask for professional help early. (SoulSistersToo - Soulfilled)

Intention Setting: Be open to help that you need. 

Living a creative life for me is also about activating all of my senses. This reminds me to stop and be fully present in each moment. 

This week being present was about acknowledging feelings when they surfaced and then reconnecting to what ever was happening around me. Like taking time to stop to smell, taste and look at my bergamot tea that the doctor recommend me to drink.