Tree Goddess of Wisdom & Gold

Energetic Rainbows

Trust Within

Acceptance

Compassionate Waters

Do you ever run into someone, do business with someone or have a fleeting friendship with someone that makes you wonder, “Why in the world have we been brought together?” Are they just random encounters? Meaningless contacts? For me, I personally don’t think so. I believe we are all here to clear the air with each other

Up close and personal with the warrior goddess within

As I’m painting, sometimes–okay a lot of times–I wonder what is the purpose of the connection between the recipient and I. What higher purpose is there that this person and I have been brought together to exchange energy? Ultimately, we will never know. Thankfully, we don’t need to know. All I am certain about is that I am doing my “cleaning” as I paint. Any memories that come up while I am painting, I offer them up to divinity to transmute with love so that the energy I am sending out is that of pure light. I do this by responding to the memories with “I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.” Not only am I saying those phrases, but I am admitting that I really don’t know what is going on in me or in the world. From each of our standpoints, we only have tiny pieces of the universal puzzle, and it seems absurd to me that we presume to “know” so many things based on the information passed on to us from others (who ultimately don’t “know” anything either!). Don’t get me wrong, while none of us ultimately “know” anything, as divine beings and physical representations of the spiritual whole, the oneness that we are, we also know everything there is for us to know on an intuitive level.

A closer look into expressing sensuality

So how does this relate to Aura Art, you may be wondering? Well for example, I did a painting recently for a woman. I did not know this woman (save for reading some of her posts on a forum) and I had only a few bits of information on what kind of colors and such she might like to see in her painting. I had a few images pop into my mind of what color combinations and possible patterns might appear on the canvas. As I started painting, I had a memory pop up in my mind. It involved a time and scenario when I felt violated and ashamed of my inner sensuality and sexuality. Negative emotions replayed in my mind for a second, and I did not enjoy the energy. I worried for a second that this energy was going into the painting, or maybe it was coming from the recipient, who knows? Either way, I appealed to divinity, asking “What is it in me that I am experiencing the replay of this memory? I am sorry for whatever I have done in part to create this, and thank you for the opportunity to clear it. I trust that divinity knows what needs healing, and will transmute this energy to pure light. I love you. Thank you.” I continued for awhile, and gradually felt the energy shift. It was not sudden, or like a huge “Aha!” moment, it was subtle. When I let go and let the universe be the one to handle it, then I began to feel relief. Insights slowly started flowing in. I knew what I needed to do in the moment, and I felt great healing in the areas of my sensuality and sexuality. I did not know what the recipient would take away from this, all I know is that I am doing my part, and that is the cleaning. Cleaning the memories that surface from the subconscious mind’s database.

Up close with enchantment

When the recipient received the details of the experience via email and glimpsed a photo of the painting before receiving it, she commented on how this all seemed to bring out a part of her that she’d buried for some time. I still do not know what she is ultimately receiving from the painting, but I am feeling good about the energy between us. I feel ‘clean and clear” so-to-speak! Like whatever past karma we may have had between us or our ancestors has been forgiven and we can simply move on with love for ourselves in a new light!

A piece of Rejuvenation

That is how I feel after I finish every painting! Refreshed, relieved, uplifted, renewed, and full of love and compassion for myself and the world. I am simply doing my part, by following my intuition, mind,  heart and soul. By cleaning all the “stuff” that emerges in me as problems or  challenges. By constantly renewing, refining, and restoring my passions and doing what I love to do. And most importantly (I feel), surrounding myself with pure divine light, offering this love to anyone in the universe who wishes to share it with me.

The Warrior Goddess, for Ashley

Over the last week or so, I have experienced a noticeable shift in my life. It is something that I can’t quite put my finger on, but it is showing up in all areas of my being, including my art. Something seemed to switch gears in the evolution of my creative expression. When I was taking art classes in school, some fabulous pieces of art were created. I accredit this to having teachers who could sense my inner potential, and would push me a bit further than I wanted to go. In essence, they didn’t give me much room to be lazy! I would say I was done with a piece and they would gently suggest I go a little further with it. I learned that with love, passion, time, practice, and attention to detail, I could create some awesome works of art!

When I wasn’t taking art classes, it was rare that I actually created any pieces that had a lot of thought put into them. I’d haphazardly whip up something here and there, but nothing that I felt was what I could really do. The last art class that I’ve taken was Design, at the City College of San Francisco. It sparked my interest in art back up, after a lengthy interval of what I now refer to as “creative rest.” I managed to consistently keep up with my creative output, in a joyful and carefree way. I even voluntarily did some pieces that had a substantial amount of energy go into their creation. When I got pregnant with my first child, things slowed way down in the creative department. I did a couple paintings while pregnant, but my focus was mostly on photography and writing at that point.

Three years later, a dramatic shift in my life occured when my children’s father and I separated. For the last nine months, I have been concentrating on rebuilding my strength, rediscovering my inner self and my passions, and reconnecting with my spirit and the Source from which I’ve come. In that time, I was inspired to pick up the paintbrush again. I spent some money on canvas and found my old paints and went to town. I had avoided it for a long time, feeling pressure from myself to create something grand if I was going to pick up the brush at all. I mean, I didn’t want to waste the supplies I’d spent money on doing something “silly” like fingerpainting. Well, I threw that belief out real quick this time around! I said to hell with it, and painted whatever I felt like. And if I said it was done when I’d barely even begun, that I was done! No pressure. After doing a lot of this, I felt ready to move up a bit, and put a little more focus into each piece. My art began to take shape. Its like I had thrown out all my art knowledge, and started from scratch, playing with colors and just having fun. And naturally, as my strength and true self gradually built up and expanded in other areas of my life, my art did the same. Little by little, I’d change it up a bit, trying different patterns, designs, color combinations, and just went with the flow, feeling out the energy of the painting. It has been oh-so-therapeutic. Often, as I am painting and get into the “no-thought” zone, something will come up that needs to be cleared. An issue will pop into my head that I feel uncomfortable about, and sometimes this is when I take a break from painting, or if I’m in the groove, I keep going. I ask myself what it is that I am needing in the moment, and the answer comes easily from the Source.

Total Authenticity, for Aimee

The more I went with the vibrational flow of my passion for art and writing, the more that was added to the development of what is now Aura Art. I have gotten to a point where it is my desire to focus these energies on the recipient of the painting, and that whatever messages or healing that I receive during a session of painting are to be passed along to the recipient. I may not know what the purpose of the messages are, but the recipient knows. I am the channel for the Source to come through me with inspiration and love, and whatever comes I trust is meant for the highest good of all involved in the process, and beyond.

And now, just in the last couple paintings I’ve done, I’ve felt yet another shift. There is an energy in me wanting to be released, a more tedious and particular kind of energy that wants to pay more attention to detail, even if just temporarily. This also explains why I’ve slowed down a bit, as the last two paintings I’ve done have each taken 2 days to complete. I welcome this shift, as I know it is a sign that more parts of my inner potential are wanting to come to the surface. I’ve primed my creativity to a point where I feel safe putting more energy into a particular piece. I also sense though, that there will be the sporadic super-simple painting in between some of the more detailed ones, and this is good! Sometimes, I just love staring into one of my two-color spiral vortex paintings. The simplicity is soothing, relaxes my mind. But be expecting a surge (even if just a mini one!) of paintings that seem to be a little more detailed than my usual creations!

Beach side of the park

The boys and I went to the beach the other day, which happens to also be a huge park with a sidewalk circling the perimeter. It was such a nice way to pass the time away while relaxing, having fun, and being out of the house. Although I have lived on an island my whole life, I have not ventured to the beach much since I’ve had children! This is mostly because I’ve experienced too many tantrums over getting out of the water, or god forbid, leaving the beach. I don’t like ending things on a negative note, so having that experience as the ending to our adventure was just not all that appealing!

Little boys on a mission!

Nevertheless, I love the beach. I love listening the sound of the water, letting the suns rays purify my Being, looking for shells to add to our collection, eating yummy snacks, releasing energy by playing in the water and running in the sand and the grass, and just being somewhere that seems to be designated as a place of fun and relaxation. While I am there, I can’t stop and say “Wait, let me go switch out the laundry real quick” or “Hang on a minute, I just have to clear the kitchen a bit before we go outside.” There is no delaying the fun when you are at the beach or the park! So we went again today. And this time, I was totally prepared. I packed plenty of snacks, water, towels, extra clothes, a blanket, reading/writing materials for me in case inspiration struck, toys, and even extra shoes for particular little boys who can’t stand their slippers being wet.

Mommy & Every in the water

Today I really just let go. I stopped trying. I find that I am always “trying” to do things. Trying to relax. Trying to clean. Trying to be a nice mommy. Trying to be creative and artistic. Today I said “to hell with it” and just stopped trying. I was totally myself, which included a few mean monster mommy moments! But we also had a ton of fun in our three hour beach park excursion. I accepted the fact that the boys were going to be obsessed with the water, and would have sand hidden in crevices I never knew existed on their little bodies. I accepted the fact that the house might be a disaster when we got home, and that I didn’t have to clean it yet if I didn’t want to. I accepted the fact that today was going to be designated as a fun day, but that I wasn’t going to TRY to make it a fun day. It was just going to BE a fun day. And overall, it was. =)

The park side of the beach park

Beautiful Glimmering Beach Boy

Let's go in the water NOW mom!

Beach monkeys on the table

Self Love Consciousness

The first one I completed is a surprise for a special someone, and has no title yet. I feel a delicate and compassionate connection to my inner femininity. Feminine consciousness and self love seem to go hand in hand with this painting experience. I’ve actually been experiencing some of my own issues coming up to be cleared, as well as issues of others that were of course, within me as well. This painting reminds me to be gentle with myself when sensitive areas are exposed for healing. This is a time for nurturing my inner being, my inner child, my inner male and female in balance. It is a time to be selfish enough to meet my own needs and restore my own energy banks, so that I can have a clear and open channel in which energy can flow through me from the universe into the world. A must be my own center of love and forgiveness, compassion and affection. I also feel a sense of inner romance and intimacy. This is a time to take myself on the “date” of my dreams, treating myself as a goddess, doing for myself all the things I hope to receive from the world around me. I am reminded of our feline companions, who are all about restoring their own energy on a moment-to-moment basis! We have much to learn from these creatures of unending self-love! I experienced a great healing from this painting experience, and it manifested in all kinds of ways, most noticeably in the physical form. I was practically forced to stop everything for a day and just concentrate solely on listening to what my body needs from me in each moment. What a gift!

Communication With Divinity, for Elisabeth

The 2nd one was appropriately titled “Communication with Divinity” for a wonderful woman named Elisabeth. It was a very earthy and playful painting. I was grounded, yet light on my toes! I felt between worlds, totally open and vulnerable, in a joyfully receptive state of allowance and acceptance. Music, love and gratitude are keys to this state of being. While painting, it was clear that peace really does begin with a smile! As soon as you even begin to think about feeling good, magical things start happening immediately whether you are aware of it or not! It is a beautiful phenomenon. We are all participating in this energy exchange with the universe on a moment to moment basis! During this creation’s evolution, I had wonderful messages sent to me that I was on the right path when I honored the urges within me, and especially when those urges  involved tuning in to nature, doing things just for the simple joy of doing them, and sharing a smile or a laugh with those in our presence. Its funny actually, because “those” that were/are in my presence, seemed to be there spiritually with me, and it felt as if they were teasing me a bit! Like everywhere I would turn, there seemed to be little messages, little signs, little jokes from the universe and the beings within. It was so nice though, because I did not feel an ounce of loneliness the whole time! You could call me the crazy lady who sat outside talking to the trees and the rocks around me. Better yet, I received a message from the stool that I sat on while painting! Apparantly, I need to get myself an easle, because painting on my kitchen table is a bit challenging for my body after awhile. But you should have heard what the stool I sat upon had to say about this! For discretion purposes, I will not reveal that particular message in this post, but just rest assured that the stool seems to share my dry humor! Beautiful and joyful experience!

Rejoicing in Soul Rejuvenation, for Genevieve

The 3rd painting created, is titled Soul Rejuvenation, and is for a woman named Genevieve. When I woke up in the morning, I knew something had shifted within me. I felt like so much had been cleared within me, so much that I wasn’t even aware of, that I felt light and bouncy! I felt an energy and vitality that I have not felt since before my first child was born. That’s over three years! I was motivated to get going with the day, taking each moment in beautiful flowing strides, open to what was to come. My children definitely felt this shift, and they were enjoying the bliss right along with me! We had picnics outside, and the word just kept shouting itself out loud in my mind, from my mouth, out of my paintbrush, and from my hands: REJUVENATION! We must celebrate the inner tranquil within, cherish every zealous moment we come across! I felt so grounded, yet my spirit was reaching out into the cosmos across the universe, expanding through love, joy, and peace. So, so SO beautiful! I can’t describe with words the absolute knowingness that I experienced throughout this painting and the day surrounding it. Everything in life seems to just fall into place, and ALL IS WELL, always! Sometimes we get scared that all is not well, and even during those times of fear and uncertainty, all STILL is well! How comforting and relaxing, to know that even when fear comes up in my life, I can rest assured that ALL STILL IS WELL, whether I believe it or not! Rejoice!

Life is a Dance, for Andrea

The latest one I’ve completed is titled “Life is a Dance” for a beautiful woman named Andrea. It was so fun and comforting to experience this painting. I felt like I had company with me the whole time, friends of all walks of life. We were one in our joyful gathering, enjoying music, food and laughter together. It occured to me that we can choose this feeling at any moment in our lives. Really! We can be in a state of bliss and oneness with all in every moment of our lives if we chose to. Pick a moment and start a party! Believe me, you are NEVER alone, and any moment is a great one for a get together, even if its “just” you and the universe! Make great food and drink, turn on your favorite sounds, or make the music yourself! Put on clothes that put you in the mood for a celebration! Life is a dance, so get up and start moving! And be silly! Laughing with yourself is oh-so-healing, and as you move your body with joy, energy easily flows through! Areas that have held on to stuck energy are forced to release and let go, all the energy jiggled out of those points! I feel lighter already just thinking about dancing my energy loose!

Dining Area, BEFORE

Kitchen Sink & Cabinets, BEFORE

The Dining Area, AFTER

Living and Office Areas, BEFORE

Keep in mind that my home has been ever-evolving for the last 8 or so months, and the before pictures are a huge improvement from its previous state. I should include the “before” pictures of the “before” pictures!

The Living Room Area, BEFORE

The Living & Office Area, AFTER

Upon Entering, AFTER

This Taurus full moon, we’ve been spending a lot of time outdoors and taking walks. Getting in touch with nature and the rhythms of the earth and spiritual bodies arounds us really gets me into a clearer state to receive images for paintings that am urged to create. I get those huge “AHA!” moments where I just know exactly what I am going to paint. Or at least how the painting is going to start! I’ve been getting my home in order and spending time beautifying and expanding my redesign project a bit further. Doing this has given me some inspiration for this next round of Aura Art paintings that I am doing for a lovely group of women! I intend on using this full moon energy for appreciating all things coming to fruition. As the waning period begins, I am focusing on tying up loose ends with existing projects. I’m also doing some preperations for upcoming projects here and there. It is a beautiful moon, and I am going to get my butt off the computer now to go enjoy it!

So just as we can easily see the beauty in something or someone that we love, we can also learn to feel love for something or someone that we discover as beautiful. For instance, I have this plant in my home that was neglected for sometime. It didn’t look as vibrant and healthy as before. I didn’t love it so much as I had, and so could not recognize its beauty as much either. I realized the cycle I had engaged in, and began sending love to the plant. I would stare at it, looking for parts of it that I still found beautiful. The more I could find and appreciate the plant’s natural beauty, the more I began to love it. And of course, the more I began to love it, the more beauty I could find! And the result of all of this was that because I could see and feel this plant’s inner beauty and potential, I began taking better care of it again. It is now one of the healthiest and most radiant plants in my home now!

We can do this with anyone or anything. Take a moment to try and sense the beauty in something or someone. Notice its shape, textures, and characteristics. Are there certain countours and curves that attract your eye? A particular color that just stands out with presence? Even if you can’t put your finger on it, but can find a good feeling about something or someone, you are on the right track. Please share with me your experiences with this! I find it to be quite transformational every time I do it, with even the simplest things in life!

Each and every painting is a process of self healing and transmutation that I undergo, and I receive new growth and insights everytime. Each one leaves me feeling different from before, and it is refreshing for me to realize this. It was a real bonk-on-the-head moment for me doing this particular painting. Here I was trying to specifically create something in a specific way, and not realizing that as I follow my intuition with each painting, this is what is happening anyway. I had to laugh at myself. The self healing that occurred through the creation of this “transmutation” piece was the realization that it is a lot easier to just go with the flow and not try so hard all the time. When I follow my intuition and allow things to unfold at their own pace, in their own unique way, the things that I desire happen anyway!

So cheers to all who have shared the Aura Art experience with me! It is a gift to me and a gift to all to experience our own unique versions of the world in all its beauty and glory. Peace!

As we all know, children are extremely receptive beings. They hold the gift of simplistic truth and the ability to live in the present in all moments. The beauty of this is that we are each of us still children at heart, so we too still posess these gifts. The children in our lives are here to remind us of this. In my own life, my children seem to really test my ability to keep my cool, especially in public! One such incident (that inspired this post!) occured at K-mart the other day.  My son and I had had a discussion before going to the store that we weren’t buying anything but a picture frame, and he seemed to understand this pretty clearly. I reminded him that we’d be going to grandma’s store afterwards and he could enjoy a smoothie and a cookie as a treat for the day. He seemed excited and content with this information. As we passed through the electronics area, he was distracted by a locked display case containing DVDs of well-known characters that he loves. He begged and begged. I reminded him of our discussion, the later treats, and also that the display was locked and we couldn’t just take one out. He started screaming. I felt the tension coming, and I remembered Ho’oponopono. I immediately offered the situation up for transmutation. Connecting first to my subconscious, I repeated the phrases “I love you,” “I’m sorry,” “Please forgive me,” and “Thank you.” As I was repeating them a few times, he kept begging and screaming. I kept the cart moving toward the picture frames. The incessant Ho’oponopono kept me centered at the least, and also kept me in a non-reaction mode. By taking responsibility that I had somehow created this situation, that the tension I was experiencing was a memory in my subconscious rising to the surface to be cleared and “cleaned,” I was able to remain open to divine transmutation. The conversation in my mind went something like this:

I love you. I love my son, I love myself, I love all, because we are all one and the same. Divinity, I am sorry that I am feeling this way. I do not want to feel this way or experience this, and I understand that you have brought this to my attention for a reason, and that reason being that I have some cleaning to do. Please forgive me for any resentment or rage I am feeling towards you, myself, and my son. I do not understand the infinite complexity of this moment, and it is okay to not know. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Please forgive me for disconnecting from your love that is always pouring over me and my son. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. Thank you. Thank you for loving me. I forgive myself. Thank you. I love you. I love you. I do not know why my son is experiencing such intense energy. I ask that with your love that is within us, anything that is not right be transmuted. Any unwanted thoughts, feelings, energies and ties that are binding us at this moment, please release them now. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I love you.

Keep in mind that while this was all going on in my head, my son was still screaming, and I was just quickly going about my business, letting him know that I hear him, that I can feel his struggle, and that I love him. That I know he really wants something, and that I am listening, but must do what I am doing. With the Ho’oponopono going on in my mind, I was able to stay centered enough to respond ti him in this way. If I hadn’t (and there have been many instances when I did not!), I may have reacted with guilt, blame, and shame. Thinking more along the lines of:

Why can’t you be quiet? I know you want the DVD, but you are really irritating me right now. We already talked about this and now you are just throwing it back in my face, trying to ruin my day! This sucks! I am feeling like crap, people are staring at us, and I’m starting to feel utterly frustrated and confused. Why are you doing this to me? Be quiet!! No! You can NOT have the DVD, we are leaving NOW and I am not getting you anything! Maybe we won’t even go to grandma’s store! 

For me, that is a huge difference. Practicing incessant Ho’oponopono leaves no room in my thoughts for a conversation like the second one mentioned! And with my kids, these conversations can make or break my day sometimes! It really comes down to remembering to practice, and the more frequent the practice, the more it becomes my natural and dominant response to any situation.

I want to mention that I also practice Ho’oponopono out loud around my kids when I feel so inclined. Sometimes I feel like the crazy mommy barely awake with frazzled hair, sitting on the floor surrounded by cheerios and yogurt that have been spilled everywhere, sand creaming children in the background. Yet there I am, sitting, repeating out loud “I LOVE YOU. I’M SORRY. PLEASE FORGIVE ME. THANK YOU!” Sometimes in my raging monster mommy moments, these phrases come out of my mouth as militant commands, as though my ego is fighting against me. Sometimes the conversation during these intense at-home moments goes a little like this when I’m having an “off” day:

I love you. I don’t know that the heck is going on right now but I love you. Thank you for this opportunity for me to let go of my rage. I’m sorry. I don’t know what the heck for, but I’m sorry. I’m sorry I feel like ripping my hair out and just walking out the door, yogurt  dripping off my shoulder and all. I’m sorry for not wanting to be a mommy right now. Please forgive me. Divinity, please forgive me and transmute these feelings with your love. With my love. I love you. I love my children. I love my children. I love my children. Do I really love my children? Yes, I think I do. They are driving me nuts. But I love them. Thank you. I love you. I’m sorry I am seeing this situation as a problem. I’m sorry I cannot see the blessings in all of this right now. I forgive myself. I forgive myself. I forgive myself. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I love you. I love my children. I love myself. I love you. I love you. I love you. Thank you! 

Indeed, Ho’oponopono is a wonderful process for me to practice. It helps for me to remember that I am not doing it to see results. I am doing it to feel better in the moment. And that is the most important result there is.