Layers of Adventure

 I love to create, but sometimes I fall into this place. That place where I worry if I'm marketable, if others will appreciate me and my work, if they will even understand. I've been there for awhile, and then today, I realized that I DON'T create for others! I create for ME!
 When I paint for myself, I make things and use materials in ways I never would have, if I put thought and direction into it. I'm not saying a plan is a bad idea...it's just not the way I work. I create freely and intuitively, then I find the imagery in the art. Then I pull it out with high and low lighting-some of my paintings are ten even fifteen layers deep, but each layer tells a story of the adventure of the piece. The growth of the the releasing of creativity. When I forget that, painting becomes a chore. But today, it was a gift!
 Let yourself free, and take an adventure into and with your art, you will be surprised where you end up if you just LET GO.

Let Your Soul Ring True

 It's so easy to...

get caught up in competition

care too much what others think

scan online and 'wish' you could do that

spend more time on the computer than creating

Spend all of your time thinking up ideas not making

be terrified of rejection

think you are not good enough

second guess yourself

Here is what I've decided.

No one in this whole ding dang world is you. NO ONE thinks like you or shares your soul. If you have the same idea as someone and you put it out there it will still radiate of you, in the best way possible. Your artistic thumbprint will be all over it- your energy vibrating off of it. It's a piece of you! Sometimes I see someone else's work that kinda resembles mine, we were obviously working off the same creative universal wave length- no biggie, it happens.

( I am in no way saying it's cool to rip people off, in fact- ewww you lazy jerkface if you can't come up with your own ideas- the universe is huge and creative energy is everywhere- don't be a thief- or an ass)


Dang-i'm rambling...what I'm trying to say is you need to create. No matter what you think others will think or say about your piece. You need to create for YOU. Not for money, or status or peer accolades. FOR YOU.  The reason the Universe gave us creative ability is so we can express ourselves in a way that is visual and beautiful to us. The thing is, what's beautiful to us may not be beautiful to someone else, it may be crap. But who cares??? Did you feel good making it? Do you love it? Then everyone else can bugger off!

The more love and soul you put into each piece you create, it will show. Someone will notice that a certain piece you are creating speaks to them for some reason, and they will want it. Your job as an artist, is not to worry about that. Don't worry where the money will come from. CREATE from the heart and the Universe will take care of the rest...I promise. Quit worrying and wasting all of your precious energy on anything worrisome- CREATE from your heart and all will be okay.

Let your soul ring true.

I am Triumphant!

Today I dropped my keys into my car engine...and then dug around on all fours looking in the grass and on the ground under the car, no luck. Dug through the engine, took the battery out, did everything I could think of...but never not once, did I get angry...I just kept trying different things and knew something was gonna work. I lied on my back and banged under the car to try to 'hear' the keys jingle...I finally heard a muffled jingle. Guess where they were?!? 

IN THE BUMPER!

IN THE FREAKIN BUMPER!

So...i got the screwdriver and took half the bolts off the body of the car, then I pulled the plastic of the front bumper back and shimmeyed the keys out- 

SUCCESS!

I never had the idea "I can't do this" or, "I'll never get this figured out", I just tried everything I could think of until something worked! Something always works. Always. 

Never give up.

Never think you can't do something.

And never, never, forget that the Universe has a twisted sense of humor...and that it's always telling you something...

You just have to listen.

Muladhara

this is a self empowering series that I will offer on Wednesdays- let me know if you enjoy it!

Survival- Security

(I've been working on my Chakras for a while now, and I feel like it's an ongoing process, but that I'm really starting to understand the process and myself a lot more...here is just a bit of what I've learned for you to start your own practice and healing...)

What are Chakras?
 Chakra's (pronounced Cha-kra, like chocolate chip...thanks Sam and Kaoverii!) are mental and emotional energy centers placed along your spine. Asana's (yoga poses) were invented to help heal and release blockages within your chakra system. ANYONE can work on their Chakra's- without going against their religious beliefs.  Learning about your chakra's gives you access to your bodies physical responses so you can minimize the negative effects and maximize the positive ones!
 There are currents of energy that course throughout your body - like a road map they are plentiful, but there are 4 main highways...the first two are-
 The upward current-Mukti or the freedom path runs from the earth and rises through the body toward ever more awareness.
The downward current Bukti or manifestation  starts at the crown of your head and goes down towards the earth growing more and more specific until it manifests on a physical plane.

Peoples issues are almost never physical but always tied to mental or chakra energy. Heal that and heal yourself.

Muladhara is your first chakra, also called the root chakra.  It  represents how you participate in the physical realm...body, home, work, environment ..it's self preservation...it makes sure you survive so you can continue to grow and enjoy this journey.

So, I recommend journaling everyday, and also meditate and do asana's. While working on your Root Chakra ask yourself a few questions while sitting grounded and concentrating on the chakra such as...

What keeps me grounded?
How do I connect with my physical body? With Nature?
Where do I feel safe?

As you journal, really listen to your truth. Envision your self; safe and sound, and open your self to the energy around you. This may bring up issues you never realized you had, with yourself, environment or your spirit. That's okay! Getting to know the real you is scary. Admitting your different than what you thought you knew is weird to most people. But, the better you understand yourself, you give yourself the gift of growth and truth and change. Open up and experience all that life is offering, it's an amazing trip!

If you feel as if this is a journey you cant handle on your own, you are welcome to email me ( happysappytrees@gmail.com) with questions and comments. I would be happy to help in any way I can. I'm no expert, but,  I have been working on myself since I realized I was alive. It's a never-ending journey and I'm constantly being taught by others around me as well as my subconscious. You can never have enough knowledge or growth! I'd love to hear about your journey!

 I will be offering an on-line workshop based on healing, chakras and intuition starting in January. I hope that you will join me for that as well!

Love Your Body

Raise your body image with the begining of my Official 

Body Consciousness Plan

I'm really working on myself inside and out. In doing so I've been figuring out things that work for me, and I think they'll work for you too! Let's follow these together and I'll post my results monthly...I can't wait to see what December will hold for my soul!

 1. Become aware of your negative body talk. Negativity affects you inside and out, I can't say it enough, there are enough negative people saying negative things about you, don't add to it! Only point out what you do like and repeat it to yourself daily. I love my butt, it's big, and round and well; baby got back. I love it...it makes my jeans look amazing and my dresses fit awesomely!

 2. Do an energy scan- Once a day (I do it after yoga, before meditation) sit down and close your eyes. Breathe in and out with deep evenly counted breaths. Turn your attention towards your body- starting at the tips of your toes, Notice if anything feels weird, pained, or tense. If it does, place your hand on that spot and concentrate on "breathing" positive oxygen into that spot.Continue to do that throughout your body. Dis-ease can't live in a place that is oxygenated. And it never hurts to envision light pouring into your hand as well!

 3. Talk with your body image- Sit in a comfortable position, breathing deeply and evenly. Close your eyes and envision yourself sitting across from you. Notice every detail of your image. Ask it questions- Are you okay? Do you have anything to tell me? To teach me? Make sure to tell your image how much you love it. Visualize giving yourself a hug and really loving yourself.When you are finished, journal your results. It's amazing what doing this monthly or so and journaling about it, what a difference you'll read in your writings.

I'll continue to add to this series throughout the month. Let's make November POSITIVE IMAGE MONTH! It never hurts to give yourself some lovin'!

Process Not Product

If you asked a student of the fine arts to define my works I bet they would call it juvenile, immature, or just plain ugly. But the thing I have so much trouble trying to convey, is that I don't create art to hang and admire. I'm not in a competition to win awards or ribbons, and I'm not wanting to take part in the fine arts groups who snub other creatives. I paint and make to improve me. I work through mental issues or times on paper and canvas. I disassemble my dreams and thoughts through paint and ink. 

I PAINT FOR PROCESS

If more folks painted because it feels good, instead of trying to make money or be admired at how 'talented' they are, I think the stress levels of the world would decrease exponentially. I'm happiest when i have paint on my hands or words flowing through me onto paper. You can't fake the kind of freedom and joy I feel when I create. And you cant buy that feeling either.

Making art IS the art.

 The final piece is just a material thing to collect dust and be seen. When you teach someone how to create, you don't use a finished painting or object and say "copy this". You talk about the processes you used when creating the piece, how you approached it, and what you did. Anyone can create. Teaching the ins and outs of art is an amazing craft and with practice you could create an image so fine it can look like a photograph.But is that FUN? Are you enjoying recreating a replica of an object already in existence? Wouldn't it feel better to start a painting or poem or song or drawing, and being a lighter and better person when you finished that piece? What if you could solve a personal dilemma just by painting? 

YOU ARE A CREATIVE SOUL

Don't let the fact that you "can't" draw keep you from scribbling or doodling or drawing. Make something! There is no difference between you and Van Gogh or Warhol or Kahlo. They were humans, who had a vision, and the confidence to follow through with it. They believed in their creativity and art regardless of what others thought. And you should too! Believe in yourself, trust the process, all will be 

AWESOME!!

She Runs Too-(WIP)

Intuitive Painting using Acrylic and ink- Still not finished!!

Goddessing

Spurred by centuries of male dominated organized religion (or a supreme deity referred to by masculine pronouns i.e. "he"), some women embraced the idea of a female deity that was more in keeping with feminist beliefs and the inherent value of women. A unifying theme of the movement was that the gender of deity characterizes the political gender-bias of the religion, so a Goddess Worshipping religion is held to be matriarchal and a "God" worshipping religion is held to be patriarchal.

Goddess beliefs can take many forms; some people in the Goddess movement recognize multiple goddesses. Some also include gods. While others honor what they refer to as "the Goddess", which is not necessarily seen as monotheistic, but is often understood to be an inclusive, encompassing term incorporating many goddesses in many different cultures. The term "the Goddess" may also be understood to include a multiplicity of ways to view deity personified as female, or as a metaphor, or as a process.

• Goddesses refers to a local or specific deities linked clearly to a particular culture and often to particular aspects, attributes and powers.

One can regard a goddess (in this sense) as an aspect of the Great Goddess as well as a specific goddess with a particular role within a pantheon.

• The Goddess or the Great Goddess is a female deity that is regarded as primary. When Goddess is spoken of as a personal guardian, as in 'my Goddess' it usually means 'my worldview in Goddess spirituality.'

• Goddess Spirituality is sometimes used as a synonym for Goddess Movement and sometimes as the spiritual practice that is part of the Goddess movement.

• Goddessing means Goddess culture, Goddess way of life, Goddess practice, or 'my goddessing' as in my individual interpretation and experience of Goddess.

(Found on Wikipedia)

My love of women has only within the past 10 years been renewed. I was always the girl with all the guy friends because other girls were too bitchy or high maintenance. I considered myself a feminist and wanted nothing to do with ladies in lipstick or fancies and frills. And then it hit me- Feminine is the Meaning of Feminism- you can't have one with out the other. It's not degrading in any way to love to cook, or knit, or breed, or mother, or be pretty. And why dislike other women? They are just as unsure or insecure as I am. I don't do anything in this life to please anyone else but myself. And the thing that pleases me most is to help others find the magic within themselves. And help them bring it out into the open. I want to be TRUE and I want others to find their truth too. 

I AM A GODDESS~ AND SO ARE YOU!

This does not mean that you are going against you're religion, or that you feel like you're better than others. Or even that you are more 'enlightened'. It just means that you can except the fact that you are a creative and unique woman with the power to do anything you set your mind to. And you are not afraid of you're own power. Let's believe in ourselves and share our power with our sisters. Give love!

Confidence from the Universe

It's not the steps that matter, anastasia, but the path.

All is well,
    The Universe

I receive these emails from the universe every couple of days , and let me tell you....they're almost always on time!I need these confidence boosters as much as I second guess myself sometimes, and they always make me smile! To start receiving some universal love into your inbox go to Mike Dooley's website at TUT and sign up, while your there peruse through everything and be amazed at the positivity that seeps through your computer!

Grounded

 I've finally realized that my gypsy days need to be over. That my roots are starting to form tight knots and furls underneath the grass and embedding themselves so deeply into the soil that they'll be no easy moving. I fought that for so long...thinking I'm going to be better here or there...but I'm best in ME and now that I'm finally coming to understand that I think it's time to work on my environment...my surroundings. I've really been given some amazing advice by my friend Rachel and I've decided to listen with all of me, not just my ears. I'm going to ACCEPT my surroundings and path, and TRUST that the Universe is taking care of me. I've always believed that, but there's been a tiny kernel of doubt lingering somewhere just near the back of my brain. That 'logic' part that tries not to trust or believe in anything...I've given in fully to faith and trust and thrown away all doubt. EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT! The path that forms ahead of me as each day develops is the right path for me, I know this because I'm only making decisions that feel right to me that are good for me and that I want to do. This is not a selfish way of thinking, it's just understanding that if I'm good and happy, I'll try to create that in everyone around me and hopefully the joy will shrug off me like glitter, and stick to every surface! This self-realization journey is by no means over, and I fully understand that it's a practice...like my art and meditation and yoga...I will always learn something new, and making adjustments for comfort are always allowed.

• I am safe, secure, centered, and at peace
• I move into my greater good
• I love and approve of myself
• 
  
• All I need is always taken care of
• I am safe
• I am strong
• I am confident
• I am comfortable with change and growth.
• My good is everywhere and I am safe
• I relax completely for I now know I am safe
• I trust Life and I trust myself
• I am totally safe in the Universe
• I am at peace everywhere
• I am safe and secure and understood
• I belong wherever I am
• I bless my future and no that it is safe and wonderful
• I affirm my right to the life I know I want
• I accept myself as I am
• I am grateful for the experiences of my life
• I am sustained and nourished by nature