Energy Transpired through Art

As I turned 30 years old and entered a new era of my life, I began to look back at the process that guided me and wondered where it came from. I started to collect a selection of my art from my first drawings through to my most recent show and made a timeline of images. When I looked at these pieces and their distinct growth, I realized that each painting is a snapshot of me capturing at that moment in time: my best artistic abilities, my energy level, my environment, my level of physical and mental health, and my evolution of inner enlightenment…my connection to the Divine source and all that is.

Everything is energy… and the greater it is (higher the vibration or frequency), the more powerful the impact and message an individual can send. Isn’t this true of all the ‘great’ writers, musicians, poets, thinkers, leaders and artists? The stronger the connection to the divine source, the bigger the energy. Thus, the greater the presence and the more powerful the message to humanity. The conscious or unconscious love energy (the highest frequency energy there is) is created from seeing beauty, joy and truth that bares the true feelings of our soul. Creation is the manifestation of one's inner and outer joy. The more enlightened we are, the more developed our talents will be.

What factors at the ages of 3, 15 and 30 energetically fueled “me” at each point in the timeline, transposing into my art? I believe that in my life there were certain aspects that evolved the creative environment and provided a connection to the soul that allowed me to share my energy through art.

In my youth, I look at the “Flying Cat” from age 3, the Fox and Otter at 10 and the first portraits of my brother Mike and Chief Dan George at the age of 15. Although I may have been born with an ability to draw, it somehow had to be nurtured and fed. The energy of creative inspiration found to manifest these art pieces was directly related to the following experiences in my life as a child: Love from family and friends, being raised by elders and a community, growing up organically, an encouraged imagination, by being immersed in nature and surrounded by animals. The works at this age have joyous tones and reflect a love for the natural world.

At the age of 30 a profound shift happened. I see and feel a marked jump in the quality of my work, even from recent works done at the ages of 28 and 29 just a few years prior. You can visually see the difference, growth and increased frequency of energy transpired on canvas during this short time period. These pieces have a simplicity and quickness that channeled through with least effort, little thought and much feeling. They illuminate light and shadow, and with bolder strokes, combine them both in one piece that is whole. They still shine of joy and beauty but with much more of a mature appreciation than that of my childhood pieces. This is progress…this is evolution of self.

The factors involved in this evolution from 29 to 30 were: going back to organic, purifying my environment, staying immersed in the animal, plant and mineral kingdoms, body rejuvenation and energy clearing, a meditation practice for taming of the mind, prayer and visualization, mental upkeep and growth in self knowledge and awareness; all of which enabled my body to hold a higher frequency as my inner light grew. As my vibration rose through internal and external growth, the transpiration of these practices onto canvas is visually evident in my current “snapshot” of me at 30. The greatest joy is in creation and I look forward to seeing future snapshots of growth in my art as my journey continues along this path. As an artist, what a magnificent honour to be able to partake in such magic and mystery!

Everything is Energy

The higher our energy is (the vibration that each human being resonates at in comparison to the vibration of all other resonating matter), the quicker and easier it is to connect to source (or the universe, light, Great Spirit, God, the Divine…) and hold a higher frequency with our bodies. We are just atoms vibrating at a high frequency…Einstein proved this with E=MC2 and much of the quantum physics work done in science today focuses on this amazing phenomenon.

At higher energy levels, we attract or resonate with all other matter vibrating at that same frequency. If you are vibrating at the highest level possible (that which is love energy) then that is what you will attract for people and experiences in your life. If you are resonating around fear, anger, worry, resentment and negativity then you will be drawing those experiences and people who also resonate at that level into your life.

The same goes with illness and disease, which also resonates at very low energy levels. If our personal energy level drops low due to any of the above negative/fear based factors, stress or environmental pollutants in our lives (unnatural chemicals and carcinogens in our food, air, water, house, clothing, cleaning supplies…ect) then our bodies will become susceptible to illness and disease. When all things die, they become acidic and this is how the cycle of life is signaled to start performing. If we live and eat toxic lives like we are dead, we unconsciously signal to the world with our acidic low levels of health to start the decomposition process. Thus we are vibrating at the levels of the common cold, flu and even cancer. Sometimes it takes illness to heal us and reconnect us back to source.

Our level of health and the environment that surrounds us are direct factors of early energetic development. By eating and living in higher energy ways, we fuel ourselves to resonate at higher vibrations or frequencies that assist us in rising above illness and disease; also helping us manifest and attract higher energy people, life situations and creativity.

Painting Energy from Childhood

Love

Nothing can surpass the feelings and energy that pure unconditional love can bring because it instills the highest vibration of energy possible into others. Love is pure Divine essence. I believe we reflect in ourselves what we see in others and vice versa. A child growing up feeling and knowing love in a nurturing, stress free environment will see only that in others and reflect it back and forth. The reciprocal process of giving and receiving love is an important process energetically between children and their surroundings; be it from other people, plants, animals, earth and its elements or the divine kingdom.

This was the greatest gift from my family and friends. My parents gave love wholeheartedly and unconditionally, as did our entire family. Our family gatherings for birthdays and special occasions grow each year in numbers, which I think shows how much we enjoy and value one another’s company.

My mother was at home, usually out in her gardens or cooking and baking. My father traveled a lot for work and unfortunately missed parts of our childhood but would never miss a birthday. I hardly noticed when he was away probably because when he was home he was always doing something with us. At night he would read my brother and I bedtime stories from the 365 days a year story book, in the morning he would wake us up singing the “good morning to you song” and make us dippers with toast fingers and pancakes shaped in our initials for breakfast.

Most importantly he taught us the ‘MacGyver’ principle of making something from whatever was around. He perfected the tasks of ‘making do’, ingenuity, recycling, reusing, and being innovative to be creative…that was my dad. Our only TV privileges were Saturday morning cartoons starting with the Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show and after that we had to go outside to play. We were taught the Golden Rule - “Do unto others as you’d have done unto you” and Albert Einstein’s great saying - “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” We had a simple childhood without a lot of money, but whether my parents realized it or not, it wasn’t the money or material things that truly mattered anyway.

Friendship

You know you’re blessed in life when all your childhood elementary school friends are still your closest friends as adults. Such history with a close knit group is truly a gift from the Divine that gives me the strength and courage to try and do anything my heart desires knowing full well that you always have your friends to support you no matter what.

Being Raised by Elders and the Community

I grew up in a community in the truest sense with a large family and many close friends and neighbours looking out for each other. I always felt safe and had very little fear growing up…in that sense, I had the confidence, courage and self esteem to try anything and expect to succeed at it. Quite often when children have these values instilled within them at a young age from adults in their life, they are more likely to succeed because they believe they will. They don’t know failure yet so they visualize success and therefore have confidence to co-create their own outcome.

My brother and I spent a lot of time at our grandparents…usually most weekends and many weeks in the summer. I believe that grandparents and elders of the community are very important to childhood. They offer wisdom and love with a different kind of energy that is calmer and filled with knowingness. My Great Grandma taught me to draw as soon as I could hold a pencil…followed by organ lessons, macramé and painting lessons. My Grandparents lived out in the country and my grandpa raised horses which I loved to ride at a young age so Grandma put me in Pony Club, piano and music theory. We would have picnics outside sitting on my favourite rock under the Saskatoon tree and I would spend many days adventuring alone in nature, running barefoot and free and found this to be my truest connection to the earth back then and I loved it!

A love for books and a yearning for knowledge came from my grandmother on my Dad’s side. This side of the family was all teachers with genius IQ’s…one couldn’t resist being curious and asking a million questions on the how’s and why’s of the world. We were always given books and I had the makings of a small neighbourhood library by the time I was 10.

Growing up Organically

I believe our diet as kids growing up was an important source of energy and well being that created much of our physical and mental health today, although I didn’t appreciate back then as a child. We ate so much fruit and veggies as kids that my worst chores were picking cherries and apples from the trees in our backyard…so we could eat more fruit! I often would do anything to pawn off my daily lunchtime apple to other kids before I got home…I would get scolded if the apple was still there in my bag when I was home from school. Mom and grandma canned and froze our summer crops of cherries, peaches, pears, apples, plums and tomatoes…and that was breakfast for what seemed to be the rest of our lives!! Canned cherries, peaches and pears for breakfast again?…Yuk! We were lucky to have fruit trees and gardens in our yard and didn’t realize it back then. Apple juice was made from our apples yearly by one of the neighbours and our fruits and veggies were all locally grown. The milk came from grandpa’s cows and was still warm most days before they took the cream off the top.

Great Grandma wouldn’t let us drink the milk if the neighbouring fields or orchards had been sprayed…they knew back then that chemicals in our food was wrong. The principles of fresh, seasonal, organic and locally grown were alive and well in my childhood. A sense of community rallied around food like that is often what I think we’ve lost in today’s society of suburbs, cities and sprawl. The farmland is slowly disappearing and being sold off and developed, along with it our personal connection to the plants, trees, animals and land that nurtured us with fresh, high energy and alive produce. Fresh food void of chemicals and pesticides, backyard grown, picked with love and eaten immediately is one of the highest vibrations we could physically feed our bodies and cells. Growth and rejuvenation is part of our life cycle and you are what you eat.

Encouraging Imagination – The Seeds of Creation

My dad tells me that when I was young, I would open up the basement door and say goodnight to the monster in the basement before bedtime. The great thing about my childhood is that my parents always let my imagination run amuck and encouraged most of my crazy schemes. They were good sports and actually let me follow whatever my heart desired and let me learn whatever I felt like learning.

They never steered me into a career or told me what I should be…I was always busy telling them what I would be, where I was going to go and what I was going to do…and they watched and supported me in all my endeavours. I’m sure in their hearts, they just wanted me to be successful and with my grades and scholarships in school they would’ve been happy if I was a doctor or lawyer…not an artist or entrepreneur (as they have the tendency to be ‘starving.’)

I was definitely born a sensitive child. I feel things, see things and hear things at a much more subtle level and I was born extremely sensitive to strong perfumes and scents. My detector for things unnatural and unethical was alive and well and I have always been spontaneously intuitive, listening to what my inner gut feelings are telling me. When we listen to those feelings, we are following our highest purpose and one can look back on their life and see eventually that everything happens for a reason although we don’t always understand why at the time it’s happening. I can look back at my life and see a wondrous chain of events all connected by doing something, learning something or meeting someone to take me to the next stage of growth in my life.

I believe we are all born that way with the abilities of clairaudience (hearing), clairvoyance (seeing), clairsentience (strong feelings) and claircognizance (thought transference). It’s just a matter of keeping the energy level or frequency that we are born with and not losing it or turning away from it when we start growing up, entering societal norms and going to school. It’s actually very natural and normal for children to have these gifts along with vivid imagination and should be encouraged as a part of their life. We also have the power as adults to get those gifts back if we raise our energy level back up to the higher frequencies we had when we were born healthy and connected to source.

Immersed in Nature

I was always drawn to playing outdoors with my imagination running wild. I had many, many tree forts, hiding places and crawl spaces that I would always visit when at my grandparents. Usually I would do this on my rounds to collect feathers in the pastures and hills. I had favourite trees that I would visit and say hello to and a giant split rock that I would crawl through and try not to get stuck. I loved watching birds, especially the Ring Necked Pheasants and California Quail…Magpies were interesting and Hawks always special. I never felt alone in nature…it supported me and gave me a sense of self in which I felt one with everything early on in my childhood.

Surrounded by Animals

The companionship of animals and pets are something that positively fed my childhood in immense ways. We always had family dogs and a couple cats; and I can’t recall too many years where I didn’t have a bunny rabbit or two. Being around animals was my favourite thing in the entire world…I even tried to become a Veterinarian when I first went to university because I loved them so much. It didn’t matter what was going on in my life, I would always go hang out with the animals for nurturing and comfort. One never feels alone and learns the feelings of unconditional love that animals bring into our lives. I couldn’t imagine my life without them and for some reason I always felt that I learned more about myself through my connection with them.

Life Experience and Living to the Fullest

Somewhere in between 5 and 30 I started to grow up. After high school I left home to experience life and see the world. I believe that you have to live life to the utmost and participate fully in this lifetime for our souls to truly know and love who we are. Without the bad experiences, how would we ever know what the good is?

I can honestly say that I lived my life to the fullest! I crashed 3 or 4 cars in my teens, had at least 4 motorcycle accidents in my 20’s, I backpacked around the world for a year and discovered other countries. I jumped out of planes and off bridges with only a rope around my ankles. I climbed glaciers and sliced tomatoes in the Australian outback with venomous critters at my feet in scorching heat. I had fun at university and gave up fruit and veggies briefly for the more convenient university cooking choices of KD, canned tuna and bagel sandwiches.

Dating gave me insight into exactly what I was looking for and the kind of person that I wanted to spend my life with and exactly what I didn’t want. I trained to fight in the ring so could know peace and harmony out of it. I worked myself into the ground in my early careers so I could finally understand and know work/life balance. I’ve lived and traveled with nothing so I could appreciate something. I worshipped science and denounced God along with all other intangible happenings so I could truly know now without a doubt what gifts of love, creation and mystery we have been blessed with by the Creator.

Painting Energy Now at Age 30

So what have I discovered to raise my energy level when I paint now at the age of 30?
At the age of 29, I took a real good look at my lifestyle and environment. I still believe that our basic essentials energetically start with the quality of our food, water and air that our bodies use to fuel and regenerate itself. I looked at the living environment and my surroundings…then the mental mind state we have and the nurturing of our soul.
This is what I found to be the ‘energy recipe’ of my life that seems to have assisted me in creating my latest body of work.

Going Back to Organic

Besides the importance of getting a good nights sleep and creating a relaxed atmosphere, our food, water and air quality is crucial to our health and wellbeing. Filtered or distilled water with added trace mineral drops is something I have daily now because our bodies are lacking these minerals from our current diets that aren’t meeting our actual nutritional needs. Fresh squeezed organic fruit and veggie juices are also a must…the more alive, fresh and chemical free the produce is…the better it will be for you in raising your daily energy level. Another fuel for sustaining a higher energy level is fresh frozen Blue Green Algae for a steady energy boost that doesn’t take the body’s energy level up and down like simple sugars can.

I find I’m very drawn to the plant based diet created by Brendan Brazier, a professional ironman tri-athlete from Vancouver BC and author of “The Thrive Diet”. He focuses on plant-based whole-food products, which avoids processed foods and most common allergens such as – gluten, wheat, dairy, corn, yeast and over processed soy. His Vega meal replacement mix which I would have daily, has your complete proteins, essential fatty acids, probiotics, fibre, enzymes, antioxidants, chlorella and maca; maintaining a slightly alkaline PH level in the body. Alkaline foods are very important for our bodies and cleanse our system energetically by removing any over abundance of acid. An acidic body signals microbes to start the decomposition process and illness sets in as the body starts to break down.

After a few months of eating this higher energy diet, I found that I didn’t need coffee anymore for mornings or afternoons but I’ll still have a cup once in a while for a treat. Tea has been a wonderful addition to my painting repertoire and I find a cup of green tea, herbal tea or Maccha before and during the painting process is something I really enjoy.

I avoid red meat, as the energetic frequency is very low, actually robbing the body of energy and makes me feel lethargic. The human being resonates at around 80 MHz and red meat is actually around 3 MHz…so it actually slows us down. Sprouts on the other hand resonate at about 300 MHz, which is why we feel so good after eating fresh picked greens as it raises our own vibrational level considerably. You are what you eat!

Another important thing to do with our food is to chew it often and break it down before we swallow, as the mouth is an important step on the digestive chain of events. Without amylase doing its part, we can often miss important nutrients that won’t get synthesized later on down the chain. It’s healthier to relax and enjoy the meals we’re eating anyway instead of gulping it down and running on to our busy lives.

I also try to avoid anything with MSG (mono-sodium glutamate), which is a slow poison put in almost any processed food and even coffees we buy. It also goes by the name of “Natural Flavoring”, “Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein” and “Natural Meat Tenderizer”. This is the obesity drug given to rats to triple their insulin and make them fat…and my guess is that it would most likely have the same effects on us. It also makes food addictive so you want more. Aspartame is another slow poison I avoid which breaks down into formaldehyde in our stomachs.

We don’t get all of our daily vitamins and minerals from our food for our bodies to perform optimally, even if we are doing our best to eat healthy. Much of the fruits and veggies we eat are still depleted because the soil has been farmed many times without care to proper rotation of crops and the addition of nutrients back into the land. By just taking a multi-vitamin and digestive enzymes, I find that nutritional intake and health increases greatly. Every body has different needs so it’s good for each person to get a plan specifically tailored by a nutritionist/naturopath for their unique situation and body type and watch the quality of your supplements.

Purifying my Environment

In order to keep my energy levels higher…especially while I’m painting, I try to keep my body free from as many toxins as possible. From time to time I do enjoy a good glass of wine but for the most part alcohol is actually a toxin/poison that our bodies (mainly liver) have to work hard at removing and thus over time it takes us to a very low level of vibration. The same is with smoking. Every 7 years the body completely renews and rebuilds every cell. It will rebuild with what you fuel it with and eventually if you keep filling it with chemicals and toxins, you become toxic and have low energy levels because your body is constantly fighting and battling chemicals.

Our indoor household environment is 3 times as toxic as the outdoors so we should pay attention to cancer statistics because living this way subtly deteriorates our bodies and thus our level of vibration. I’m aware of the harmful chemicals and carcinogens from bedding and carpets, to cosmetics and gardening chemicals. Make-up contains many harmful carcinogens and labeling does nothing to protect consumers. Could be helpful to avoid the Phthalate family (DBP and DEHP), Laurel Sulphates (SLS, SLES) Paraben preservatives (methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl), Formaldehyde Family, Amine Family and the Propylene/Butylene Glycol (PG). It takes a while to start switching harmful products or eliminating them from our lifestyle. Slowly, companies with integrity are creating healthy natural product lines and alternatives and as an aware consumer I try to support these companies whenever I can.

We also don’t pay enough attention to the constant bombardment of electromagnetic frequencies from our electronics. It’s good to have at least one room free in your house where you can go EMF free.

Nature, Animal and Mineral Kingdoms

Still an influential part of my environment at this stage in my life, as ever before is the need to be surrounded by nature, animals and rocks. I found that living in a little cabin in the forest on a farm was a wonderfully uplifting and inspiring place for me. All I could see and feel were the trees, the sunlit meadows and the quiet little waterfall and stream and the beauty of it all filled my energy quickly. Little squirrels and chickadees would visit me daily and added joy to the scenery. The bunnies of course are always running around inside at my feet while I’m painting, playfully jumping or sometimes just lying content under the easel happy to be in the space. Sheep would ‘baah’ at my door and walk around my deck peeking inside my windows looking for sheep snacks (or wake me up at 6am on the weekends when they felt like it.) Little lambs were born at my front door and under my car and they became the most joyous, beautiful celebration of spring!

Creatures of the animal world that cross our path in life are our messengers. A hawk or eagle flying over or a couple of deer crossing your path are always something to pay attention to. Isolation amongst nature and animals was always ideal for me, and being the introvert that I am, the hermit life filled me up with energy like the natural springs outside. My time alone and uninterrupted while painting is precious. It is extremely conducive to becoming a conduit for receiving energy and Divine inspiration that can be channeled onto canvas.

Just as the plant and animal kingdoms energetically affect us and fill us up with energy…so do the properties of the mineral kingdom. At different times in my life, I’m intuitively drawn to certain stones…from rocks on the beach to colourful stones and crystals. When I’m painting, I like to place large chunks of Orange Calcite on my easel along with having Pyrite, Blue Calcite, Clear Calcite, Rutilated Quartz and Chlorite Phantom Crystals in the surrounding area. These stones all carry the vibration of creative amplification, chakra clearing and connection with nature, which is important I think if one can’t physically be painting out in nature. In my studio space I often have large chunks of Rose Quartz (love), Clear Quartz (amplification and programmability of intentions), Labradorite (synchronous events and protection). Synergy stones are also wonderful at assisting anyone on their path very rapidly. These are Danburite, Tanzanite, Tibetan Tektite, Moldavite, Herderite, Satyaloka Quartz, Azeztulite, Petalite, Brookite and Phenacite. “The Book of Stones” by Naisha Ashan and Robert Simmons is the best reference guide I’ve found so far about various minerals.

Body Rejuvenation – Clearing Energy Channels and Allowing Flow

I find it interesting that we do tune-ups and upkeep on our vehicles and material things more often than we do on our own bodies. I think that most women see going to the “spa” as a luxury or a treat once a year instead of something that benefits their health. Many women that I’ve met have never been to an energy practitioner for bodywork but it’s actually very important for our energy flow to remove blockages and keep the chakras energized. By doing various treatments throughout the month and weekly body upkeep I was able to get into a routine of energy building, clearing and flow.

Removing stress is very important, as it is very harmful to the body energetically bringing vibrational levels of the human body down to the levels where you are susceptible to illness. Learning to breathe properly also does wonders in stressful situations and calming the body. I found that the following tune-ups which added balance and harmony to my life were used regularly during the production of my last art show, creating clear energy flow for optimal performance:

Yoga - This is like moving prayer that both fills and relaxes the energy centers. Gentle stretching combined with breathing and fluid movement raises energy levels very consistently.
Shiatsu - Works on the body’s pressure points and meridian system to physically manipulate energy in the pathways and get it moving while breaking up blockages.
Acupuncture - This is the use of inserting and manipulating tiny needles into specific points on the body with the aim of restoring health and well-being. I personally love these treatments and feel my energy flow immediately after I leave my practitioner. My forehead and crown immediately feel like a breeze is running through them.
Tuning Forks - Using vibration to stir energy up at particular areas of the body
Massage (Hot Stone) - Using heat, this method moves energy by warming up the blood to get it moving using Basalt Stones. These are mature, volcanic stones with no holes at an evolved precious state. The minerals from the sea draw impurities out and put minerals back into the body.
Massage (Aromatherapy) - The essential oils used in this type of massage uses plants and herbs to work internally and balance the psyche.
Reiki - Japanese for ‘universal life-force energy. The energy worker re-establishes normal energy flow in the body through a series of hand positions above your body and allows for the flow of energy through their body and yours. This healing technique brings creativity, balance, relaxation and vitality…and can lessen pain from injuries.
The Reconnection - Energy channels are cleared and then the body’s meridians (acupuncture or axiatonal lines) are connected to the grid lines of the earth, which are connected to universal energies. This process tends to launch you on your life path or if you are aware that you are on your path, it gives you great access to clarity that lets you recognize and shed that which is no longer helpful to you.
Reconnective Healing -Helps you to connect to your ability to heal on all levels of body, mind and spirit.
Foot Detoxification - Detoxification of contaminants, yeasts, metals, toxins, stresses and manmade substances through the feet. Amazing effects!
Foot Reflexology - Pressure is applied to the feet and hands using specific thumb, finger and hand techniques. It is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands with a premise that such work effects a physical change to the body. Our feet and hands deserve the attention!
Infrared Sauna - These saunas remove man-made toxins from the body by producing radiant heat energy in short wavelengths (which is the same energy as the sun without the harmful ultraviolet rays). The rays help knock toxins loose from fat cells into the body, and those toxins are then released through sweating.
Exercise - Of course, I wish I did more of this over the past year but I’m afraid that it is the one thing I know I need to do more of! It is an important ingredient in building and maintaining energy and vitality.

Meditation – Taming of the Mind

Meditating is something that I need to do it daily for my overall health - mentally and physically, especially before I start a painting. Anytime I begin a creative process, I will sit in silence in a quiet place or put on a meditation CD either by Deepak Chopra or David Hicky’s Samadhi CD. Sitting, walking, hiking, gardening and even swimming out in nature in silence are great choices but when circumstances don’t allow that, CDs are great tools.

I relate meditation to a clear reflection on a pond. The mind is like a pond and our thoughts are ripples - when you silence the mind, you stop the ripples and can see clearly the reflection on the pond. I am able to get rid of all the mental clutter that bombards me daily and it allows me to focus and see clearly the task at hand. I also find that the silence of meditation or clearing the mind allows me ‘hear’ or intuitively download messages, signs and opportunities shown to me by the universe that I wouldn’t normally get if my mind were filled with the cluttered thoughts of day-to-day activities. If I need a question answered or inspiration for an idea…meditation is when it will most often come to me but it’s not guaranteed.

Living in the present moment whenever I can allows me to act spontaneously on daily decisions that seem intuitively like the right thing to do because my mind isn’t cluttered with thoughts of past and future and I am able to see signs and synchronicities being shown to me. It helps me make the space for the awareness to present itself and to see the bigger picture of what I’m doing without the emotional and mental confusion. My mind is open to receiving answers to what I have asked for...consciously and unconsciously.

Staying in the present moment and meditating is not easy to do. Our minds are very clever but I’ve found that Eckart Tolle audio CD’s and books do a great job of helping me understand both the mind and the present moment. Overall, meditation is one of the best ways that I find to raise my energy level and keeps reconnecting me to the knowledge of my higher self and highest purpose.

Prayer and Visualization – Setting Intentions and the Stage

Just before I paint, I sit down in front of my easel and I ask the universe to guide me and help me paint the next best painting or show that I can at this point in my lifetime. I’m always thankful of course for everything I’ve painted in the past and have sincere gratitude for the gift of being able to paint at all! I set intentions for my work to have a higher purpose and highlight a cause that will have meaning for humanity or someone in particular. Lately my themes and messages for shows have focused on the environment and sustainability, organics, the SLOW food principles and sometimes just pure beauty that is prevalent in nature or a human being. Being reconnected to nature and highlighting the prevalent beauty in all things is very important as beauty and joy are expressions of love…the highest frequency and vibration there is.

Part of the process for setting intentions when I do anything is also to ask for Divine guidance. The key to doing this is that A: we have to know what we want help with, B: we have to give permission for assistance and guidance, C: you have to believe, D: participate in the process, use what is given and let it flow, E: give thanks.

After setting intentions for my painting, I visualize on the canvas what style my painting might have and I look around the studio at some images of my favourite works of art so I can be inspired and filled with their energy before I paint. I try to feel the vibration of energy that they had placed into their painting and resonate with it. I especially enjoy scanning the works of the great masters and impressionists…and a few of my favourite contemporaries to build up my energy.

After all that, I take a few deeper breaths, pick up my brush and try and go into the state of ‘flow’ or semi-unconsciousness where the brush just starts moving. In this release, I just let go and try not to ‘think’ or analyze what I’m doing or where the brush stroke goes. I just ‘feel’ and let my hands and body just do its thing. Also during this process I find that music energetically influences my environment so I love to play all genres and let the energy of the musical artists envelop me through my ears and into my soul. I have done experiments of what music does to my paintings and the influence is very apparent…even from musical genre to genre.

Mental Stimulation – Self-Knowledge and Self-Awareness

Self-knowledge is very important for each of us. The more we know about our own personality types and how we react with others; the more we understand ‘how’ and ‘why’ of another’s actions and be more consciously aware and compassionate in our human dynamics. I believe that one of our biggest missions here on earth is self-knowledge and self awareness so if it seems egotistical to want to focus on yourself and find out more about who you are…it’s really not and I think should be encouraged.

My favourite tool for self-knowledge and where I grew the most rapidly in my life was by having a life coach and a corporate coach for one year. A good coach can send you light years ahead in wisdom, awareness and self-knowledge because it’s their job to tell you straight up what others don’t have the courage to say to your face about you and your reactions to the world. It’s very enlightening. By saving your own mental energy and not spending it on others, we reduce mental clutter and stay healthier by dealing with problems we know we can control…our own. I learned to study the Enneagram and use it as a tool to decipher interactions with others; I discovered boundaries and how to save my mental energy by avoiding anger and not dwelling on things that were out of my control. I especially learned how a positive mind-set and asking for your wants and needs are essential in life.

A positive mind-set strengthens both our nervous and our immune system, which is vital for our physical health. The mind is such a powerful tool that without proper care and awareness, it can be a great part of us…or the worst. Meditation is critical for me now in order to tame and control the mind…but this is no easy task. If I’m aware of negativity and lack of compassion when it happens and can see it for what it is, then I can catch myself quicker and pull out of it.

Feeding my mind with books is also another way that I keep my mental and intellectual abilities fresh and challenged. My love for books is actually quite dangerous and I want to read and know something about almost everything. I don’t think that there is enough time in this life for me to read everything I want…but I’ll do my best!

The Greatest Joy is in Creation

This has been the recipe for my 30 years of sharing energy through art. It’s just another snapshot of me at this point in time during my life and I’m looking forward to seeing snapshots of my 40’s and 50’s wondering what will be new, mysterious and exciting down the road. The veil is always lifting with each generation as humanity evolves and unfolds like butterflies. From what I’ve learnt so far, these are some key discoveries for me:

Always give without ever expecting to receive and trust with deep knowing that abundance in some shape or form will return back to you tenfold. In fact, just the action of giving and seeing the happiness in return is quite often enough. When you can start to feel the gratitude and see the love in such acts, it’s amazing what that also does to our vibration. Avoid judging others, love thy neighbour and most importantly love thyself. Self-knowledge and self-awareness are the best possible gifts that we can give to mankind and ourselves. As we work on raising our own energy levels to the highest frequency possible then we will also raise the vibration of the collective consciousness. This is what’s needed right now in our very fragile and beautiful world. Love energy carries the light forward and transforms fear, negativity and darkness. Darkness cannot exist in light but they co-exist as a whole. It’s been the same message for centuries but now it’s really time to pay attention.

In the end, the ultimate key is to raise our energy level to the vibration/frequency of pure love. Once you are resonating at that level and living in the present moment, then manifestation of your greatest desires and most divine creations start happening quicker and quicker…sometimes almost instantly. This is our destiny as creators and the greatest joy is in creation.