Last Sunday I celebrated my one year anniversary! Anniversary of what? Glad you asked.
I announced on Facebook and Instagram, that it had been a year that I had made the decision to pick up my brushes and never put them back ever again.
Well, that's not exactly accurate.
Drawing of an eye with Ipad Pro and Apple Pencil
My mother came to visit me last week, and we had a lot of fun (our version of fun being long walks, good food and meditation retreat!).
When she left, I thought I would jump on my easel, being so rested and refreshed. Turns out I got a little rusty! Mostly, I felt the pressure of not having painted for over a week...what should I do? I had the pull of doing "something productive" - meaning finishing the 3 paintings I had started...or finally make this Flower of Life tutorial that I had promised.
Even in art there is a schedule and a to-do list it seems...that didn't feel good!
So I did what I would usually feel veryyyy guilty for doing: instead of "grinding", I went out and popped in the Apple store "just to check out things" (in case you didn't know I'm a total geek on top of being an artist). Of course once I checked out the new Ipad Pro, I wanted it baaaad. So I ended up taking one "just for a trial", with the firm intention of bringing it back before the end of the 14-day trial period...
I haven't been able to put it down or stop thinking about it since.
It's quite unconventional approach to getting the work done, I admit. In the past I would have stuck to "pushing through the resistance"... but today, I'm tired of pushing through. So I'm wondering if maybe...maybe...there is another way. If maybe following my heart completely and trusting it's guiding me to where I'm meant to go, would get the job done as well (if not better), with more fun, joy and relaxation.
We'll see. I'm telling my head it's just a short trial, so my mind doesn't freak out and pulls the emergency brake. #thuglife :-)
Let's Just Take A Breath...
When I realize how fast time goes, I always remind myself to just chill out, take a couple deep breaths, and slow down. It's incredible how easy it is for me to start doing 5 things at once, soon forgetting what 2 of them were... then I realize I was so absorbed in doing a thousand close-to-useless busy things that I even forgot to breathe.
Gayatri Mantra, The Ancient Prayer
We meditate on the glory of the Creator;
Who has created the Universe;
Who is worthy of Worship;
Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light;
Who is the remover of Sin and Ignorance;
May He open our hearts and enlighten our Intellect.
At each moment, somewhere in the world, someone recites the Gayatri Mantra. This mantra brings light to the earth and the hearts of men. Some say it out loud, some as a whisper, while some repeat it in their heads. It can also be sung - the most famous one probably being the version from Deva Premal and Miten.
Even not knowing the meaning of this mantra, we can feel a bit of its magic and power. This mantra is considered the most sacred and powerful of all mantras.
It appeared for the first time in writing in the Rig Veda a Vedic text from India, in which it is called “Poem of the Divine”. It was reserved for a few selected priests, because it would have been too powerful for the uninitiated. Today, Gayatri is available to all and transcends all religion and spiritual traditions. It can be considered like a universal prayer.
The Gayatri Mantra mentions Savitur, God of the Sun: this mantra is dedicated to the Sun, bringing light and life to earth and its inhabitants. It’s traditionally repeated by multiples of 108, using a mala or bead necklace (see a video on how to use a mala). When we repeat this mantra, we meditate on this limitless light. But Savitur is not only in the sky; it’s also the light that shines inside of us and all living beings. Our inner Sun, our divine unconditional Love. To repeat this mantra is to awaken this light within us and all beings, helping to bring enlightenment on earth.
Discover my tribute to the power of the Gayatri Mantra in the store
Gratitude Always
I want to start off by saying: THANK YOU!
It’s only my second thanksgiving ever in the US, but I guess I caught the gratitude bug (on top of a cold that I’m resting from on my couch as I write).
Read MoreMake Peace With Pain
For a long time I thought that pain was the result of me doing something wrong, or not being good enough, not being or acting as I was supposed to. Some kind of punishment if you will. I thought pain was a sign of weakness.
Read MoreFearless Or Brave?
"I learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." - Nelson Mandela
Read MoreLet's Talk About Death (It's Halloween After All)
I guess it’s time-appropriate, with Halloween at our door. This morning, I’m feeling really scared...
Read MoreThe Creative Process: Be Smart About It
For a number of years I was trying to lose the few extra pounds I had put on in college, to no avail. I ended up thinking that the reason why it didn’t work was that I didn’t have the willpower required. And therefore, that it was hopeless.
Read MoreFun Painting Hack: Paint With Milk!
A fun little hack to create new effects with your acrylic paint: just brush a copious amount of milk (I used almond milk for this one) and drop liquid acrylics (or water-diluted heavy body acrylics) on your canvas or watercolor paper.
The Creative Process: The Ten Percent Advantage
This one is for everyone that think they just don’t have the time to work on their creative project.
Read MoreVideo: Creation of the painting Feather #1
The Creative Process: Become A Bigger Person
So you are thinking of starting a new project. But you are not sure if it’s realistic, if you’re going to be able to complete it, and how to go about it. Maybe you have been stuck in this phase of doubt for a while... What to do?
Read MoreThe Creative Process: Creation Is Like A Canyon
Imagine you go for a hike and you arrive at a canyon. You are on the elevated side and from there, you can see the other side of the canyon. You see the wide spread of burned grass, the mountains in the distance and imagine how glorious it will be to watch the sunset from there. So you start walking down the canyon to cross.
Read MoreFirst Stages Of My Painting "Garuda"
The Garuda is a mythical creature, half-eagle half-human, that can fly so high in the sky, can see so far, that is perspective of the world is huge. It can see beyond hope and fear, beyond our worldly attachments. It brings the virtue of letting go, and the freedom and power that emerge from that state of surrender.
Read MoreMoney is Time
“My favorite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s very clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.” - Steve Jobs
Read MoreStop Being Nice
Ever told yourselfyou were being too nice ? Ever felt taken for granted ? Like what you did was not appreciated and you wish you didn’t do it ?
Build Your Vision Stronger Than Your Fear
Fear is part of our brain, it’s wired in the necessity of survival. Fear will most likely always be there. So how do we empower ourselves, so that we can act despite the fear?
Read MoreWhat Would You Do If Fear Was Not In Your Way?
When I got married, my now ex-husband used to tell me : “when exposed to something new or asked to do something that you’ve never done, you start with ‘it’s not possible’.
Read MoreFind What You Love And Let It Kill You
This morning, I was sitting at my living room table, finishing my breakfast and checking emails, when I saw that Steven Pressfield's newsletter had arrived in my inbox. I thoroughly enjoy his "Writing Wednesdays" posts. The title today was: "Find What You Love And Let It Kill You".
Read More