I arrived in the middle of the night to Swasti Eco Village and the moment I walked into my room I saw a very large Klimt tree painted on the wall.. in fact they were everywhere I looked, Swasti has made a version of it their logo. (I started painting trees like those in 2009 and was mesmerized by their spirals and patterning) ... so I guess that felt like a bit of a nod from the Universe that I was in the right place. On the Friday that we were all to gather.. and have an opening dinner that evening... I glanced down from my balcony at some stage to see a bunch of women with suitcases arriving... and it was Flora!! and her buddies from Portland.. Kelly Rae Roberts was amongst them!!! It was so exciting to see two ‘shero’s’ just walking past my line of sight all the way from the other side of the world. (I didn’t get to speak to KRR... I got the feeling she was having a big special time with her friends and I didn’t feel to invade her space... I reeeaaaalllllyy wanted to... and usually I would follow that urge.. but... this time... I didn’t.) The opening dinner finally arrived... most of the retreat’ants had arrived from their various places from around the globe... most from USA, and Australia. Bam... all descended on a little resort on an island in Indonesia... we each received a sweet gift on the table, that’s always a great start hah.. presents haha! ... anyhow... chats, eats.. and excitement settling down into .. being there... and we gathered afterwards for an opening circle.. we each had an opportunity to call something in and to let something go.. I called in ‘Bravery’... and let go of ‘my story about not being able to articulate myself well enough’. Flora and Lisa Mae were the most gracious and calm of hosts and I think we all felt completely at ease within a very short time. I awoke each morning about 6 to gather a cup of tea.. meet at the pavilion to meditate with the group at 6.30.. then meet back there for 7.30am yoga til a bit after 9am. I hadn’t done any yoga classes for a few years and so I was pretty stiff and shaky for much of it... and just plain had to give up on the down dogs they made me feel nauseous and yuck... but yoga is all about honouring your body.. listening in etc. so I kept on showing up each day and really loving the teachings Lisa Mae wove into her class, she’s a delight and a great story teller, she had also bought along an assistant whose gentle hands could sometimes be felt easing our limbs into a more aligned pose. ... and you might be thinking... WHAT ABOUT THE PAINTING??? yes... I was pretty excited about this too!!! We gathered at about 1.45pm (along with some heavy rain clouds) and were treated to our first session with Flora... she shared some wisdoms and guidance for our week ahead and proceeded to demonstrate how to get our first layer happening. This is a many layered process and boy did I realise how much I dislike the fugly middle layers!!! it was interesting and at times painful to observe my feelings about what I was making on my canvas... and I thought later how this could be of great assistance to others to hear... actually ... EVEN though I am proficient at painting my own style that I have been honing for the last 12 or so years... when it came to immersing myself in Flora’s method... I was really challenged, somewhat lost, floundering and not much as ease with it at all!!! I still have to let that all simmer inside to glean all there is to glean from the whole experience... but these notes are what I am noticing for now. I did not take naturally to this method of painting... I found it challenging and frustrating and often felt really disappointed with my efforts.. that was a big learning lesson for me.. and taught me a few things and reminded me what it's like for beginners in art... it can be quite scary!!! I also had a realisation that some structure, and clear instruction is super helpful for beginners too... they are then free to take what they will, use what they like, but they feel they are making a choice, not just making attempts and feeling inadequate. Flora's example and encouragement were fantastic, she's a born teacher from what I could gather, I was amazed at how calm and courageous she remained throughout the entire week and her painting demonstrations were sublime to watch. Making new friends, and time with my Nik was Wonderful. So... what a big week or so it was!!! I suspect it's a gift that will keep on giving... I've met people who will continue to be in my life.. and learned techniques that will take some practice and may also make their way onto my canvas's, who knows.
Ever so grateful... and now that a week has passed since I returned home, I'm feeling a lot better and more integrated... taking yourself right out of your comfort zone can tip the scales out of balance for a few days ya know. bye for now, love Denise xo Here we are... 21 days later... I leave in a couple of days for a retreat in Bali... packing is.. not done.. but the beginnings of it are... I have designed a commission to be painted upon my return... and I really haven't gotten much painting done in the last couple of weeks. Oh... I did finish/repaint a couple that were included in the Immanual Art Show... so that's a 'tick off the list' of to do's. This has seemed like a fairly uneventful 21 days if I look on it now... and that's ok. It may sometimes seem like that on the surface.. but let me tell you.. there is LOADS going on that's not seen... and I don't even have language for yet!
I listened in to one of the Meditation Oasis podcasts today, as I allowed the last remnants of headacheness to seep out of my body ... and these words really struck me.. and make for a great theme for a workshop sometime...Let everthing arise in compassion. To be fully present to another or fully present to yourself is the essence of compassion, and compassion heals. Within the intentional creativity lessons we are learning from Shiloh this is what has been happening.. we are learning to be compassionate with ourselves, and listening to the Voice of our Muse... (she's the voice inside that champions us... the opposite of the critic). Relaxing Into Healing |
"Listening for the Divine Instruction" painting by Shiloh Sophia McLeod | Let everthing arise in compassion |
o o o O o o o
o o o O o o o
Sweet Chai my love, Sweet chai...
Troubled thoughts, fretting about paintings that are from your heart going out on display.
Cherish not the desire to know all of the answers
... if you find peace & acceptance inside the not knowing,
what freedom awaits you.
If you let go of the (desire)? need, to control, it will feel lighter,
the burden the all consuming burden of that pressure that
feels like fingers pressed against the temples on either side of your head.
Choose another way dear heart ... get back in the boat ... down stream remember! ...
What's all your resistance about?
Why are you struggling when there are miracles afoot!!
Bali... in 14 Days!!
and here's the special guest... a grey Heron... I notice heron's on my travels almost every day! and today I loved the way our little dog Aura ran up to this one.. only to have it stare her down... then they held eye contact for a few moments... until the heron decided it was time for her to go . . .
January 2016
July 2015
May 2015
March 2015
November 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
March 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
All
30:30 In June
Art
Art Class
Art Giveaway
Art Journaling
August
Bali
Bliss
Blogging
Canvas
Chakra
Champagne
Charity
City Chic
Commission
Courage
Creativitea
Creativity
Dark
Donations
Dreams
Eagle
Eat
Emotions
Exhibition
Farewell 2011
Fire
Flora Bowley
Freedom
Free Spirits
Full Moon
Give
Giveaway Winners
Giving
Grace
Grateful
Gratitude
Gypsy
Healing
Heart
Help
Heron
Honour
Horse
Inner Critic
Intention
Joy
Leonie Dawson
Let Go
Life
Light
Love
Loves Me
Magic
Mandala
Manifesto
Mary
Mini's
Mixed Media
Morning
Mother Daughter
New Beginnings
Overcoming Adversity
Painting
Petite Paintings
Photo
Play
Pleasure
Pray
Prints
Productivity
Rage
Red Bubble
Red Chair
Retreat
Ring Of Roses
Ritual
Sacred
Sadness
Sark
Self Publishing Website
Sewing
Singapore Expat Living
Smash Book
Speak Your Truth
Spring
Statement
Stencils
Story
Story Board
Strength
Sugar
Tea
Telephone
Throat Chakra
Tim Ferriss
Totem
Visionary
Wall
Warm
Win
Winter
Woman
Wood
Workshop
Workshops
Yeast
Yoga
Yummy