Weathering the Storm: Best Quotes and New Painting

We’ve all heard of the old saying “the calm before the storm“, the anticipation of, well, the manure hitting the proverbial fan. It can be a time of great excitement or anxiety, whichever way you choose to perceive it.

The thing is (actually two things): firstly, anxiety is pretty much the same energy as excitement. Try alchemizing your nerves to excited anticipation next time the opportunity presents itself. And secondly, ‘storms’ help us to grow.

Here are three beautiful quotes to embody this concept:

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
― Vivian Greene

“When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”
― Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore

“There is peace even in the storm”
― Vincent van Gogh, The Letters of Vincent van Gogh

You can Read more “storm” quotes here: Storm Quotes

Before the Storm Painting

I have just finished a new painting called, “Before the Storm“. It’s a moody, colourful piece that I hope evokes a sense of that excited anticipation and awe of a passing storm.

I’m experimenting with using different colours. Here, I stepped out of my usual comfort-zone palette to incorporate pinks and purples in the sky, they liven up the feel of the building deluge.

The original and prints are available HERE (or by clicking on the picture below) – please note that the international courier is inclusive in the price.

If you are from South Africa, you can view my SA gallery HERE, where I offer complimentary courier within SA.

Thanks for reading!

Here’s another article you may enjoy:

6 Impossible Things To Do Every Day

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“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” — Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll)

6 Impossible Things to do Every Day

Don’t forget to pin it!

Go Easy on the Mundane

Life can be wonderful when you’re a dreamer. Life can be even more wonderful when you are a dreamer and a doer!

Nothing trips us up more that boredom or monotony. As the saying goes, ‘boring is as boring does’. But, lucky for us, we live in a world full of unmapped, unexplored and unchartered territory — both physically and metaphysically.

What a cause for celebration!

Ready For Expanded Thinking?

“After all, the word ‘impossible’ only really spells out ‘I’m Possible’.”

You’ve probably realized by now that you are the one creating your life experience by what you’re feeling and doing in this NOW moment. Your past does not define you but your present shapes your future.

If your life is not exciting you, you’re the one forgetting to inject the zest.

So why not start the day, as Lewis Carroll so aptly suggested, by thinking of 6 (even 1 will do!) impossible things you could do to explode the old and catalyze the new. After all, the word ‘impossible’ only really spells out ‘I’m Possible’.

Let me suggest some starting points:

  1. Start Small. Imagine something you want that you’re likely to be able to achieve today. This could be anything from doing that chore that’s been irritating you to exploring a new path whilst taking the dogs for a walk. Why is this going to help you? Because tackling household/garden jobs that you put off give you an immense sense of satisfaction when you finally do them — it incites you to do more tomorrow. Trying new things like taking a walk where you’ve never ventured before is breaking routine and while routine can be a good thing in some areas of your life it can also kill adventure.
  2. Think Big. Is there something you’ve always wanted to do but never got around to? Do you think you’re too old to play the piano? Or too overweight to water ski? Or maybe you think you’re too poor to travel? Think again! It’s those ‘I’m Possible’ dreams that light a fire under the derriere and bring back sensational living! Where there’s a will there’s a way, so start off by finding a picture of your desire and pin it to your vision board (you know, that thing you have up somewhere in your house to remind you of what you want to manifest. Don’t have one yet? There’s your other I’m Possible task!) and start taking action along with looking out for synchronicities (don’t know what that is? READ HERE). Impossible is sure to follow!
  3. Visualize. Like I said in point no. 2 — get your vision board started and watch the impossible happen! There’s nothing like walking into your office (or whatever room applies here) and seeing all those pretty pictures of things to keep aligning yourself to. We think we know what we want but, back in reality, there are so many thoughts coursing through our brain that we tend to ‘backseat’ our dreams in lieu of daily matters. Then we forget the things (big or small) that mean something to us. Don’t let your dreams escape you! Every time you think of something you would like to experience — pin it! I walked into a fabulous spa the other day and took one of their brochures. Why? Because even though I wasn’t in town to get a massage that day, it’s something I would love to experience — so, it’s now firmly pinned to my vision board. If I didn’t do that, I would’ve eventually disregarded wanting a sensational 2 hour treatment and would’ve also probably forgotten about the spa itself nevermind it’s location. Now I won’t ’cause I see it every day and smile when I think of going there for my special treat.
  4. Alice in Wonderland QuoteA Pat on the Back. Stop every day to think of the wonderful things you have accomplished thus far in your life. We very seldom stop to let things sink in. It could be the fact that you raised an awesome child (it probably felt impossible when you first looked into his/her eyes as a newborn) or you finally conquered a fear and boarded a plane one day and went overseas for the first time (which may have sparked many other trips). Some things may seem old hat to some and incredible feats to others — don’t underestimate what you’ve accomplished. Even the little things shape our lives. Give yourself some kudos and then keep doing more impossible things!
  5. Burn the Box! You’ve heard of thinking outside the box — which is the Impossible Club’s credo — but burning the box is more potent. In fact, the box never existed in the first place, Schrodinger! Stretch your mind to the infinite possibility of all realities in all directions of space and time. Try lucid dreaming and cruise the universe — let your impossible imagination run riot. The universe is expanding and creating the most beautiful work of art with all its nebulae, solar systems, whirling galaxies and neutron star collisions just to name a few. Expand your mind to take it all in and then apply it to your life. How can you be creatively expansive? How can you use your divine talents to smear this life experience with explosive colour, fizzing verve and sparkling tenacity? Baby, you’re a firework! Thanks Ms. Perry, how right you are.
  6. Rest. Doing relentlessly impossible things all day requires that you need a balance of good R&R. But don’t stop your imagination from thinking of impossible ways to relax. You can dream up a wild bath-time relaxation routine that involves submarines, rubber ducks and lavender oil or you could take some time out to shut those weary little eyes and have a night full of dreaming up new ways to be a super nova!

And remember — you’re the only one who can make the impossible possible.

“Door: Why it’s simply impassible! Alice: Why, don’t you mean impossible? Door: No, I do mean impassible. (chuckles) Nothing’s impossible!” — Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass (Lewis Carroll)

“The Alice books belong to a branch of literature that speaks deeply and clearly to the human psyche–stories of the journey.” Stephanie Lovett Stoffel, The Art of Alice in Wonderland

the art of empowerment

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Conscious Life New (CLN) – click here and join their growing community!

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Tchaikovsky: Messages from the Masters (Video and Free Color Therapy Download incl.)

Tchaikovsky header

For those of you who have been following my recent ‘drawing to the classics’ videos, this latest one is quite unusual. For those who haven’t, you can recap on the previous blogs here:

New Concepts: What Does a Bach Masterpiece Look and Feel Like? (Video Included)

What Do Debussy and Mercury Have in Common? The Answer May Surprise You!

Viva Vivaldi! Connecting Us to Intelligent Design Through Music (incl. Art Process Video)

In a nutshell: I’m trying to tap into transforming music into art and extracting subliminal messages behind the music we are drawn to.

I’ve been working on a series called ‘Rock Art‘ that takes rock music and dissects it onto canvas in the form of a mixed media painting. You can view that process HERE (see what The Beatles or Radiohead looks like through art — it’s a must see!).

However, in this series, I am tapping into the classics.

Enchanting Tchaikovsky…Not!

I have always been a big fan of Tchaikovsky and remember — as a young girl — prancing, pirouetting and pussy-footing about my home reenacting Swan Lake and The Nutcracker Suite.

So, what came out of this session was not quite what I expected. I thought it would be all candyfloss and unicorns.

I always try to go into these meditative art sessions with no preconceived ideas about what is going to transpire. In this case, I was a bit gobsmacked (you’ll see at the end of the video).

What I could extract from the emotions that came out (see video for full list) was that there was quite a patriarchal overtone. Perhaps, not in a negative way but just in a structured, designed, orderly fashion. Which is a more right-brained approach to life.

Patience as Layers Unfold

We often find ourselves in utter chaos where things seem to be helter-skelter and have no particular order or meaning at the time.

Tchaikovsky’s music gave me a sense of there being a kind of cosmic joke with this seeming disorder.  It’s as if the ‘designer’ of all things is teasing us with the chaos only to have it complete itself or run its course to utter perfection and structure.

Our job is to be patient. Ha ha…not a trait most of us possess in copious amounts!

Nevertheless, patience is the underlying key and is a muscle that we need to train in order to navigate the chaos. Only then will we get to the perfect design that lies at the end of that wickedly taunting but intriguing tunnel.

Enough of my babble…just watch and see for yourself. If you don’t want to sit through the whole art/drawing process then skip to 23 minutes where you can see the explanation to it all!

And don’t forget to download your free copy of the picture below the video — pop on some Tchaikovsky and do some color therapy 😀

Tchaikovsky Picture

Color therapy picture download (click on picture and save to your computer)

I’d love to hear from you — what feelings or emotions does Tchaikovsky’s music invoke in you? Did you enjoy watching the process? Did the explanation resonate with you, if not, what came up for you?

Other articles you may enjoy:

How Good Are You Out of Bed?

How Balanced Are You?

CRDCherie Roe Dirksen is a self-empowerment author, multi-media artist and musician from South Africa.

To date, she has published 3 self-help and motivational books and brings out weekly inspirational blogs at her site www.cherieroedirksen.com. Get stuck into finding your passion, purpose and joy by downloading some of those books gratis when you click HERE.

Her ambition is to help you to connect with your innate gift of creativity and living the life you came here to experience by taking responsibility for your actions and becoming the co-creator of your reality. You can also follow Cherie on Facebook (The Art of Empowerment).

Cherie posts a new article on CLN every Thursday. To view her articles, click HERE.

This article (Tchaikovsky: Messages from the Masters (Video and Free Color Therapy Download incl.)) was originally published by Conscious Life News and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to the author Cherie Roe Dirksen and ConsciousLifeNews.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this Copyright/Creative Commons statement.

 

Need a Constant Flow of Money? I’ve Got Something For You…

Serenity by Cherie Roe Dirksen

Money, Money, Money

Oh boy, ABBA got it right — it is a rich man’s world!  Financial flow is a sticky and uncomfortable topic.  We all want a constant stream of income to live well, whatever your version of ‘well’ is.

“Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.” — Ayn Rand

Personally, I care not for Porches, Gucci handbags or Mansions — I want money to travel and enjoy the finer things in life (haute cuisine, theater and Belgian chocolate are more up my alley). But no matter what you want to do with your money, we all want that financial security at the end of the day because money brings choice — the spice of life!

Even better, we want to earn this money in a capacity that fulfills us. A show of hands from all the people who want to earn cold hard cash doing what they love!

See related video: How to Find Joy in Life 

Your Free Ticket to a Healthy Wealthy Attitude

So with that in mind, I knocked up this little visual money affirmation.  I hope it helps to shift your attitude or feelings towards money. Give it a try — you’ve got nothing to lose.

“You will be a failure, until you impress the subconscious with the conviction you are a success. This is done by making an affirmation which ‘clicks.'” — Florence Scovel Shinn

After all, the sky is the limit!  We are the only ones who put restrictions on our earning capacity (ask Richard Branson).

Related article: The 4 Keys to Finding Affirmations that Really Work!

Pin it to your vision board (I have :D), save it as a desktop wallpaper or print it out and stick it to your forehead — anything to hammer this affirmation home!

Let’s do this together and see if it works!  Here it is (see below picture for download instructions):

Money Affrimation 2

To download, click on the picture — right-click and ‘save as’ to your computer. You can print it out and use it about your home or office as mini posters or you can use it as your computer desktop wallpaper.

Doubting Thomas?

If you still have reservations as to the power of affirmations, I don’t blame you. I, too, struggled with just repeating phrases over and over in the hope that they would come true.

That kind of parrot fashion manifesting didn’t seem to strike a chord within me until I questioned:

  • all my inner dialogue — I got real about the thoughts I was projecting when I wasn’t in affirmation or meditation mode,
  • my feelings — were they in alignment with what I was saying or was there a tampering emotion emerging that needed to take a back seat? Aka — doing a wealth affirmation but feeling poor, and…
  • what was it I truly wanted — sometimes I would think I wanted something but probing further into my desire, there was an underlying reason for it. In other words — I wanted money only to realize I wanted to go on holiday or buy some new clothes, etc.

Vicki Howie may have some real solutions to your affirmation doubts in this article: Why Affirmations Can Be Bad For You (and What To Do Instead).

“A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.” — Jonathan Swift

“Success is a process, a quality of mind and way of being, an outgoing affirmation of life.” — Alex Noble

Cherie-Roe-Dirksen_172x200Cherie Roe Dirksen is a self-empowerment author and multi-media artist from South Africa.

To date, she has published 3 self-help and motivational books and brings out weekly inspirational blogs at her site www.cherieroedirksen.com. Get stuck into finding your passion, purpose and joy by downloading some of those books gratis when you click HERE.

Her ambition is to help you to connect with your innate gift of creativity and living the life you came here to experience by taking responsibility for your actions and becoming the co-creator of your reality. You can also follow Cherie on Facebook (The Art of Empowerment).

Cherie posts a new article on CLN every Thursday. To view her articles, click HERE          

What Do Debussy and Quicksilver Have in Common? The Answer May Surprise You!

Debussy Header by Cherie Roe Dirksen

Turning Music into Art and Feeling

To recap on the last video blog (New Concepts: What Does a Bach Masterpiece Look and Feel Like? (Video Included)) CLICK HERE.

This week I tuned into another one of my all-time favourite composers, Claude Debussy.

The feelings that came up after listening to Debussy were:

  • Whimsy,
  • Magic,
  • Playfulness,
  • Fluidity and
  • Fun.

Sampling Tasty Meanings

Other words that describe ‘whimsical’ are fanciful, mischievous, fantastic, excitable, unusual, impulsive, curious, mercurial and ‘quicksilver’ (meaning ‘fluid’ — curious indeed as that is one of the words that came up whilst doodling to the music!), changeable, unpredictable and kaleidoscopic (what an awesome word!).

Don’t you just love the tone and feel of those words?

It tends to transport one to childhood — those days spent in the sun, exploring the garden and being in awe over the smallest ant to the splendiferous veins of a leaf.

It’s little wonder that the drawing that transpired whilst listening to Debussy was a tree and garden (the whole start to finish process video is below).

The Importance of Play

subcribe buttonThe overall effect I got from the enchanting sounds of Debussy was expressing the fun aspect of the self — the inner child.

How can we tap into our neglected mini me?

Try incorporate more:

  • Time in nature — go for walks, swim in streams, run barefoot in the sand, hike, climb mountains, get creative in the garden.
  • Be playful — dance like no-ones watching, play board-games, build sandcastles on the beach or mud-pies in the garden after a good downfall! Get your hands dirty and put being an adult on the back-burner.
  • Laugh more — have a good belly wobble as often as you can EVERY day.
  • Be creative — make things, experiment, colour in, let the inner artiste loose!
  • Be curious — don’t think you know everything. Study new things, take courses, try more classes. Never give up on the wonder of the world.
  • Listen to Debussy! — apparently he helps with drawing out all of the above! 😉

Now it’s time to sit back and watch Debussy transform into art.

And here is the art therapy colouring-in page for you to download (click on the picture below and right-click to save):

Debussy Whimsy by Cherie Roe Dirksen

Other articles you may enjoy:

New Concepts: What Does a Bach Masterpiece Look and Feel Like? (Video Included)

Get Me OUT Of Purgatory! The Emotions Behind the Nirvana Painting, ‘Cold Burn’

Misery Tamed With Mercy Meets My Massive Canvas (Photo’s Included)

What Artistic Genius Are You Going to Give This Colour Therapy Picture?

 

 

 

Ready to Give Up? Why You Should Soldier On!

Monotone Rainbow by Cherie Roe DriksenWhen the Going Gets Tough

Life get’s hairy — let’s face it.

“Perseverance, secret of all triumphs” — Victor Hugo

Let me paint a metaphorical picture:  You’re standing at the checkout, waiting to pay.  You’re going to make a beautiful meal when you get home and you’re salivating at the very thought of those steamed baby potatoes with melted butter and parsley, the carrots Julliene with coriander and the roasted butternut with creamy mushroom sauce.  Then disaster strikes!

Your card is declined just as you’re about to whisk your shopping away and head off to culinary heaven.

You go home and eat baked beans on toast.

Take That Shovel and…

We’ve all been there.  At some point or another along life’s many twisted and adventurous paths — we all come face to face with the discomfort of a bump in the road (to put it ever so mildly!).

You’ve basically got 3 choices when you hit these hurdles. You go get the shovel out the boot of your car.

Now you’re standing along the roadside staring at the bump, shovel in hand, and you can either:

  1. Shovel more sand and grit onto the bump — make it good and high (and more difficult to overcome)!
  2. Give up and toss that spade aside, or….
  3. Level that bump!

I know you’re all savvy and can probably see where I’m going with this, but let’s get more specific anyway, why don’t we?

Shovels Aside, Show Me the Gold

Now the key to success is very unlikely in excessively piling more dirt and gravel to the hurdle. It’s probably not the wisest thing to throw in the towel and declare defeat either…no! You show that bump who’s boss!

  1. Making things worse by playing the ‘poor me’ card (shoveling more sand on the bump) — we can all fall victim to feeling sorry for ourselves when life gets us down.  It’s okay to have a little pity party rounded off with a tub of Ben and Jerry’s.  However, inevitably you are the master co-creator of your experience and you’re going to need to pick yourself up off the floor and work on a game-plan to get out of the quagmire!  The sooner you get out of victim mode the quicker you can bypass the obstacle and glean all the lessons it came to teach you.
  2. Packing it all in (tossing the spade aside) — it’s easy to give up and wave your white flag of surrender. But perhaps you have not yet fully tested your balls out — they may be stronger than you think (yes, you read right and feel free to reprimand my verbal conduct in the comment section below)? Have you ever thought about why you came to planet Earth — the playground of all things dualistic and difficult?  Are you giving up on a dream, goal or ideal? Is your surrender empowering or disempowering? How about standing strong, head held high and facing those demons straight up? What have you got to lose? What have you got to gain? Are you in your truth and integrity? If yes, you walk on, sunshine! Climb right over that bump and show the world that you’ve got what it takes to overcome diversity (and some pretty impressive gonads).
  3. Riding the waves with grace and ease (leveling that bump!) — I’m not going to give you any clichés about lemons resulting in margaritas or soft drinks but what I will say is that when those waves hit and it looks like you may drown, try not to panic (when in doubt of drowning, try floating on your back — metaphorically speaking, ‘go with the flow’ or see where the universe is trying to take you).  Instead, see that wave for what it is, what it can possibly show/teach you and why it came at that particular moment. There is gold to be mined in any situation and your job is to dig until you find your treasure — don’t leave any stone unturned. The best way I know to do this is with patience, understanding, compassion (for yourself and for others — hell, we’re all on this floating globe on the outskirts of the Milky Way, navigating the daily grind of existential interference) and a lust to understand the workings of the universe and why we’re all on this pick ‘n mix planet. There are lessons in everything and, if I may be so bold as to suggest, your job may be to cross the bridge so that you can look back, when you’re on the other side of your dilemma, and say ‘Ah, is that why that happened?! I’m sure glad I stuck with the program’

Let’s finish with that metaphorical painting I started earlier: So, a week after the baked beans on toast incident, you’re back at your local grocers when the checkout lady casually tells you about the food poisoning scandal they had with that dodgy new brand of creamy mushroom sauce.  Boy, do you think your lucky now!

As Winnie the Pooh so eloquently put it (with a little help from A.A. Milne):

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

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3 Essentials You Need To Do When You’re On Fire!

2 Things You Can’t Thrive Without

Be Amazing — Always Be Creative!

Creativity Quote 2 by Cherie Roe Dirksen

Only Artists Are Creative…Uh, Not!

Everyone has a special brand of creativity — yes, I’m talking to you!

You might not think of yourself as particularly creative — perhaps you think creativity only has to do with the arts?

Not at all.

Finished AD 2People who are creative can take anything and turn it into something beautiful.

  • You can be a gardener, creating a masterpiece in your rockery.
  • You can be a street sweeper who dances like Fred Astaire with his broom.
  • You can be a carpenter who injects perfection, pride and passion into furnishings
  • You can be cleaning out public lavatories whilst singing ‘Tosca’.
  • You could be a teacher delighting his students with theatrical renditions of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’…and the list could go on — you get the picture, right?

Creativity is usually equated with joy — the biggest blessing is in the fact that you can, at any time, be saturating this globe in happiness and bringing smiles to weary faces.

You don’t even have to stop at your ‘trade’ or hobby…if you’ve got a dull job at the moment, why not infuse it with piquancy? Give it the edge.

Why not dress the part? Dazzle the world with your flamboyant fashion fetish.  Or how about showing your creativity in how you interact with your colleagues or clients — your personality can be a brand of pizzazz, you know?

In short, be amazing!  Show your true colours and see how it brightens up the space you occupy.  Dare to show your inner creative and stroke the inner passions of those around you to do the same.

Being Afraid

All too often we are afraid to reveal who we truly are, what our passions may be and what a pity that is (especially for the rest of us).

Everyone is unique and has something of value to contribute to this world and the excitement is finding out what and then going  for it guns blazing!

Yee-haw!

The Payoff

And saving the best for last, naturally — your payoff is going to be:

  • A less stressy you — we tend to burnout when we are not being true to ourselves.  Getting creative will relieve you of this burden and introduce you to a much more exciting existence.
  • More Personal Fulfillment — The feeling of bringing something beautiful into this world is incalculable, and you feel that sense of achievement and liveliness that creation brings with it — bliss!
  • Time for Inner Reflection — getting creative gives you the time to do a bit of introspection. You can realign yourself with your goals and keep in touch with the core of your self — something most people fudge over as unimportant.
  • Pure Unadulterated Enjoyment — When you tickle the inner child that bursts to express whole-hearted happiness and ingenuity, you will find that the tasks you do that invoke such inventiveness also bring elation. Connecting with your creativity will connect you with your joy.

What is it that you do to express your creative flare? I’d love to hear all about it in the comment box below.

Other articles you may enjoy:

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I Dare You To Unleash Your Creativity!

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What You Need to Throw Out When You Decide to Choose Fulfillment

What You Need to Throw Out When You Decide to Choose Fulfillment

The Lovers Bench by Cherie Roe Dirksen

“Happiness is an inside job” — William Arthur Ward

“Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, and you won’t have to hunt for happiness” — William E. Gladstone

The one thing most humans have in common is the desire to be happy. Although most people seek it as either a future event or something that has passed, never to be recaptured.

Happiness or fulfillment is not something we should really be striving for in some up-and-coming event — it’s something we’ve got to grab right now.

We’re bogged down with the false sense of happiness through attainment — the idea that money and things can buy our bliss.

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.  Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” — Denis Waitley  

Let’s take a look at some of the prime aspects that I think are worth kicking to the curb in the pursuit of happiness:

  1. Negative Self Talk — You simply cannot thrive on a negative inner dialogue.  Masaru Emoto fluidly demonstrated the effects of positive, indifferent and negative emotion on water (see more HERE).  We are made up of approximately 55-65% water (depending on your age and sex), so can you imagine what negative thoughts are doing to your body?  If you’ve got nothing nice to say to yourself, say nothing at all.  Stop yourself when you notice the negative gremlins popping up.  Ask yourself if there’s something more encouraging to affirm. For example, say you’re thinking ‘I’m such a loser’.  You can redirect that to, ‘I try my best’, or, ‘There are some things I get right’.
  2. Self Loathing — There is no space for anything but self love if you want a fulfilling existence.  The type of self love I’m referring to is anything but selfish or narcissistic — it’s necessary.  You can’t expect other people to love you if you don’t have love, honour and respect for your self.  This kind of love is cultivated from an innate knowing that you are a complete and divine piece of universal energy (or God/the Force/fill in the blank here). It doesn’t need to rehash the past or beat itself over the head a million times for past mistakes or inadequacies — it is the wholeness of self realization (your ‘I Am’ presence). For more on this topic, please read ‘3 Crucial Steps to Self Acceptance’.
  3. Fear —  There are things much more important than fear and we’ve got to wake up and walk through the fear to get to them. Fear is a grand threshold guardian — you can either sit at the gate, dig your heels in and go no further or you can cock your hat as you pass on through. As Jim Morrison so eloquently put it, ‘Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.’  Try to see fear as the rumblings of an earthquake that is about to shake you out of your comfort zone into an infinity of possibility.  When you walk through your fears there is only space left to be — when you are in this state, happiness or fulfillment is all that is left to experience.
  4. Service to Self — The greatest amount of happiness is achieved when we are not only seeing to our own joy but when we are helping others to find their well of happiness — service to others.  Throw out the need to trample on others in indulgence of your own whims.  We’re all in this life together — we should work in symbiosis with each other.  What affects one affects us all.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”   — Marianne Williamson

And in parting, here are some beautiful words from John Lennon that wrap this up nicely:

“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.”   

Other articles you may enjoy:

subscribe buttonHow to Use Your Heart Wisdom

Do You Love Yourself?

Find Me Somebody to Love!

3 Questions You Need to Ask Yourself When Dealing With Aggravation

Use Your Experiences For Creative Expansion

Why Creativity Leads to Universal Expansion

 

Creativity Quote by Cherie Roe Dirksen

This is a quotation from my book ‘Creative Expression — How to find your inspiration’ which you can download for FREE HERE…you can watch and listen to the audio-visual on YouTube HERE or you can purchase the paperback HERE.

The above quote is also available as a poster (just click on the picture to take you to the store or CLICK HERE — there’s a wide variety of sizes and framing options to choose from).

You may also enjoy these blogs:

The Universe is Abundant, Why Aren’t You?

Why Rejection Can Be Our Saviour

How Do You Follow Your Bliss? (YouTube Video)

Reality Check: Disempowering Facebook Quotes

 

Could You Do With an Infinite Supply of Money?

Money, Money, Money

Oh boy, ABBA got it right — it is a rich man’s world!  Financial flow is a sticky and uncomfortable topic.  We all want a constant stream of income to live well, whatever your version of ‘well’ is.

For me personally, I care not for Porches, Gucci handbags or Mansions — I want money to travel and enjoy the finer things in life (haute cuisine, theater and Belgian chocolate are more up my alley).

But no matter what you want to do with your money, we all want that financial security at the end of the day because money brings choice — the spice of life!

Your Free Ticket to a Healthy Wealthy Attitude

So with that in mind, I knocked up this little visual money affirmation.  It should help to shift your attitude or feeling towards money.

After all, the sky is the limit!  We are the only ones who put restrictions on our earning capacity (ask Bill Gates).

Pin it to your vision board (I have :D), save it as a desktop wallpaper or print it out and stick it to your forehead — anything to hammer this affirmation home!

Let’s do this together and see if it works!  Here it is (see below picture for download instructions):

Money Affrimation 2

To download, click on the picture — right-click and ‘save as’ to your computer. You can print it out and use it about your home or office as mini posters or you can use it as your computer desktop wallpaper.

If you couldn’t be bothered to print this out for yourself or you just want it on a specially made, easy-to-use product — fear not, I have the immediate solution for you.

I have made this item available as magnets ($4.45), stickers ($6.40 for a sheet of 20) and postcards ($0.95).  Just click on the pictures below to take you to the store.

Money Affirmation Magnet

Magnets for $4.45

Money Affirmation Stickers

20 Stickers for $6.40

Money Affirmation Postcard

Postcard at $0.95

Other articles you may enjoy:

Can Using Yellow in Art Enhance Your Mood?

An Artful Splash of Colour For Your Facebook Timeline

The Magic Ingredient of Life

Dripping Art, Dragonflies and Mood Enhancing Facebook Timelines

2 Musical Quotations To Take Note Of

Zebra Fever — Jazzing Up Your Walls With Stripes!

                      

What Always Helps Me Out When I’m Stuck in ‘The Void’

forest1 lr

‘The Forest Time Forgot’ by Cherie Roe Dirksen

Lost in a Forest of Doubt

“Trees are amazing life forms as they are grounded and rooted to the earth yet their branches are always caressing the sky — the ultimate metaphor for balance (as above so below, as within so without).”

At the beginning of last week, I found myself in a bit of a funk.

Not only did I have a bout of the despair demons but I also found myself lost in doubt — I just couldn’t see the forest for the trees.

  • What am I doing?  
  • Why am I doing it?  
  • Is any of this actually helping me or anyone else?  
  • How am I going to make my rent this month?  

Yup, the usual stuff that throws you a curve ball when you least expect it.

That night, I went to bed feeling rather low.  I woke up the next morning feeling the same.  I sat on my sofa staring at the wall, unwillingly thinking I should just pack it all in and go get a ‘proper’ job.  Oh, woe is me!

How can I carry on offering ‘self help’ and creative advice when I am in a quagmire?  My mind was tripping out on this dichotomous conundrum.

Of course, this just made me feel worse and less worthy to carry on with the site.

Who’s Only a 100% Organic Human Then?

Dream LandscapeLife isn’t all about the ups (although they’re great), it’s how to hoist yourself up by the bootstraps when you stumble into a deep hole too.

We’re all human at the end of the day (note to self and any others out there who think they need the ‘stiff upper lip’ approach all the time!).

Swallowing My Own Pills

Looking back on some of my articles, I decided to take my own advice and go be in nature.  After all, I had to prove to myself that I wasn’t talking out of my own ass with the advice I dish out.

So off I went to take a walk on the beach.

Sea Breeze and Water Underfoot

“Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher.” — William Wordsworth

Holy Carumba!  Within 30 minutes I had not only got some decent walking in and some good time to think but I had also done breathing exercises and a bit of gratitude meditation too — I was feeling a lot better.

After all of this, I sat on the sand looking out at the ocean and the beautiful blue sky.  What a paradise!  I started to chuckle to myself.  This was definitely working.

I could feel that depression had completely left me and I was sitting in appreciation.

Get Your Kit Out!

I rushed back to my studio to begin work on some paintings that I saw in a vision whilst I was meditating.

This picture at the top of this blog, which I have called ‘The Forest Time Forgot’ (and, yes, I am shamelessly promoting it here in order to sustain my livelihood — click on the picture to take you to the poster shop, if you fancy this adorning your wall) started out as a form of colour therapy for me while I was mindlessly doodling the background into existence.

I stuck to Pthalo blues and Emerald greens which are very holistically calming and balancing colours.

I was listening to classical music whilst painting this which I think comes through in the sweeping motion of the cosmic sky.

I beg you to listen to ‘The Aquarium’ by Saint-Saens (below) to truly get the gist of this picture (I have compiled an audio-visual video so you can listen and view the picture at the same time).

This song cropped up on my playlist when I was busy at work and it just fitted so much with the overall feel of this piece.

Branch Codes and Cosmic Undertones

With all that in mind, ‘The Forest Time Forgot’ has a feel of whimsical calmness and universal wonder to it.  The trees seem to have taken on a life of their own with ‘facial expressions’ that were not intentional.

Trees are amazing life forms as they are grounded and rooted to the earth yet their branches are always caressing the sky — the ultimate metaphor for balance (as above so below, as within so without).

What do you get/feel/see when you look at this picture?

I was feeling really ‘child-like’ when I painted it.  Very adventurous, playful and serene.  Does that come across?

Naturally Tried and Tested

Fantasy worldSo, seriously now,  when you find yourself in a funk/void/chasm of doom — get yourself out into nature.  I did such a quick turnaround when I  decided to take some time out at the seaside — the transformation was just so quick!

The creative surges came through thick, fast and furious.  So much so that I managed to pop out 3 paintings this week in 2 days.  All the pictures in this blog are the after effects of the beach outing.

Proof that a bit of Gaia therapy works.

Try a bit of the great outdoors next time you feel the demons of despair pounding away at your door.

“The mountains are calling and I must go.” — John Muir 

Poppy Field Facebook Timeline

To download as your facebook timeline, click on picture then right-click and ‘save image as’ to your computer. You can upload it onto your facebook timeline from your computer.

Other articles you may enjoy:

3 Bizarre and Unreasonable Motives to Stay on the Planet

What is Free and Priceless in the World Today?

4 Practices to Help Cure Negative Thinking

7 Ways to Lift You from Depression

9 Great Reasons for Getting Creative (No Artistic Experience Needed)

Are You Letting the Wonders of the World Pass You By?

Do You Lack Self-Worth When it Comes to Creativity?

6 Techniques to Stop Worrying

What Nature Can Teach Us About Art

2 Musical Quotations To Take Note Of

To download as desktop wallpaper or to print and use around the home/office as mini-posters — just click on the picture, right-click and 'save as' to your computer.  All rights reserved.

To download as desktop wallpaper or to print and use around the home/office as mini-posters — just click on the picture, right-click and ‘save as’ to your computer. All rights reserved.

To download as desktop wallpaper or to print and use around the home/office as mini-posters — just click on the picture, right-click and 'save as' to your computer. All rights reserved.

To download as desktop wallpaper or to print and use around the home/office as mini-posters — just click on the picture, right-click and ‘save as’ to your computer. All rights reserved.

Both these pictures are taken from my paintings which can be purchased as prints (see below — click on pictures to take you to the print store):

RHAPSODY IN BLUE by Cherie Roe Dirksen

Musical Mural - Cherie Roe Dirksen

I use RedBubble for all my art prints — read more about why HERE

You may also enjoy:

Dripping Art, Dragonflies and Mood Enhancing Facebook Timelines

2 Simple Quotes You Can’t Afford To Miss Out On

Rock Art Series Painting no. 3 — Jeff Buckley ‘Raw’

Zebra Fever — Affordable Art Posters for Your Wall

Healing Through Art — The Gates to Wonderland Just Got Flung Wide Open

Lust For Life

The Poppy Forest

I started off my career in art exploring what I like to call ‘decorative’ painting.  You know the sort;  flowers, trees, butterflies, sunsets, whatever tickled my fancies.  There is nothing wrong with this kind of expression and it paves the way for mastering specific techniques and mediums but I always felt a yearning for more expansive art.

However, painting ‘decorative’ art allowed me to express my love for anything resplendent — the beauty of nature.

Pink PoppiesMy art took a turn when I started painting my gold patterned backgrounds (as seen in the picture — right), I was testing the grounds for a more out-of-the-box approach.  It was well received and I was happy for a while doing it.  These complicated hand-painted motifs of swirly patterns represented ‘life energy’ — something I have been able to see all around me all the time.

I still felt a hunger for something new.  I tried to dabble in abstract art, I have always had a love for abstract but found it the hardest thing to paint.  I dug deep for this but it still didn’t fit the criterion that was swaying in my soul and keeping me at bay from realizing my fullest potential.

Spirited Away

I dreamed up the ‘Rock Art’ series last year and half-heartedly began my journey quite blinded to how it was going to unfold.  After the Radiohead painting emerged out onto the canvas, I literally had a dream and was shown what it meant (read article here).

“Tut, tut, child! Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it.” — The Duchess, Alice in Wonderland

Interested by this unusual turn of events I endeavored with the project and Metamorphic Dilatation (The Beatles Art) was born.

         Jeff Buckley --- Raw 24 x 36 LR

Love Story

Heart close upThe festive season came and went and I lost a tiny bit of my momentum with this series until I decided to pick up a brush and start with the Jeff Buckley painting (no. 3 in the series).  It was going to be Muse but something changed my mind.

What happened with the painting ‘Raw’ changed my life forever.  You can read all about it here.  After the painting was done I had a dream…

What Dreams May Come

I was taken by a man (couldn’t quite make out who) into a room where I was shown that an artist could extract the essence of a message be it through music, literature or any other means and purvey the idea into a picture — a kind of visual therapy.

“Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction.” — The Doorknob, Alice in Wonderland

I was told that it is quite difficult to get most people to listen to music outside of what they know.

  • How many of you have tried and failed to get people to listen to the music you like?
  • Or try to convince them that something that resonates with you should immediately resonate with them?

Same thing goes for literature.  You can read a book and have an epiphany but to get someone else to read the book let alone have the self-same striking realization is a difficult task indeed.

It doesn’t mean that there is no message in the song or novel and it also doesn’t mean that your friend is an idiot for not ‘getting it’ or bothering to listen/read.  We all work to a different schedule.

But how cool would it be if you could, like an alchemist, extract that message and translate it in a picture?  Something that you need to just look at to get or understand the underlying current?

People are usually willing to look at something visual which can only take a few seconds of their precious time.

The meaning I got from my dream was that you can imprint a message or a code (something that sparks off something in you on a conscious or unconscious level) to trigger a healing within you to take place.

Or a prompt to get you to explore the music or literature (or whatever medium is being transmuted) further which may activate that message you need.

The Sound of Music

To download as desktop wallpaper or to print and use around the home/office as mini-posters — just click on the picture, right-click and 'save as' to your computer.  All rights reserved.A good friend (who synchronously is a musician who is working on healing music at this very moment) and I were debating and bouncing off concepts of a universal and quantum nature (we came up with the caption to your right).

We were discussing how music, in itself, can transport you to places that words only try to point you towards.

Obviously, not all music does this — there is music and there is music.  Some music can be very base and hollow, coming from the ego or the want for fame and money.  Other music relays a message — it could be a cosmic or earthly message.  It could be consumed on an unconscious or conscious level.

  • Have you ever noticed how music can lift your spirits?
  • Or get you to go deeper into your emotions?
  • Or simply move you to tears of bliss or sorrow?

The classical composers like Bach and Debussy excelled at elevating the soul.  It’s as if they could take you to a higher dimension to feel the music in and around you — letting the vibrations pulsate through every cell in your body, literally absorbing the encoded transmissions of the wonders of 8th dimensional sound frequency.

Alice Through the Looking Glass

blue butterfly pngThis brings me back to the many epiphanies I’ve been having this month through dreams, synchronicities, ‘a-ha’ moments with friends and family members and opening my mind to new possibilities with the all-encompassing help of the Universe itself.

Talk about unity consciousness at work!  We are all so interwoven into this fabric of existence and we reflect so much to and in each other, which ultimately, reflects the entire cosmos.  We are One.

So, Alice has been journeying into the reflections of herself and has pulled out all her resources to finally discover what she’s been prepping for.

“Curiouser and curiouser!” — Alice in Wonderland

I started this site wanting to merge my passion for writing with my love of music and art.  I set out to do this as best I could, floundering a little at times as I tried new ways to do this.  None of which truthfully felt like the puzzle pieces fitted.

With this new insight I finally feel like the puzzle has at last become a recognizable picture (as we are usually given the pieces without the added benefit of having the box image for a reference — no, that would have been too easy).  I get to merge the trinity of music, art and literature into one capsule that can benefit the observer in a flash.

I couldn’t have asked the Universe for a better connection to work through me, expressing the Source, than this!

No wonder you’re not supposed to try to ‘control’ the nooks and crannies of how your path will unfurl — nothing out-of-the-box will ever develop with you trying to manipulate it at every turn with only your current understanding of how the world works.

They Call Me Trinity

I need to trim my time expenditure on this site and neatly package it to fit this new revelation.

So, instead of having an art/creativity blog on Tuesday, a spiritual blog on Thursday and a Free Giveaway blog on Friday, I have decided to reconcile all three if these into one new and exciting blog (to come out every Wednesday from next week) that will have inspiring verses, tasty visuals and something for nothing.

I will, from time to time, blog articles of value or interest on any given day but you can rely on the Wednesday blog to be a weekly occurrence.

That’s All Folks!

And that’s the rundown of how this year began for me — thanks for journeying with me and I hope you’ll stick around to see what’s to come in the bright and uncharted future of this magnificent virgin Wonderland.

12 Things Successful People Do

Featured

In a world where almost everything seems to be competitive and the yearning for success is rife, take heart in knowing that you can benefit greatly by learning from others and how they manage and maintain success in order to establish a winning formula for your life.

First things first, what does success actually mean?

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” — Albert Einstein

Success can vary according to the individual.  It can be measured in relationships, love, money, career, purpose, spirit, attitude and the list goes on.

There are some simple qualities you can take onboard to excel in all of the above.   If you know someone whom you or society deems as successful and they don’t quite make the grade with the many attributes listed below, you may want to question their overall success — they may have the money and career in the bag but success in life should tick all the boxes.

Let’s take a look at what sets some people apart from the rest:

  1. Life Hacks

    Pin it!

    Talk Positive — Successful people always communicate confidently to others and themselves.  You can’t thrive on a negative dialogue.  Aim to encourage, motivate and inspire all you meet including yourself.

  2. Move On — Never dwell on your mistakes.  Failure should always be used as feedback.  Being stuck in the past only ensures that you will not be able to effectively work in the present.  Take your blunders and learn from them — there are always hidden gems to be found in boo-boos.
  3. Look out for No.1 — Efficacious people know that they need to take care of themselves first and foremost.  This is not a selfish act; it is an action of necessity.  Besides, no-one appreciates a self-declared martyr — there’s no brownie points in it for you, believe me.  Acting the martyr will lead you to harbor resentment and will alienate people around you, especially those of you who do everything with a mumble under your breath.  When you take care of your own needs first, you will have the ability to help others with a gratified smile on your face.
  4. Set Boundaries — Don’t be a pushover.  Know your limits and draw the line in the sand for others when you need to preserve your energy and time.  Learn how to distinguish what you need to address and what you need to let alone.
  5. Philanthropy — The Buddha mentioned that one should tithe a percentage (Judaism stipulates 10%) of their earnings to benefit their community.  This is a no-brainer.  You want to see your society thrive because you are a part of it — it’s a symbiotic relationship.  You wouldn’t take a dump on your own doorstep now would you?
  6. Remain Grounded — Remember your roots and always practice humility in the face of any position.  Be a lone, content stallion rather than a prancing pony — ponies get ridden at fairgrounds.  Strut and you’re likely to stumble, be humble and you’ll always be firmly footed.
  7. Be Open to New Ideas — Bend like a reed in the wind.  When you give in to complacency, you stop listening to others and their thoughts — big mistake.  You don’t know everything, no matter how old and experienced you are.  The universe is ever-expanding so what gives you the right to stand still?  Nothing ages you like rigid conceit — your passport to entropy.
  8. Own It — Prosperous people own their lives, where they are, how they got there and what they stand for.  Embody your experience and live your truth.  Be an original and not a copy.  There’s nothing worse than a cheap fake.  Everyone has something unique to offer the world — your job is to uncover your diamond.
  9. Admit to Mistakes — Successful people aren’t afraid to acknowledge they’re wrong.  True courage lies in integrity — your ability to recognize the truth and concede when appropriate.  To err is human.
  10. Think Creatively — Fruitful endeavors are usually sparked by thinking out-of-the-box, stretching beyond what is the norm and testing the limits.  If  you want to play it safe you’re going to be average.  Pushing boundaries is where resilience leads to triumph.  Inject colour, passion, vitality and true-grit into everything you do and you will succeed.
  11. Exercise Criticism Immunity — Success lies in your ability to detect constructive from destructive critique.  When you can master the skill of not taking things personally, you will be able to clearly see what opinions you can take aboard your ship to steer you in the right direction and which thoughts need to be left on the dock lest they sink your ship.  Discernment is one of your handiest tools for gauging the worth of alternate views.
  12. Enjoy Life — Finding joy and fulfillment in everyday activities is another sign of a successful person.  Can you take any situation and turn it into a gift?  Can you find the beauty in the chaos?  The delight in the mundane?  If your life is a bore, you need to take a long hard look at who’s making it boring — let me give you a clue:  Go stand in front of the mirror.  Boring is as boring does.  Use your time on this planet wisely, there is a hidden microcosm of treasure in any situation — you just need to view things from a different perspective.  A recent study just reported that adventure and travel (another activity you see successful people adhering to) seems to lead to longevity.  If there is just one thing you must take from this list let it be to enjoy your life.

 “Action is the foundational key to all success.” — Pablo Picasso

The road to success needn’t be a difficult one; your perspective of your given obstacles and victories will determine how you use them to free yourself.  The moment you get out of your own way, you will find the happiness you seek.

12 things successful people do by Cherie Roe Dirksen

Did you enjoy this article? Don’t forget to pin it 😀

You can supplement the word ‘happy’ with success — they are one and the same as the definition of success is merely to have a favourable or desired outcome.  Ultimately, everyone just wants to be happy.

So, I want to end this off by saying that success is a state of mind, if you let others dictate to you what it looks like then you are doomed to failure.  Strive to be happy and content right now and you will be on your way.  Take action now to live with the conviction to be happy and you can only be prosperous.

Next stop — success!

Header Image by Nissor Abdourazakov from Pixabay

Other articles you may enjoy:

10 Tips Designed to Keep You Happy

How Trust Can Bring You Abundance

7 Helpful Pointers To Activate The Flow Of Abundance

6 Techniques to Stop Worrying

Why is Gratitude so Important When Creating Abundance?

3 Silver Bullets to Eliminate Fear

Is Social Networking Stifling Your Creative Juices?

Are you Creating the Life of your Dreams?

6 Ways to Alleviate Stress Now

The Secret to Excellent Living

Books by this author that you may enjoy:

 Book Cover CARPE DIEM OR BUST    New Divine You Cover Creative Expression         Green Boutique Zazzle Logo

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4 Things to Ask Yourself When Searching for Purpose

When I chased after money, I never had enough. When I got my life on purpose and focused on giving of myself and everything that arrived into my life, then I was prosperous. ~Wayne Dyer

The Burning Question

African BeautyWhat is my purpose?  The one sweltering question we try so hard to answer and fulfill in our lives but often leaves us cold, feeling confused or frustrated.

There could be so many possible answers.  More pressing is the fact that sometimes we don’t just have one singular purpose, or, that purpose could change from day to day, year to year or decade to decade. We need to get comfortable with the idea of going with the flow and trusting our innate instinct.

Job Conundrums

We could be happily (or unhappily) plodding along in a job for many years when one day you wake up and being a (blank) no longer seems to ‘fit’ into your life anymore.

You scratch your head thinking what could I possibly want out of life now?  I thought I was a (blank)?’ 

Never label yourself as one thing or another — you will restrict the flow of your life.  The answer could be that you are a quantum, multi-dimensional, layered being.  This means that you could be causing change in many numerous ways, even on a subconscious level.  We have in built indicators that start beeping when your contract is about to reconfigure or needs to change.  This is why I will put emphasis on the fact that we need to learn to trust ourselves and our intuition. You may want to dig your feet into the ground in resistance but you need to entertain the prospect that it is time to move on.

You may either need to professionally pick up and move into another arena or to physically move yourself to another location to shine your light where it is needed more.

Change is the Only Constant

tree of life - serpentWe, as human beings, do not relish change.  In fact, for some, it is a frightening prospect.  The uncomfortable truth is that the only constant in this life is change.  The sooner you can make your peace with that, the better you will be able to adapt to any given situation.

The reasons for change can be countless and I like to refer to these seemingly non-linear events as ‘quantum’.  We are navigating in a world of quantum soup, where there are many probabilities layering themselves upon each other.  There are so many levels to our lives and the majority of these are unseen or subconsciously being carried out.  So if you have a niggling feeling that your life needs an overhaul, it is probably time to start making that happen.

The Universe, Source, Higher Self or God — whichever you prefer — has layered these events to unfold in divine timing and you will be gracefully cushioned to your next phase with ease — that is, of course, if you don’t resist.  If you insist on resisting the process, you will probably still get there in the end but it will be the long and bumpy cart-ride instead of the smooth bullet train.

From the Horses Mouth

Who Am II speak from personal experience as I have done a lot of job hopping and career labeling in my time. I started my young life out being very artistic and decided to become an Interior Designer.  Then I hit my early twenties and joined a band.  In between remedial jobs I decided to go back to art and became a full-time painter.  This was going well until I got my ‘spiritual nudge’ to write a book.  This confused the living daylights out of me because I had labeled myself as an ‘artist’.  I was not a ‘writer’!  However, I decided not to fight what was coming out and wrote my first book.

I realized that I loved writing — who would have thought?  I decided to write and paint but this became very taxing.  I got my final nudge to trim back on the art and concentrate on the writing, which is where I am at now. What this whole process has taught me is to surrender to the now and to not fear change because that is where your excitement lies.

Try asking yourself these 4 questions:

  • What do you feel like doing now? 
  • What is it you would do if money wasn’t an issue?
  • What is your gut/instinct telling you? 
  • Where do the synchronicities or signposts point you?

If you are having some challenges identifying your purpose, a good place to start is in meditation.  The wonders that quiet reflection can do is innumerable.  When you are in this state of centered awareness ask yourself ‘what is my purpose?’ and just see what comes up for you.

The answer could be immediate or it could take a couple of hours, days or weeks to come through.

Follow those Synchronous Markers

Rabbit prints The key is to be patient and follow the signs and synchronicities.  They will be there to guide you.  You will have your light-bulb moment if you are dedicated to looking for these pointers.

Just remember they can come to you in many ways— through dreams, meditation, the TV/internet/radio, through people or conversation and pretty much any other precursor that is relevant to your particular question or purpose.

But I Need to Make Money

Yeah, tell me about it!  We all need the green stuff to pay our bills at the end of the month, right?  This is a difficult one because during the transition you may not make the money you need to and this can often put people off pursuing their dreams.

The answer is that if you trust the process, the gates will open for you but you need to exercise patience and faith.  I know faith doesn’t pay the bills (unless you have a wealthy and generous Aunty Faith), but you can make a start at your dreams without giving up you day job for now.  Baby steps will eventually lead to you changing tracks permanently and having a solid foundation to do so in the future.

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Purpose Fairy

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Other articles you may enjoy:

Are you Creating the Life of your Dreams?

7 Ways to Lift You from Depression

9 Great Reasons for Getting Creative (No Artistic Experience Needed)

Dare to Be Who You Are

Throw Away Limiting Beliefs

How Taking Things Personally Can Stump Your Creativity

Heather

“Don’t Take Anything Personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.” ~Don Miguel Ruiz

If you have a fear about what people will think of what you have to offer — your particular brand of creative expression — then this could be a serious obstacle.

So try and read this with that in mind and then answer this question:

Can I reveal the gifts of my soul to the world even if some may not approve, be ready for, or understand me?

If you can, you are standing in your integrity and are resolute about who you are.  If not, try to get to the root of why you hand your power over to other people for approval.

This article may also help:  Making a Commitment to Creativity…Do You Lack Self-Worth?

Do You Take Things Personally?

SunsetWhen you take something personally or are offended, you are inadvertently agreeing with what has been said about you.

Does this ring true or are you still having a hard time grappling with this concept?

If you are still wrestling with this statement, it could stem from not being able to take responsibility for your own thought streams and self-identification.  I know this sounds a bit harsh but if we are going to effectively tackle self-worth issues; we need to get our hands initially dirty so that we can give them a good scrubbing.

Complete Honesty is Required

A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation. ~Moliere

When someone insults you it is only the tip of the iceberg to what’s lying underneath.  When you feel slighted you are actually supporting the view of your counterpart because it has touched a nerve.  If your nerves are being twisted, you know there is something more to the perceived insult that meets the eye.

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. ~Carl Jung

The person doing the insulting is only reminding you of something that needs to be taken out within yourself to have a good, long and hard look at.  Although you probably won’t want to give them a gold medal for their efforts, I assure you that some people are in this life to push your buttons.  Although this may seem unloving, they actually give you the opportunity to reconsider your belief structures – a chance to turn your trash into treasure.

Taking a Look at the Opposite Pole — Confidence

GirlIf someone tried to hurt you, or perhaps even unintentionally, says something to you that you don’t agree with – no problem – you usually brush off this kind of ‘offense’ because it really doesn’t bother you.  It could be an area in your life that you are 100% sure you have waxed.

We have to learn to be our own best friends because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies. ~Roderick Thorp

So for instance, you are a rocket scientist and someone calls you stupid, the chances of you having a wobbly melt-down in the public lavatory are going to be slim. But let’s take another example, perhaps one that we all have had to deal with in one way or another.

Vanity Fair or Foul?

Let’s say you are happy with your appearance and feel you are a fine specimen, someone passes by in a vehicle and shouts out, ‘hey, freak!’

It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to. ~W.C. Fields

Do you agree with that or not? If you are 100% confident that you are a perfectly dashing human being, just as the Universe intended, then you would most likely shrug the comment off and have a good chuckle about it. Why? This is because you whole-heartedly disagree with the statement.

However, if you are someone whose confidence peaks and troughs daily, you will probably instantly go into depression.  The nerve that has been struck is your internal agreement about yourself, not what the other person has said.  All they have done is ignited the spark on the BBQ that you are going to make sure you roast on.  It is a form of self-torture.   To agree with anyone over anything stemming from feelings of lack is disempowering.

Re-examine all that you have been told…dismiss that which insults your soul. ~Walt Whitman

We live and we learn, we travel within and we discover who we are.

When you feel confident about who you are, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks and you are free to express the many wonders that your unique soul has to offer.

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Purpose Fairy. 

Next installment:  9 Truths About Letting Go of Opinions that Taint Us

You may also enjoy:

Live Like You Mean It — Live With Conviction!

What Excuse is Keeping You in a Holding Pattern?

How to Get Your Creative Space Working For You

Are You Letting Your Creativity Show?

7 Proven Tactics to Spread Joy Around the World

Take The Test — Are You a Slave to Social Networking?

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This is not going to be an article bashing social networking or shouting from the rooftops that it’s from the devil.  No, I find it an extremely helpful, if not detrimental, modern-day tool.  I utilize it socially — to stay in touch with friends and family — and I use it for my business.

Social networking is a great device for spreading information and touching base.  However, it can also be abused.

All too often I see people with their noses stuck to their iPods, even when they are publicly with someone else.  Does anyone else find this extremely rude?

What is it that keeps the populace stuck to other people’s dramas or, in some case, tedious actions?  Are we craving attention?  Is it the need to feel connected? Is it that ugly ego rearing its head and wanting to be seen or to compare?

I feel these actions can inadvertantly drain our inspiration and drive.  However, if used properly, they can be great tools of motivation and new ideas.

Let’s Get Real

I think we will all have different reasons for using social networking but if you are finding it hard to keep those nimble thumbs off your key-pad, then let’s dive into a bit of introspection — answer these questions honestly:

  • Control – do you have command over how much time you spend on social networks such as facebook or twitter, or does it have an irrepressible hold on you?
  • Breaks — can you go without it for a long period of time and not be bothered?  Have you ever tested yourself on this?
  • Loss — do you feel disconnected if you don’t ‘plug in’?  Are you just itching to be updated again?  Are you feeling like you are missing out on something?
  • Time – how many moments do you waste scouring news feeds only to find that 2 hours have passed and you have not really found anything of true value?
  • Question — how are you using it?  Is it benefitting you in some way?  Or is it serving as a distraction?  Or both?
  • Limits — can you set yourself boundaries and time limits?
  • Trimming —Hone down who and what you give your energy to.  Are you wasting a lot of time on engaging in a drama that really doesn’t involve you?  Are you helping or fueling the situation? Or are you just filling empty space?
  • Clarity — are you using facebook for friends and people you actually know?  Or do you befriend any Tom, Dick and Harry that requests your precious time?  Get clear about which social networks are for what.  In other words, use facebook or twitter to stay in touch with interesting people, friends and family and sites like LinkedIn and facebook business pages for your associates, promotions and dealings.  Be clear about the reason you are using these sites and don’t just give your time away willy-nilly.
  • Allocations — assign specific times to go on for personal and business use and be liable for those periods — keep to that schedule.

Rudeness Concealed as ‘The Norm’

At all costs avoid whipping out your iPad in real conversation with bona fide friends and colleagues – nobody appreciates this and you may end up losing a tangible friend or business deal for one moment of digital gratification.

The friends who are willing to meet up with you in the flesh are the ones that will be there for you when you need them.  Give them your undivided attention and respect.

If someone has taken time out to be with you, they should take precedence over any electronic device that is beeping for your attention — learn to turn it off if it’s a distraction.

Take the Test

If you find that social networking is controlling you and you can’t let go, try this out:

  • Alert your connections that you will be taking one weeks (or however long you feel you need) ‘vacation’ from the net.
  • Hold yourself accountable for it, no matter what juicy adventures you want to share – be present with that urge to splurge and be at peace with telling no-one.
  • Observe how remaining silent makes you feel – do you feel a certain tranquility or are you chomping at the bit?  Really question yourself — do you truly need to share that photo of your dinner last night?  Do your friends need to know how long you were at the gym this morning?  Possibly not.
  • If you are experiencing more calm and ease without social networking, then this exercise has worked.  You will be more aware of how to limit your time dedicated to it in the future.  Work out a viable timetable and stick to it.
  • If you are edgy and feel anxious, then this exercise has also worked and you need to go into why you are feeling this way.  Social networking has a hold over you and there is something there that needs addressing.  Dig deep and follow the thread of answers to this question:  Why do I feel the need to be distracted?  You will be taken to the core of your inability to ‘let go’ of being in the loop about every little detail, or keeping people in the loop about every endeavor you undertake.

You Are the Center of Your Own World

When you take a break from your social networking sites, I can bet that you most likely will not be missed — however, this will not be from the lack of love your friends and associates have for you.

The reason is, in all actuality, you are not going to be the center of their worlds and they will most likely have many other diversions to keep them busy.  Don’t take offense at this — it is helpfully indicative that everyone has a ‘life’.  You are at the center of your revolving world and they are conducting their version of reality too — learn to honor this and be grateful when your worlds collide for the greater good.

This can give you a clearer perspective of how you identify what is important and hone down what you feel you need to distribute that will benefit others.  It will aid you to ascertain what needs to be shared and what can remain private.

Call to Action

I want you to work out approximately how much time a week you spend on social networking and then compare it to your new timetable.  Let us know how much time you have saved and what you now do to use that time more creatively.

Use social networking responsibly and you will have the best of both worlds.

Use social networking to see the beauty in life, to get inspired and to spread good vibes — don’t let it use you to become a slave to that lower vibrational world of gossip, drama and bullshit.

Original article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Conscious Life News

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Other articles you may enjoy:

8 Life Strategies That Playing Chess Has Taught Me

How to Get Your Creative Space Working For You

9 Truths About Letting Go of Opinions that Taint Us

An Artful Splash of Colour For Your Facebook Timeline

 

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Incredible Inspiring Art by Stephen Wiltshire

I just had to share this with my readers when I saw it circulating on Facebook.  What an inspiration this man is!

The below extract is taken from Stephens site, you can visit that here to see more from this incredible artist.

Stephen Wiltshire is an artist who draws and paints detailed cityscapes. He has a             particular talent for drawing lifelike, accurate representations of cities, sometimes after having only observed them briefly. He was awarded an MBE for services to the art world in 2006. He studied Fine Art at City & Guilds Art College. His work is popular all over the world, and is held in a number of important collections.   Read more HERE. 

What Excuse is Keeping You From Your Creativity?

This is going to be short, sweet and to the point because I’m in a ‘no bullshit’ kind of mood today.

I’m Pointing my Finger at You!

If you are someone who knows they have an artistic streak buried inside (and believe me, this is aimed at most of the global population) and is not expressing it due to failure of inspiration/motivation/so-called ability or inability/having time/blah blah blah…This blog is for you!

Yes, you know who you are.

Extricating All Obstacles from Every Crevice

There is really only one way to put this.  Either go get a box of matches, erect a neat little pile of kindling, light it and hover your backside over the flames (aka. get a fire lit under your arse!) or you can gently remove the finger that is plugging up your nether regions (i.e. pull finger!).

No seriously, this is a no-brainer, if you want to get creative you will find a way.  If you make excuses  you are shooting yourself in the foot — you are the only loser in this game of if’s and but’s (or butt’s, as this case may be).

There is no need to ‘think’ about it, there is only a need to act.  Simple.

Well?  What are you waiting for!  Get going!!!  As Yoda said, ‘do or do not, there is no try’.

If you need a further push and reason to get creative, read this:

9 Great Reasons for Getting Creative (No Artistic Experience Needed)

Other articles you may enjoy:

Is Social Networking Stifling Your Creative Juices?

How to Get Your Creative Space Working For You

Incredible Inspiring Art by Stephen Wiltshire

What Does Thanks-Giving Mean to You?

Now for those of you wondering what a South African has to say about Thanksgiving — this is not about the American holiday, it is about the art and practice of gratitude.

Why is Gratitude Important?

Gratitude, like everything else in the universe, is a workable energy. On the scale of polarity, it is a positive energy that when used will attract more of the like back to you.

What Does this Mean?

This means that the more you ‘give thanks’ for the things in your life, whether they be your family, friends, your health, roof over your head, food in the fridge, your clothes, car, etc — the more of that energy will be returned to you.

Whether it be through appreciation or just the universe giving you more of what you are grateful for.

“We often only tend to see the lack we are experiencing”

Gratitude should be given for everything and anything. Try to see all the positive things, people or situations you have in your life. Make a list, if you can. You will be surprised at how much there is to be thankful for. Then keep on reminding yourself when you are feeling lack – pull out the list and read it!

We often only tend to see the lack we are experiencing. When this is the prime focus you are attracting more of that energy into your life. This is how energy works or what is referred to as the Law of Attraction.

Like Attracts Like

So when you are putting thoughts out there of lack or longing, your energy is that of lack and longing and that is what you will continue to draw into your life.

Change your thoughts by simply altering your energy from lack to gratitude. There is always something to be grateful for. Even if it is the air that you are breathing — that is keeping you alive — be grateful!

Just the fact that you woke up in a warm bed and with a roof over your head is testimony to the full life you are leading. We take too much for granted.

“As you open to receive, your heart will expand and this feeling is elation and bliss”

When you alter your energy you will ‘feel’ it. When you experience the ‘not having’ you will feel it in your solar plexus (stomach area), this feels like you’ve been punched in the gut. Not a nice feeling at all. It can even lead you to feel nauseous.

An Attitude for Gratitude

When you alter that energy to gratitude, you are moving up on the scale of positivity and you should begin to shift that feeling out of your solar plexus and start to feel a more expansive feeling in your chest. This is commonly referred to as your heart chakra.

As you open to receive, your heart will expand and this feeling is elation and bliss — much better than being kicked in the stomach, eh?

Try it out. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Shift your attitude and embrace gratitude. Your life will change. Practicing the art of gratitude allows for you to start experiencing your life the way it was meant to be lived.

Make every day thanks-giving day!

Original article was written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Interviewfest.

For a little more inspirational thanksgiving day ideas and tips on making a gratitude board, CLICK HERE.

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How Stubbing Your Toe is Good News!

How to Get Your Creative Space Working For You

I had not picked up a paint-brush in ages.  I decided a few months back to devote my time to writing and the site.  But, to be perfectly honest with you, I am missing the art side of things like crazy.

I suppose you can’t just switch something off in you that is innate and is trying to bash down the walls to come out again.

My Studio — the Graveyard

I was also feeling trapped and confined in my creative working area — my studio and office space are one room.  It had become a dumping ground with boxes bursting at the seems full of, well, for want of a better word…crap.  There were also boxes in there for donation that had been sitting there for at least 6 months.

My studio had become a morgue, a place for things to come and die.

When I made my decision to stop painting for a while, I still allowed myself personal time to paint and get creative for myself but not even this was happening.  It’s a case of ‘no-shit-Sherlock’ if you had to take a look at my studio.

I had my painting desk facing the corner of the room like I was in the ‘dunce’ timeout zone.  A really stupid place to put a table where you are going to hopefully create works of fine art.

Making the Artist Retreat Respectable

Last week I got a huge yellow and black bee up my bonnet and decided to make a concerted effort to beautify, clear up and simplify my space to best work for me.

I buzzed hither and thither on my mission of organization and beautification.  I even made it into a little spiritual retreat with fairy lights dangling from my curtain rail to candles and incense burners dotted around.

After this was done, I actually got a bit of painting in!  Can I hear a ‘whoop whoop‘?

Let the Creative Juices Flow…

I wanted today’s creativity/inspirational blog to be about why we need to create, what get’s us going?  What do other artists and masterminds have to say.  I stumbled upon this great blog called ’15 Famous Quotes on Creativity’ — well worth a read.

Here are my top 3 favourite quotes from this article.

And last but not least…my childhood guru, Dr Seuss:

For more creative inspiration, please read:

9 Great Reasons for Getting Creative (No Artistic Experience Needed)

5 Tips on Getting Back In The Groove

2 Commonly Accepted Lies that You May Believe

Lie no. 1.  You should fit in and be normal like everyone else.  You know the story, white picket fence and two and a half kids, 9-5 job, etc.

REALITY — Do what YOU want to do with your life, be who YOU want to be and live under a bridge if it makes you happy!

Lie no. 2.  Following your dreams will not earn you enough money to support yourself or your family.

REALITY — It takes time to build the foundations of your dream life — Rome wasn’t built in a day — but taking baby steps towards your vision will see you reaping the rewards for the rest of your life.  Just remember, when you do what you love, you will never work another day in your life (according to Confucius and I happen to agree).

This world would be a happier, brighter, more peaceful place if we all plucked up the courage to flaunt our deepest, inner-most creative expression.  LIve your Truth!

You may also enjoy these reads:

Are You Letting Your Creativity Show?

Live Like You Mean It — Live With Conviction!

Stopping to Smell the Flowers…Inspiring Quotes

 

The Simple Pleasures in Life

Flower Power

I was out walking with a friend yesterday, we noticed some beautiful gardens.

Among the gorgeous, colourful flower beds, my eye fell upon some wild red poppies.  It brought back memories of my poppy painting days.  So I took a trip down memory lane and pulled out some of these quotes to accompany my poppy art.  I hope you enjoy them.

“I like it when a flower or a little tuft of grass grows through a crack in the concrete. It’s so fuckin’ heroic.”  — George Carlin

Let’s try to remember beauty and the simple pleasures of life — don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.

To download the images below, just right-click and ‘save as’:

Flower Quote Nature Quote by Cherie Roe Dirksen

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God.  Because only then does one feel  that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.  As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be.  And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”  — Anne Frank

You may also enjoy these articles: 

Dripping Art, Dragonflies and Mood Enhancing Facebook Timelines

How to Destroy a Frown with One Simple Trick

2 Musical Quotations To Take Note Of

Finding Your Magnificence

Can Using Yellow in Art Enhance Your Mood?

Are You Letting Your Creativity Show?

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9 Great Reasons for Getting Creative (No Artistic Experience Needed)

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Why Should I Bother With Creativity?

I’m going to answer that question with another question. What better way to gift yourself than to spend some quality time expressing your inner feelings and desires?

Creativity is for everyone, not just arts and crafters. Look at how the creativity in others touches your own life.

Let Me Paint a Colorless Picture

Can you envision our world without imagination? Try to visualize Vincent Van Gogh deciding he was no good at painting and never picking up a paintbrush to allow his perspective of beauty and vibrant energy to spring onto a canvas.

Or, how about the aural delights of a classical composer like Bach lacking the confidence to grace our ears with his heart-wrenching and evocative rendition of “Air on a G String?”

The list could go on as we venture into the world of artistic genius and magnificence, but I’m sure you get the dreary portrayal of what our lives would be like if we lacked creativity or the drive to be inventive.

But I’m Not an Artist!

Everybody has a spark of creativity within—you don’t have to be a master artist or musician to be able to express yourself.

Creativity can emerge through anyone, from playwrights, chefs, teachers, computer programmers, healers, writers, and homemakers to artisans, designers, gardeners, and street sweepers. All of these people can, and in many cases do, exercise creative flow with every task they carry out, regardless of their so-called “profession.”

I am, primarily, a writer, artist, and musician, but I also try to express my creativity in other forms. This can be anything from experimental cooking to how I decide to dress myself each day—each look and meal is never quite the same because I’m never quite the same. I go according to how I feel. This is what adds spice to your life!

I’ve used myself as an example to demonstrate all the vast corners that creativity can be lurking in. It’s your job to show it the light of day in as many avenues of your life as you can. This is not something that you should be thinking of doing only when you retire! The time is now.

“When you choose a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life.”
Confucius

Inadvertently Paying It Forward

When you find that one thing (or several things) that allows you to express your unique self, it will be felt by those around you. You may even inspire them to rekindle a past passion that they have shelved or invoke them to try something new to bring out their resourcefulness.

Anyone can radiate creativity and beauty into their surroundings; it is how you utilize your talents, not what your job is, that truly defines who you are.

Why Is Creative Expression Important for Me?

When you give yourself time out to practice and explore your ingenuity, you are gifting yourself with:

  • Playfulness—You honor yourself when you allow time to fool around and to tap into that inner child that so many of us have forgotten about.
  • Imagination—Drawing from the resources of the right hemisphere of the brain, which is our supply of creative juice, you create a much needed balance and vacation from the often-dominate, linear thinking left hemisphere of your brain.
  • Relaxation—Make time to unwind and craft that creative time into a peaceful, soothing scene of tranquility—an escape from the noise and looped mind-chatter of the daily grind.
  • Space—Give yourself that much needed freedom to unreservedly express how you are feeling.

How Will This Ultimately Benefit Me?

Expressing your creative sparkle is priceless, but just in case you need more convincing, here are some key factors outlining the benefits of allowing yourself the time and space for artistic endeavor:

  • De-stressing—When you are in the zone, it is tantamount to meditating, where all logical and worrisome thoughts cease and you are taken over by the imaginative current, which will reduce your stress levels dramatically.
  • Calming—When you are in this state of mindlessly enjoying yourself, you will feel an instantaneous calm come over you.
  • Personal Fulfillment—The feeling of birthing something beautiful into this world is incalculable, and you feel that sense of achievement and liveliness that creation brings with it.
  • Inner Reflection—Just like the de-stressing point above, when you are in this meditative state, it gives you the time to do a bit of introspection. You can realign yourself with your goals and keep in touch with the core of your self.
  • Enjoyment—When you tickle the inner child that bursts to express joy and ingenuity, you will find that the tasks you do that invoke such inventiveness also bring elation. Connecting with your creativity will connect you with your joy.

Your Call to Action

Try creating a tranquil, serene place where you can retreat when you feel like you are in the mood for a bit of creativity. Mark it off as your special creative zone.

If you are finding it difficult to tap into your source of imagination and originality, I always find it extremely helpful to take a walk in nature or to practice daily meditation (you know, that “thing” where you are alone and quiet with no interruptions?). When you get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, you gain a certain clarity that can only be found when there is peace and quiet.

Free up some space this evening to tap into the inner child that just wants to finger paint and get mucky, pick up that pen and write that epic you’ve always dreamed about, cut out colorful pictures and make a collage, take those first steps to learning that instrument that has been sitting in your closet for ten years, or just do some mindless doodling—whatever tickles your creative genius buds to blossom. Sometimes, just giving the intent to find your creative spark is all that is needed to get the ball rolling.

So get out there and give your creative juices a squeeze and bring a little zest into your life!

Header Image by Alexandr Ivanov from Pixabay

This was a guest article written by Cherie Roe Dirksen for Positively Positive 

Other blogs you may enjoy:

Why Rejection Can Be Our Saviour

How to Paint Rhino’s and Evoke Protective Spells

Astonishing Ways to Make Your Home Look Like a Luxury Retreat

Can Music Jump-Start Humanity’s Awakening?

7 Tips on How to Market Your Art From Behind Your Desk

Why You Need to Pay Attention to Synchronicity Now!

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Self-Empowerment Books by Cherie Roe Dirksen:

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Table Books of Art and Inspirational Teachings by Cherie Roe Dirksen:

Creative Expression        Art Portfolio

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Don’t You Get It?

Okay, these weeks are really rolling away fast.  I can’t keep track of time or the date anymore, it feels like we’re in a no-time bubble.  But, all blurbs aside, we have happened on that magical day of the week — yes, it’s Friday…again!  And that means that I need to cough up something useful for you good folks.

Today I am delivering on my promise and present you with another free e-card and wallpaper/poster download (see bottom of blog).  If you have missed out on all the previous weeks free downloads, — check my menu bar above;  under ‘free stuff’ you’ll find a drop-down menu.  Just select ‘free e-cards’ to browse through the steadily growing collection.

Do You Get It?

This is taken from my painting called ‘Do You Get It?’.  It is part of my private collection (because my husband refuses to let go of it and it hangs on his studio wall).  I’ve been working on a couple of designs for my Spiral Store, check them out below:

Do You Get It?  Shirts  Do You Get It? Design Galaxy Nexus Cover  Do You Get It?  Shirts

You can have a sniff about all the other stuff you can get with this design on it HERE.

Unleash Your Creative Force This Weekend

For those of you dying to get your hands mucky over the weekend and delve into some kind of creative endeavor of your own — have a squizz at my guest article which has just been published (this week) on Positively Positives site:

9 Great Reasons for Getting Creative (No Artistic Experience Needed)

Here is the e-card I created especially for you (click on the photo, then right-click and ‘save as’):

And last, but not least, here is your free wallpaper/poster download (click on the photo, then right-click and ‘save as’):

I hope you have a fun weekend!

Does The Sun Shine Out Of Your Bottom?

An age-old question that has plagued mankind since the dawn of the ego…

Ego Or True-Nature?

The truth is that the sun does indeed beam out of your backside, but not in the form of any ego-based identity.  No, it’s all about your creative flare — what are you doing to beautify your world and inadvertently affect the lives of others?

“There’s nothing more exciting in this life than embarking on a new creative adventure.”

Your ability to shine is linked to what you have to share in this world and that can take on many shapes and forms.

B-B-Boring!

I can’t bear not being creatively active in some form or another.  Nothing bores me more than boredom itself!

It can sometimes be really cool to be a couch potato for a day, but come on, really?  That can also get a bit tedious.

There’s nothing more exciting in this life than embarking on a new creative adventure. This can be anything from:

  • Decorating
  • Crafts
  • Writing
  • Composing
  • Gardening
  • Reshuffling the home or office
  • Playing with entrepreneurial ideas
  • Inventing
  • Painting/Drawing/Doodling
  • Designing
  • Woodwork
  • Styling to
  • Building lego castles!

Beatles Rock Art by ©Cherie Roe DirksenCreativity brings out the best in human nature and affords us the opportunity to have fun and to share our innovativeness with others.

If you enjoyed this little motivational kick up the jacksy,  then you will probably benefit from this article too:

Why Creativity Promotes Wellness

So, get that ass off the couch and let your inner light shine through every orifice (well, you know what I mean!).

Feel free to post in the comment section below some interesting and fun ideas you have for getting creative juices flowing.  Post pictures or relevant links of what you’ve been getting up to lately (no spam please!  It will be deleted).

Other articles you may enjoy:

3 Motivational Tips on Getting Back into the Artistic Arena

5 Tips on Getting Back In The Groove

New here?  Why not…

             

Why Creativity Connects You to Your Wellbeing

Look at how the creativity in others touches your own life. Try to imagine the world we live in without creativity — envisage Vincent Van Gogh deciding he was no good at painting and never picking up a paintbrush hence not allowing his perspective of beauty and vibrant energy to emerge onto a canvas. Or, how about the auditory delights of a classical composer like Camille Saint-Saens lacking the confidence to grace our ears with his peaceful and evocative rendition of an aquarium? The list could go on as we venture into the world of artistic genius and splendour but I’m sure you get the bleak picture of what our lives would be like if we lacked creativity or the drive to be imaginative.

“When you choose a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life.” — Confucius

We feed ourselves with all kinds of things — physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. Some things will nourish us while others may be toxic to our delicate systems. Our discernment with what serves us is integral and keeps us either fulfilled or leaves us feeling frustrated and empty. We can do everything ‘by the book’ — for instance, maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet, exercise regularly or get enough sleep. However, if we are suppressing our inner desire to express ourselves, we are denying the one thing that could lead to genuine fulfillment and wholeness.

Take Back Your Creative Control

For those of you who feel that creativity is someone else’s job or you don’t have a creative bone in your body — think again!

Everybody has a spark of creativity within — you don’t have to be a master artist, musician, or architect to be able to express yourself. It is how you conduct yourself in whatever vocation you have chosen that will determine your quality of life and the joy you inject into your surroundings. A mortician can be creative, a nurse can bring vibrance into her workplace — anyone can exude creativity and beauty into their surroundings, it is how you utilize your talents not what your job is that truly counts and defines who you are.

When you embrace your creative flare, you, and those around you, will benefit in more ways that you can imagine. Here’s why:

Not only do you as an individual benefit from lateral and imaginative thinking and then manifesting creation through your skill or expertise, but society benefits too. Can you conceive a world without playwrights, chefs, teachers, musicians, programmers, healers, writers, homemakers, artisans, designers, gardeners, etc? All of these people can, and in many cases do, exercise creative flow with everything they do — regardless of their so-called profession. When you find genuine job fulfillment and gratification, it will be felt by those whom you either interact with or are providing a service for.

The effect of more lateral thought, or thinking ‘out of the box’, and creative endeavor will not only lead you to a space of satisfaction and wellbeing but will reflect in the macrocosm around you. Your ripple effect will be felt by many who will, hopefully, ignite their own spark of creativity to share with the world.

Benefits of Creativity

Creativity is a vital component in society as a whole but what are the immediate benefits to you, the individual?

When you pursue your form of creativity — this could be anything that helps you to relax and express yourself — you will:

  • De-stress — When you are in your own creative space, you are more likely to drift away from the material world around you and focus on the inner desire to express through your perspective. This act will decrease your stress levels and automatically put you in a place of ‘time-out’ and relaxation. In an article written by Elizabeth Scott, M.S., she discusses how clinical art therapy is proven to reduce stress through distraction — being so engrossed in a task that inevitably leads you to attain a clear head. She also outlines that being in this flow can be likened to being in a meditative state, which brings with it the added benefits of meditation and stress relief. Having a hobby is essential in promoting balance in your lifestyle and some much-needed ‘down time’.
  • Stimulate — You will be stimulating the right hemisphere of your brain — the imaginative, lateral mindful state that is induced when you are in your creative ‘zone’. We need balance in all aspects of life and using the right and left hemisphere of the brain is no different. We are usually very much engaged in our left brain — the practical and linear way of thinking — so it is very important to take a vacation to the other side and stretch your legs with imagination, beauty and expressiveness. You will find that when you do this you have a better balance in your everyday life and are less likely to burn-out or have a breakdown.
  • Enjoy — Pursuing your creative flame ensures that you will tickle the inner child that bursts to express joy and ingenuity. When you do this, you will find that the tasks you do that invoke such inventiveness also bring elation. Connecting with your creativity will connect you with your joy.
  • Find Satisfaction — Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi said that our intrinsic motivation is whatever produces flow which ultimately becomes its own reward. When you are in this flow of creative expression, you will feel the ultimate satisfaction. When you take pleasure in what you do, you are contributing your valuable, unique skill to the world — what more satisfaction do you need?

What Can You Do Now To Engage in Creativity?

How can you practically find what it is that will bring you this satisfaction? Try answering these simple questions:

  • What is it, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you right now, that makes you feel a sense of timelessness?
  • Gives you a feeling of peacefulness or sereneness?
  • Lets you focus and be immersed in your imagination?
  • Gives you a sense of joy that is not related to any external source? In other words, it is coming from your sense of purpose or originality.

Sometimes we dismiss the very thing that is our pure, originative source of creativity. It could be the mindless doodling you draw in the side column of your desk pad that may end up being the foundation of a career in design. It might even be that green thumb you’ve always had in the garden that leads you down the path of professional landscaping. No matter how big or small the basis of this creativity is, you cannot know where it will lead you if you do not pursue it.

Everybody has a gift although the packages may vary. If you are truly stumped, then go out into the big wide world and find something that interests you. Take an art class or a creative writing course — keep trying new things until you find something that clicks into place for you. But, most important of all, life is about the journey — have fun in the process of finding and exploring the inner creative! •

© 2012 Cherie Roe Dirksen. All rights reserved.

Original article posted on Creativity Portal:  Why Creativity Promotes Wellness – De-stress, Enjoy Yourself, Find Satisfaction · Creativity-Portal.com.

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Other blogs by Cherie Roe Dirksen you may enjoy:

How to Paint Rhino’s and Evoke Protective Spells

The Universe is Abundant, Why Aren’t You?

Astonishing Ways to Make Your Home Look Like a Luxury Retreat

Why You Need to Pay Attention to Synchronicity Now!

3 Crucial Steps to Self Acceptance

Self-Empowerment Books by Cherie Roe Dirksen:

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Table Books of Art and Inspirational Teachings by Cherie Roe Dirksen:

Creative Expression        Art Portfolio

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Welcome to my Wonderland!

I chose a Wonderland theme for my site because I feel like I am skipping down that proverbial ‘Rabbit Hole’ —  I want to take as many people down with me…that sounds rather ambiguous now, doesn’t it?

If you are new here or would like a recap on who I am and what I’m about, I have a new ‘bite-sized’ tour of the site — just let your mouse take a nibble on the cupcake on your left….you will be magically and instantly resized and sent through the internet cable to a page of intrigue, wonder and teapots?

Why Choose Wonderland?

I have been going through copious amounts of re-thinking who I am (haven’t we all?!) and I realized that I am so many things.

I could be described as a practical, level-headed, ‘left brained’ girl (just like our fictional Alice) and on top of it — I am a Virgo (renowned for their pinickity-ness, preciseness and critique — again, another one of Alice’s traits).

Well, I found all these similarities to Alice quite amusing but….

Down The Rabbit Hole

There is a whole other side of me that is revved for creativity, ‘right-brained’ and an incurable dreamer — not to mention a complete nutter too, yup, quite barking mad!

So, in truth, I really cannot be labeled.  But should anyone really you be put into a box?

We are all multi-dimensional, multi-layered, magical beings who can be anything and everything we want to be — at any given time — with the privilege to change our minds at the drop of a (mad-hatters) hat!  It’s called ‘divine birthright’.

One of my favourite sayings from the new Tim Burton production of  ‘Alice in Wonderland’ is this:

Mad Hatter:  “Have I gone mad?”

Alice:   “Completely bonkers. But let me tell you a secret: All the best people are.”

Nicely said!  I think most people are completely bonkers when you get down to brass tacks, we’re just afraid to show it.

Well, not anymore — I simply won’t have it and it won’t do if we are to co-create an interesting new world.  I mean, honestly — have you ever seen a sane mad scientist?  We need rocket scientists (’cause let’s face it, most of us want to traverse the universe at some point in our lives and perhaps throw in a little time traveling too), so needless to say, we need to be off our rockers?  Make sense?  I hope not!

Let your naked, unadulterated whackiness shine through and together we can pierce this veil of delusion, or disillusion, whichever you prefer.

If you think that you are 100% sane, well then bully for you!  Maybe it’s time to change the channel…

Fantasia and Prince Charming — How Wonderland Began

I have lived in a fantasy world most of my life.  When I was young, I would dream of my Prince Charming (the hopeless romantic I was!), then I met and married him.

I dreamed of staying in a little cottage in the woods and I live there now (minus the woods…but there are a few trees…and mountains…and a stream — so that counts!).

I could go on forever but I don’t want to bore you, the point is this:

What you think about…you create!  Ergo, you are in a position to create your own Wonderland — how fantastic is that?!?

Reality vs Wonderland

I wrote a small sub-chapter in my book, Divine You, that went something like this:

“When Alice fell down the rabbit hole, she left her perceived reality behind, and stumbled upon a parallel world with many characters showing her their version of reality in a seemingly bizarre world.  When we fall down this rabbit hole metaphor we begin to see our reality as quite bizarre too — we are living in a world of infinite possibility.”

We can either take responsibility for our lives by actively participating in its desired fruition or we can leave it to chance, experiencing a reality that we feel we have no control over.

Either version of these 2 realities is just your perception of it, so why not choose one that sees you manifest the life of your dreams as opposed to succumbing to a path that leads to your fate?

What Needs Addressing

I want to explore concepts such as:

  • Co-creating Solutions — I think humanity needs creative solutions for changing belief structures and helping each other cross this bridge from an old reality to a new and wonderful co-created paradigm.
  • Reclaiming Your Power — We are in the process of reclaiming our divine power and literally dreaming up our own reality — we are powerful and innovative creators who have pure and unlimited, but all to often, unrealized potential.
  • Having a Ball! — We need to bloody-well enjoy ourselves in this awakening process.  Enough serious, long faces already!.  We are limitless possibility living in an ever-expanding universe — let’s use our God-given gifts and paint this canvas of life red, blue, yellow, green, purple with white polka-dots and any other colour you wish to dream up.

I would like to help you bridge the gap between what you may think of as 3D reality to a world where you are this powerful and responsible creator of your own experiences.

What Have You Got To Lose?

It may not be easy, it may not be quick, your ego may die-hard (possible kicking and screaming as it is brought down) but it could also be the biggest transformative experience of your life and isn’t that what this is all about?

Could it not be that you came to this Earth, at this very auspicious time, to live to your fullest potential and be the very change that you want to see in the world?

It’s your call.  However — nothing ventured, nothing gained and remember, we are going to have fun doing this — enlightenment is not all about fasting, chanting and beating yourself over the head for being a dumb-ass.

What You Will Find at This Site

I want to keep you updated on:

  • Exploring and Practicing New Concepts and Ideas
  • Helping you to Create your Spiciest Version of Reality
  • Pushing Boundaries and Conquering Limiting Beliefs
  • Auditory Inspiration
  • Visual Inspiration
  • Empowering Articles

This site reflects my version of reality or ‘Wonderland’ but I will be over-the-moon if it helps and inspires you to create your own dream-scape world.  What you end up with is entirely up to you — you bold and dashing co-creator you!

So roll up your sleeves and come on a journey with me as we venture into the unknown pure potential of this new and exciting concept.

And if you haven’t signed up to become a member, you can do so HERE (it’s 100% free and you get a great inspirational GIFT BUNDLE too along with a monthly newsletter so you’ll always be in the loop)

If you haven’t taken the site tour yet, then you can do that HERE.

5 Tips on Getting Back In The Groove

Lost your Mojo?

This can apply to any creative endeavour.  When you feel like you have done all there is to do or that you just don’t know where to turn next, you have lost your groove!

“I was selling out and painting what the public wanted.”

I was feeling really stifled a while ago (actually, it was only about a month ago) with my art. I felt like I was selling out and painting what the public wanted.  I really wanted to get into my own style and flavour of art.  But I was holding myself back.

I wrote quite a few blogs on the process that you can read here:

The Space Within Series — Inner Art

Going Deeper…Inner Art Expression

Got It! Inner Art Expression Expressed

Digging even deeper…Inner Art Expression

I just want to outline a few steps that you can take to find your creative space.

5 Tips for Getting Your Groove On:

  • Quiet Time — Meditate on the problem and the solution.  Give yourself some time-out to reflect and to plot your new course of action.  You can’t just pile one idea on top of another, this will make you feel scattered and all over the place.  Lay to rest what you have been doing that no longer serves you and make way for the new.
  • Space — Give yourself a proper working space.  Your very own creative space where you can go to when you are feeling inspired or to get inspired.  A place that will trigger your creativity.  If you already have one but it doesn’t work then look around you, does it need a clean up?  Can you make it a working space?  Are you holding yourself back by dumping things in your creative space and cluttering it up so that you won’t have to use it?  Or worse,  you use this as an excuse for why you can’t get anything done.
  • Creative Time — Allocate yourself time for your passion.  It can be an hour a day or a week.  Whatever is realistic to you.  Hold yourself accountable for that time.  Get a whiteboard and plot out a schedule on it, put it somewhere where you will see it everyday.
  • Freedom — Allow yourself to express whatever needs expressing.  Give yourself the freedom to step out of any box you may have built around your unique talents.  Do what you feel like doing.  No matter how bizarre it may seem to you in the moment.  These things have a way of unraveling themselves with divine perfection and timing.
  • Plan — When you are in the zone it feels amazing.  What happens when you are finished with this project though?  This is the process of life, we usually get nicely wrapped up in the journey but when we arrive, there is a sense of disappointment.  Give yourself a game plan to work on for the next creative explosion.  Mark out on your board when you are going to begin, what you need and where you will take yourself to find the necessary inspiration.  Even if the original idea morphs into something completely different — it is a starting point.

Paint on Canvas

Using the techniques above, here are my last 3 projects that have given me so much satisfaction.  I have been using acrylic, textured acrylic and spray paint and it has been a blast!

Let me know what you think.  I have also included some photos of me with the paintings, so you can get a feel for the size of the paintings…

I am happy to say that the originals have found new homes but they are all available as prints (click on photo’s to take you to store).

The 2 above have been purchased by the same client, so they are sharing a home which is kind of nice to know.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and inspired?  Please share your tips and secrets with us.

If you are feeling stuck with inspiration, why not subscribe now and get your FREE copy of ‘Creative Expression — How to find your inspiration…’ — no strings attached!  Click on picture below to sign up, you will receive your copy in the welcome e-mail:

Creative Expression

The Zen of Art

What better way to gift yourself than to spend some quality time creatively expressing your inner feelings?

 “The Dreamers Night Sky” by Cherie Roe Dirksen

I have only recently allowed myself to truly ‘let go’ and I found my form of expression which is more abstract than traditional (see above).  It has been a liberating experience to finally have the freedom to do this and no-one was stopping me but me.

“My first step was awareness of the deep need for my true expression to come through.”

When I discovered this, it was my call to action.  My first step was awareness of the deep need for my true expression to come through.  I then took responsibility for blocking myself and learnt the lesson behind why I was doing that.  The final step I took was action —  to bring about a new timeline or creative direction for myself.

A Call to Action

Free up some space this weekend or in the evening to tap into the inner child that just wants to finger paint and get mucky, cut out colourful pictures and make a collage or just do some ‘mindless’ doodling.

Why is this important?

When we give ourselves time out to practice creativity we are:

  • Honouring ourselves by allowing time for ‘play’
  • Tapping into the right hemisphere of the brain and our source of creativity
  • Setting a scene of tranquility and ‘time-out’ from the noise of our left brain
  • Allowing ourselves freedom of expression
How will this benefit me?

Expressing your creative flare is priceless but here are some key factors for why allowing yourself time and space for artistic endeavour is good for you:

  • De-stressing
  • Calming
  • Personal Fulfillment
  • Integral Time for Inner Reflection
  • Inner Balance
Try creating a tranquil, serene place where you can retreat to when you feel like you are in the ‘zone’ for artistic expression.
Is there anything stopping you?  Please feel free to comment on any of these questions or others that may arise…

What has been blocking your creative flow?  

Are you feeling constricted by the lack of artistic expression you are allowing yourself?  

What practices do you use to overcome creative blocks?  

What things do you tell yourself are more  important than expressing yourself?

Dont forget to SUBSCRIBE and get your FREE copy of ‘Creative Expression — How to find your inspiration…’ SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE 100% FREE and you can opt out at any time.

If you would like to read more about my journey to finding my inner expression, please click on the links below:

The Space Within Series — Inner Art

Going Deeper…Inner Art Expression

Got It! Inner Art Expression Expressed

Digging even deeper…Inner Art Expression

20 Ways to Set Your Spirit Soaring (and they’re all FREE)

Getting in touch with your innate sense of well-being can be fun, inexpensive and easy.

Here is a list of things that life has to offer that are 100% free — no strings attached (except in the case of playing with kittens):

  • Friendship — Connect with real people (not just social networking), make new connections and rekindle old relationships, if appropriate.
  • A smile — Dish them out!  You have nothing to lose.  Pass them around.
  • A heart-felt hug/embrace — It never goes astray, have you noticed?  Making physical contact is extremely important for any living creature.
  • A compliment Be impeccable with your words, let only kind, well thought-out words roll off your tongue.
  • Fresh air — Yes, it is free and beneficial.  Be grateful for a deep breath of oxygen.
  • Cloud spotting — This is preferably done on freshly mown, green, lush grass.
  • Swimming — A swim in the ocean or a lake, or even a pool.  The feeling of being weightless and carefree.  Priceless!
  • Humour — Share a good joke, get laughing — it’s the best medicine.
  • Smelling — When was the last time you literally stopped to smell the roses? Use your senses wisely…
  • Children — Watching a baby or a child/children play is one of the most uplifting past-times.  It’s free and it usually puts a smile on your dial.
  • Kittens — Have you ever watched a kitten or cat play with a piece of string?  Another priceless activity that will get your heart-strings all in tune.
  • Dogs — One of my favourite things to observe is witnessing a dog disembarking from a car to see he is at the beach!   If you don’t have pets, go sit in the park and watch animals frolicking.  Just remember joy is contagious — anyone’s or anything’s joy rubs off, did you know that?
  • Mountains — There they are, just standing there looking pretty…go climb one!  It’s an amazing feeling.
  • Walking — Strolling through a meadow on a sunny spring morning, watching butterflies dance their way through the sky in front of you.  When last did you do that?
  • Napping — Having an afternoon nap in the sun or under the shade of a tree.  Bliss!  For anyone who’s been to South Africa, you would have noticed that people do this all the time — during lunch-breaks, coffee breaks, etc.
  • Sand castles — Building a sandcastle is just terrific.  Getting down and mucky in the sand.  Free and liberating!  Note to the beachless:  sorry about that, perhaps it’s time to take a trip to the nearest coast or plan that next tropical holiday?
  • Stomping — Once you’ve built the sand castle, jump on it and smash it into the ground.  Do you remember doing that!?!  Pure elation and freedom from attachment. Release the joy of your inner child.
  • Music — Play your favourite songs and instantly lift your vibration!
  • Be grateful — Make a list of all the things going right in your life and you’ll be surprised at just how well you are manifesting your existence.
  • Creative Expression — The last FREE thing on my list is my book ‘Creative

    How to find your inspiration…

    Expression — How to find your inspiration…’  It is available on this site as a FREE download once you subscribe (subscription is also 100% FREE).

How freeing is it to know that there is so much to do that doesn’t come with a price tag attached?

Sometimes we need to concentrate on being in the now, focus on the little joys of life to squeeze the ultimate bliss out of every day.

What things do you like to get up to that are free and priceless?  Please share your stories…

Here is a blog that you may find interesting:

How to find happiness without buying it

Help Others.org: On Passing Around Smiles… — A Kindness Story.

No Free Handouts — You Have to Work for your Happiness

Got It — Inner Art Expressed!

Please recap on last weeks article HERE.

I left off with saying that I still felt something was wrong.  An inner imbalance, something was crying out!

What Could Possibly Be Amiss?

I sat on my couch looking at my painting, still feeling that something was out of alignment.  Do I still have to dig even deeper?

“If you don’t try, you’ll never know…”

A voice seemed to be asking me questions in my head.

Higher Guidance from my Higher Self (HS)?

HS:  What are you feeling?

Me:  Constricted.

HS:  Why?

Me:  I want to paint bigger.

HS:  A-ha!  You’ve been wanting to do that for the past 2 years now.  What is stopping you?

Me:  Big canvas is expensive and it means more paint and materials — I also want to experiment with different materials and it is all costly.

HS:  If you don’t try, you’ll never know.  Take the expense risk just for one week and see how it goes.

Me:  OK.

Stepping Out of the Box

It dawned on me how I put myself in a box.  I subconsciously and consciously limit myself by talking myself out of something for whatever reason.  And usually, they are not good reasons.

“You’ve got nothing to lose except living with regret for not trying.”

If you don’t try, you’ll never know.  So try and at least you can say you have taken that step.  If you succeed — great!  If you don’t, well then just see it as feedback.  You’ve got nothing to lose except living with regret for not trying.

So with that in mind, I came up with this:

I have called it ‘The God Code after the revelations that Gregg Braden has discovered that we possess a code in our DNA that literally translates, in Hebrew, to ‘God Eternal, in the body’.

I also had an epiphany to use all 4 senses whilst painting, I mean why not?!?  Before I started I got the distinct message that I was going to paint something that was healing and enlightening to the observer.  So I wanted to incorporate smell, touch, spirit and sound (I left taste out, for obvious reasons — unless you want a tongue full of chemicals!).

So this painting has been infused with:

  1. Rosemary and Lavender (I instinctively chose these two out of my garden.  When I later looked up the properties, you guessed it, lavender is for healing and Rosemary is for remembering — which you could say would be ‘enlightening’).  I made a tea out of it and used it in my brush water.  I also lit myrrh incense which is apparently good for tranquility.
  2. Prayer for the observer to obtain healing and enlightenment through the art/visual resonance (trying to emulate Dr. Masaru Emoto‘s fine work with water and the effects that positive words and emotions has on it).
  3. Bach.  I played my Bach CD on repeat until I was finished with the painting.  So it is infused with sacred, cosmic sound.
  4. Different textures.  I used a great granulated paint that is awesome to touch.  I also used a glass liner to add some raised pattern effects.

Let me know what you think?  What comes up for you when you look at this painting?  Come on, let me have it — the good and the bad.

Why You’ve Got to Love Whales (and Paint Them!)

Whales - Cherie Dirksen original painting mammals marine life cetacean

Today’s blog is going to be about the mammals of the world beneath the waves and what inspired me to paint this picture (left).

I live in Cape Town, in the False Bay area.  We are privileged to get the annual migration of whales to our seas every year round about July/August.  It is such an inspiration to be able to watch these majestic creatures from the shore as they play and parade their beautiful bodies for us to take snap shots of (I do believe that some of them definitely ‘work it’ for the camera!).

“After much coaxing, my father got me to come down off his shoulders and reach out as this tremendous toddler swam by…”

An Real-Life Encounter with a Human Toddler and a Baby Whale

I was only about 4 years old when I got to touch my first free-range whale.  My father and I where swimming at the notorious Fish Hoek beach (recently been in the news for shark attacks) when a calf – wanting to ‘play’ with another baby (me) – casually made its way towards us.

I was initially terrified, even a baby whale is the size of a small car!

After much coaxing, my father got me to come down off his shoulders and reach out as this tremendous toddler swam by, allowing me to touch it’s back before it swam away back to its mother.

An experience I shall never forget and one that has led me to feel a great bond with them.

“I often get a flipper coming out of the water in recognition (or perhaps telling me to stop)”

My husband often raises an eyebrow when we are out walking along the coastline and I start wailing like Dori from ‘Finding Nemo‘ (you know, the fish character played by Ellen DeGeneres who can ‘talk’ to whales) but I tell you now – it works!  I often get a flipper coming out of the water in recognition (or perhaps telling me to stop).

Inspiring Grace 

But on a more serious note – how can you not be inspired by such creatures?!

My first painting of a whale was a creation of the pure love I have for these amazing mammals.  I am not going to go into too much semantics about them because I put my feelings down in this simple poem…oh go on – have a read then!

Whales – Beloved Cetacean of the Deep

In the depths of the ocean you reside
Anchoring the light for all
Majestic and graceful
You help us from afar
Your song passed down through generations
You never lose sight of your goal
Determined in purpose
Showing the way
Amidst the adversity of lower vibrations
You carry on your star mission

Some of us feel your presence
And we love you and thank you

Like the pod, we are all one
Unity consciousness will prevail
And contracts will be fulfilled 
Our gratitude is yours
As are our hearts

My next blog is going to be about…you guessed it – dolphins.  Well, we can’t leave them out you know.

Related Blogs:

Painting Dolphins