I am a feather collector, (thank you Amy Oscar for Soul Caller) a spirit seer & a symbol decoder.

I am also a Soul artist.

If Id written about this in, say 1620, I probably would have been burnt at the stake as a witch! Randi Buckley beautifully explains it via Kathleen Prophet’s (an embodied Artist) blog. Alongside this are four other wonderful women’s experiences of being modern day “witches”.

Through these stories, & another wonderfully brave sharing in one of Kathleens "Remebering the witches" series is Laurie Ronsenfield, Ive been led to a documentary called “The Burning Times” by Donna Reed.I stayed up till 1:30 am this morning watching it, so moved as I was. In it is discussed the “holocaust” of millions of women with the same abilities & interests as mine, of which I’m about to "come out" about!!

Today though, we're not burnt physically, but in some circles, we may be “burnt” socially. It’s taken a long path to be able to write this, for a long time I haven’t been able to write in any blog space for being frozen at the threshold of the next steps & with this,I now lay my fears bare. Will I be burnt at the stake of social exclusion & derision, deemed a weirdo or just plain nuts? Perhaps! No matter, I am what I am and in sharing a truth of mine, may others feel more moved to share.

I declare here ; I am a seer and a healer, I’m into green drinks (of herbs and green veg , not eye of newt) and yoga, meditation and Power animals. Im not a puritanical fanatic about it ; I do eat French fries & chocolate . Im fascinated by the power of herbs , Taoism, Buddhism, Sanskrit & well just my sacred inner knowing really & listening carefully to what my heart has to say. I have clairvoyant, clairaudient, clairsentient & clairknowing abilities, oh and I speak with Angels, guides and the “passed over” too!!! I’ve been studying much of this in one form or another since I was a teenager, I have been part of circles and have sat in séances; I have trained with other long term seers too and my late grandfather was also a healer. The intensity of study increased through a need to heal from chronic illness of which you can read more about in my About me section (& theres many others in my development & healing that I will write about in the near future). I don’t list all this here as a way of being honored, just that Im coming to a place of just what is, as fact. I am not the only one and Im not chosen, I have a feeling the majority of people have these abilities, of seeing and sensing, but like all life and free will, their free will is to not work this way in this current life, that is unless you desire to?

Over the years others have labeled me a goth, a grunge rocker, (& only because I had a penchant for ripped denim and black leather) a hippy, a bit different, out there, a “bit earthy”, a white witch, witchypoo & all manner of things. All of these names, at their source of origin, where once revered titles of radical 60s revolutionaries, wise sages and deep knowing souls, village keepers if you will, in myriad communities through the world.

I am Jewish by birth and tradition, what we call a “Hamisha” girl. A Jewish flavoured soul perhaps in this current incarnation (& that’s material for a whole other post) but I am not guided by the religious doctrines, but that of values in family, tradition rituals & gratitude for what we have both materially and non.

All of this exposé has also been spurred on very much by the same brave disclosure by Tracey Selingo for her launch of her new what I call cultivating development space and online circle; "Shift Option Save", of which I am part. Like Tracey, it seems now that Im not as bothered by the labels, unless I use it to define and narrow my own experience & Im not. I LOVE what I do in my studio and all the work leading up to this moment, even if its been messy!!! These circles of feminine energy now coming together worldwide and online, empower each other and ourselves.

With my artwork I am drawing others and myself towards an inner sacred self, the messages and images allow others & myself to be seen and heard & guided towards the power held within the mind, body and soul. A power animal reading and drawing for example will show you the possibilities held inside yourself. Within the symbolism of each animals personality are qualities that you can embody yourself or rather tap with a little more knowledge what’s already there. The animal is merely a representation of that albeit in a Zuni Fetish Inspired way.

In my art journal I study visually, mystical experiences, joyous life moments & shadow work. Basically what arises in my experience, whatever that may be. Through automatic writing (often overlaid over my drawings) I am able to realize how to move through that experience, especially helpful if it happens to be something in the lesser known parts of myself.

What comes through me is NOT ME being delivered over, it is information passed through me, I am merely the vessel for whoever is required to have the message, including myself. The wisdom I impart via the words on my work is the wisdom through higher self, guides, divine, spirit, angels & universal energy. Call it all whatever makes you feel good.

I did this heart piece pictured here in remembrance of my aunt Mary Taylor. Its only at the beginning stages but in it denotes the energy of a formidable female, a strong, kind & fierce hearted women. She survived life threatening cancer for 10 years , out doing all odds and left her embodied existence earlier this year. She stood for courage, power, positivity and the authority of her own self.

This is what this image represents for me now, today and what I wish to embody as I start to own and say out loud (or out on my blog) what Im about. Which, in my art and the words that come through beyond me, (& sometimes what the mind cant yet comprehend, but through soul call work can more easily decode), is also a way for me to move through my own fears, owning myself, accepting what comes.

The funny thing this morning as we closed the front door for school run and I was just telling my two girls about this blog disclosure later today, my 6yo handed me a fresh feather from the ground, covering my fingers in fresh red blood, icky I know & I almost didnt write it, sorry squemish ones, but it didnt bother me then. I knew it was part of the journey, because today after the film, for me it was a HUGE message, saying to me that this is the way, the fresh way!!!

What do you need to do to be true to you, accepting who you really are?

Where can you harness your possibly long forgotten inner feminine power and energy?

Id really love to know your journey to here too.

Its only Tuesday night and a wealth of things have moved and stirred me this week, such beauty in those who share themselves and their inner world. I wanted to share them with whomever comes to my new space here , spread the light out that has touched me.

You have got to look at this teeny little amazing and brilliant girl! The lovely Julie Gibbons shared the link via her blog a few days ago & weve all been utterly mesmerized in my house since. Astounding artist that she is at 5, the same age as my youngest, who stated three times as we watched ,"I want to be like her" !!

Oh & speaking of Julie Gibbons, if you want a few minutes of pure auditory soul bliss, watch her short but special vlog from today on the preciousness of solitude.

Now last but in no way least is a very deeply heartfelt poem ; "ode to the end of the world" from "Soul Caller" Amy Oscar as a guest on blog - bentlily from Samantha Reynolds, (which Im yet to learn more about) , dedicated I believe to different poems,by a different author daily.

I think I may make this a weekly post come to think!

Nothing better than sharing what goodies I come accross, Its what sparks my days, I hope it does yours too?

Night for now

Continuing on from the lovely Amy Palko's blog prompt series "I believe', I bring you my 3rd blog post on my beliefs

I believe …………..

Art Journaling is sacred inner work

And for any artist it seems a most important sacred creative ritual and exercise, but Its not something I have considered before now, despite my many many years at Art school! The last time I may have created one was back in the nineties during my university degree! My usual resistance to new ideas pops up: Will it look how I want it to? Do I want to use expensive materials and equipment for a journal, can I afford the time in creating this, can I afford not to?

I am finding though that as I navigate my Artsy self through the beautiful and deeply connecting Soul caller course with Amy Oscar in tandem with creating my 2nd Art collection in 8 years! Its become apparent, after it was suggested by Amy that I explore my “shadow” self, working & create alongside it, that an urge is calling. This calling is an energy that wants to express ideas in a safe and small way, less of a grand gesture like a supposed huge canvas, less of a risky experience of showing my art, my ideas brought to life in physical, my sub conscious colours laid bare for all!

This for me, and anyone redeveloping their artistry after a long period of pause, could be a very necessary and sacred act indeed. Why, you may well ask? :

• It’s a safe haven – no one else need see it if you so choose- you may eventually want to share with someone you trust if that’s helpful.

• The shadow self must never be pushed away or disallowed, it will only creep up on you in other ways.

• This is where some real true gritty inner via imagery work can happen that otherwise gets ignored in busy lives

• This information as it percolates in your mind, body and spirit could give you access to all the parts hidden, and we don’t want hidden, hidden means we cant do anything about it.

• It opens a portal to the spiritual unseen but very much-felt world we all inhabit, it connects us back into ourselves, but also connects us to everything else too.

What parts of your shadow self are you not allowing out and are hidden? I think of the book I’ve been reading about from Robert Masters “Spiritual bypassing”, in it he talks about how we are almost now using meditation, affirmations & Transcendent work as we would medication, wanting a high and a relief from lesser wanted parts; Disassociating with the human condition of light and dark (we have to have both for balance) and almost not allowing the shadow self to be known, for it may be ugly or messy, not pretty and possibly not full of colourful flowers. It may be black and sharp or spikey and cold & full of emotions deemed negative.

There is, in the early days of emerging authentic artistry, an anxiety or apprehension around creating new pieces on canvas, a reluctance that arrives as soon as we wish to do something new, as soon as the brush yearns to be filled with paint! So with this, I’ve been thinking; what can I do differently to break through this created barrier that many of us come against. New beliefs are developing, new ways of cutting through potential blocks are rising: if something aint working the way it used to (the supposed expected angst of artist creating new thingies) try a different approach!

Its possible that using a beautifully bound and ready for paint sketch pad, may be a perfect invitation to freely experiment (it may also create further blocks, but it feels safer again than an expensive canvas) and allow the inner self – whatever that may be, to come through the page. If I start off with saying that it can stay as my secret friend, will that allow some freedom, will that cut through the self imposed blocks?

I am inspired much by the work of Julie Gibbons, her explorations are beautiful & the symbols and imagery do really call to me. No doubt my imagery will be personal, different and unique to my journey. She has some wonderful insights and a lot of experience holding a space for this kind of sacred inner expression & investigation. I’d totally recommend you have a look her way, I think I will definitely be looking there more often.

So back to this safe sacred journal space, on those pages is a way to try colour combinations, shapes and forms that you may not yet want others to see (yep there’s those not so colourful flowers again). It can also be a vehicle for affirmations, thoughts & words that you wish to bring into reality, a visual goal setting for emotions. It may be a way to alleviate the inner critic, develop your style more or just plain get out of you what’s wanting to move up and out of you!!

So now universe with this belief, my other new belief must be that I create some stretch of time to create it all too!!

What needs to emerge from you that you may be a little reluctant at first to look at? May be a shadow art journal can be like a gentle friend sensitively holding your hand through it.

I’d love to know about others working on their shadow journals. Let me know how you’ve felt in this process, has it helped break through to your artistic freedom?

Continuing on from the lovely Amy Palko's blog prompt series "I believe', I bring you my 2nd blog post on creative energy.

I believe .................

creativity is channeled energy

& not of the British board of electrics kind!

This energy comes in through us & connects with the vast computer of our mind & body. (this also raises the question of where the mind resides & it isnt just in the brain, but that's a whole other post)

This is the same energy that moves seas, sets the sun & brought us here. It links in with memory's, history, words, pictures & feelings. You have an idea and it starts the intention ball rolling.

Like today for example : i might say "I want to draw a special treasure box " , so sets in motion a kind of chugging of the cogs of information. A bit like googling, youll open & close the folders of your being to access what it is that needs to be expressed on paper. A kind of physical meditative download!

Magic can happen, if you let the pencil flow & allow yourself a moment of surrender, move into, the free space. This treasure box, won't just be any old treasure box, but an image of a story. The box can become a little seed of mystery for the viewer. You form its shape, its texture, scale and size, suddnely images may appear to symbolise whats to be held in there, whats to be seen , whats to be mysterious.

Every Image also holds information about the one holding the pencil of course too. Messages about the way the artist/creator sees the world, their own personal "state of the union" so to speak & what they hold dear. Like in last weeks post about what marks evoke, shapes and even the angle at which a shape is drawn at, can hold keys for how you are in your body.

Amazing things can happen of course, if you allow this energy to flow & like a conversation I had last night, you just have to get yourself out of your own way! (which yes i have to practise often) to let these magic images to appear. You find though that the project you were once stuck on , can flow like the un dammed river, be warned, you can look a bit like mad professor in the process!!!

& simple but effective technique to allow this flow : put some of your really favourite music on , real loud, lay the pencil on paper & press go!!!!

My current music choice at the moment - Shabda by Mike Oldfield

So what magic might you create today if you plug in?

Let me know what tracks you roll with too!