Mental Health Mantra 59/365 28 days later. 28 Flower Mantras. The variety of flowers and their mantras have got me through this month and all that it has delivered. I could carry on and paint more flowers - who knows I may very well return, there are another many more days here, but for now I will move on to March with a new feature. This gives me the opportunity to develop and to challenge my hand/eye/brain connection. The mantra that came forth this morning is Sat Nam. "Sat Nam is the mantra repeated at the end of a kundalini yoga practice to end the session, it also can be repeated during meditation. I find it very reassuring and soothing these days. Sat Nam, is one the most commonly used mantras in Kundalini Yoga, in the ancient Sikh language called Gurmukhi, Sat means truth. Nam means name. Together, Sat Nam essentially translates into something deeper: “I am truth,” or “Truth is my essence.” Sat Nam is like a seed that begins to germinate inside of you. The vibration of a mantra shifts us on an atomic level (ref Kundalini 101)." I am called to commit to this practice more and more, to translate the feelings I have and the healing I am doing as I move through this next phase of moving out and moving on. This morning, upon waking early, I sat with the colours and the water. This was such a hypnotic piece, first with the paint and once dried, I came back to spend snapshots of time to add elements with pen. It feels a good place to end for February. The flowers have been very different and although I continue on my Bach Flower course, I can always return to paint more flowers. Thank you for joining me here / I hope so far these Mental Health Mantras are supporting you as they are me. Day 60 tomorrow / Onwards to Month 3. Keep shining Star Seeds. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
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Mental Health Mantra 57.365 As I sit down each morning, I don't have any clue what the flower is going to be like. Will it be a take on a flower, or a lookilikie? This month has revealed alot to me about going with the flow, trusting my intuition and enjoying the process. Today was no exception. I was awake at 5am, so much going through my mind. I got up, made some tea and dropped into my studio space. I am grateful for this space, I know I will look back on this time and see what I have achieved, despite all the trauma. I digress. I stepped in, I closed my eyes, I took a breath. Everyone was still asleep, even the woofers. Stillness. A magical time. Early, yes. Magical, Yes. The flower happened. I realise once again, that I trust me. I trust my own knowing, what I need, what I don't need. All that is happening around me, this is increasingly important to trust me. The stillness helps. (ps and it's ok to nap too). Keep trusting StarSeeds. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 55/365 Tomorrow I start Level 1 in Bach Flower Remedies - I have learnt so much about these remedies since the 90s when I was first introduced to them and began taking rescue remedy and others, whilst navigating and healing from M.E / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. As if by magic, this course dropped into my inbox, it is almost like I have magically drawn it in - 25 flowers later. For those who may not have heard of Bach Flower Remedies, they're named after Dr Edward Bach who discovered 28 remedies, each for a specific emotional and mental state plus a combination one of 5 remedies, which is designed for difficult and demanding situations, this he called Rescue Remedy. 37 of the 38 are based on single wild flowers and tree blossoms - the exception is Rock Water, which is made of the water from a natural spring with healing properties. I'll talk more about it but for now, this flower mantra is the Star of Bethlehem. As a remedy it can be used for after effects of shock, it can also be used for people who are numbed and withdrawn with a sense of loss or grief. Dr Bach described this remedy as 'the comforter and soother of pains and sorrows.' This helped me today with the mental health mantra - I feel comforted and soothed. It is like giving yourself a big hug - taking this remedy and repeating this mantra to yourself or writing it out 25 times. Keep shining starseeds. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 53/365 I am pleased as punch that I am on Day 53. Now, I wake up and after making a cuppa, I settle at my studio table, it's waiting for me. In the quiet start of the day, I fill up fresh water in my two glasses. The solitude guides me ... what flower today? I then remember the photograph of the small pansies I took round the corner starting to show through the earth. It feels fitting that they are the flowers today for this flower mantra because.... Later on....my friend Melody Salad who has been right there by my side this past year, I am so grateful to be surrounded by friendships in my 100 acre wood, those that virtually sit round my table to eat cake and drink tea. Think of Winnie the Pooh and all his table mates - it's pretty much that. They are far flung and spread all over this earth. We chatted today about entering a new phase of moving, bringing this 18 month circle to a close. Melody Salad, like a gentle reminder calmly says to me: "Choose the path of least resistance Julia" She was spot on. I choose the path of least resistance. It felt so fitting to be paired with the pansies as they choose the path of least resistance to emerge into spring. A great mantra to keep close to my heart today (and tomorrow) as I navigate this ship. Maybe you too? Keep shining star seeds, know your intuitive thoughts are always there. Love x PS Thank you Melody Salad x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 51/365 It knows. It always knows. It's just we drown it out. I knew something wasn't right and my gut instinct was trying to let me know. My gut tells me and I will trust that gut. I knew something wasn't quite right. She was trying to tell me something. I sensed it. But others don't hear what I say, and think that perhaps, I am being highly sensitive. Yes that's right. I knew she was communicating to me that something needed to be explored. Today I got confirmation that my gut instinct knows. Listen / and act on your gut instinct. Keep listening sunbeams. Your gut instinct knows. Let go of all that is clouding it out. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 49/365 This particular mantra has appeared in my life, many times, when I felt stuck. Today suddenly these words appeared. I find that as a mantra appears, I will get to know it in more details, I'll start by writing it out 25 times in my mantra journal, I'll repeat it in meditation, sometimes I will write out the words and colour them in. This colouring meditation can help to soothe what is currently challenging. Today whilst dealing with a specific situation that was making me apprehensive about the outcome, and worrying. I found myself sat at my studio table, using colour and water, making these circles above, watching the water and colour merge, it was very relaxing. After letting it dry thoroughly, I returned to the desk to find a wonderful sample of circles, just calling out for flowers and petals. Here's the bit I also enjoy, taking the black uni-pen and marking out, adding in white, coloured gel pens, it was methodical and calming, again I keep using the word, hypnotic. Trance-like. It is here as a reminder - This too shall pass. Every moment passes into the next moment. Whatever I am feeling in this moment, passes. A reminder to release. The situations are still there, the worry and the apprehension Yet this is a tool for moving it through me. Keep shining star seeds. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 48/365 Tune in to Tune out.... ..... something I have done for a long, long, while. Turning everything off, stepping away from the external noise. Tuning in, going inside. Turning off what's creating too much static, that keep the radio waves clogged. In the tuning out, I began tune in. Now I know that I can Tune In, which in turn, Tunes out that which doesn't support me. It's a great Mantra to remember. Tune in to Tune out..... .....sometimes though we have to Tune out to Tune in. Either way, it's a great one for repetition today/ and the next and the next! These flowers are really meditative and hypnotic - I am really loving the process of sitting down and getting into the magic of Colour, Water and Brush. The flowing ink here is mesmerising. I may keep repeating myself, but that's what a journal is all about. To go back and check what is being repeated because these are the soul messages. Keep shining sunshine, connect to your gut instinct. Love x Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 47/365 I stumbled across this you tube channel of Samaneri Jayasara who is a Buddhist Nun. Listening to her channel soothes me and gives my meditation practices a sense of stillness. This particular video is her speaking selected verses and poems of Sufi Poet, Rumi. If you want to take some time out 32 minutes of time, plug in headphones, lie back, or sit straight and fall into this. Today this is what I needed. The crocuses for this flower mantra today remind me that what I seek is seeking me. Keep shining starseeds Love x Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 45/365 When I was first attuned to Reiki in 2001, it confirmed something to me that I had known from a child and later as a young woman, navigating ill health with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / ME >>>>> >>>>>> we are all connected, interwoven by energy. I travelled through the attunements, becoming a Reiki Master in 2006. It made complete sense to me that we were interconnected .... I could sense it when I interacted with other sentient beings. It is to Reiki I turn, every time. It is a tool that I have at my own disposal, I don't have to ask anyone. I always felt that if everyone was attuned to levels 1 and 2, then as a self healing tool I truly sensed that it could be a way for individuals to take back the reigns and calm their own nervous systems. I am navigating yet another very distressing time, it is when I lay my own hands on my body, chant the symbols to calm, soothe, and balance my nervous system. I then send this love and healing out to you and the whole planet earth. Imagine if every human being all did that? Keep shining starseeds. Follow your intuition. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 42/365 If there's one thing that I try to do it is take one step at a time and not pro-ject into the future. It's a daily thing, I have to remind myself and reel myself back in, if I feel that I'm doing 'down that road.' ((picture a fishing line reeling back in, that's me.)) There are things coming up in the next few months that tempt me to fall into old ways of worrying about outcomes, worrying about the possibilities, I have to really tune out to tune in, it's like learning scales on a piano. Because, my job .... is to focus upon staying steady.... taking one step at a time one room at a time one cupboard at a time one item at a time one box at a time one form at a time one phone call at a time one email at a time one decision at a time Remembering to Stay Steady and remind myself of this mantra helps me - brings me back into that present moment. I am a work in progress, evolving and moving, shifting and changing, getting clear and becoming focused, H E A L I N G. Keep shining sunbeams, and remember your own intuition knows. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 41/365 It is now becoming a practice to sit and play with colour and water first thing, soon after I wake early, after sorting the dogs and making tea for both of us, I head to my studio table, filling two new glasses full of water and sit down. There is something methodical and ritualistic about this - it helps my day. Today it was a bunch of flowers. I took inspiration from my A2 vision book, I check over there and see what is resonating. Through these 10 days of focusing on flowers, I have been thinking alot about the vibe flowers have. Each flower has a distinct energy of its own .... it has got me revisiting Bach Flower Remedies, something I was introduced to 32 years ago as I was navigating ill health and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. Turning to the flower remedies can support our emotions - I have always tapped into them, you may be familiar with Bach Flower Rescue Remedy, made up of 6 flowers that can be used in emergency situations to calm nervous/ anxious times and in 'emergencies.' I really adore how they work and as I painted, I pondered. Since I began painting flowers on 1st February, a Bach Flower Level 1 course literally dropped into my inbox unexpectedly with an old mentor, I begin on Feb 25th. Really excited to learn more about how flower remedies can help soothe emotional systems. It works in tandem with our nervous system. I was going to call this Mental Health Mantra ..... Flowers Rock. Well, because they do. Who doesn't feel cheered by seeing flowers and we need cheering these days. Tune into the Flower Vibe and my very lovely friend Carolyn Flower is testimony to the gorgeous Power of Flowers. Happy New Moon Peeps, keep shining and raising your frequency. Stay centred and grounded, stand in your truth. Love x If you're interested in flower remedies, check out the Bach Flower Centre 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.' PIP (painting in progress).Mental Health Mantra 39/365 Trust. One short word with 5 letters. With a very big meaning. The practice for me to Trust. Trust. Keep trusting and keep shining your wonderful light and connecting to your intuitive intelligence. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 38/365 Crying is OK. This kept coming up for me this week, there have been lots of tears and letting go. My Dad has been tested positive for Covid and is now on his 6th day of isolation in his room - extremely hard for an elderly person who has vascular dementia and doesn't quite understand why they can't sit with their friends. Today he's very sleepy and lethargic. I hope his immune system is forming a response - he is a tough cookie. Crying is OK. It's okay to cry and sob for people who have passed. The wave hits, it's okay to let the sob move through you. I sat and watched a memorial service last night of a wonderful woman in our community who suddenly and devastatingly passed away aged 63 a week ago, leaving her husband, 7 children and 17 grandchildren. She was a humorous and kind hearted soul, her community meant the world to her, as did all her family. I knew her via one of my oldest school friends and the family connection. The service was incredibly moving, with speeches given by her children and brothers. I sobbed my way through it. Feeling the feelings of loss and letting it move through me. Loss and what that means to me, with losing my Mum and all that's happening in the country and the world. Crying is Ok. Crying is energy in motion - why it's called e-motion. Today's Mental Health Mantra is a reminder that it's ok to cry. What I know as a holistic counsellor and spiritual life coach, if it feels more support is needed, reaching out and seeking help is a strength, releasing and talking about what's behind the tears is crucial so that these tears and sadness don't remain in the body where it generates stagnated energy and can cause dis-ease and inflammation. We can cry and be strong all at the same time. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 37/365 Take a deep breath : a phrase my Mum used often. This week there have been quite a few deep breaths taken. This weekend more than usual. My Dad tested positive for Covid, we found out on Wednesday morning. He was isolated in his bedroom. There were 2 positives in the residential home he is in, they then retested him and others two days in a row to double check and I got the call late last night to say that he had tested positive again, although with no symptoms, he is going to have to remain in isolation. He has now done 4 days. I think it's 10 days with a test at the end that has to be negative. Out of 20 residents 9 have tested positive. Dad's specific unit within the residential home had no covid deaths last year. Four weeks after having the Pfizer vaccine 50% of the unit have tested positive. They should have had the second follow up dose a week ago but that has been extended to "I don't know when o'clock." Dad, a 91 year old man with vascular dementia, not easy at all. I have spoken to him today and he's fed up. The team there are amazing and doing their upmost to care for our family members. I am taking a deep breath. On the flip side to all of this and to calm my mind, I enjoyed doing this watercolour today - I'll use that word again, it was hypnotic. I wasn't sure whether to leave it without inking but I just can't help myself. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 36/365 I sat down at my table today to put brush to water to paper. I was feeling very discombobulated. I could hear my mind tell my self that I was stupid to even begin to commit to this 365 days practice, being just in the 5th day of February and number 35 painting, I sensed that this was going to really challenge my Head Self, (think of Headmistress) to encourage me to keep going. I heard lots of negatives, I heard lots of what's the points and who cares? I felt I was stumbling and bumbling through. Then I remembered the day was Feb 5th, the day when my Grandpa Jules passed away in 1960, 8 years before I came along, I was named after him, His names was Julius. He was a tailor, he was also a sign writer. Despite never knowing him physically, I have always felt very connected to him because my Mum, his daughter Sheila, kept his energy going, She would tell me funny stories, isms, and things they did together. I then heard this in my forebrain. Let go of the outcome Jules. I stepped away from my table and went to go something less boring instead, *playing ball with the dogs* and when I returned a few hours later, I saw something in this image. Some strange kind of flower seed pods, I picked up my pens and began outlining, ink and dipping pen, and some Signo markers, *lovethem. I am 'a pen person,' no denying it. I am surrounded. They are abundant in my life. They are always involved somewhere along the way, so sticking with watercolour with no other pen medium is unlikely during my #365creativedays. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this - it was deeply meditative. It calmed my mind and soothed my soul. I was pondering as I painted about seeds and how we don't tell the seed off for not doing things quickly or perfect, we go and check on the seed and say 'well done seed for doing your best at reaching the surface.' We are happy to see the seed is growing and moving towards the light. It then all came together for me. It's kinda abstract but something in it just says..... Let go of the outcome. This has other connections to me right now on a personal and professional level. Maybe to you too? Let go of the outcome. Let go of attachment. Let go and Let flow. It is SO IMPORTANT to FEEL right now. Keep feeling, keep connecting to that intuitive intelligence. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 35/365 I sold my Mum and Dad’s car yesterday. I was really happy to sell it to a Care Home Manager. Relieved to see it go to a good home mixed with tearful to see it go. The sale had been speedy. Not much time for lingering thoughts. Later in the day, I stepped into colour and water, I could feel the feelings of it all, the memories of them buying the car, the joy of it being automatic, easy to manoeuvre and get in and out of with disabilities. As I stared at the blank space, nothing seemed to be happening but I just sat and let that happen. I knew it was shades of blue I wanted to be immersed in et voila .... immersed in petals. The Affirmantra message coming through was Connect the Petals - a bit like connect the dots. I learnt a lot from selling the car, looking back I can connect the petals of how I got to that point. Sorry if that’s cryptic. In painting the petals, methodically in repetition, I found my heart rate soothe, my emotions calm, my mind became still - I fell into this wave like practice that was hypnotic. Sometimes we just need to Connect the Petals, Petal. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 34/365 Early in 2020 not long after Mum passed away and whilst caring for my Dad, I was having a conversation with my Montreal confidante and support who lives in 100 acre wood. We would Whats App audio every single day, back and forth, back and forth, she was helping me figure out what was going on and provided such a calm and stoic voice, whilst we sat virtually, at the table, in that wood, eating cake and drinking tea, in tea cups, from tea pots. Not long in, the name Neville Goddard began to feature in her words and I would ask her to tell me more about him. Who is this chap and what's the story. Neville 1905-1972 was a mystic and influential teacher and author, he didn't associate himself with any 'ism' or 'new thought', he viewed the Bible as a parable of the human psyche and believed that the external God was not answering prayers but rather that we are the creator. I was introduced to this from Louise Hay back in the early 90s as I navigated my way through being very ill. I began to research and study and she talked about us 'creating our own reality.' Fast forward to 2020, 30 years later reading Neville and finding his words resonating on my consciousness in a whole new level. It is our beliefs which create our reality Here was Neville explaining that in fact it was "our beliefs creating our reality, beliefs held in our subconscious mind." This taps into the scientific field of quantum physics and the quantum field, our thoughts become things and us all being interconnected within a web of thoughts. Our perceptions are creating the projections, the projections we see in front of us. Our perceptions are created by our beliefs. What do we believe and can we change our beliefs? If so how? You may find he resonates with you, if so, check him out here. I have the complete Compendium by Dave Allen. Keep shining sunshine and imagine the possibilities. 'Art with Heart, Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 32/365 And so here we go, moving in to February with the first Mental Health Mantra. I wanted to let go this month for the next 28 days to step away from line drawing, to relax my hands and get into flow with the colour of water and the colour of paint. It is time to reconnect with Watercolours. I probably left it too late to sit down to this, as well as write a journal post here, but it felt lovely nonetheless. I used the inspiration of the roses my husband bought me at the weekend, they have opened up beautifully. I felt I wanted to keep loose and abstract and step into the feeling of what it would be like to immerse myself in the rose petals - dreamy~like. I picked up a white pen and very loosely went in. I am leaving this month open, I don't know what these are going to look like. I may focus on specific colours, flowers, leaves, abstract. I have no clear plan, I am going to be led by the movement of water, colour and the moment. Intuition is a subtle whisper. I saw this written quite a while ago, I can't recall where, I wrote it down in my journal of mantras. It felt beautiful for today because the whisper is there, yet often it is drowned out. We have to do our best to turn stuff off, so that we can hear the whisper of our soul quietly calling. I am going to feel my way through this month and stay in my truth. Keep shining starseeds and trust that intuitive intelligence. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 31/365 I am pleased as punch that I made it through writing a journal entry every day in January. I can now subtract 31 from 365 = 334. Doing these have got me into a little flow-like pattern, which has helped me this month to navigate my husband's radioactive iodine ablation treatment.
This mantra came through in my morning meditation: You are stronger than you realise. In fact, it came through as I am stronger than I realise, but when I came to complete this, I knew it had to be YOU. Because you are stronger than you realise. There's an inner golden thread that keeps us upright, not falling in a heap on the ground, despite what is thrown out in our path. You are that strong. Feel it, say it, believe it. Tomorrow being the 1st of February, I am going to create 28 Flower Mantras for 365 Mental Health Mantras. I'm changing up the medium so will connect with watercolour, inks and dipping pen. Let the Mantras begin! PS f you're so called, let me know what affirmations/mantras are helping in the comments below. Take care sunshine, keep vibing and connect to your intuitive intelligence. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 30/365 I pulled a card today from The STARSEED Oracle by Rebecca Campbell and two cards popped out. The first was The Courageous Peony - multifaceted, unique nature, let yourself be seen. The second, I Remember - soul plan. The fated life vs the destiny life. They resonated big time with me. As I am navigating this period of time, moving through and out. The Courageous Peony talks about how flowers don't open and close according to who walks by, they embrace all of what they are and show it to the the world around them. The peony doesn't try to compete with the rose, nor the tulip, they own what they are and trust the timing fo their true nature. This card calls me to do the same. The second card I Remember talks about the difference between the 'fated life' and the 'destiny life' - and right now I am face to face with the choice to follow the destiny life over the fated life. To trust the path my soul is calling me towards and to remember that this was a prearranged moment. With everything on my soul's journey I feel that there are some messages to take back to my journal, to sit in meditation and remember just who I am and why I'm here. Every decade in my life, there has been a story to share, a life event that has shaken me, yet made me stronger and more resilient. Now as things ramp up, both in the external world via government controls and global agendas. I am embodying the energy of The Courageous Peony, owning my own unique ness and light agenda. I am also being asked to remember my soul's greater plan and surrendering to it, there is a reason why all this has happened to me. I send you light and connection to your intuitive intelligence. "Art with Heart - Calm your Mind Soothe your Soul."
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