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.'
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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 As a remedy it can be used for after effects of shock, it can also be used for people who are numbed and withdrawn with a sense of loss or grief.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 54/365 I opted for a different way today. This time putting down and drawing first the flowers and bottles, then going back in to fill with watercolour paint, pencils and pens. Pretty much anything that is around me. It got me thinking about Neville Goddard's book Feeling is the Secret, which I have been re-reading and studying again. He talks about how sensation precedes manifestation and is the foundation upon which all manifestation rests. As he writes "think feelingly only of the state you desire to realise. Feeling the reality of the state sought, and living and acting on that conviction is the way ....... " This book is an eye opener, if you haven't already read it, you can read/listen to it here. We're talking quantum physics. It felt well matched with this Mental Health Mantra, because stepping into the feeling of spring, of feeling like spring, of spring flowers, is a place where I'll reside, despite all the things coming up for me and needing to be 'done.' There are more huge life changes along the path in the next few months, and I have to step into the feelings of what it is I actually desire. And Reside There. Stay Tuned In 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 52/365 This is what hypnotic painting is becoming for me, finding new layers of meaning behind the water colour magic. I had spent an hour or so simply enjoying the colour and the ways the water was moving over the paper. It felt good to just be there. Here we are on day 52, of 365, that's 52 days of consistency, with considering what is going on right now, I am really pleased with myself that I have got here and delighted to be writing these journal entries here, on my website. I found myself cutting and creating this collaged flower from a water colour page. It feels really cool to have created this different flower, with many layers. Right there and then, the mantra appeared as I was simply just playing with it all. Know there are always many layers. It's not meant to be cryptic, just really tells us that what you see is never really what is happening. All those phrases you have heard 'don't judge a book by the cover.' 'what you see is not what you get.' This felt really spot on for me.... know there are always many layers. There is always something to peel back, in my own personality, personal learning and professional learning. There is always something to peel back with others. The layers are their layers. What rings true right now is on social media, on main stream media, it's not what it seems. There are always many layers. We don't know the story and we can't figure that out without connection. Keep sparkling and shining starseeds, you're doing this. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 50/365 I moved through this day in a complete haze - incredibly tired. Last night was such a long night and it felt like it went on for hours upon hours. I somehow managed to drop myself right in front of my studio table to start something, everything felt awful and yuk. Nothing seemed to flow, nothing was feeling like it was helping me. I decided to stop thinking about what I was doing and just immerse me, myself and my tiredness into the colours I chose. I started with yellow circles, and then added some green foliage. That seems to take enough of my attention and I could feel my heart rate falling. My nervous system was coming back to balance. I let it dry and returned, seeing different aspects and wanting to play with this lovely ultramarine blue. It felt cooling and soothing to me. The layers were drying and the background was hinting at what was underneath. I put it to one side and played on other blank pieces of paper, creating flower shapes, just generally enjoying the process of water, colour and paint brush. As this was dry, I picked it up and began to insert black ink, colouring in the leaves of my little daisy like flowers. The mantra appeared for me "Look Beyond". It really is never what it first appears. It reminds me to not judge the first thing I hear, see, taste, touch, smell. It reminds me to 'look beyond' for there is always a message hidden behind the front one. Reading behind the lines is another way of putting it. Keep trusting, keep shining. 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 46/365 I have been sitting with this all mantra all day today. The sun shone, it was cold, but I sat on the bench immersed in a chink of sunlight, catching it just moving slowly behind the tree. In this sad situation I find myself in on this 46th day of the year, I sit down to let my tears flow into the water, colour and flower. I didn't know what would appear. Yet I knew I wanted PINK. Carmine is this watercolour ink by Winsor Newton - I am at the bottom of the bottle and had to add more water to the colour - it still held a beautiful pigment. This pink is where I can fall into. It is the contrast. Somehow I dig deep to find some more strength to see me through. The things that keep me going right now:-
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 43/365 It has been a day and a half and my emotional tank is dry. The heating didn’t come on first thing so I had to navigate no heat and organise engineer, hot water, temporary heaters. It was 0 degrees here, very cold for Liverpool! Up since 3am with Luna who was really poorly with sickness and she is my baba and communicates it all with me. Ended up at the vets in the afternoon for check over. Some how, with many layers on I managed to sit down and complete this flower mantra for day 43 of 365. It is an interesting thing that I will ponder upon because it wasn’t early in the day like usual but when I could grab half an hour. Still, having done 42 images so far, it was so important to somehow grab some time to do it. I am going to take this mantra today and sing my way under the duvet *think of all you need is love* and hopefully I'll drift off listening to high frequency music. Sleep renews and reboots Love '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 40/365 I woke up at 5am, couldn't get back to sleep, made myself a cup'o'tea and stepped into my studio space. The sun was breaking over the houses, it peaked in as I painted, more and more. It was lightly snowing and sunny. It felt like a Winsor and Newton-inks morning. They are highly pigmented, I just love watching them move over the watercolour paper. I have a pot of brushes, all sizes - it's the brush size that is so instrumental in the way the colour and water merge, separate, fizzle and dry. It's magical. A great watery meditation. At the same time I was listening to Snatam Kaur. I was so blessed to go and see her live in Toronto when we visited Canada in 2017. What an enlightening event, with such energy in the room. I left BUZZING. It was super lovely too as I met my Buddy from the interwebs Angie, who lived about an hour from Toronto, we ate lovely food and then went to the concert. It reminded me of what power we all have in our interconnectedness, it helped me through today as I navigated my ship. It is Day 40 of writing here, 40 Mental Health Mantras. 40 days can really shift and integrate a new practice. I feel these days are just getting started. Flower Mantras so far have been really healing for me. This mantra 'I call on the light within' comes from one of Snatam's songs with GuruGanesha Singh it felt like it needed its own space to shine. If you'd like to listen to the song, it's below. Sit back close your eyes. Take a deep breath through your nose. Gently breathe out through your nose Find your own breathing rhythm continue for 11mins 20 seconds Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
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.'
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